4 people? This is new addition to your requirements . . . What kind of accommodation do you need for your 4 people? How many beds?

People who are more local will have more details, but is there any way you can drive to NJ and leave your car, taking transit of some sort into the city for your stay? I don't mind driving in cities, and have even driven in San Francisco, but I would never drive in NYC...not only is it intimidating and expensive, but there are so many better options.

Sorry ellenem....my daughter is taking a friend and her mom. I wasn't sure about the mom until today.

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The Staten Island Ferry stops on Staten Island, of course, and you have to get off. You can turn around and get right back on the next boat, but you do have to disembark.

Do you plan to share a room? Do you plan to share beds?

For example, a quick look at hotels.com brought up:

= Doubletree New York-Chelsea for a room with two double beds for $215 (non-refundable; $239 refundable) per night for August 13-15.

= Embassy Suites Financial District for a King Suite (king bed, sleeper sofa, breakfast buffet included) for $229 (non-refundable; $249 refundable)

= Beekman Tower Hotel for a one-bedroom suite or superior one-bedroom suite (queen bed, sleeper sofa) for $239

On the ferry right side out, left side back to see the Statue.

Now that the other Mom is coming are you the only one paying for the room? I would think the other Mom would kick in some money.

As far as Carlo's Bakery, I like the idea of just going by and taking a picture. You are doing a long weekend, driving 10 hours from North Carolina and are planning on half a day to see Carlo's Bakery. Honestly this gives you a day and half for NYC and you are trying to see a show and will be spending time going back and forth to New Jersey. I have done some pretty crazy trips but even for me this sounds exhausting.

I agree I wouldn't want to drive into NYC so maybe someone else here can help you with places to park the car for the weekend. If you are going to do this trip, I'd throw in a few more dollars for the room and get a room in the city. I'd also check the PATH schedule for late night returns to the Marriott.

Yes one room two beds....That would be GREAT if there is somewhere pretty safe to park over the weekend, then head into the city to stay. Ellenem...are there any areas to stay away from??? Not safe...
Embassy Suites sounds good with breakfast included...especially if I can find somehwere reasonable to park the car.
This is SO MUCH HELP!!!!!

I would think midtown and downtown might appeal to your group more--closer to your interests--and both areas are safe.

The real unsafe situation is in choosing an inexpensive hotel that is a horrible place not up to code--some of these are actually featured on websites like hotels.com. Check back with us if you see a deal that seems to good to be true--it probably is.

The Embassy Suites seems like a great deal.

Two other possibilites are
Eastgate Towers. $225 a night plus tax. Big room with bed and sleeper sofa, kitchen with refrigerator.
http://www.affinia.com/New-York-City...Eastgate-Tower

Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea $199 a night plus tax 2 queen beds which is good because lots of NYC hotels don't have quuens when there are two beds in a room. Gets good reviews on tripadvisor. http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en...tyhocn=NYCCHGI

I stayed at the Eastgate Tower before. Older hotel but clean and rooms are big. Little bit of a walk to the subway station but that's the biggest downside.

Afraid I can't help you with a place to park the car.

If another mom is coming then you shouldn't have any trouble at all getting a decent hotel in NYC within your budget. Even if each mom pays $150 per night you will have a lot of choices. (And don;t see why another kid and mom should be free.)

Believe me - you will hate yourselves if you stay in Jersey versus Manhattan - you miss so much. (And don;t even consider the Holland Motel thing - it would be like trying to sleep in the middle of a construction zone - cars, buses and heavy trucks rushing by 24/7.)

The Travel Inn, a well-regarded budget hotel has some double double rooms for only $289 in August. Not only does it have a pool it also has the only free parking in Manhattan.

If it's available for your nights I would jump on it. Ot check out travelzoo etc for your nights.

There is a way for you to park your car in New Jersey for a minimal amount of money and safe -- at the NYWaterway ferry terminal in Weehawken. Many people have done this -- even me when I lived farther away in New Jersey and spent the weekend in Manhattan.

I think it costs $10 a day to park there with the limit being 5 days or so. You can park in their lot, take your parking ticket, buy a round-trip ticket for everyone, go across the Hudson River with your luggage on the ferry, and then take a taxi to whichever hotel you are staying at. There is a taxi stand right at the ferry terminal in NYC. And when you return to the ferry terminal in Weehawken, pay for your parking at the ferry ticket window.

The ferry runs every 15 or 20 minutes across to 34th street. During the week the ferry goes from Weehawken to Lower Manhattan but I cannot say for sure if it does on the weekends. You will have to check: www.nywaterway.com.

I also think either the Travel Inn with free parking, the Skyline with $10 parking or leaving the car at the Port Imperial terminal of the Nywaterway.com ferry and staying in Manhattan are the best ideas. STaying in midtown is a better option. The Hilton Garden Inn & the Hampton Inn Times Square North have rooms with 2 queen beds instead of the more typical 2 doubles.

And, assuming it's like other Hampton Inns, they would offer free breakfast, a definite plus.