1st time group to NYC, where to stay?
 

I am checking into hotel and/or apartments for a college group of 10-12 at spring break, 2008 and am not finding anything we can afford. Can you please recommend neighborhoods that would be safe and affordable? A train ride to downtown is fine. Or has anyone heard of colleges that rent rooms? Also, these are art students. Any suggestions for the best sites for them?

NYU rents its dorms during the summer for those who are in NYC for summer internships. Not sure if they do this during Spring Break. I would think not, but you never know.

I think there is a YMCA Youth Hostel on the Upper West Side. Have you looked into this?

Hotel prices have gotten crazy in NYC. The Wellington is a midtown hotel I know that many schools have used in the past but even that might be too much. Another to check is the Newton

A hostel might be the best idea. The YMCA Westside or Vanderbilt are both good and have some private rooms with shared baths if a dormitory is not to their liking. Hostelling International is also very good and not far from Columbia. Hostelz.com has a search engine and reviews. You can also look at reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Long Island City is a subway ride from Manhattan. It's a bit gritty there (somewhat industrial but being gentrified) but there are a few more affordable hotels including the Quality Inn Long Island City and the Comfort Inn there. There also happens to be a contemporary art museum there-an outpost of MOMA , PS 1 http://www.ps1.org/ and the Noguchi museum, not to mention Five Points for graffitti art. http://queens.about.com/od/thingtodo/ss/lic_art_5.htm

Brooklyn might be another idea.

Look into the Vanderbilt YMCA, which would be suitable for college students. There are hotels in Queens. The Comfort Inn Long Island City is within 2 blocks of a major subway station and one stop from Midtown. The Hotel Edison might be within your price range, and it's right in Times Square. There are other motels in Queens and Brooklyn, and a few hotels near PATH stations in NJ.

I'd just issue a very strong caution that you are really looking to save money, please do not book rooms in the Seacaucus area of NJ, where you have to take much more expensive commuter trains or buses, nor would I recommend the Meadowlands area of NJ. If you book in NJ, stick to places that are near PATH stations and nothing else. But even then the fun of being in NYC is to take advantage of the nightlife, and that's difficult if you don't stay in Manhattan.

Applecore Hotels and Affinia both have reasonably priced properties; Applecore runs chain hotels like Red Roof Inn and the like.

Universities do not usually kick their students out of the dorms during spring break. They do kick them out during Xmas break, but they still can't rent them out because the kids leave all their stuff in their rooms. They rent them out in the summer because the rooms are vacant.

the biggest question here is "how much you afford?" NYC is expensive. If you want a hotel, count on $150 per night at minimum for the very very basic. Check Chelsea hotel and Seafarer's. Otherwise, check the hostels if that's fine with you. They will still be around $30 per night at least for a dorm bed.

Are the students over 21?

Hi

I had a big problem finding a hotel at a reasonable price when I'm going to NYC in November. We ended up with Quality Inn Long Island City and we are paying 160$ per night including all taxes, breakfast, internet access etc. Check out the reviews here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

It is only a couple of stops from Manhattan on the subway.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

So far your advice on hostels looks best. The Vanderbilt is already full for next spring and I checked the hotels you have all mentioned and they are too much for college students (which means ages 19-23 for smartcookie). Has anyone had any information about Times Square Beds and Rooms hostel? It's at 356 W. 40th St.

The hostels are going to be $30 per person per night. You can try to find rooms at a hotel for $120 per night or so, with two queen beds, which would be same price. Seafarer's and Chelsea Hotel are in that range.

Hosteling International (check the web site) has a hostel at 103rd and Amsterdam - not that far from Columbia. It's a very mixed neighborhood, but lots of good inexpensive restaurants and easy access to the subway.

I believe they charge about $35 per night for a dorm room bed and locker. Perhaps your group is large enough to get one or more private rooms.

Most hotels in NYC will not welcome groups of spring breakers - even if you could afford the rooms. (Many hotels don;t allow guests under 21 unless accompanied by an adult - and many rooms hold only 2 people - 1 double or 2 twin beds).
To call and say we're bring 10 to 12 college students will be a major red flag to most any place here - and if they will let you stay they will probably require very high "holds" on your credit cards for additional charges and possible damage.

For art students NYC has a host of places: the Met, Frick, Whitney, MoMA, Guggenheim - the list is endless. And there are literally dozens and dozens of small galleries - mostly downtown. Also suggest you check the museums of the various schools/ universities.

the Chelsea Hotel is cheap? Sid and Nancy don't live there anymore.

Try the White House hostel it is in the east village
http://www.whitehousehotelofny.com/

or American Dreams
http://www.americandreamhostel.com/rates.html
it is close enough to the east village--in gramercy park/murray hill area and on the 6 train to the museums.

There are so many good bargains in the warrens of jewelry stores on Canal Street, if you speak Cantonese or Mandarin ot know somebody.

I don't know the Times Square hostel you mention. Did you look on tripadvisor to see if it's listed? The Big Apple hostel in Times Square gets good reviews, but I don't think Times Square is the best location for your group. Have you checked the Westside YMCA? Also, I think the 92nd st. Y may have some rooms.

I'm not sure I'd really recommend any of the NYC hostels for US college students. I'd book them into the Pod Hotel in the rooms with shared baths before choosing a hostel. Those rooms are very reasonably priced for NYC, the rooms are clean and well kept, and the hotel is in a very convenient location in Manhattan. I can't believe I didn't mention that sooner. The double shared-batch rooms have bunk beds and are small, but I think that's a relatively small concession for being in Manhattan.

FYI: The Gershwin Hotel also has hostel-style multi-share rooms, and I think those would also be preferable to any of the hostels.