Myself and several other college students are planning a 6-7 day trip in March to New York and we are looking for a good, inexpensive hotel. I've been looking a lot at Hotel 17, which sounded like a good bet until I saw some negative reviews on Yahoo. Most were very positive but some mentioned rude employees, drafty windows, and even roaches and mice.

We don't mind small rooms and shared baths (we stayed at a charming little Brownstone hotel in London that we loved), but we would like to avoid roaches and mice.

Any suggestions or general NYC budget travelling tips would be great. Thanks!

I don't stay in hotels in NY because I have friends/relatives to stay with, but I'm always on the lookout for budget options anywhere I go and I have always thought that staying in a hotel in Queens would save quite a bit. There's a Comfort Inn in Long Island City that's right across the street from the subway, (Queensplaza stop) and it's only about 5-10 minutes from Midtown. In most cities (I usually travel to Europe) I don't really like staying out in the suburbs but NYC is so large that if you stayed on the UWS or way downtown you'd still be at least 10-15 minutes subway from midtown so what's the difference. I checked the rates there once just for the heck of it and they were significanlty lower than the comfort Inns in Manhattan. There's also a La Quinta one or two stops further out and it's even cheaper but I'm not sure if it's right next to a stop. Those are just the two that I pass on the subway line I take regularly, there are probably others. I've also seen people here mention B&Bs (again in Queens, also Brooklyn but there are some in Manhattan as well) that are even less expensive, I don't know the name of the site, but you might find it if you search.

I go to NY about once a month, and the two places I stay are in Jackson Heights and on the upper west side, and honestly, I don't find being in Jackson Heights to be a significantly lesser experience then when I stay on the UWS.

My sister and I will be visiting my son in NYC in early Jan. We have booked a room at the Morningside Inn (upper west side) http://www.morningsideinn-ny.com/
I had my son swing by as it's close to where he lives and he said he thought it look fine. Old, but recently upgraded. It has a wide variety of rooms. We have booked the apartment. It has two double beds and the web site says it will bring in a roll away for a maximum of five in the room. It also has a kitchen, which will save us some money on breakfasts at least. I don't know if their rates change according to season--but we're paying $168 a night. If you divide that by 5 it could be a very cheap stay.
They have rooms with shared baths as well as private. It's pretty far west but as the previous poster said you've got to take the subway or bus to get almost anywhere. I have been in the neighborhood before and while it's nothe fancy it's safe. It's close to Columbia University.
I'd be happy to post again after our stay in Jan. but you probably want to book before then.

Big Apple Hostel is a great location. Have never stayed there tho. I stay all the time in Super 8 on 46th. Again just a superb location. Keep checking rates.

First, a heads up that if you're not over 21, you may have a hard time checking into many regular hotels (vs. a hostel). How many of you to a room will also affect your options. There are strict fire codes in NYC that don't allow more than a certain number of people (usually 4) in a room in some buildings (or insurance issues).

Hostelling International on Broadway and about 102 st. is supposed to be the best hostel in the city but mostly dorm rooms. I think they do have 1 family room if there are a lot of you. Look for reviews and other hostel options on hostelz.com

The Westside YMCA is very well located and if you can get the top floor, it's been renovated. They have single and double rooms, some with private baths.
http://www.ymcanyc.org/sub.php?p=ser...guestmanhattan
The Vanderbilt Y is also well located and has some private rooms.

A few more thoughts if 21 is not an issue.

The Larchmont is a good hotel in Greenwich Village (near NYU). All the rooms have to share baths, but that keeps prices more affordable.

Second Home on Second and East Village Bed and Coffee are 2 budget places also with some shared baths.

I'd also be looking at hotel reviews on tripadvisor.com

The Best Western President near Times Square I think allows a check in age of 18 and is not bad. Some others to check (for under 21)are Jolly Madison, Holiday Inn - Midtown (on 57th), Thirty Thirty Hotel.

Thanks everyone.

There will be myself and another guy (both 22) and 4 girls that are under 21, but I will be checking in for all rooms. We want to do either the 4 girls in one room or 2 and 2 and of course me and the other guy in a room.

I do have a question about the Hostels. Do the private rooms have locks on the doors? Our main qualm with hostels is the idea of having to sleep with your valuables underneath your body.

jbrown, ask the hotels what their age policy is. I know some require you to have an adult over the age of 25 and will check IDs.

I know our front desk was required to and did in fact turn away under age guests.

I just want to make sure you aren't in for any ugly surprises.

Thanks for that tip, gotravel. I have 7 guidebooks and none of them have mentioned that.

jbrown, I imagine most guidebooks wouldn't think to add that tip about underage checking in.

I know when I was 21 where my money was going and it wasn't guidebooks!

True, but most of my guidebooks are for budget travel, and they talk a lot about student and international travelers and such, so they clearly are aiming at that demo.

check www.worldres.com

I stayed at the Belvedere this year & found it was great - some have not but it seems to depend on the floor your on. Anyway, they have rooms with 2 bedrooms that might suit you.
Next year I am hoping to go to New York again & am looking to stay at Radio City Apartments - they are self catering & have various size rooms that are cheaper than most hotels. The only problem is that some modernisation is taking place - look at the write ups as the negative comments are in the older rooms & the positive ones are in the refurbished rooms - & you will need to specify what floor & if you want a front or back facing room.

Here's a website with lots of hostels, info and reviews
http://www.hostelz.com/hostels/USA/N.../New-York-City

Given your situation, I would contact the Larchmont and see if they will accept your group.
http://www.larchmonthotel.com/

While I haven't stayed at this hotel, I like looking at links on New York, it is the Hotel Newton in Manhatten. I think it is owned by the same people that own the Belvedere. They have shared baths and private. It was recommended in the Houston Chroncile.

Just a note about credit cards. Most hotels put a hold on more than the hotel charges will be - often significantly more if young people are involved - so they don't lost if there is any amage.

So - be sure that your credit card has availability of at least $500 more- perhaps a lot more - than the actual cost of thehotel will be. You may want to ask them what kind of "hold" they use.

Last summer I was in line at Hertz behind some young tourists from Ireland - and they had to go get a bunch of cash as a deposit to rent a car - because the hotel had maxed out their credit cards (I guess they only had one each) in a "hold" more than the actual hotel charges.

Thanks for all the help!

We have decided to go with a rented apartment at 55th and Broadway. We will get a full kitchen, beds for 6, 2 bathrooms, and a balcony for just $57 a night per person.

We weighed a lot of options including private rooms in Hostels and decided to go with this. Thanks for your help.

Sounds great, glad you found something and thanks for letting us know! Have a great time and be sure to post back when you return home, we'd love to hear about your trip!

An apt. does sound great. Did you tell the person you're renting from about your ages? Being upfront could save you lots of problems.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Larchmont hotel on west 11th and 5th avenue----it is very reasonable and very clean and near the subway and plenty of restaurants nearby.

I, too, looked at Hotel 17 and the reviews scared me as well.

I nominate Larchmont Hotel!