Ricky_Rees

I'm planning to travel to New York in June with a friend for a two week holiday. I was thinking about getting an apartment as it is cheaper to get something nice and I want something with kitchen facilities so we don't have to eat out every night.

I was worried about scams but after reading the forums both here and on Trip Advisor, I realise that most apartments are illegal. I want to do the right thing and so am looking for suggestions or recs for some good hotels, apartment style hotels or B&Bs.

I am looking for something that has kitchenette, preferably in Manhattan however if it right near a subway station I am willing to consider other areas if there is something fantastic. My budget is no more than $200 a night for 2 people. I am willing to lower my standards a little due to New York being so expensive but I've stayed in very good rooms for less than this at other locations so please nothing that looks like the last time it had a renovation was twenty years ago.

Thanks for the help,

nytraveler

Well, prices in other places don;t really matter - New York is more expensive for almost everything - and esp hotels and real estate - for a while variety of reasons.

I would start with Radio City Apts (an apt hotel) - in a good location, but very basic. But because of the low price they often sell out far in advance. The Affinis group have a whole variety of room configurations in several hotels around the city - but they are in the moderate category and I'm not at all sure they will have anything in your budget. I would go to one of the hotel web sites and check which hotels have kitchenettes without suites (travelocity may allow you to search by amenity) and then go to the hotel web sites to look for special deals and advance purchase options.

I would start by going to the web sites of the hotels now and checking to see if any have special internet deals if you pa in advance

starrs

The Staybridge Suites is very nice but I'm not sure you can get it for less than $200.

qwovadis

www.betterbidding.com great 4* midtowns from $110 per nite

bidding Priceline www.chelsealodge.com if you do not like

to bid for great deals up to 70% off.

nytraveler

Ye s- but with Priceline there is no guarantee that you will get a place tiwh a kitchen - which the OP seems to be definite about.

PeaceOut

Also try the Beacon Hotel on upper west side. Or Embassy suites, near Wall Street.

Ricky_Rees

Thanks for the suggestions. After reading further, I think I am going to use Hotwire or maybe Affina, have to decide if I want to get a nice but small hotel room within my budget or get the extra space and kitchen but go slightly over the budget.

Decisions, decisions! The fun side to planning a trip

starrs

Ricky, a lot of hotels will bring up a small refrigerator upon request. Most hotels that offer a free breakfast have microwaves available for guest use. So, you can put leftovers in the small fridge and go down to the breakfast room to warm them up.

Bowsprit

@Ricky: Not sure when you're coming to NYC, but Eastgate Tower Hotel in Murray Hill has a winter special of $189.00 a night for a one or two bedroom suite (I don't remember which). Their rooms come with kitchenettes. I think for a 2 week stay you'd enjoy these facilities in your room.

The Milburn used to be a good choice; there have been some unhappy reviews about housekeeping and noxious odors in the suites lately. Hotel Beacon, as mentioned, has fixed prices of under $200.00 for their rooms with kitchenettes.

After you explore all the typical discount sites (Hotwire, quikbook.com, expedia, etc.) don't forget to call the hotels directly. At times they can meet or beat the internet price. It's worth a try, anyway!

starrs

"I'm planning to travel to New York in June..."

Bowsprit

Thanks, starrs. I didn't read carefully enough.

Bowsprit

lol, and there it is in the first sentence. Time for more coffee..

Well, Ricky: You can explore the Hotel Beacon now, if you'd like, because their rates don't change seasonally and aren't discounted. They provide very straightforward pricing that takes out the guess work. I'd call them directly for the best room. They have smoking rooms (blech) but if you want one or want to be far away from the smoking floor, give them a call.

Ricky_Rees

@Bowsprit - Where are you getting your prices from for the Beacon? On their website the only room available for those dates is for $325 which unfortunately is way over my budget.

@starrs - Does that mean that most standard hotel rooms don't have a mini bar fridge? I've never stayed anywhere that didn't have one, but then again I'm from Australia so things might be a little different over here.

Bowsprit

Give them a call directly instead of reserving online if you can.

hpeabody

I have a room reserved at the Radio City Apts. Its a Queen Studio about $200.00 a night. I am going there just before the time you are. Have you checked their web site yet?, I booked that way this time.

nelsonian

Ricky have you tried Radio City Apartments. We got them for $ 150.00 a night but that was three years ago and at the beginning of April. Our room had a kitchenette, which we found useful. We are from New Zealand and thought the rooms were quite satisfactory, but nothing fancy. They are were very close to Time Square and the subway. As nytraveller said you have to book early They get good reviews on Trip Advisor.

valtor

We stayed in Radio City Apartments in June 2010. Had a bedroom, a living with a small kitchenette. Very clean and quiet. The location is perfect, near subway, near Time Square and near Rockefeller Center. I would stay again there!

mclaurie

I think you may feel Radio City Apts. looks like it was last renovated 20 yrs ago. I think it's got photos on oyster.com Prices fluctuate pretty dramatically in NYC based on supply and demand and if you're coming in June, $200/night may be tough to get in a more modern place. In fact, I'd say as a general statement, apart from the Staybridge suites and perhaps the Residence Inn which can get pricey, very few of the suite hotels that would be $200/night in June will look spiffy. Many of the Affinia hotels are looking very tired.

The Aff. Shelburne is the most recently renovated of the Affinias (that's affordable) and only their rooms marked "executive" have the kitchenette. The Affinia Gardens is a great location for 2 women imo near lots of good shopping. Travelzoo.com and travel-ticker.com get sales 1-3 months in advance of stays, but I wouldn't be that hopeful for a June stay. It's a very busy time in NYC with lots of weddings and graduations. There are a lot of hotels with fridge & microwave if that's enough that might not be considered a real "suite" hotel like the Belvedere and the Newton.

Nycsalisbury.com is another suite hotel that is also tired and a bit shabby but I think nicer than Radio City Apartments and closer to Central Park. It's on oyster if you want to have a look. You can often find good prices for it on other websites besides the hotel's own like oyster, hotels.com, booking.com and occasionally quikbook.com

There are quite a number of b & b's that are really apartment rentals in smaller buildings. These are not nec. the best option if you need 2 beds, but I'll give you some names in case that doesn't matter.
www.wymanhouse.com
countryinnthecity.com
west-eleventh.com
gvhabitue.com

This one can set up with 2 beds and you have a garden but it's a basement flat.
http://www.edgeblur.com/agardeninchelsea.html

mclaurie

Radio City apts. is not on oyster (Salisbury is) but you can see photos if you click on travelers photos on the review page here http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html