Hotels in Boston & NYC

For when?

When are you coming to the city? If jan/Feb you will probably be able to get some special deals through travelzoo.com or even looking at some of the hotels' own internet specials.
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If you're talking about between now and the holidays - I think the chance of getting a triple room for that is probably nil - even if you;re willing to stay in Long Island City or New Jersey.

(That is a very low rate for a triple in NYC - and you can;tuse Priceline since many rooms hve only one double bed - and no room for a cot - even if you have a small child to sleep on one.)

We'll be in Boston May 27 & NYC May 31

That's a busy time in Boston, lots of college graduations. Under $100 is pretty unlikely in low season so I think the chances of finding a hotel for that price in May are slim to none. As mentioned, you can't rely on Priceline with 3 people.

Try some of the discount sites and see what comes up I guess.

We could switch & be in NYC May 30 & Boston June 3.

For Boston it will not make a difference - May/June is busier (only July is busier) - and to add to your worries 5/27 is Harvard Commencement and 6/4 MIT. No chance unless you stay so far out of the city as to make your trip miserable. If it were me, I would stay one less day than do that.

It's also Memorial Day weekend this year. It will be quite the challenge to find a well located room for three adults for those rates in those cities.

But, you have plenty of time to shop.

Keep an eye on TravelZoo and EasyclickTravel - amazing bargains there, perhaps for your dates in those cities later on.

I think your only hope in Boston is to use Priceline in one of the outer zones (airport ****, Dedham are good because there is public transportation into the city). June 3 is after most graduations, but traditionally Harvard and MIT graduate later than others. But Harvard is on a new academic year, so this may help you. You can google their commencement dates.

Consider Jersey City, NJ for your NYC trip, given hotels are usually 60% cheaper and parking is often free. Moreover, you can take public transportation into NYC, especially if going to Manhattan; buses, ferries, subways, and trolleys all connect Jersey City, New Jersey, with Manhattan.

If you go the Priceline route, we search Bidlesstravel's database (www.bidlesstravel.com)to get an idea of wht others have bid. Godsend.

Harvard 5/27; MIT 6/4. (In abocve post) Memorial Day weekend. Red Sox in town. The perfect storm - I would not count on Priceline.

Gail is, sadly, right again. Two years ago, we returned from Europe that weekend and could find nothing IN THE CITY cheaper than the Back Bay Sheraton at $176 on Priceline. The Dedham Hilton is usually cheap on Priceline, is a nice hotel, and is within walking distance of commuter rail. It is probably too far out for grads and their families.

I wouln't think you will find much in Boston under $100 period. Your best bet if you want to stay downtown would be the Harborside Inn which is a nice budget hotel and it's right across the street from Quincy Market. There's also the Aquarium stop on the T right at the front door for easy access to all of Boston.

I'd suggest trying Priceline as others have suggested, and also some of the discount websites for hotels like travelocity, hotels.com and libertytravel.com.

Good luck and have a fun trip.

We were in Boston this year in late May, and after a horrific experience with a B&B accomodation, we hit the streets looking for a hotel with room at a good enough rate (as we had already pre-paid for the B&B room and weren't guaranteed a refund).
We wandered into the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and explained our woeful situation to the woman working the front desk - she was so helpful! Not only got us into a room at a very reasonable price (I believe it was around $135/night for 2 double beds), but sent wine up to our room! It was by far the best rate we found, it was a great location, and the staff were wonderful.

Memorial Day weekend should not be bad for NYC _ since may locals are out of town - at the beach or in the country.

But $150 for 3 people is VERY low for Manhattan. I would reserve something as far in advance as you can - and it would probably have to be Jersey (but make sure it has decent transit into the city - not an hour long bus ride) and then watch for specials on travelzoo and the other discount sights. (May not turn up until about 3 months in advance.)

You CANNOT do 3 people on Priceline since they guarantee only a room for 2 people and many rooms have only one double bed. Even if the room is larger - the hotel can charge whatever it sees fit for the third person (extra people and/or children are NOT free in NYC hotels, and 12 and older is considered an adult). (For perspective, a bed in a dorm room in a hostel - sharing with 6, 8 or 10 people - is $40 per person per night.)

You might get a room in a B&B with shared bath for $150 - but very rarely do those rooms hold more than 2 people.

Ditto what was said above regarding Boston: $100 for a triple room in downtown Boston for your dates is unrealistic.

Park Plaza is an old hotel (read: poorly maintained) with tiny rooms. My friend stayed there a few months ago and it was barely large enough for 1 person. Sink in her bathroom has a crack.

The room we had at the Park Plaza was huge with two queen beds. The bathrooms were tiny - but there were 2 of them in the room(!). It certainly wasn't the poshest of places - but we had no issues with the room, and the staff went out of their way to help us, which goes a long way with me.

nytraveler is right about NYC being cheaper on Memorial Day. I plugged in your dates and you might have a chance at getting a room in NYC for around $150 but you have to add in the tax. The Hampton Inn Madison Square Garden which we were just talking about earlier today with another poster has a decent rate. I would book something and then keep looking for deals as others have suggested. Another alternative for NYC is to stay in Long Island City. There are a few hotels there that get good reviews and it's 2 stops on the subway into midtown. The neighborhood is a transitional one but it seems safe and I know a few posters here who have stayed in Long Island City and been satisfied.

As far as Boston, I don't know as much about it except that when we were there this past summer, I couldn't get over how expensive it had gotten. I am not sure where you came up with $100 for a room in Boston but that is not a reasonable rate for most cities. I think you need to be prepared to spend close to double that including tax unless you stay out of the area.

As far as Boston, I don't know as much about it except that when we were there this past summer, I couldn't get over how expensive it had gotten.

That's because the hotels in Boston stay mostly empty during the winter months as no one in their right mind would want to visit Boston between Dec-April; so hotels need to make up for their revenue during the summer months. A quick look at Travelzoo today I see multiple 4* hotels in downtown/Waterfront going for $99-$109 for December; so I am sure one can get 4* for even less via Priceline or Hotwire. But those rates are not possible for summer months.

Here's a strictly no-frills place in a central location which can accommodate you in a triple on May 27 for $179. http://www.jhcenter.com/index.htm

Stayed there one night over ten years ago, so I can't vouch for its present state. At the time it was perfectly acceptable for basic lodging.

It's just not true that "no one in their right mind would want to visit Boston between Dec-April". For one thing, April is beautiful with the bulbs and trees flowering all about. Dec-March, the theater season is in full swing. Boston is a compact and walkable (and very beautiful, especially when the snow is falling) city, and very enjoyable in winter if you dress so as to be comfortable while out and about. And, there are many hotels wonderful for hibernating within or connected to shopping malls with terrific dining should the weather be really nasty.

As for the end of May/June, now is a good time to shop diligently. You never know when you'll snare a terrific rate because the hotel/chain hasn't updated their calendar for graduations and other events yet.

Boston has also gotten more expensive as they have jacked up the rooms and means tax and added extra tariffs on car rentals.

That would be rooms and meals tax.

yk-That makes sense about the weather although,wyatt, I am sure Boston is beautiful in the winter and spring.

Fra_Diavolo-The room you mentioned is without tax so once you add the tax on it will be other $200. And that's for a no-frills hotel. That's why I mentioned the OP needs to double their budget for Boston. She wanted to find a room for 3 for around $100.

I just booked a hotel in NYC for 4 nights (5-31 through 6-3) at the Riverside Tower Hotel on Riverside Dr. for $149 a night for the 3 of us (a suite, but very tiny). I also booked the Ramada Inn in Boston for 4 nights (6-4 through 6-7) for $113 a night. They have a shuttle every 30 min. to the metro & has full breakfast. Thanks everyone

I suppose you did well enough for what you wanted to spend.

Is that the Ramada-Boston on Morrissey Blvd? If so, always have a backup plan, as the shuttle service is reported to be quite unreliable, holds only 12 people so is often full and you have to wait for another, or not operating at all if the driver calls in sick. Note that this property is considerably south of downtown Boston and the nearest subway station is .75 miles away, and not in the nicest of neighborhoods.

Based on the TA reviews of Riverside Tower, I wouldn't stay there.

If these reservations are cancellable, highly recommend you continue to shop. You never know when you'll find something far better on Travelzoo, Easyclicktravel, Priceline, Hotwire, etc.

Never mind with Priceline, unless you can find a very low rate for two rooms.

Have you looked in detail at the ratings for the Riverside Tower? I remember a report from travelers, I believe early this year, who walked in, saw their rooms and walked back out again - to search for a place clean enough to stay in. Have not been there myself - but I would definitely check out tripadvisor to see others reports.

Thanks, I just canceled & booked with the Pennsylvania Hotel. It's only $25 more a day.

I hate to break it to you but if you think the Riverside Tower hotel is reviled, just start asking about the Hotel Pennsylvania. I hope that's cancellable too.

Oh no - Hotel Pensylvania is possibly the worst hotel in New York.

I'mafraid if you want something decent (as in clean and without vermin - and in decent condition (not wallpaper peeling off the walls and stained everything) you will simply have to pay more.