conquistador

We are taking the train from Toronto to NYC in mid-late October. I would like to keep my hotel costs down around $100/night by staying at one of the stops before NYC within a short commute by local train .
I know nothing about the last 3 stops ...Poughkeepsie,Croton-on-Hudson and Yonkers (safety etc).Any advice on which location would be best for commuting into Penn Station under an hour,Hotels within a walk of the local station and train service all day.Bus with washrooms could be an option if they exist for a commuter run.

J62

None of those is a good option. It'll take you 1.5hrs and ~$11 each way by commuter rail from Poughkeepsie, and there is no hotel within walking distance of train station. These are all commuter suburbs.

The commuter rail runs into Grand Central, not Penn Sta. Amtrak has much more infrequent, and more expensive service, so you would not use Amtrak for local commute anyway.

Raise your hotel budget by at least $50/night and stay in Manhattan.

conquistador

Thanks. What can I get for $150 in Manhatten.

gb944

For $150 in manhattan, you might have to bid on priceline. Other than that, not much hope. Don't forget the obscene hotel tax! Ya gotta love NYC!!!

nelsonian

Try this link, we are considering it for April 2007, haven't made up our mind yet. Is a lot cheaper than hotels in Manhatten but posters have advised could have bad traffic problems although the reviews don't seem to say that. Still I have read that there are frequent traffic jams especially at Lincoln tunnel. If you do stay there let me know how you liked it. Thanks
http://www.vrbo.com/54014#morephotos

Just reread your post and I see you want something on your train route so this may not be of any use.

nytraveler

There is a recent thread - above or below - but active today about people wanting to stay in NYC for a very low budget. It contains a long list of inexpensive places - but some are B&Bs and some are pension style with shared bath.

I reco this strongly above staying in the burbs - which can easily take 2 hours or more out of your day - neer mind the cost of bus to train back and forth every day/night.

You will not find hotels near suburban train stations in general - and esp not near the ones you mention. You might find something in White Plains - or Tarrytown but would have to take (infrequent) bus or cab to train station to Grand Central. I think the money this will cost can get you a very basic hotel in the city.

ggreen

You could also look into hotels just across the Hudson in New Jersey, such as Jersey City and Hoboken. Look for places that are accessible by the PATH train, which is run by the Port Authority and operates much like the subway with stops in Manhattan. It's a little cheaper than a subway fare.

(Other places in NJ have commuter bus and train service, so that could possibly be an option if you're serious about dealing with a commute: the NJ trains terminate in Penn Station, and the buses at Port Authority, both in west midtown.)

mclaurie

Just want to agree with what's already been said. None of those 3 stops will help you. Poughkeepsie and Croton are much too far and I don't think there are any decent hotels in Yonkers.

There are a number of hotels in New Jersey that have some sort of transportation to NYC, but even those are likely to be more than $100 in late Oct. What you could try is bidding on Priceline for a 3* hotel in Jersey City. The 2 hotels there (Hyatt Regency and Doubletree Club) are both near a PATH train (like a subway) into Manhattan and winning bids are usually $70-100. If you don't know how to bid PLEASE go to biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com FIRST and get help.

Are you coming to NYC for a reason other than general sightseeing? (Wondering if a particular place/location would be better for you).

GoTravel

Hotels with easy access to Manhattan outside of Manhattan are almost as expensive.

Fall rates for the Sheraton Weehauken and the Hyatt and Doubletree Jersey City are around $300 per night.

Your best option is either to follow nytravelers advice and bid on priceline for Manhattan or take mclaurie's advice and bid on priceline for Jersey City.

bardo1

conquistador,

Here is a pretty comprehensive listing of budget NYC hotels, listed by neighborhood. get tripadvisor reviews and opinions here on Fordor's for your choices before booking.

http://www.eurocheapo.com/newyork/fe...-new-york.html

laartista

you might want to try the Sheraton in Weehawken, Sometimes 169.00 a night. There is a ferry dock right out the door to NYC.

doug_stallings

In several posts, I've recommended the Comfort Inn Long Island City, which is by all the main subway connections between Queens and Manhattan and also reachable by taxi from most parts of Midtown for under $20 if you have to get back late at night. Rooms there can usually be had for well under $150 a night.

But the Larchmont (which has shared baths) is a possible budget hotel in Greenwich Village, and there are other low-budget alternatives, though by now, most of these will be already booked solid.

There are many hotels in the Meadowlands area around Giants Stadium in NJ, and these are reachable (though by no means convenient) by limited commuter bus service from the Port Authority for a reasonable price and commuting time (about 20 minutes, I'd say). You might look into some of these, but in most cases, I don't find it convenient at all to stay in NJ.

I think there is a hotel in downtown Newark, but I can't think of the name. It would be reachable via the PATH, and is probably not as expensive as those hotels in the Newport area that are closer to Manhattan that are more like $300 a night.

granniem

There are not hotels in Croton on Hudson, I live in Tarytown and the hotels are expensive and at least a $10.00 cab ride to the train station. The hotels are not an easy walking distance to the hotels so you would have to eat in the hotels......plus yo have the expense and time in traveling to NYC. White Plains also does not have any hotels near the train station. I think it would be better to stay in the city then the additional expense of staying in the suburbs. Plus you would miss out of the NYC experience.

Don't know a thing about city hotel tho. Sorry, and good luck

mdn

Another option is to look on Craigslist.com. I understand that several young professionals in the city rent out their apartments when they are away on a business trip for a week or a few days. One can find a stellar deal-great location, nice furnished apartment etc. for a decent price.
One other hotel to look into is the Courtyard (Marriott) in the Newport area of Jersey City. It's on the water on the NJ side of the Hudson & just next to the PATH train which has 24 hour service to Manhattan. Trains run every few minutes during the day time & take ~20 mins. to get you into the heart of Manhattan.

lizzytoo

I have been trying to get to NYC, since august for sometime in Oct or November and I just had to accept that prices are just expensive during the fall months, now the Best Western Presidential said the lowest they had was going to be 119.00 in Dec 21 through christmas, for now it would cost 334.00 a night. You can go to New Jersey right across the holland tunnel for 200.00.

nytraveler

If you decide to stay in New Jersey make sure it is a place easily reachable by train.

Going back and forth by bus can be fairly fast - or can can take forever (bad weather, accident, idiot truck driver trying to take a too big rig through the tunnel). I have had it take more than an hour just to get through the approach to and the Lincoln Tunnel - a distance of a couple of miles - that should take about no more than 10 minutes.