nytraveler

Despite significant efforts there is still a problem with homeless families in New York City and due to a lack of apartments many homeless families, an estimated 2400, are being housed in budget hotels in the outer boroughs, especially Staten Island the Bronx and Queens. Apparently there are many hotels taking part in this program.

Just this week a mother and her 2 younger children were murdered by her boyfriend at the Ramada Inn in Staten Island, with a surviving 3 year old child in the hospital in very serious condition.

Due to hotel prices in Manhattan hotels many tourists look to stay in outer parts of the city in order to save money but many may be unaware of this practice - thinking they are staying in a hotel with other tourists. It seems that 41 motels are now taking part in this program, and while the city has offered security guards at night there is often no security during the day. Additionally these hotels are sometimes used for short-term stays for professional sexual trysts. (There is one motel in New Jersey long notorious for these activities in which super budget tour groups at times book unknowing tourists going to Manhattan.)

So this is a reminder to any tourists who may be considering staying in very inexpensive hotels in outer boroughs to check carefully to see if they are truly tourist hotels or if their primary use is for other purposes. Note this does not apply to higher quality hotels in better areas of Brooklyn or Queens, but may to hotels in marginal or downscale areas.

There have been other similar incidents in the past, including the murder of a young woman tourist in a motel in Yonkers with no security who apparently was not aware of this use and was murdered by a former resident who followed her to her room, pushed in and killed her.

Anyone considering staying in what they think might be such a place should check here or on tripadvisor to determine the safety of their plans

doug_stallings

Seriously, no tourist is likely stay in any of these 41 motels. They are very far from transit, almost inaccessible unless you have a car or take hours-long bus rides, and almost exclusively sub-contracted out to the city as homeless shelters. They simply don't draw tourists. While every tourist should weigh the value in savings vs. safety, these posts are becoming needlessly alarmist.

Dukey1

Things like this send a message about a city area whether you like that or not, Doug. Who knows the difference between the location and "New York City?" A lot of people don't. They think "another murder in New York."

HowardR

"They think 'another murder in New York'."

I really think that comment is way out of line, considering the fact that New York is continually listed as one of the safest big cities in our nation.

I don't think people make that comment any more than they would say "another murder in [name any city]."

I totally agree with Doug that posts like these are needlessly alarmist!

Fra_Diavolo

Maybe alarmist, but you don't know.

On my way somewhere or other I passed a flophouse in Manhattan called the Elk Hotel. Out of curiosity I googled it and, yes, it's been reviewed on TA. I often drive past a Bronx hotel on my way in or out of the city, the Andrea, and sure enough, it's been reviewed as well. People do end up in these places, somehow.

IMDonehere

I agree with Howard and Doug. NYC is now the safest large city in America and the usual tourist haunts are especially safe. To chose one random incident is irresponsible.

If there was a pattern or increase in crime for residents or visitors, that would be another matter.

Additionally, if one was going to stay in area that is unusual for a visitor they could check precinct crime statistics.

Inakauaidavidababy

nytraveler is to the homeless as Donald Trump is to the Mexicans or was it Muslims? It reflects poorly and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

nytraveler

The reason I posted this is that I have seen several posts, both here and on trip advisor, of tourists looking for superbudget lodgings who had somehow found a couple of these places and were considering staying there. (This includes a european tour group that was dumped in that dreadful place in NJ next to the tunnel and were amazed at the continual in/out of prostitutes. Another poster was looking at one of these motels in an industrial park (not office park) in the Bronx not even near a subway or any services and obviously deserted at night.

This Ramada is listed as a tourist hotel on tripadvisor, expedia, orbitz etc. And while a couple of the reviewers seemed to understand what they found themselves in, others just complain about the "hotel" - lack of cleanliness, rude staff, etc.

This is not meant to scare people about New York - which is the safest large city in the country - but to let them know that there are "hotels" listed on these search engines that are really not appropriate for tourists and should be avoided.

I have great sympathy with the homeless and our system should have enough apartments for families with no place to go - and when they don't these hotels are the next choice. But tourists should be aware so they don't end up these "hotels". Coming from another country, or even many parts of this country mistakes about something like this are possible.

marvelousmouse

I've no idea about foreign tourists but, really, it's not a problem exclusive to NYC. I've stayed at a couple of motels that I really don't think were primarily used by tourists. It's always been a situation of "if it seems too good too be to true, it probably is". It boggles my mind that tour groups can be booked into places like that though.

I also have a bad taste in my mouth because while I understand the concern about lack of security in such places, domestic violence is not unique to the homeless. The example cited here could happen at any hotel. It does feel alarmist in the context you're using it. I'd warn people away from those hotels but my concern would be about apathetic staff or car break ins or drug dealing or noise at a place like that.

Bedar

The Mouse is correct. This is not a problem exclusive to NY. California, and I'm sure many other places, are full of such hotels/motels.