New York travel advice

[troutman]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

So I am thinking about visiting New York in September or October for about a week. I was looking at staying near the LaGuardia airport because there are some pretty cheap hotels in that area. Is it fairly easy to get to Manhattan from that location?

http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

[blankall]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

So I am thinking about visiting New York in September or October for about a week. I was looking at staying near the LaGuardia airport because there are some pretty cheap hotels in that area. Is it fairly easy to get to Manhattan from that location?

Would not suggest that. You want to stay in Manhattan. Part of the joy of NYC is being able to walk around for hours and hours and see things. You don't want to tack massive trips to Laguardia there and back everyday. You also want the option to enjoy the nightlife in NYC. Even if you aren't into clus, you can stop into bars at 3:00 AM near your hotel and have a few drinks.

There is also no train that goes directly to LaGuardia. You'll have to use bus or taxi for part of the trip:

http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...sportation_FAQ

Apparently the trip is only like 30-40 mins or so into Manhattan, but I would strongly suggest trying to find a place centrally located in Manhattan.

Edit: After a quick look through expedia, there are plenty of flight and hotel pacakges in central areas available for $1000-$1,400.

I'd also look into hostels. My brother stayed in one, and as long as you check ahead to make sure they are clean, they can be a great option. You'll have a room the size of a closet and a shared bathroom though.

[Table 5]

Staying near LaGuardia (or any airport) would be a huge mistake.

Stay in Brooklyn if you want to save money.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Bumping this thread again, I'm going with 2 other people to New York in early October for 5 nights and we'd like to stay within Manhattan but having a real bitch of a time finding much below $300 a night.

Any suggestions/ideas?

Manhattan will be a challenge to find anything under $250/night. That being said it is NYC and you only live once.

Stayed at the Mandarin Oriental when I was there which was unbelievable. Finishings, service, and location were all top notch.

That being said it is also the most I have ever spent to stay in a hotel for two nights. Two nights in Manhattan baller style was more than my mortgage payment, but again how often are you in Manhattan.

I would recommend setting your limit at four stars as below that it will be pretty sketchy. Don't get into the mindset that it is $100+/night it can't be that bad.

Have also stayed at the Hilton Doubletree which was nice enough. It is right beside the Lexington/53St subway station so it gives you access to E, M, and 6 line, which I found made it pretty handy to get anywhere. Doubletree runs about $350/night.

[octothorp]

I've used AirBnB to stay in Brooklyn for cheap, I think there are probably some pretty decent options for Manhattan as well. Quick search shows lots of apartments for $150 a night. Of course, it's much more buyer-beware than hotels, but I've had great experiences every time I've used it.
https://www.airbnb.com/s/manhattan?r...ire+home%2Fapt

[Table 5]

Maybe your standards are higher than mine, but 4 star hotels minimum? Only if you have cash to throw around maybe.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn on 29th street a few times whenever I go back, and it was usually around $150/night. It's not luxurious but it was good basic stuff that was close to the subway. Also included free wifi (which a lot of expensive hotels will make you pay for) and an admittedly terrible breakfast.

It's NY. You're not going to be spending a lot of time in your hotel anyway....don't waste your money on unused ambience.

For longer stays (a week or more) Airbnb is still my favorite.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Maybe your standards are higher than mine, but 4 star hotels minimum? Only if you have cash to throw around maybe.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn on 29th street a few times whenever I go back, and it was usually around $150/night. It's not luxurious but it was good basic stuff that was close to the subway. Also included free wifi (which a lot of expensive hotels will make you pay for) and an admittedly terrible breakfast.

It's NY. You're not going to be spending a lot of time in your hotel anyway....don't waste your money on unused ambience.

For longer stays (a week or more) Airbnb is still my favorite.

I'd agree. I spent virtually no time in my hotel. Was up late at pubs and restaurants, and out of the hotel within a half hour of waking everyday. I'd much rather look at hotels in the 3-4 star range and spend the extra cash on restaurants and activities.

Just make sure whereever you stay you read the reviews before booking. There are a ton of great 3.5 star places, but there are a ton of bad ones. Also look out for any reviews that mention bed bugs. There is a huge bed bug epidemic in NYC right now.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Maybe your standards are higher than mine, but 4 star hotels minimum? Only if you have cash to throw around maybe.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn on 29th street a few times whenever I go back, and it was usually around $150/night. It's not luxurious but it was good basic stuff that was close to the subway. Also included free wifi (which a lot of expensive hotels will make you pay for) and an admittedly terrible breakfast.

It's NY. You're not going to be spending a lot of time in your hotel anyway....don't waste your money on unused ambience.

For longer stays (a week or more) Airbnb is still my favorite.

There was a lot of talk of bed bugs prior to my last visit, so I have tried to avoid the lower end of the spectrum. Bringing home critters is probably a good way to make any good vacation seem like a bad idea.

I also had the opportunity to check out a friend's room, can't remember the name off hand, but it was a three star and the sheets, bedspread, and carpet were all filthy. There was also an unidentifiable smell about the place.

If I was a first time visitor I would spend a few extra dollars to make sure that the basics are at least enjoyable.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

So I am thinking about visiting New York in September or October for about a week. I was looking at staying near the LaGuardia airport because there are some pretty cheap hotels in that area. Is it fairly easy to get to Manhattan from that location?

In a word, no. It's terrible. You'll eat up all of your savings in cab fares, or spend a considerable amount of time on the bus.

If you're going to stay near an airport both JFK and Newark offer much easier access, but there are certainly better options in other areas of Brooklyn, Queens or New Jersey.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Maybe your standards are higher than mine, but 4 star hotels minimum? Only if you have cash to throw around maybe.

I've stayed at the Holiday Inn on 29th street a few times whenever I go back, and it was usually around $150/night. It's not luxurious but it was good basic stuff that was close to the subway. Also included free wifi (which a lot of expensive hotels will make you pay for) and an admittedly terrible breakfast.

It's NY. You're not going to be spending a lot of time in your hotel anyway....don't waste your money on unused ambience.

For longer stays (a week or more) Airbnb is still my favorite.

Just a heads up on this one, they just finished tearing down the building next door and will be turning that space as well as the parking lot beside it into a condo complex sometime soon, so the noise levels may be an issue.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by fotze

We stayed at this place in mid-town (I think thats what the area is called). Really cool, like a nightclub. Used points but I don't think it was over 300 a night at all.

http://www.royaltonhotel.com/en-us/#/home/

Also a great review site for hotels that aren't fake hotel employee reviews is. oyster.com.

The lobby bar (right in the lobby ) makes one of the better manhattan's in the city

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Flacker

There was a lot of talk of bed bugs prior to my last visit, so I have tried to avoid the lower end of the spectrum. Bringing home critters is probably a good way to make any good vacation seem like a bad idea.

I also had the opportunity to check out a friend's room, can't remember the name off hand, but it was a three star and the sheets, bedspread, and carpet were all filthy. There was also an unidentifiable smell about the place.

If I was a first time visitor I would spend a few extra dollars to make sure that the basics are at least enjoyable.

One of the worst hit places was the Waldorf. Bed bugs don't discriminate by price point.

[zarrell]

I had not heard about this airbnb before - definitely looks intriguing. I'm going for 11 nights at the beginning of October and booked Hotel 17, which is basically a hostel with shared bathrooms for over $1500. I've got the cash to do it, but 300-400 per night is just silly. I'd do it for a night or two, but not over a week. Luckily my booking is fully refundable and I may just have to take advantage of that. Any of you NY'ers have suggestions on what area to look for apartments? I'm open to pretty much any area in manhattan that's close to a subway station.

[flylock shox]

Some great advice in this thread.

I'll be heading down to NY in a couple of weeks myself. We're looking to drive down, but obviously parking in NYC is untenable.

Does anyone have any better ideas than my current solution of parking the car in the long-term lot at JFK and then catching the shuttle do Manhattan, picking the car up again when it's time to head home?

[Jbo]

Leaving for New York Friday. Glad this thread came up. Great advice!

[Canada 02]

here is a good website for bidding strategies and successful bids on hotels using priceline

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.p...ilter=all&st=0

I stayed in the Conrad New York for $165 a night last spring. Not sure what it normally goes for, but I'd guess well over $300

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Staying near LaGuardia (or any airport) would be a huge mistake.

Stay in Brooklyn if you want to save money.

Another option is Long Island City (Queens). Only 4 or 5 stops from Times Square.

[Log]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

here is a good website for bidding strategies and successful bids on hotels using priceline

http://www.betterbidding.com/index.p...ilter=all&st=0

I stayed in the Conrad New York for $165 a night last spring. Not sure what it normally goes for, but I'd guess well over $300

I used priceline for my stay in NYC a couple years ago. We got the Warwick Hotel (4 star midtown) for $200 a night. Expedia rates for that hotel are north of $400 a night. Great deal!

[Paladium]

I think that AirBnb is a great option - I've used it 3 or 4 times. You can also check on Craigslist - I know people will say scammers but there are people who rent their place out for a lot cheaper than hotels and certainly better than a shared hostel.

I also am a regular on priceline (Name Your Own Price - option) through the bidding for travel site and it is is fabulous but I still found it hard to find hotels under $200 in New York which for me is a lot. In seattle for instance I got the hilton for $50 night by the airport.

Of note when I was in NY it was impossible to get a ticket to Wicked but every show has a lottery system where you can come in an hour of two before the show - put your name on the list and they drew 10 names at random and I think those ticket prices were reasonable.

Central park was great - I went there because I liked the film Marathon man and that's where he was practicing running so I jogged around the loop as well.

Have a great time and good luck.

[Old Yeller]

So we've found a nice place that's pretty affordable near the World Trade Center memorial which I assume is in the financial district.

Is the financial district horribly out of the way of everything? I mean worst case we can take the subway everywhere but can anyone give me some opinions the area in general?