karameli

I agree with the poster who suggested Priceline, but if that doesn't work, one option might be New Brunswick, NJ. It's farther from the city than East Rutherford or Newark, but it has a few advantages. The train service is direct, runs late, and the station is in a safe, busy area of NB. Plus, New Brunswick on its own is a fun town. You could come back from NYC at night and head out for drinks at Nova Terra (great pan latino place), Harvest Moon (brewery), or Tumulty's (Irish pub). It might be nice for you to be staying in an are in NJ that has lots for you to do as well.

The one downside: train tickets (through njtransit.com) cost around $15 round-trip per day.

karameli

Oh -- I should be more specific. By "farther" I mean it's a 45-minute train ride instead of a 15-20 minute ride on the PATH. But, to me it's worth it to have something to do when you're back at your hotel.

I've seen some posters saying that getting back to NJ at night is expensive....it's actually the same if you're taking public transportation. In fact, trains are slightly cheaper because it's "off-peak" (not commuting hours).

lizziea06

My "expensive" comment was in reference to taxis only, not public transportation.

GoTravel

Any money you save by staying in New Jersey will be eaten up by commute time and cost.

Don't say we didn't try and help you out.

HowardR

For some reason, the powers to be deleted some of the responses here, including one which the OP said that some of the people traveling in the group were afraid of NYC (or some such words), alomg with my response (which was not meant to be sarcastic) that their plans to stay out of the city and commute might be potentionally more dangerous.

GoTravel

Newark has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. New York City is definitely safer than some of the outlying areas.

pianograd99

GoTravel - thanks for this comment. We were not aware of the safety issue in the outlying areas.

Most people only recommend not staying in NJ because you're not "really experiencing New York."

This will effect our decision much more.

Thanks!

Ryan

Newark does have a high violent crime rate. But, I don't see where the OP indicated that as one of the options.

Rutherford is MILES from Newark as is Fair Lawn.

Ryan

Sorry, hit reply before I was finished.

The Sheraton in Rutherford is across Route 3 from the Meadowlands complex. There actually isn't much near it except for MetroMedia's offices and about a 1/2 mile away, Secaucus.

To suggest that ALL of NJ is unsafe just because Newark is, would make about as much sense as saying you shouldn't stay at the Waldorf because it is 7 miles from the South Bronx. (About 2 miles closer than Rutherford is to Newark.)

GoTravel

Ryan, Howard pointed out that they are staying in New Jersey not just because of money but because some of their group is afraid of NYC.

My point was that New Jersey isn't safer and I used Newark to stress that point.

Capishe?

starrsville

And, for folks scared of NYC, IMO they will enjoy the experience far less by having to negotiate into the city via bus and/or train. Did I understand the OP that they are thinking about doing the fireworks in Central Park on New Year's Eve? It would be far better (as others have said) to be able to duck into your hotel room to rest or refresh - especially when travelling with a group. One or two could go back to the room when they wanted to while the others are still able to enjoy the city.

Factor in the transportation costs and the time going back and forth - well, the plan seems a bit "penny wise and pound foolish".

Traveling with a group can be stressful.
Commuting in and out of the city can be stressful.

Honestly, if you read enough posts on this board, there's a common thread - folks were were "leery" of Manhattan who fell in love with it after their first visit.

NYC is the safest big city in the country. Savor it and stay in it. Save the extra $100 elsewhere in the trip (food choices, don't buy junk, etc.) but don't set yourself up for a miserable time because you want to save $100 a day.

I've stayed at the Sheraton at Meadowlands for business meetings. It felt like exile. Nothing to do nearby. We had charter buses take us into the city. No comparison to staying in the city.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

I've stayed at the Hilton Gateway in Newark, right across from the Newark Penn Station. We walked around the area quite a bit too. Didn't consider it dangerous, just boring. We had choices of PATH, NJT or Amtrak trains, and used the first two.

Washington DC is a dangerous city too, but millions visit without incident every year. Most of that reported crime (in either city) is in areas that most of us would not be visiting.

As for the "bother" of commute time - when one does not use subway every day of their (work)life, it's more a novelty, and need not be a bother at all. So while I prefer to be IN the city I'm visiting, it just makes more sense sometimes to stay in the "burbs" and use some of my savings for museums, shows, or dinners. Have a great trip, pianograd.

PS- if the age group and flexibility of everyone would allow it, there is a hostel at 103rd & Amsterdam. You'll pay $30-some for each person in their own (bunk)bed, with dorm-type bathroom/shower "down the hall" - but it's clean and safe. The "recentgrad" name makes me wonder if you're late teens or early-mid 20's. The hostel is open to all, but an earlier age group would find it more acceptable.
http://www.hinewyork.org/
or www.hiayh.com

mclaurie

Whatever you decide, I STRONGLY urge you to read reviews of the hotel on tripadvisor and then to post here to get feedback on the location/area. I normally agree it's much better to stay in NYC, but when you said $200 was not within the budget and it sounds like you want to have more than 2 to a room, I doubt that can be accomplished in Manhattan.

But now that the safety has become a concern, I'll agree that there are many hotels in outlying areas that are not in great neighborhoods. If the price is too good to be true, it may be. Then there are some locations that are safe, but don't look safe b/c they're a bit industrial.

nytraveler

Agree for the need to understand both the distance (New Brunsiwick is at least an hour from Manhattan - never mind the train fare) and safety of hotels in New Jersey. Some are in perfectly safe areas - but some are in places you wouldn't want to be on the street - or in the hotel for that matter.

If you are up for a hostel (there may be enough of you to get a private room - or you may want to stump up a little extra to get a room to youselves) agree that the one at Amsterdam & 103rd seems to meet the needs of a lot of young europeans.

Can;t overemphazisze the advantages of being IN the city - or within simple/fast (this mean by rail or ferry - bus can take forever) convenient travel of Manhattan.

HowardR

I'm not "picking" on New Jersey as being unsafe, per se. My point is that you are probably safer at night returning to a hotel in the city than dealing with transportation to anywhere outside the city.
That plus the fact that the New York experience just isn't the same if you stay outside the city should tilt you into making a concerted effort to convince everyone in your group that NYC is safe. Period!

starrsville

I've done 4 to a room at the Hilton and friends took a church trip and stayed 4 to a room at the new Hampton Inn. In both cases, it was priceless (literally) to be able to stop by the room to rest for a few minutes before a show. Two nights we bought food from a deli and had a picnic in the room before heading out for the evening. The friends - of all ages, shapes and sizes - had a great time at the Hampton. Having a room in the city gives you the flexibility to come and go, to split up and then regroup, to just enjoy the trip more. Free breakfast at the Hampton too (although I had free breakfast and evening snacks at the Hilton). 4 to a room means each is spending $25 more to stay in the city. Subtract your commute costs and it is a steal to get two extra hours in the city for $20 a day.

GoTravel

rb, I have to disagree with you on this one. The Newark area is an armpit and I'd love to know where actually you were able to walk? Through the long term parking? Down the runways?

Sorry, I don't buy it.

Staying in the burbs of DC is a whole different ballgame than staying in a NYC suburb. It can take as long as an hour to get from Newark to NYC and that is one of the closest suburbs.

Ryan

It can take an hour to get to Newark? GoTravel, it actually takes my train about 14 minutes. To the airport, about 25.

MikeT

"GoTravel - thanks for this comment. We were not aware of the safety issue in the outlying areas.

Most people only recommend not staying in NJ because you're not "really experiencing New York.""

So much for thethorough research you said you had done whilst scolding people for getting off-topic.

GoTravel

Ryan, I've done the PIA airtrain from Newark to NY Penn station several times and yes, it always takes me an hour.

From Newark Penn Station less time but if you are staying at a Newark hotel, you still have to get to Newark Penn Station.

It simply isn't a quick trip from Newark anywhere to Manhattan.