Secaucus - advice from locals required
Sep 2nd, 2009, 03:11 PM
#1
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Secaucus - advice from locals required
I am looking at staying at the Hyatt in Secaucus, NJ but not having been to New York before, need some advice as to the location ie safe? easy to get public transport particularly since we want to get over to Times Square in the evening and do all the touristy things like viewing the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Centre, Schwarz's toy store, Empire State Building, etc. We are two mature women so need honest advice please on the safety factors and what Secaucus is like. Thanks
Sep 2nd, 2009, 04:01 PM
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It's next to a shopping mall next to a highway interchange. You'll have to walk 5-10 minutes to the bus stop and then wait on the side of a busy road for the bus (NJ Transit #320).
Get the bus schedule here:
http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servl...BusSchedulesTo
Your stop would be between North Bergen and Harmon Meadow (look on the little map for Paterson Plank Rd)
Then you'll have to deal with traffic going through the tunnel into Manhattan. On paper, the trip is supposed to talk half an hour. You arrive at the unpleasant Port Authority Bus Terminal at 41st St and 8th Ave. Until midnight there are four buses per hour. There are three more buses, the last at 1AM. then you're tuck in Manhattan until 6AM.
Safe? I have no idea. But honestly, if I wanted to visit Manhattan I would find a way to stay in Manhattan (or at least someplace on a subway or PATH train line).
Get the bus schedule here:
http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servl...BusSchedulesTo
Your stop would be between North Bergen and Harmon Meadow (look on the little map for Paterson Plank Rd)
Then you'll have to deal with traffic going through the tunnel into Manhattan. On paper, the trip is supposed to talk half an hour. You arrive at the unpleasant Port Authority Bus Terminal at 41st St and 8th Ave. Until midnight there are four buses per hour. There are three more buses, the last at 1AM. then you're tuck in Manhattan until 6AM.
Safe? I have no idea. But honestly, if I wanted to visit Manhattan I would find a way to stay in Manhattan (or at least someplace on a subway or PATH train line).
Sep 2nd, 2009, 04:41 PM
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That location is very inconvenient and when you walk out of the hotel there's nothing there unless you have a car.
I would rally try to find a place in Manhattan - so you don;t waste a couple of hours a day trekking back and forth to the middle of a business park.
Check out Priceline or Hot Wire - or even some of the hotel web sites for internet specials.
I would rally try to find a place in Manhattan - so you don;t waste a couple of hours a day trekking back and forth to the middle of a business park.
Check out Priceline or Hot Wire - or even some of the hotel web sites for internet specials.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 05:01 AM
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There are some hotels that are on somewhat more convenient bus routes into Manhattan, but you also have to consider the price. You'll pay about $6 to $10 per person each way to take NJ transit buses or trains into Manhattan. Factor the inconvenience and cost when you consider whether this is really such a deal. It's not really a question of safety but convenience.
However, there is the Jersey City Hyatt, which has a lovely location on the Hudson right across from lower Manhattan. And it's very close to a ferry service that can get you over in just a few minutes as well as the PATH train (which runs all night but not very often). Now, the ferry is rather expensive (I think it can cost as much as $10 each way), but the PATH isn't. And the relative convenience of this brand-new hotel actually makes it kind of a good deal, especially if you can get a room with killer views of the Manhattan skyline. It's tempting enough that I'd definitely consider staying there if the price were right.
There's almost nothing to do or eat nearby after dark, and the neighborhood beyond Exchange Place isn't the best (i.e., you wouldn't want to go walking there). However, the PATH and ferry are safe enough.
However, there is the Jersey City Hyatt, which has a lovely location on the Hudson right across from lower Manhattan. And it's very close to a ferry service that can get you over in just a few minutes as well as the PATH train (which runs all night but not very often). Now, the ferry is rather expensive (I think it can cost as much as $10 each way), but the PATH isn't. And the relative convenience of this brand-new hotel actually makes it kind of a good deal, especially if you can get a room with killer views of the Manhattan skyline. It's tempting enough that I'd definitely consider staying there if the price were right.
There's almost nothing to do or eat nearby after dark, and the neighborhood beyond Exchange Place isn't the best (i.e., you wouldn't want to go walking there). However, the PATH and ferry are safe enough.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 07:24 AM
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Secaucus/Meadowlands area is not, in general, a great place to stay for a NYC visit but I think the bus stop into Manhattan is closer to the hotel than people on this thread indicate and I don't think the price is anywhere near $6-10/person---more like $1-2/person each way. Use maps.google.com and map the hotel. njtransit.com will give bus scheds and fares. I think the bus stop is right at or near the hotel. I know there's a bus very close to the Embassy Suites in Secaucus but these hotels are really best for large families/people who are driving here.
We can perhaps help you find better options if you tell us how many you are, how you're arriving (and if flying, which airport) and what you plan to do while here. The buses from Secaucus don't run all night but the PATH trains do, although some lines run more than others.
We can perhaps help you find better options if you tell us how many you are, how you're arriving (and if flying, which airport) and what you plan to do while here. The buses from Secaucus don't run all night but the PATH trains do, although some lines run more than others.
Sep 3rd, 2009, 08:42 AM
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I mapped the hotel with googlemaps before making my answer. It estimated a 6-minute walk from the hotel to the bus stop. Not knowing the walking speed of the OP, I said 5-10 minutes.
The Embassy Suites is on the same bus route further along, in the Harmon Meadow area mentioned earlier. The bus seems to pass much closer to a few hotels there. The Hyatt seems to be off by itself.
Even with closer bus service in Harmon Meadow, I would still look for a hotel on a subway or PATH line. inevitably, once you reach Manhattan, you still have to do some traveling to get to the places you actually want to visit.
The Embassy Suites is on the same bus route further along, in the Harmon Meadow area mentioned earlier. The bus seems to pass much closer to a few hotels there. The Hyatt seems to be off by itself.
Even with closer bus service in Harmon Meadow, I would still look for a hotel on a subway or PATH line. inevitably, once you reach Manhattan, you still have to do some traveling to get to the places you actually want to visit.
Sep 6th, 2009, 06:03 PM
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Secaucus is a nice close town to nyc. You also have the option of the 190 bus which runs all night long to the port authority. You can also take a quick cab ride to Secaucus Transfer station to take the train into NY Penn station. There are a lot of hotels/restaurants/stores in Harmon Meadow so you should be safe. I grew up in the town.
Read the hotel reviews at www.tripadvisor.com
Read the hotel reviews at www.tripadvisor.com
