Big family in NY. Is Long Island City a good choice?
Dec 19th, 2015, 01:21 PM
#1
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Big family in NY. Is Long Island City a good choice?
We are a family of 6 (couple + 4 kids - 19,15,13 &12 -) travelling to New York for one week on February.
Looking for better lodging rates, I came across Home 2 Suites by Hilton located in Long Island City.
Do you think it will be complicated travelling to and from Manhattan every day? Is it safe? Weather in February could be an issue as well
Thanks in advance for your help.
Looking for better lodging rates, I came across Home 2 Suites by Hilton located in Long Island City.
Do you think it will be complicated travelling to and from Manhattan every day? Is it safe? Weather in February could be an issue as well
Thanks in advance for your help.
Dec 19th, 2015, 04:57 PM
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LIC is safe but areas are not particularly pleasant - are mixed use with budget motel, warehouses and auto body shops etc. Do not expect to find services near without checking - assume you will be having dinner in Manhattan.
With 6 adults (12 and up in NY) you will absolutely need a suite property or 2 rooms (2 triples or one triple and one quad). Do check the Radio City suites and various Affinia properties in Manhattan, which have a lot of different options. Not sure how much more they would be than LIC. If the difference is small definitely head to Manhattan. The subway to and fro LIC for all of you will be $30 per day.
With 6 adults (12 and up in NY) you will absolutely need a suite property or 2 rooms (2 triples or one triple and one quad). Do check the Radio City suites and various Affinia properties in Manhattan, which have a lot of different options. Not sure how much more they would be than LIC. If the difference is small definitely head to Manhattan. The subway to and fro LIC for all of you will be $30 per day.
Dec 20th, 2015, 07:25 AM
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As mentioned the hotel is close (about 1 1/2 blocks) from the nearest substation (elevated) at 39th Avenue & 31st St. The N and Q train (Q train weekdays only to about 11 PM). These trains connect/intersect with most other routes in Manhattan.
To use the subway(and localbuses) you will need get a get a MetroCard at the subway station. The cards can be purchased from a machine (cash, credit/debit) or from a booth (cash only). There is a $1.00 fee for the purchase of a new MetroCard. The card can be refilled with value at a machine or booth in the subway.
Note: It is not necessary for each person to have a MetroCard (unless you want to do that). A regular MetroCard can up to handle 4 people. So for 6 people you will need 2 MetroCards (unless you want to get a card for each person). If you decide to go with a 7 day unlimited MetroCard ($31.00) then each person will need one (no sharing of Unlimited MetroCards is permitted).
There are single fare cards for $3.00 available from the larger machines only. These cards are valid for a single use (within 2 hours of purchase). If you will be in NYC for a week go with a regular MetroCard.
Also be aware that if you use cash in the machine the maximum
amount of change the machine will return is $9.00 so if your transaction uses a large bill that would result in a larger amount of change to be given the machine will not complete the transaction.
The machines work in multiples of 5 cents. If using a credit or debit card there is a maximum of 2 transactions per credit or debit card per day. Each MetroCard purchase or refill at a machine is a transaction.
Traveling on the subway between LIC and Manhattan is relatively quick and safe.
As for the weather in February, based on how it has been this month (December) it is anyones guess. February 2015 was cold and snowy.
To use the subway(and localbuses) you will need get a get a MetroCard at the subway station. The cards can be purchased from a machine (cash, credit/debit) or from a booth (cash only). There is a $1.00 fee for the purchase of a new MetroCard. The card can be refilled with value at a machine or booth in the subway.
Note: It is not necessary for each person to have a MetroCard (unless you want to do that). A regular MetroCard can up to handle 4 people. So for 6 people you will need 2 MetroCards (unless you want to get a card for each person). If you decide to go with a 7 day unlimited MetroCard ($31.00) then each person will need one (no sharing of Unlimited MetroCards is permitted).
There are single fare cards for $3.00 available from the larger machines only. These cards are valid for a single use (within 2 hours of purchase). If you will be in NYC for a week go with a regular MetroCard.
Also be aware that if you use cash in the machine the maximum
amount of change the machine will return is $9.00 so if your transaction uses a large bill that would result in a larger amount of change to be given the machine will not complete the transaction.
The machines work in multiples of 5 cents. If using a credit or debit card there is a maximum of 2 transactions per credit or debit card per day. Each MetroCard purchase or refill at a machine is a transaction.
Traveling on the subway between LIC and Manhattan is relatively quick and safe.
As for the weather in February, based on how it has been this month (December) it is anyones guess. February 2015 was cold and snowy.
Dec 20th, 2015, 08:00 AM
#10
NY hotel prices are at their lowest in February, so I think it would be worth your while to see if you can swing one in Manhattan, both for convenience and ambiance.
Try the Travel Inn on the west side. http://www.thetravelinnhotel.com
Try the Travel Inn on the west side. http://www.thetravelinnhotel.com
Dec 20th, 2015, 08:23 AM
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Another reliable budget property is the Newton on the upper west side - but don't believe they have suites for 6 - so you would need 2 rooms. This is a mid/upscale residential area and avenues are lined with inexpensive/moderate restaurants of every possible ethnicity. The hotel is on the same block as the subway entrance so it's easy to get to every place in Manhattan.
If you can swing this it's a much better choice than LIC.
If you can swing this it's a much better choice than LIC.
Dec 20th, 2015, 08:33 AM
#12
good choice? No, but if it's the only choice that you can afford, maybe.
Bundle up, it's likely to be freezing cold and you won't be able to duck into your hotel room for an hour in the afternoon to nap and warm up and get out of your wet shoes.
Bundle up, it's likely to be freezing cold and you won't be able to duck into your hotel room for an hour in the afternoon to nap and warm up and get out of your wet shoes.
Dec 21st, 2015, 05:43 AM
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Long Island City in Queens is actually more convenient to more tourist sites in Manhattan than the Newton, which is up on 96th Street on the Upper West Side. The main advantage of being in Manhattan is that you can usually walk to restaurants, but Long Island City is rapidly changing, and there are quite a few good restaurants right there. There's a Brazilian rodizio restaurant right by the hotel, but I've never eaten there. It's a quick ride into Manhattan from there, and it's as convenient to most places as a hotel in Manhattan would be. The fact that the rooms have little kitchenettes and separate seating areas makes them ideal for a bigger group. Plus, there's free breakfast and a brand-new hotel. What's not to like?
Dec 21st, 2015, 08:47 AM
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Sorry - the upper west side is more convenient for MANY of the museums which line the east and west sides of Central Park. And for downtown places are the trip is no longer than from Queens. LIC is a little closer only for midtown, esp the east side. The Broadway express from 96th St is only about 15 minutes to Times Square - no further than from LIC.
Dec 21st, 2015, 03:31 PM
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nytraveler - I have to disagree with you on "the upper west side is more convenient for MANY of the museums which line the east and west sides of Central Park".
Someone on the upper west side would have to transverse the entire width of the Park (walk or take a local bus) to get to the east side of the Park (5th Avenue).
The Lexington Avenue Line (4, 5 and 6 trains) would be best for the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Av & 82nd St) and the Guggenhiem Museum (5th Av & 89th St) [86th St station on the 4, 5 or 6 train and then walk 3 blocks on 86th St to 5th Av/Central Park then left for the Metropolitan or right for the Guggenhiem].
Museum of City of NY at 5th Av & 103rd St. 103rd St station on the 6 train only then 3 blocks to 5th Av/Central Park.
Someone on the upper west side would have to transverse the entire width of the Park (walk or take a local bus) to get to the east side of the Park (5th Avenue).
The Lexington Avenue Line (4, 5 and 6 trains) would be best for the Metropolitan Museum of Art (5th Av & 82nd St) and the Guggenhiem Museum (5th Av & 89th St) [86th St station on the 4, 5 or 6 train and then walk 3 blocks on 86th St to 5th Av/Central Park then left for the Metropolitan or right for the Guggenhiem].
Museum of City of NY at 5th Av & 103rd St. 103rd St station on the 6 train only then 3 blocks to 5th Av/Central Park.
Dec 21st, 2015, 05:09 PM
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The subway is on Lexington - the museums on fifth.
Granted it might take a few more minutes to walk across the park then from Lex to Fifth - but you're also seeing a great sight. And I would much rather be walking there than an area with warehouses and auto body shops.
Granted it might take a few more minutes to walk across the park then from Lex to Fifth - but you're also seeing a great sight. And I would much rather be walking there than an area with warehouses and auto body shops.
