We are trying to plan a trip to NYC in April or May. We will be driving form Syracuse, NY, and are a litte uneasy driving into the city. We thought we might look for a hotel outside the city area where we can stay and take the subway in each day. Any suggestions on such a place to stay. How long of a trip by subway is White Plains? Would that be a possible place to stay?

Would you consider flying from Syracuse instead? JetBlue flies 3 times a day from Syracuse to JFK, depending on how far in advance you book and what days you are flying fares can be as low as $39 one way.

US Airways flies from Syracuse to LGA.

There are several options for transportation from either airport into Manhattan, and you will not need (or want) your car once you are in the city.

Is this a possibility?

I have a friend who drives to Hoboken and stays at Sheraton Suites and takes the ferry accross to Manhattan.

Agree that flying is a nicer option, but regardless of how you travel, staying outside NYC to commute each day is really not a great idea. You'll waste, time, money and most importantly, it's not the same experience since your days will be limited by transportation. You won't be able to stop at your hotel during the day to rest, drop off packages or change clothes. How many are you and what's your hotel budget?

FYI, the subway only runs to the other boroughs of NYC where hotel options are limited. From a place like White Plains, you'd be riding a commuter railroad which is not cheap.

The Travel Inn is the only hotel in NYC with free parking and it's a decent budget hotel. Iconparking.com is a co. that has parking garages all over town. YOu can reserve one in advance and know exactly what you'll be paying. Driving just to get into and out of Manhattan is not a big deal.

the commuter train from White Plains takes about an hour. there are probably closer places you could stay.

Commuting in and out of the city each day is a really bad idea. There are a few places from which it is relatively convenient (30 minutes) or so - but mostly in Jersey - and you will still be wasting that time/money, versus staying in the city.

Separately the subway is only IN NYC - White Plains is Westchester and you would have to take MetroNorth into Grand Central Station - at much higher prices thann the subway - besides finding a place there to leave the car (hotels are not near the station).

You are much better off using the money to stay in the city - so you canwalk out the door and start seeing things, go back to the hotel before dinner or a show if you want - and not be trekking out to the suburbs at nidnight.

I agree to look into flying instead. Or- if not, find a train station at which you can leave the car for the whole time and then take the train the rest of the way into the city. (You could do that from White Plains - but not back and forth every day.)