Crowne Plaza Secaucus-Meadowlands
 

Having trouble getting a hotel in NYC for Sept.13-15 so tried looking at New Jersey. Everything around the Path (Jersey City) is booked up except the Ramada which gets terrible reviews. I've found the Crowne Plaza in Secaucus. Does anyone know how easy it is to get into Manhattan (Times Square area) from here? The hotel says they have a shuttle to the train station (train goes into Penn Station I believe). Wondering how long it takes, how often they run. We'll be going to the theater so would need to catch return train around 10:30-11:00 p.m. Then probably have to take a cab from the station back to the hotel since the shuttle only runs until 11 pm. Any comments on the logistics and how easy this might be?

Would not reco this unless there is absolutely no place to stay in the City.

I go to Secaucus often for discount shopping (it's an area with a huge number of discount stores/factory outlets/warehouses) - but always by car. I know there is a bus from the city - but I imagine only during the day. If there's traffic at the tunnel it can easily take an hour or more to or fro the city. I would ask the hotel what train station they take you to - and if cabs are available there late at night.

You are definitely missing out on much of the flavor of a trip to NYC by staying in Secaucus.

Have you checked Priceline for last minute deals?

This Secaucus web site (below) claims that there are express buses from the Port Authority to most hotels in the Meadowlands area. With 14 hotels, that sure would make sense! PortAuthority isn't glamorous, but it is relatively handy to the theater district and is better than it used to be.

http://www.secaucus.org/hotels.html
http://www.secaucus.org/buses.html

But I agree with nytraveler: Book something cancellable in Secaucus if you must, but keep trying on Priceline.

I stayed at this hotel in May on a Priceline bid of $65. I wanted Jersey hotel for the NJ/NY GTG in Jersey but I had a car (parking was free at this hotel). My daughter took the bus from the hotel into the city on a Friday at 4 pm and she said the trip took about 40 minutes. I don't know about the return because her friends parents drove her back to the hotel.

You would need to check with the hotel which expres bus serves it - to be sure of timing. Some run only during rushhours - but t appars tht there is at least one line that has one bus after 11 pm each day.

Thanks for the comments. I've already tried Priceline (and will keep trying). But prices in Manhattan are outrageous and the availability is very low for my dates. I'm told it's because of the U.N. Sept.14-16 meeting. I have a cancellable reservation at the Super 8 Times Square for $189 but was trying to find a cheaper alternative. Plus the reviews of the Super 8 were not that good. I hate to pay $189/night for a hotel that has bed bugs.

The Crowne Plaza didn't mention the bus but they did say they had a shuttle to take people to the train station. I tried to find information on the train but the website is confusing and I'm not sure what train to look for.

NYtraveler, I'm not too worried about the flavor of the city as we come to NYC several times a year. In fact I was just there the end of July and had a fabulous time. This time I'm coming only for the theater.