If you want to stay downtown and be really close to the Village, Soho and Noho, they just opened a Howard Johnson's Express on East Houston St. between 1st and 2nd -right next to Yonah Schimmels Knishes and a new Sunshine art house theater, right on the border between the East Village and the Lower East Side, a very funky and up and coming neighborhood. It's a very reasonably price chain nationally, and I've heard the rates are pretty good. I live in the East Village and walking by it looks new and clean -- I'm sure it's relatively no frills.

Try the Comfort Inn in Brooklyn. Its a brand new hotel (2 years old, at least 3 stars) and has very good rates. Manhattan is only a 30 min subway ride away.

For my dates in July, the Comfort Inn Brooklyn is far more expensive than the Comfort Inn Midtown right in Manhattan. You can compare rates at www.choicehotels.com (the chain that operates Comfort Inns).

My previous trips to NYC, I've stayed at the Hotel Beacon and other Upper West Side locations in the same price range (including one apartment rental). When I took my daughter in May, I bid on Priceline for a 3* or better, Midtown, at $100/night or less. I got Hilton Towers at Rockefeller Center/Avenue of the Americas for a TOTAL of $340, including all taxes, for 3 nights. The room was not huge, and there was only one queen bed, and I still prefer the Upper West Side and will go back there next time, but if you want a midtown location this was great -- and the best price for this hotel I found, on their website or from other hotel discounters, was about $250 PER NIGHT. This was my first time to bid on Priceline but may try it again sometime. And if you don't like the price they give you, you can change your bid or wait a few days and try again, so maybe it's worth looking at for your trip?

Please, people, if you're going to tackle Priceline, read everything at www.biddingfortravel.com.

Harriet has referred to "if you don't like the price they give you," but there is no "price they give you." If they decide to reject your bid, they will make a counteroffer, but readers of biddingfortravel.com know that they can usually win a room for far less than the counteroffer, and so they ignore it.

Harriet, if your prefer UWS, why did you bid for midtown?

Hello again --
Yes, I guess I misphrased (is that a word?) -- I didn't really expect to have my bid accepted, and I knew I could get a similar rate ($100-$125/night) elsewhere so wasn't willing to bid more than that . . . I do prefer the UWS but, having only stayed in that area, thought I should branch out and explore, and also thought the midtown location would be more fun for my daughter. I prefer UWS because I like the more residential feel, more restaurants, Zabars-Fairway-Citarelle etc . . . But also think I should get to know other parts of the city, so may look for something more downtown on a future trip. Wherever, can't wait for my next trip!
Harriett

PS -- Just checked my records -- the apartment (studio, W. 68th at Central Park) was $120 per night for 3 of us (a little cramped!), but the tax is only 8.25 percent as opposed to 15%-20% or whatever the hotels collect.

Thanks for the link to Barry's article, Jen..I couldn't stop laughing..now I'll start crying..!!
Gracie

Gracie, wipe your eyes, book a room at the Comfort Inn Midtown (if you're a nonsmoker) and cancel the res at the Schmennsylvania!

Others have suggested the Habitat as a good choice for well under $100 if you're okay with having a shared bath. The Pickwick Arms is another choice that has shared baths, is decent and is in that price range. Also check the Hotel Madison on East 27th Street. It's a bare bones place but an Aussie poster in this forum mentioned staying there with his family and found it very satisfactory. It does offer private baths. I concur with the suggestion to look into the Howard Johnson Express on East Houston Street - new facility and great location.

up and coming = still seedy with questionable characters hanging around.

94th St. on the west side is pretty far up there.

pay the extra money or find a deal on the internet to get a central hotel that's decent. don't share a bathroom, unless you are all under 20. make that 18.

"NYer here"--you obviously haven't been on the Upper West Side lately--The Quality Inn on w 94th is right across the street from the fabulous newly renovated Symphony Space performing arts center and the building that houses it where rents START at $2000) for a studio and go past $6000 (yes, per month).
"Up and coming" doesn't really apply in a neighborhood where the average apartment sells for something like $600,000... (and, for better or worse, there are 2 Starbucks within 2 blocks)

OK, finally managed to change the reservation for the Habitat at the same rate..please tell me I made the right choice..? Is it really a lot better value than the Schpennsylvania???

Gracie

Try the website hotels.com, I found some good bargains. But also check with a hotel, don't call the 800 number, call direct and ask for the manager on duty, ask them what rate they can give you. I tried this at a beach front location in peak season and I got $60 off a night! Good luck.

nyer: I think NYer was refering to the comment of the Lower Eastside being up and coming. West 94th Street has definitely arrived but was up and comming when I lived there in the late 1970's. Having said that, I would definitely agree with NYer that a midtown hotel is best regarding convenience to attractions.

Jen:

Thanks for the info on Priceline. I have never used them for my trips to NYC because I have to be in a certain area for business and thought that they put you in an area of their choice. It's good to know that you can choose the area you want to be in. Maybe I'll try them for the next trip.

Well, Gracie, I suppose that Habitat is a step up from the Pennsylvania, it's not as gross but I still suspect that you could have gotten a better deal. Did you try the Comfort Inn Midtown, they're offering some great rates right now.

Stacia, read up on Priceline at www.biddingfortravel.com, they have a huge FAQ that might hold some pleasant surprises for you!

I stayed at the Best Western President Hotel back in February. Great location - W. 46th I think, between Broadway and 8th -- right in the heart of the Theater District. I booked on quikbook and got a rate of $119 a night. I highly recommend you try that! Also, they offer discounted parking at a nearby garage if you have to drive into the city...

Given that this is Allan's second trip to NYC, I wanted to give a downtown option since he might be interested in Village/Soho nightlife and might be more into staying downtown -- the area is very accessible to all the sights in midtown (about a five minute walk to the 6 train at the Bleeker Street Station and just across the street from the F train). As to the area being seedy, it depends on your definition and it varies street by street. I never feel unsafe, but I've lived in NYC for 12 years, have never had a single problem (knock on wood), and have a pretty good street sense. The East Village west of Ave. B (and some parts of Ave. C around 9th St.) has pretty much "arrived", and some streets on the Lower East Side, particularly Ludlow, Clinton and Stanton, are chock full of new restaurants, bars and stores. My golden rule is that you are in good shape if you are on a street with plenty of people on it. If it's really deserted, find another way to go. And if you feel weird about anything, jump in a cab. Almost never more that $10 in most of the areas you probably will want to go to. If you want to see some of my suggestions for good eats in the East Village, see my recent post under Eating in NYC. Enjoy!!!

My family cane to NYC and booked a private apartment and B&B with:
www.bnbny.com
They were very satisfied and the prices were less than other services and hotels

Thanks so much for the responses. I never originally included new york city in my itinary due to costs of accommodation for a single traveller. I asked a travel agent today and was told the lowest I could get would be about $220. Now I'm aware of the deals available I can't wait to get back.

Thanks again Allan