New York travel help............

[bear_mom]

I am looking for some help, my SIL lives in Manhatten (SoHo area) and we are travelling to visit her for Thanksgiving. She sent us some hotel suggestions, but I am looking for others - some of the hotels she suggested are $1000/night which is WAY out of our budget. I realize this is probably a very expensive time to travel there, but...

Anyway, any suggestions on hotels, etc.

We are also looking to keep travel costs down, we live in Michigan and thought about driving part of the way and then taking a train the rest of the way (neither dh or I want to drive or pay to park in NY). We do this when we go to Chicago, we take the communter train in and it works well for us. Any help with that?

Thanks.
Emily

 

[LuvOrlando]

If it's just you and your DH try The Pod hotel. I've had my eye on it as an interesting thing to try since i saw it somewhere on a travel channel or in a magazine but its big savings is really just for 2, my family of 4 would need 2 rooms so I can stay somewhere else for that... The Marquis usually wins My DH is staying somewhere called something like The Executive for business soon and I'm totally gate crashing that trip, maybe I'll have another one to recommend soon.

 

[katie26]

Some people like to stay in New Jersey - close to the city - and take public transportation into town. If you stay in Jersey City, Hoboken or Newark, you can take the PATH train into Manhattan, and it's a fairly quick ride. Worth a look!

I've also had family members stay at the Wolcott Hotel, and while I don't think it's the nicest place in the world, from what I hear it's a cheap, decent place to stay.

 

[Disney Daniel]

Some people like to stay in New Jersey - close to the city - and take public transportation into town. If you stay in Jersey City, Hoboken or Newark, you can take the PATH train into Manhattan, and it's a fairly quick ride. Worth a look!

I've also had family members stay at the Wolcott Hotel, and while I don't think it's the nicest place in the world, from what I hear it's a cheap, decent place to stay.

When I was in the area last summer with a friend of mine we stayed at one of the airport hotels in Newark and commuted into Manhattan every morning. I would highly recommend this as the savings were quite substantial (which for two recent university graduates was an important factor). The hotel (Days Inn) was fine, nothing terribly upscale by any means, but given that we paid about 20% of what we would have paid being in Manhattan, the 40 minute commute each way was more than worth it and at no time did we feel unsafe.

 

[kimmar067]

I am looking for some help, my SIL lives in Manhatten (SoHo area) and we are travelling to visit her for Thanksgiving. She sent us some hotel suggestions, but I am looking for others - some of the hotels she suggested are $1000/night which is WAY out of our budget. I realize this is probably a very expensive time to travel there, but...

Anyway, any suggestions on hotels, etc.

We are also looking to keep travel costs down, we live in Michigan and thought about driving part of the way and then taking a train the rest of the way (neither dh or I want to drive or pay to park in NY). We do this when we go to Chicago, we take the communter train in and it works well for us. Any help with that?

Thanks.
Emily

...I was going to suggest looking in the Secaucus, New Jersey area, near Giants' Stadium. There's pletny of shopping nearby and it's right off Route 3, which goes into the city, via the Lincoln Tunnel...

 

[ToyStory Fan]

I would suggest you stay in White Plains (NY)...about a 35-40 minute Metro-North train ride from Manhattan. It would be FAR nicer than staying in NJ near Giants Stadium and there is tons of shopping and lots to do.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We are also planning a trip to New York...
I do not know about the SOHO area, as we chose a hotel off Times Square in the Times Square /Theater district.

I know that you might find some very good suggestions on Tripadvisor.

Also, I think you might find good info on hotels, categorized by district so that you can specify SOHO, on sites like Oyster.com, Quickbook.com, etc.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Me again,
I had posted for help getting tickets for the GMA audience/studio tour.

If anybody here has any info or tips, I would be so appreciative!

 

[clori]

If you are okay with a basic no frills hotel try pricing the Riverside Tower hotel and Chelsea Savoy hotel. My friend stayed at Riverside Tower and said while basic it was clean, no bedbugs etc and in a safe neighborhood. I am staying at Chelsea Savoy in July for $135 a night which is another no frills hotel. My bil who lives in Manhattan said the neighborhood is fine.

I've also stayed at the Skyline Hotel in the past. I did have it booked over Christmas week for $135 a night but didn't get to go to a blizzard. My mil used to highly recommend the Pod hotel since it was it walking distance to her apartment so I know the neighborhood is fine. We usually just take the bus from Boston and stay in Manhattan.

 

[VAN]

We used Priceline the last two years (late August)....

2010 we got the W on Lexington for $130/night + tax
2009 NY Sheraton Hotel & Towers for $110/night + tax

If you are going to the Statue of Liberty, make sure you book your Crown tickets early ... online. If you are able to climb stairs, it is an awesome experience!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I would suggest you stay in White Plains (NY)...about a 35-40 minute Metro-North train ride from Manhattan. It would be FAR nicer than staying in NJ near Giants Stadium and there is tons of shopping and lots to do.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the area in Secaucus - I drive by Giants Stadium very frequestly. There are lots of hotel and dining options, and I believe you can catch a bus right there. http://www.harmonmeadow.com/pages/plazameadowpage.html

 

[akhenaten]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the area in Secaucus - I drive by Giants Stadium very frequestly. There are lots of hotel and dining options, and I believe you can catch a bus right there. http://www.harmonmeadow.com/pages/plazameadowpage.html

ITA

 

[LuvOrlando]

OK, I've been reading this and just had to come back and say something. Staying in NJ or another borough when you are visiting NYC is the same as going to WDW and staying off-site. Sure it CAN be done but SHOULD it be done, something special just gets lost.

That's all I have to say

 

[akhenaten]

OK, I've been reading this and just had to come back and say something. Staying in NJ or another borough when you are visiting NYC is the same as going to WDW and staying off-site. Sure it CAN be done but SHOULD it be done, something special just gets lost.

That's all I have to say

I live just outside of NYC and have not priced hotels... I agree though there is nothing like NYC ...
Just as at Disney where to stay would have a lot to do with budget... I have always stayed onsite at WDW.. but now that family is bigger and we would need multiple rooms I may consider offsite...

I don't now how big a difference there is in $$$ between a reasonable NYC hotel and NJ..

 

[mjkacmom]

OK, I've been reading this and just had to come back and say something. Staying in NJ or another borough when you are visiting NYC is the same as going to WDW and staying off-site. Sure it CAN be done but SHOULD it be done, something special just gets lost.

That's all I have to say

Usually I'd agree, but the hotel rates in NYC at Thanksgiving are through the roof, because of the holiday and the parade. I live 20 minutes outside NYC, and have stayed overnight a few times, just for the experience, but always at off-times.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the area in Secaucus - I drive by Giants Stadium very frequestly. There are lots of hotel and dining options, and I believe you can catch a bus right there. http://www.harmonmeadow.com/pages/plazameadowpage.html

There probably isn't anything wrong with Secaucus however - during that time of year it is also football season and depending on when they are planning to travel it could be a traffic nightmare for bus or driving.

As far as others commenting that it's like staying off-property at Disney - with the quotes the OP got for $1,000/night - even the comparison to Disney pricing is not fair - that's alot of money to spend on what will amount to a place to sleep that's convenient to all. DOn't get me wrong - I'd look to stay as close as possible too, but living 30miles outside the city for me is as close as I need to be and still get me to places I want to go without too much trouble. I don't know what pricing will be in White Plains or NJ for that matter so it may be a moot point, but just offering another option.

 

[akhenaten]

Eh.. i live by Giants stadium and football traffic is only at very limited times.
There can be traffic issues in the NYC area at anytime!

OP check out Weehawken Lincoln Harbor only a ferry ride to nyc..
(I love taking the Ferry)

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=1177

 

[Caradana]

Thanksgiving is going to be extremely expensive at any hotel here (the Parade, the beginning of the Christmas decor - it's probably NYC's second most-popular holiday). Interestingly, parking out in NJ or NY and taking the train in probably won't save you much in comparison to just driving in and parking here, when you factor in commuter parking lot costs and train tickets (which are more expensive here than they are in Chicago, Philly, similar cities).

You'll save a lot of $ by coming in a week or two earlier or later and skipping Thanksgiving proper. I wish I had better news for you on that ...

Otherwise, I'd stay at the W Hoboken. It's an easy subway (PATH) ride or ferry ride to Hoboken, and it's got beautiful views and some of the urban vibe. It'll run you between $400 and $500 a night.

akhenatin - I used to work literally right across the street from the Weehawken Lincoln Harbor!

 

[Beachangel]

Of course there are affordable hotels in the city! No need to stay outside the city and commute - that's crazy!

Check out the InterContinental, the Hyatt, Sheraton, Ws etc I would book now before the cheaper rates for Thanksgiving are gone.

 

[Beachangel]

I just checked hotels.com and there are PLENTY of reputable hotels listed for Thanksgiving under $300 which is fantastic for the holiday.

Even the Pod Hotel which used to be the Pickwick Arms is under $200 per night.

The Trump SoHo - if you wanted to stay in SoHo is $400 per night.

You need to book now - Thanksgiving is 7 mos away.