Trip to NYC - Cheaper to stay in NJ? Any "Hilton" hotel recommendations???

[busy mom]

Trying to plan a trip for our family of 5 to New York City this June. The only way we can swing it is if we can keep the cost down. I have a ton of Hilton Honors points, so I am hoping we can cash in for a night or two.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Sagginit]

hi there! i am just over the hudson in NJ. it depends on how cheap the room will be. if you stay in NJ you need to factor in the cost (and time) of heading in and out each day. NJ transit bus tickets (2 zone which includes most areas you would stay in i am guessing) run 3.20 each way. they used to sell a block of ten tickets at the machine for 2.70 each but i buy a monthly so i am not sure if they still do that. so if you pay full price you are looking at $32 each day to get in and out. the ferry is there but that is $9 each way. there is also the path in hoboken for a few dollars, but that will take you downtown to about 33rd I believe, the busses take you to PABT which is at 42nd. there also may be children's rates for things but I am not sure how that works. so i would say unless the room is more than $40 or so cheaper in NJ it will be a wash. also you are then restricted to schedules where if you stay in the city you just get up and go when you feel like it.

 

[DisneyGal24]

My husband and I visited NYC in 2008 and stayed in New Brunswick, NJ. We were there for a wedding and decided to visit NYC too. It was about a 30 minute train ride into Penn Station. It was cheaper for us!

 

[busy mom]

Hi Sagginit - I did not factor in the cost/time of transportation to and from the city. I did find the Doubletree Suites/Times Square (on Broadway) which would cost $100 for two nights if I use my reward points.

Any experience with this hotel?

 

[happily single]

Hi Sagginit - I did not factor in the cost/time of transportation to and from the city. I did find the Doubletree Suites/Times Square (on Broadway) which would cost $100 for two nights if I use my reward points.

Any experience with this hotel?

Don't forget to factor in parking in NYC. It's super expensive!!!!

 

[kiddisney]

hi - we're just a few miles o/s nyc - we have a sheraton real close (east rutherford) - you could park for free - and there are multiple ways to get into the city - the hotel could shuttle you to the train station in secaucus (just ask) or there are buses right outside the door - but there are also other hotels you could stay at - in weehawkin - jersey city - etc - my recommendation would be to go on the hotel's website - find out a location in jersey - and then look at the local area to see which method transportation can be used for what you want to do in the city - train / bus / subway - etc - the hotel would help w/each and all

 

[teCh0010]

I've stayed at the Newark Airport Hilton and the Newark Penn Station Hilton.

The Newark Penn Station Hilton is much easier to get in and out of Manhattan since it is right on top of the NJ Transit line. I think the tickets were $5 each way to NY Penn Station.

You can get in and out of Manhattan from any Newark hotel with an airport shuttle, but you waste a ton of time waiting on your airport shuttle to pick you up from the airport and also pay double the regular NJ transit fare to originate from the airport. This is one of the main reasons I like the Hilton NJ Penn Station

I think the Hilton Newark Penn Station is 35k points per night and most of the Manhattan hotels are 50k.

Your big problem will be 5 people, not many standard hotel room accommodate 5 (especially in Manhattan). They do now have premium Hilton rewards where you can book a Suite with points, but they typically aren't a good value per point.

 

[NJGirl]

Hi Sagginit - I did not factor in the cost/time of transportation to and from the city. I did find the Doubletree Suites/Times Square (on Broadway) which would cost $100 for two nights if I use my reward points.

Any experience with this hotel?

As someone who commutes into the city from NJ regularly for theater...don't stay in NJ. Save yourself the hassle, travel time (dont forget waiting for the train, etc), and expense and stay in the city!

I've stayed at that DoubleTree numerous times on Hhonors points. Spacious rooms and its always been super clean. You are right in the middle of Times Square and it will be easy to explore from there.

 

[bamor]

Hi Sagginit - I did not factor in the cost/time of transportation to and from the city. I did find the Doubletree Suites/Times Square (on Broadway) which would cost $100 for two nights if I use my reward points.

Any experience with this hotel?

That is an awesome price for an awesome hotel in a great location. Rooms for 5 are hard to come by in the city.
If you are unsure, read the reviews on trip advisor, the Doubletree gets great reviews.
For additional nights, look at the Best Western Hospitality House, Radio City Apartments, The San Carlos, Affinia Manhattan. Those are the only ones I can think of right now that could accomodate 5 people in one room.
Some tips:
The Staten Island Ferry is free and a nice way to view the Statue of Liberty, both the Am Mus of Nat Hist and Met Mus of Art are suggested donation, the New Victory Theater has family shows for a very reasonable price, www.broadwaybox.com for theater discounts, www.hopstop.com for subway directions and www.menupages.com for restaurants by area. Look for discounts for the Top of the Rock (do this instead of the Empire State Bldg)

 

[scbelleatheart]

If you have a lot of points, can you do a Hilton VIP award? 4 nights for as low as 102,000 points excluding The Waldrof. It starts at 170,000 for 4 nights.

 

[krcit]

Hi Sagginit - I did not factor in the cost/time of transportation to and from the city. I did find the Doubletree Suites/Times Square (on Broadway) which would cost $100 for two nights if I use my reward points.

Any experience with this hotel?

I have stayed there. It's nice.

 

[Momto4boys]

I just stayed at the Doubletree in Jersey City in September. It's less than a 5 min walk to the train that takes less than 10 mins most of the time to get into the WTC area. The rooms had 2 double beds and a pull out sofa in the living room. SUPER comfy beds!! The staff was really nice and the area was very clean and felt safe. We got the room for $100/night by bidding through priceline.

 

[blessedby3]

We have stayed twice in Secaucas NJ when we have visited NYC. It is a short bus ride into the city (just dont go during 5 o'clock traffic like we did the first time--that 15 min ride took us over an hour). Parking is very expensive in NYC and I would be shaking in my boots at the thought of driving on those NYC streets...just to get to the hotel
Weehawken is another option. I believe you can take the ferry over

 

[twinsmom]

My family of 5 just returned yesterday from Doubletre times square. Perfect hotel for us 5. In the middle of it all. Kind seze bed in 1 room, sleeper sofa and rollaway was brought for free. Room has small fridge and microwave. We went to Walgreeens and Duane Reed which are both within 2 blocks and bought soft drinks, bottled wateretc. With my Hilton Honors I got 2 free breakfasts. Do not bring the whole familyand pay for this breakfast just 2 of you al go each day. Adults are $30pp......free with my Hilton Honors but did have to tip. Room views excellent. Walking distance to tons of stuff. We did the Grayline red bus tour for 3 days which was about $300 but we used it all 3 days to see everything we wanted to see. A great deli that is not busy is at the Edison Hotel right by the doubletree. Wonderful food cheaper than other delis b. Feel fre to email me at wolfpierce@aol.com to ask any questions. We were there for 5 nights