susan_spencers_ma

Hi, My son and I are going to spend 3-4 days in New York in late August. We have gotten some great info from this web site and are looking for some extra hints. Some people have mentioned both Da Vinci Hotel and YMCA. Are these both places that we would feel safe staying alone ? Has anyone gone through a private home/apartment rental ? If so a company to contact would be great.
Thanks for your help, Susan

Margo_Chester

Hi Susan, I can't comment on your choices so far as I have not stayed at either one, but; I think if you give us an idea how much you are comfortable with spending per night we can give you some nicer suggestions.

susan_spencers_ma

If we can stay under $150 per night we can do 4 nights if we need to go higher we can only stay 3. We will only really be in the room to sleep so size (even older or not updated)isn't the issue. Safety is our biggest concern.

mclaurie

August is generally less expensive than other times and you can do (imo) much better than either the Y or the Da Vinci.

If you'd like an apt. with a kitchen, there are a number of apt. hotels that will give you the benefit of both --hotel pluses like reviews on tripadvisor!, daily maid service and front desk help plus apt. bonuses of space and a kitchen.

Radio City apts is one of the more popular of these, by far generally the cheapest and currently has rooms for $140/night (plus tax of about 14% on top). radiocityapartments.com

I would book that IMMEDIATELY as it's completely cancellable should your plans change or should you find something better. Then you can keep an eye out for specials on quikbook.com and travelzoo.com closer to your trip.

The Salisbury (nycsalisbury.com)
affinia.com (7 all suite hotels)
Murray Hill east suites
the Beacon
www.jacksbandb.com

are some other good apt/hotels but their prices now may be over your budget. That could easily change. The Salisbury is sometimes available on quikbook at a discount. The Beacon and Jack's b & b are both on the upper west side, a nice residential area while most of the others are in midtown, very central for sightseeing but not so residential. Either would be good. I know people who stay at Jack's regularly and like it a lot but say the apts. on the front of the building can be noisy.

If you'd prefer a regular apt. (ie not a hotel). Some websites that people use are
vrbo.com (vacation rental by owner)
cyberrentals.com
nyhabitat.com

Another thought, you don't say how you're traveling (and I assume you're from Mass. If you plan on driving, the Travel Inn is a good budget hotel--the only place in NYC with free parking and they happen to have an outdoor pool, a nice amenity in Aug. Their current rate for end Aug. is $225/night but I'd bet that will come down.

BudgetQueen

I stay 3/4 times per year at the Super 8. My trip in July initially was booked at $189 AAA rate- three weeks prior dropped to $123. So, with any reservation that is easily canceled- keep checking. Next week, I'm again staying at the Super 8 for 3 nights. Initial booking was for $250, dropped twice to now booked- $123, and 2 nights at $151. Great location that is walkable to subways and Times Square, I come into Grand Central and walk from there too to the hotel.

mclaurie

BQ, when you say the price dropped, does the hotel tell you (via email?) or do you keep checking? If you have to keep checking, does that mean you have to cancel and rebook or phone/email them to lower the rate? Just curious about the logistics since you've mentioned this price drop several times. Thanks.

Lexma90

When our family (2 adults, 2 kids 11 & 7) visited New York this spring, we stayed at the Milburn Hotel. For just the two of you, it should be just around $150/night. It's on the upper west side, which not everybody's preference, but I loved being in a more neighborhood-like area. The room has a kitchenette, so every morning, my son and I would take an early morning walk to H&H Bagels or Zabar's to pick up bagels and other great stuff for breakfast. The kids loved riding the subway, but we also walked around a lot. I felt perfectly safe near the hotel both early in the day and late at night; there were always many people out and about. I liked being away from the noise of the midtown area.

kellbell

We really liked the Ameritania and our hotel room was only $137/night plus tax. Right next store to the Ed Sullivan theater where Letterman does his show. We thought it was a great location to do many things. Area felt safe and convenient.

BudgetQueen

You have to keep checking rates yourself. They never notify you. And yes, I rebook and cancel the old reservations, sometimes several times for a trip. The low price is important to me.

nina

Have you considered Priceline? My sister got the Waldorf Astoria for $100/night last summer, and they gave her a very large room.

mclaurie

Nina, Priceline is fantastic but is only good if you can manage with ONE bed for 2 people. Since Susan is with her son, I assumed she wouldn't want to run the risk of getting only 1 bed.