NY, NY hotel for 90 high school students

[Southerndisney]

I am helping plan a trip for the school band and choir to N.Y. for April 2011. Any suggestions on where to stay? Of course we need to stay cheap but safe. They have events to attend on Long Island so they could stay on Long Island but want to stay in Manhatten and do sightseeing. What things would you consider should not be missed?

 

[mjkacmom]

I think it's hard to do cheap and safe in NYC. You are probably better off getting a hotel where the event is, and going into the city using public transportation.

 

[micheleq]

If the events for the trip are in LI, then I'd stay there. Depending upon where you are on LI, you may or may not be close to the City. You could be 1-2 hours from NYC if you are further out on LI.

Most schools use travel agents/companies that have agents that deal with student groups and have hotels, private security (some schools will hire a security guard to stay in the halls at night to make sure kids stay in their rooms -- a school I used to teach for did this on a DC trip), and they can create a package for you.

Good luck!

 

[newsliner1]

We just went to washington dc with our girl scout troop and stayed in a hostel. We had 5 dorm type rooms with bunk beds with 8-10 girl in each room. the bathroom was down the hall. it was a very intersting experience we met people from all over the world. i wasnt thrilled about the bathrooms or bunk beds but the girls didnt seem to mind. It was clean and seemed pretty safe. our girls were from 10 to 15 years old. just an idea? you might be able to get a good deal. good luck

 

[scrapquitler]

I think that you should call a travel agent.

 

[5forDiz]

If the events for the trip are in LI, then I'd stay there. Depending upon where you are on LI, you may or may not be close to the City. You could be 1-2 hours from NYC if you are further out on LI.

Most schools use travel agents/companies that have agents that deal with student groups and have hotels, private security (some schools will hire a security guard to stay in the halls at night to make sure kids stay in their rooms -- a school I used to teach for did this on a DC trip), and they can create a package for you.

Good luck!

I totally agree with what this poster recommends, probably best to look into LI hotels & travel to NYC via LI railroad to sightsee and you'll probably find much better rates outside the city. I would add that many hotels in NYC do not have 2 double beds or 2 queen beds per room; often it's just a king or 2 single beds so you'd be talking about many rooms needing to be booked in a situation like that.

Check into Marriott (call the properties directly that you may be interested in), they've got many locations on LI and my nephew & wife found them easy to work with for booking large group for their wedding and my daughter's dance team had good results booking with Marriott too and got a group discount Also, Marriott has a number of locations across the Hudson from NYC in and around Jersey City-Hoboken, NJ ; this is a very urban / popular area - combination of business district & restaurants-cafes / shopping / residential areas and transportation is pretty quick & easy into NYC via NJ Transit - PATH trains or ferry but this is probably further than you'd want for travel to the LI events.

Good luck with the planning

 

[Southerndisney]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm sure staying on LI would be cheaper, but the director asked me to check on staying inside the city and then he could decide which way to go. Has anyone visited NY with a group and where did you stay?

 

[smokeyblue]

I agree with the previous posters and say find a travel agent that specifically deals with student groups. They will be able to get discounts that you can't and it will save you so much time. Also, the logistics could be a nightmare getting from NYC to LI without professional help!

 

[5forDiz]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm sure staying on LI would be cheaper, but the director asked me to check on staying inside the city and then he could decide which way to go. Has anyone visited NY with a group and where did you stay?

Try this link, I don't know anything about this agency but it deals with youth groups so it's a place to start

http://www.superholiday.com


and here's link to youth group hostel in

NYC

http://www.hihostels.com/dba/ghostel.en.htm?ghouse=US|060003


Marriott group planning info can be requested online too

http://www.marriott.com/marriott.mi?page=quickgroup


and NYC's official travel & tourism site; check out the Free NYC section for fun stuff to do

http://www.nycgo.com/


Good luck

 

[momxx5]

I can ask our band director who he uses to plan our trips....what TA.

Our HS Band does yearly trips alternating between WDW and NYC. This coming sping the trip will be to NYC.

He posed a question to the kids....would you rather stay out of the city, being less expense but needing to keep bus services OR would you rather take the train, stay in the city and use public transportation.
He said that option#2 would be around $50 more.

The kids voted for option #2 and they are estimating that the trip will cost around $550 per child.

 

[pixiemagic30]

I have stayed at a local YMCA in New York. http://www.ymcanyc.org/index.php?id=1097 I haven't been there in a few years, but it was reasonably prices, located just a few blocks from Times Square and several subway stops. It's located in a safe area too.

 

[ospopo5]

I sent you a PM but you would defiantely want to work with a travel agent or group. There are way to many variables to your trip and you wouldnt want to let a bad decision run the trip for future groups. Leave this kind of stuff to the experts.

 

[Southerndisney]

Thanks for the advice. I have contacted a travel agent that works with student groups.