4 Nights in NYC. Where to stay Manhattan, Brooklyn or Long Island
Jul 16th, 2017, 05:04 PM
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4 Nights in NYC. Where to stay Manhattan, Brooklyn or Long Island
Hi,
First time in NYC for my wife and I. Due to the size of the place I am having major problems deciding where to stay. I fancied Brooklyn or Long Island (close to the East river so not far from Manhattan) to experience something a little less touristy.....yeah, ironic! During the day we would do most of the Manhattan sights and hoped that Brooklyn or Long Island were more of a chilled restaurant bar scene at night.
Our to do list is probably pretty standard, Central Park, Empire State or Rockefeller, Staten Island Ferry to see SoL, a dinner cruise on the Hudson & East river, Grand Central and of course the Brooklyn Bridge. Lastly a wee bit of shopping for the good lady.
The hotels I've seen and location are:
Henry Norman Hotel, 251 North Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11222
Z NYC Hotel, 11-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City, NY, 11101
Dazzler Hotel, 85 Flatbush Ave Extension, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy
First time in NYC for my wife and I. Due to the size of the place I am having major problems deciding where to stay. I fancied Brooklyn or Long Island (close to the East river so not far from Manhattan) to experience something a little less touristy.....yeah, ironic! During the day we would do most of the Manhattan sights and hoped that Brooklyn or Long Island were more of a chilled restaurant bar scene at night.
Our to do list is probably pretty standard, Central Park, Empire State or Rockefeller, Staten Island Ferry to see SoL, a dinner cruise on the Hudson & East river, Grand Central and of course the Brooklyn Bridge. Lastly a wee bit of shopping for the good lady.
The hotels I've seen and location are:
Henry Norman Hotel, 251 North Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11222
Z NYC Hotel, 11-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City, NY, 11101
Dazzler Hotel, 85 Flatbush Ave Extension, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Andy
Jul 16th, 2017, 05:55 PM
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First Long Island City (LIC) is part of Queens, but is just over the East River from Manhattan. When people say Long Island it refers to Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The one on the Flatbush extension is on a very busy thoroughfare that leads to the Manhattan Bridge.
The one on North Henry might be an illegal. In NYC any rental less than 30 days in private housing must have the owner or renter on the premises.
And the one LIC is near the 59th St Bridge another extremely bust Bridge.
The one on the Flatbush extension is on a very busy thoroughfare that leads to the Manhattan Bridge.
The one on North Henry might be an illegal. In NYC any rental less than 30 days in private housing must have the owner or renter on the premises.
And the one LIC is near the 59th St Bridge another extremely bust Bridge.
Jul 16th, 2017, 08:29 PM
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Thanks for the replies vjpblovesitaly, IMDonehere & mclaurie.
Janisj, try reading the post again, I was looking at trying to get a feel for the foodie/bar scene at night. I suppose some folks just can't help being smart arse though.
Janisj, try reading the post again, I was looking at trying to get a feel for the foodie/bar scene at night. I suppose some folks just can't help being smart arse though.
Jul 16th, 2017, 09:04 PM
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That's it from me Drew. I was not a smart ass, but if that is what you call gratitude and your thin-skin does not permit a different answer, so long.
Too bad, I forgot to post some money saving suggestions.
These people do it for free and on their own time.
Too bad, I forgot to post some money saving suggestions.
These people do it for free and on their own time.
Jul 16th, 2017, 11:09 PM
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IMDonehere
I was thanking yourself and both mclaurie, vjpblovesitaly. However 'Janisj' was doing anything but giving information.
I am grateful for your reply, I myself try and assist people on various Forums. For the life of me though I don't understand why some people just troll.
Andy
I was thanking yourself and both mclaurie, vjpblovesitaly. However 'Janisj' was doing anything but giving information.
I am grateful for your reply, I myself try and assist people on various Forums. For the life of me though I don't understand why some people just troll.
Andy
Jul 17th, 2017, 03:08 AM
#10
To get back on the subject, everything you want to do is centered on Manhattan. New York is as big a city as there is in the US, and tourism is big but nowhere near overwhelming. All sights are "touristy," but that is the essential nature of tourist sites. Times Square will have tourists from everywhere, and a lot are from other areas of New York, too.
Staying off Manhattan will mean a commute every time you want to get to or from your hotel, reducing your flexibility and available time. The details of NYC transit are such that getting to or from, say, the Staten Island Ferry from Long Island City could take an hour, but with a Manhattan hotel, much less. At least you didn't ask about staying in New Jersey!
The status of AirBnB in NYC is basically illegal for anything you might want, so beware.
Staying off Manhattan will mean a commute every time you want to get to or from your hotel, reducing your flexibility and available time. The details of NYC transit are such that getting to or from, say, the Staten Island Ferry from Long Island City could take an hour, but with a Manhattan hotel, much less. At least you didn't ask about staying in New Jersey!
The status of AirBnB in NYC is basically illegal for anything you might want, so beware.
Jul 17th, 2017, 04:30 AM
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I sometimes get tired of people who insist that tourists "must" stay in Manhattan. That's just silly, and it usually comes from people who have never been to Brooklyn or Queens in the last 10 years. There are now cheaper options in both boroughs that are almost as convenient as hotels in Manhattan. While most of the big-time tourist sights are in Manhattan, the food and bar scenes are much more lively and (arguably) better and more dynamic in parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Brooklyn is definitely a destination in its own right (one reason Fodor's publishes a separate guide to the borough). And Queens was named best destination in the world by Lonely Planet recently. So I think it's safe to say you can ignore the naysayers. But you must choose wisely.
However, I don't think either of your two choices in Brooklyn is very good. Then Henry Norman Hotel strikes me as pretty expensive for its location. The Wythe Hotel is even more expensive most of the time, but a much better choice in the same general area. The McCarren Hotel is just so-so, but you will find no trendier location in all of NYC. The Dazzler has a really bad (potentially noisy) location next to a big, busy highway. It's not a bad area ... it's even within walking distance to my office. But I think you could do better.
I'd recommend either the Aloft or Hotel Indigo, both of which are close to Fort Greene an interesting locals kind of neighborhood that you may be looking for. You just need to be prepared to spend at least 30 minutes on the subway in each direction to get into Manhattan.
Frankly, you'd spend that much time on the subway if you stayed in the new Four Seasons downtown and were visiting the Museum of Natural History, so I don't see this as a huge loss. Uber has also made parts of Brooklyn and Queens much more accessible. I'd strongly advise you to make use of that app if you decide to stay in Brooklyn or Queens.
The Z NYC Hotel also seems fine. It's a bit far from the subway, but it's a hotel that gets good reviews from other travelers. I have friends who will only stay in Long Island City, Queens, because of its proximity to Manhattan and good restaurants, so I understand your interest. And they, frankly, would prefer to spend their money on dining and Broadway shows than on Manhattan hotel prices. There are several good chain hotels in Long Island City that are just as convenient as many hotels in Manhattan, so I wouldn't hesitate to book there. You could probably walk to M Wells Steakhouse from the Z NYC (but it's a very long walk).
Just two thoughts: At some times of the year, you can stay in Manhattan almost as cheaply as Brooklyn or Queens. And there are plenty of "locals" neighborhoods in Manhattan with hotels now.
However, I don't think either of your two choices in Brooklyn is very good. Then Henry Norman Hotel strikes me as pretty expensive for its location. The Wythe Hotel is even more expensive most of the time, but a much better choice in the same general area. The McCarren Hotel is just so-so, but you will find no trendier location in all of NYC. The Dazzler has a really bad (potentially noisy) location next to a big, busy highway. It's not a bad area ... it's even within walking distance to my office. But I think you could do better.
I'd recommend either the Aloft or Hotel Indigo, both of which are close to Fort Greene an interesting locals kind of neighborhood that you may be looking for. You just need to be prepared to spend at least 30 minutes on the subway in each direction to get into Manhattan.
Frankly, you'd spend that much time on the subway if you stayed in the new Four Seasons downtown and were visiting the Museum of Natural History, so I don't see this as a huge loss. Uber has also made parts of Brooklyn and Queens much more accessible. I'd strongly advise you to make use of that app if you decide to stay in Brooklyn or Queens.
The Z NYC Hotel also seems fine. It's a bit far from the subway, but it's a hotel that gets good reviews from other travelers. I have friends who will only stay in Long Island City, Queens, because of its proximity to Manhattan and good restaurants, so I understand your interest. And they, frankly, would prefer to spend their money on dining and Broadway shows than on Manhattan hotel prices. There are several good chain hotels in Long Island City that are just as convenient as many hotels in Manhattan, so I wouldn't hesitate to book there. You could probably walk to M Wells Steakhouse from the Z NYC (but it's a very long walk).
Just two thoughts: At some times of the year, you can stay in Manhattan almost as cheaply as Brooklyn or Queens. And there are plenty of "locals" neighborhoods in Manhattan with hotels now.
Jul 17th, 2017, 04:48 AM
#14
>>he food and bar scenes are much more lively and (arguably) better and more dynamic in parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Brooklyn is definitely a destination in its own right (one reason Fodor's publishes a separate guide to the borough).
Jul 17th, 2017, 05:36 AM
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Doug,
The OP never mentioned that he is looking for an inexpensive hotel.
And, I know that you are the "expert" for NYC, but for a first timer, IMHO staying in Manhattan gives the ultimate "first time" experience.
The OP never mentioned that he is looking for an inexpensive hotel.
And, I know that you are the "expert" for NYC, but for a first timer, IMHO staying in Manhattan gives the ultimate "first time" experience.
Jul 17th, 2017, 06:25 AM
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I suppose some folks just can't help being smart arse though.
Astute of you to pick up on that during your first visit to this forum. Pitty those of us who have been enduring them for ten years and more.
However, I believe you will have a much more satisfying experience if you stay in Manhattan.
When you walk out your hotel door you will be where you want to be and you will be on sidewalks with loads of New Yorkers of all types and, yes, some tourists.
HTtY
Astute of you to pick up on that during your first visit to this forum. Pitty those of us who have been enduring them for ten years and more.
However, I believe you will have a much more satisfying experience if you stay in Manhattan.
When you walk out your hotel door you will be where you want to be and you will be on sidewalks with loads of New Yorkers of all types and, yes, some tourists.
HTtY
Jul 17th, 2017, 07:22 AM
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I personally much prefer to stay where I can get up, walk out the door, and walk somewhere without having to first take transportation for 20 or 30 minutes, but that might not be your first priority. If it's not, take Doug's advice and stay in Brooklyn or Long Island City, the former if you want to experience the Brooklyn vibe (pretty young, loads of restaurants and bars), the latter if you want to save money.
If you just want a residential neighborhood with tons of restaurants, and also convenient to many of Manhattan's tourist spots, stay on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Easy access on foot to Central Park, across Central Park to the Upper East Side museums, easy access everywhere by subway.
If you just want a residential neighborhood with tons of restaurants, and also convenient to many of Manhattan's tourist spots, stay on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Easy access on foot to Central Park, across Central Park to the Upper East Side museums, easy access everywhere by subway.
Jul 17th, 2017, 07:42 AM
#20
Stay in a neighborhood in Manhattan near the subway and you will find what you're looking for. I prefer West Chelsea myself. Others like the UWS. Many choices but most important, be near a subway!
