NWR: Plea for Advice on NYC Hotels

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Ian Fitzsimmons

Ian Fitzsimmons
I'm tentatively planning a couple of trips to NYC later this year, both for business and pleasure. Would any of the bored NY constituency suggest decent places to stay? I'm rather budget-conscious, short of youth hostels and rooms with bugs. For business travel, especially, my needs are modest.

I'd prefer to be in Manhatten. When we travel as a family, we'll be spending a chunk of time at the 79th street museums.

Thanks in advance.
 
When my inlaws visit they stay here, and they have nothing but positive comments about the place.

Although on the modest budget front it might be a stretch.
 
I'll echo Brad's recommendation of Priceline.

And I'll echo Jeff's comment that you can save some money by crossing a river. The PATH from Jersey City is also a convenient way into the city.
 
Agree with the vote for the Lucerne, but not sure how inexpensive it is.

My family / friends have had some luck with the following on the UWS (not that recently though):

- The Excelsior Hotel on West 81st Street
- On The Ave (77th & Broadway)
- Hotel Beacon (75th & Broadway)

Also not sure how The Empire is on the UWS.
 
On the Ave is 3 minutes from the Museum of Natural History (and, not insignificantly, the Shake Shack), so that's worth checking out. There is another hotel on the same street on the other side of Broadway but I forget the name. That was my old block.
 
Quikbook often has pretty good deals - I have noticed mid-$100 offers from them for stays through early spring at a bunch of midtown properties.
 
problem with Quikbook, though, is that they show prices "starting at" a certain figure, but if you fill in your dates for staying there, you never see a price that isn't at least 40-60% higher.
 
Oh, and for Priceline the strategy I've had recommended is to bid on only the highest star rating in the neighborhood you want.
 
I've had better luck using Hotwire than Priceline (same idea though, pick neighborhood, 4-5 star hotels, low bid) but Airbnb is better than both.
 
Thanks for the gracious responses.

Rahsaan, Keith: both a bit higher than I'm hoping for, at least when traveling solo. Otoh, I haven't looked for a hotel room in NY for several years and may be completely out of touch with pricing these days.

Jeff, Jay: faves across the river? I balk at NJ, out of sheer ignorant prejudice.

Nick: thanks, will check these out.

fillay, Jay: will also explore Quikbook and Priceline, alert to Steven's caveat.

Brad: the second would be the math museum; but perhaps that's a subunit of the other one.

Cheers.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Rahsaan, Keith: both a bit higher than I'm hoping for, at least when traveling solo. Otoh, I haven't looked for a hotel room in NY for several years and may be completely out of touch with pricing these days.
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Oh, you can get much lower prices than those places. I threw out the idea just in case.

But, it is true that your hotel money will not go as far in Manhattan as most other places in the country.
 
Drat! They've changed the areas on priceline and it doesn't work for your purposes anymore. You used to be able to select downtown Jersey City as an area but now the smallest area includes Jersey City, Hoboken *and* Weehawken.

You were able to get the Hyatt for $100/night pretty regularly at non-peak dates before this but now there's a 4* in Weehawken so you might get stuck there.

Sorry.
 
Hyatt Regency looks like about $219 a night which is probably better than you'd do in Manhattan. Very nice hotel, gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline, and about a 1-2 minute walk to the PATH station which will take you to the WTC in one stop.

However you should be aware that the Exchange Place station is still closed on weekends (it's open all night during the week). Not sure when it will reopen so you should check http://www.panynj.gov/alerts-advisories/advisories.html.

And we have plenty of BYOs here.
 
One thing about about staying in NJ or an outer borough to keep in mind is that it's a lot less convenient if you're going to be in and out of the hotel throughout the day versus a centrally located hotel.

Btw, with regard to priceline, I'd recommend starting way in advance at ridiculously low pricing. Since you're blocked out for 24 hours if your bid is rejected, you give yourself plenty of time to creep up to one that's accepted. I've managed to stay at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco for $75 a night a couple of times as a result.
 
originally posted by Brad Kane:
One thing about about staying in NJ or an outer borough to keep in mind is that it's a lot less convenient if you're going to be in and out of the hotel throughout the day versus a centrally located hotel.

Btw, with regard to priceline, I'd recommend starting way in advance at ridiculously low pricing. Since you're blocked out for 24 hours if your bid is rejected, you give yourself plenty of time to creep up to one that's accepted. I've managed to stay at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco for $75 a night a couple of times as a result.
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Staying in Manhattan is certainly a lot more convenient.
 
If you really want cheap when traveling solo - check out this place:

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www.bedandcoffee.com

I have never stayed here. I live nearby. It gets good reviews. I see a lot of younger people going in and out. The neighborhood is great. You can't find a decent hotel in Manhattan for under $200-300 a night unless you do this type of place or go with a Holiday Inn or similar Hotel in a out of the way neighborhood.
 
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