OrlandoFato

Good morning everybody,

I am planning a trip to Manhattan next Summer and I am having trouble finding lodging for two persons for no more than $ 150 with all taxes, and paying with credit card.

I've been to Manhattan several times before, so I know my way around, that's why I've also been considering staying in another borough, specifically Harlem or Brooklyn. This will also give me a chance to see more of NYC than just Manhattan.

However, how much of a good idea is this? Would the taking of the subway to and from Manhattan prove to be a nuisance rather than an advantage? I'm not interested in doing nightlife in Manhattan (or anywhere else for that matter); I just want a quiet and clean place to sleep after sightseeing/strolling/shopping in Manhattan.

Thank you very much for your time and input,

Orlando Fato

Tomsd

Last fall - on a trip to NYC - I stayed at my favorite bargain place - The Larchmont in lovely Greenwich Village - (good continental breakfast, sinks in the room - European style with bathroom/showers in the hallway on each floor - but a bit small for 2 unless you get one of the larger/corner rooms - http://www.larchmonthotel.com/) - while a friend of mine stayed over in New Jersey.

His place was more or less across from the Southern end of Manhattan (will have to get the name of the nice area) - and there was good PATH service into the City - as well as other transportation service.

He has traveled all over the World (including living in Europe) - and had read about this place and wanted to try it out - and said he walked around the area in NJ at night - and it was very nice/safe, with good dining options. Will try to get the name from him.

nytraveler

First of all. Harlem is part of Manhattan - just a little farther uptown. The area is largely gentrified, although there are some blocks that are still not a place I would like to walk alone after dark. And, as far as I'm aware - everyplace there is a B&B - some with shared baths.

As for Brooklyn, there are some places that are convenient and some that are not. I'm not sure you will find anyhting for $150 in a good, convenient area there either.

I would suggest looking in Manhattan at the Jane hotel and also the Pod hotel - both of which have tiny rooms, some with shared bath, but in Manhattan;

You might also look at Long Island City, which has some decent places and is only about 10 minutes to midtown by subway. But you must make sure the lodging is very close to a subway station. I beleive that the Country Inn and Suites is OKK - and they may have something in your budget - which is very low for NYC in summer.

tomfuller

The Manhattan HI Hostel is at 891 Amsterdam @ 103rd St.
If all you need is a place to sleep, a breakfast, and a shower room and a bath room off the hall, you can stay there for less than $60/night per person.
They do have co-ed dorms. http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel060003.en.htm

bardo1

FWIW, I think the effort/time involved in staying outside of Manhattan (where you've said you plan to do your sightseeing/strolling/shopping) is more off a nuisance rather than an advantage - especially when there are plenty of nice Manhattan hotel options within your budget. Here are a few. All worth a phone call (if the online price seems too high) at the very least.

http://www.thejanenyc.com/

http://www.hotel17ny.com/

http://www.thepodhotel.com/

http://www.cosmohotel.com/

http://www.hotel31.com/

DebitNM

A friend stayed at the Pod on 39th this past spring and really liked it. Great location in Murray Hill and prices are about as good as your are going to find.

Tomsd

My friend stayed over by Ferry St - in Newark - and this is his comment:

........Newark was on Ferry st, which runs into Newark Penn. And that street has wonderful restaurants. There is also a Hilton hotel attached to Newark Penn.


From Newark Penn one can easily take a short 20 some minute path ride to WTC,or a even quicker train ride to New York Penn .

Tomsd

fyi - here is a Utube on Ferry St: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGP_94G3Vms

nytraveler

Trekking to Jersey is not advised. And Newark is not a place I would recommend that anyone stay.

Not sure of the status of the path station - I believe some are still closed.

HappyTrvlr

Long Island City in the borough of Queens, across the East River is often recommended on this Forum.
However, I can't imagine staying outside of Manhattan. The subway system will get you where you want to go so look all over the island.

Fra_Diavolo

I posted this link last week. It has a lot of inexpensive hotel suggestions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-me...ide=more266887

ekscrunchy

Harlem should be a good place to begin your search, although the properties there are mostly either B&Bs or apartments for let. There are express subway stops at 125th St. so you really would not add more than a few minutes to your trip from most tourist attractions to your lodgings. Harlem is a large area, so if you do decide to base there, we could give you ideas about which locations would be best. Just to give you an idea, I am female and would have no hesitation walking around in Harlem, even at night, although I would not be traipsing around anyplace much after midnight.

Here is one well-reviewed West Harlem hotel option, but there are others:


http://www.aloftharlem.com/



There are some new hotels in Brooklyn that would be great for location but the prices for these are almost surely too high foryour stated budget. Most important, along with general area, would be the subway connections....there are parts of Brooklyn that are very well connected to Manhattan, and parts that are quite far removed due to poor transit connections.

nelsonian

We stayed at Country Inn & Suites Long Island City for three days and it was fine. There are other hotels close by also. We were 5 minutes from the subway and only about two stops from central Manhattan. We stayed further out in Astoria for the other 11 days, and again not a problem getting into Manhattan. We loved the subway system.

downtownbrown

nyt's advice about LI City is pretty on the mark, considering what you're looking for -- cheaper accommodations outside Mnhtn. Easy subway ride into the city, but stay near the subway station.

nytraveler

Country Inn and Suites may work - for random nights next June they have some rooms as low as #125 per night - so within your budget even with tax.

As for credit cards, any hotel with take them - but most B&Bs won't.

nytraveler

And for random rates the Jane has rooms with bunk beds and shared bath for about the same rate.

The hotel gets good ratings - and while the rooms are tiny - you do have the benefit of being in Manhattan.

OrlandoFato

Thank you everybody for your time and advice.

I've checked many of the hotels listed and, except for the Jane, with taxes they cost more than $ 150. However, I'd like to stay in Manhattan, but the accommodation available for my budget is a bit discouraging. I'm not a demanding or picky person, but man, those places look tiny, but hey, it's NYC, and it isn't a cheap destination.

What's the problem with my budget? In Venezuela, where I live, there is exchange control. We are allowed to spend no more than $ 2500 a year, and only with credit card. We are allowed to use no more than $ 400 in cash per year. It doesn't matter if I have the money, it's $ 2500 and $ 400 per year and that's it. Why do we have such a limitation? Where's democracy? Well, that's what happens when we have for president a former military, with socialist ideas, and Fidel Castro as a mentor.

With food and lodging, and my wish of staying a little bit more than a week, have proven to be a challenge because of the exchange control.

I went to Madrid last year, and I was able to find nice lodging for my budget. The same happened two years ago when I visited Lisbon. However, I didn't know (or remember) that lodging in NYC was so expensive.

Anyway, I don't think I'll be able to travel to NYC next year. I'm going to have to choose a different destination.

Thank you again for the links (at least I have inexpensive lodging information saved for the future), your time and input.

Orlando Fato

tomfuller

This website will help with cheap lodging anywhere in the world you want to go. http://www.hihostels.com/
You might be able to find cheap lodging near a rail station and take a day trip into New York Penn station.
Fly to Newark?

nytraveler

The LIC options are within your budget. but based on what you've said I don;t know if the whole trip would be.

Not sure what options you have to maneuver within those numbers. Wouldn't want to reco you break the law - but how would anyone ever know how much cash you have?

doug_stallings

Sorry OrlandoFato, but NYC is about the most expensive city in the entire US for lodging, and there are few alternatives. I would strongly recommend Long Island City as a budget-friendly place to base yourself. It doesn't have the cache or attraction of Brooklyn, but it does have the cheapest hotels in NYC by far. Most important, Long Island City, Queens, is in NYC and on the NYC subway system, something you cannot say about New Jersey.

There are a few cheap options in Manhattan, but you really do have to cut some corners to get a place for under $150 per night (like share a bath). If that's an option for you, then by all means pursue it.

Another viable option in Manhattan is Priceline. You bid on a hotel and you get whatever is in your price range. You specify a neighborhood (which may be marginal in places and usually end up with a chain hotel). This is great for budget travelers who don't mind sharing a double bed (many hotels in Manhattan don't have two beds). And you can often get a hotel for under $150 including taxes. But the trick is you must wait until about 4 to 5 weeks out and you might not get something even then in your range.

My advice: Book a hotel in Long Island City, Queens, now and try to find something in your price range in Manhattan. You can always cancel the booking if you do.

One final caveat about NJ. Hotels there generally require you to take a commuter train or bus, and these costs can be substantial ($10 or more per person per day round-trip) and have inconvenient schedules for tourists as the buses and trains are geared to the needs of commuters. Those hotels on the PATH (the equivalent to the "subway" to NJ) also require an additional $5 per person round-trip for transportation. If you are on a tight budget, NJ is typically not that good a deal despite the generally lower hotel rates in places like Secaucus. The ferry, for example, is more than $10 per person per day.