Cheap hotels...
 

I'm planning a trip to NYC. We are a group of 5 and were going to stay at the Portland square. Well, I've come to find out the ownership has changed and their prices have skyrocketed!

I'm looking for any suggestions here. We need to keep it cheap (we are all students). Hotwire type sites aren't really an option, as a room for 4 hardly EVER comes up. Ideally, we'd be looking at the 150/night range for the last week of April, in Manhattan. Is this doable anywhere? Does anyone have any tips, hotel suggestions...anything?

Also, would an apartment rental seem reasonable? I've heard of this in the past. We are thinking 4-5 nights, so it may be worth it. How do I look into it?

Thanks

All NYC hotel prices have skyrocketed. Is that $150 for a room for 5? Mosy NYC rooms are for 2 (1 bed), a room for 5 is a rare find at any cost.

The best deals are probably on priceline, but there's no guarantee a room will be for more than 2, so you'd have to bid on 2 rooms and even at that there's a risk with the 3rd person.


I know the Shelburne has 1 bedroom suites (a bedroom with 2 doubles and a pull out sofa in the living room) that can fit 5 but my guess is they are more like $250+. Check their website for special offers (affinia.com). Other Affinia hotels have similar suites. There are some other suite hotels (doubletree, avalon) but they are all out of your budget).

You can check places like the Larchmont with shared baths (but gets good reviews and is in a great location).

Good luck!

I should have said that we don't mind sleeping on the floor/asking for a cot. Basically, a room that sleeps a family of 4 would be fine (we'll just sneak the other person in).

Thanks for the affinia link. They are still a little out of our price range, but getting closer (and a good backup if we can't fand anything else).

Also, out of curiosity, is end of april, beginning of May a really busy time? I'm already having a hard time getting places with available rooms.

Try the Super 8 Times Square. It's actually located very close to Rockefeller Plaza. Excellent for the $$$. We stayed there last year and were very happy with it.

I would not try sneaking anyone into a room. There are fire laws in some buildings that for insurance reasons prevent some hotels from sleeping more than 4 to a room. I would check the Herald Square, the Stanford, the Travel Inn and the Red Roof Inn. I hope most or at least a few of you are over 21. Some hotels won't allow under 21s to register.

If those don't work, consider a hostel (YMCA Vanderbilt or Westside) or a hotel with shared bath like the Larchmont or the Pickwick Arms. You might do better to split up into 2 rooms. 5 in a room is limiting your options.

You could try checking newyork.craigslist.com for an apt. rental from someone who's going away. Just be careful.

Can't imagine you'd find much in that price range. Fairlawn/paramus New Jersey Amerisuites has an AAA rate in that range, with breakfast....but you have to ride the bus into the city every day. It's only about 20 minutes into the station, but it's a hassle for sure.
Anybody in your group a teacher? Sometimes a state I.D. is all you need to qualify for a "government rate" at hotel chains.

Look at the Hosteling International American Youth Hostel at 103rd & Amsterdam. It's 2 short blocks from the 103rd/Broadway subway station and you should each be able to have your own bed for the price you're looking at.

It's clean, safe, and you'll have the company of other young people/students to share experiences with. Also guests at the hostel can avail themselves of a number of specials from local merchants and various recreational & entertainment specials.

The hostel has dorm type rooms, with # of beds in each room varying from 1 to 6 as well as dorm type bathrooms ... so you shouldn't have to be waiting in line for your "turn" as you would a single hotel room. TV Room (none in the rooms, nor phones), game room, cafe with inexpensive food. NO TAXES ON YOUR ROOM (a big savings in itself!)

http://www.hiahy.org or better yet:
http://www.hinewyork.org/
(212) 932.2300

Check out the St. Mark's hotel. It's a bidget hotel in the E. Village. Being students, you'd probably love the area. It's very lively, lots of inexpensive restaurants, night life, near subways, etc.

I think that might be the tightest NYC budget I've ever seen here -- $30 pp pn. Also try Murray Hill East Suites and Radio City Apartments.

Radio City Apts. will not let your cram 5 people into one of it's $150 night rooms, they are only for 2 people.