The family is staying at the Waldorf for four days and nights in July. While we got a good rate on the hotel, parking is $45 a DAY!!

After NY we drive to Boston, so parking in New Jersey is a poor option. Does any of you cosmopolitan travelers out there have cheaper suggestions for us? I am just now recovering from the cost of the show tickets.

Thanks in advance.

If you can afford the Waldorf you can afford the parking. Welcome to the big city, baby!

You could certainly find a garage a few blocks east for perhaps a bit less, but maybe not. Garages in the far east 80's charge about $35 per day, but that's too far away to be worth the hassle. My advice is to pay the $45. The convenience is worth the small amount you might save elsewhere.

Johnw

Forget "get real", he is just jealous of ya!

Do a search under "nyc" and "parking". There have been some info given before on this subject. You can do much better by dropping the family, and luggage off at the hotel and head to a lot on the west side. The price should be about 1/2 the Waldorf rate!
JOhn

John is right. Yes, you could do better on the far west side or uptown, but then what? Take a cab back to the hotel? And crosstown traffic both ways (in midtown, no less)? And then the return trip when you're trying to get your family out of town? Driving to a distant garage and cab ride back would most likely take over an hour and cost $10+. And I'm not sure when you plan to leave town, but the hassle of picking up your car could be monumental. I know it pains you to pay $45 to park at your hotel, but it's worth it. After all, you're on vacation.

There is a company called Public Parking Inc. which has many inexpensive garages located on 9th and 10th Avenues in the 30s and 40s. Call and find out rates, the # is 1-800-322-PARK. You could park there and cab it to the hotel. It certainly would cost you less than $45/day.

Check out the Avis and Hertz garages in midtown, I know there is an Avis on E. 54th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue that charges about $30 per day. There is a Hertz located on E. 48th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Both are just a few blocks from your hotel. Check on the hours they are opened also, I know the E. 54th location is closed on Sundays.

First, I am assuming you are driving your own car to NYC. Otherwise, if you are flying into NYC and picking up a rental - then simply wait until you are ready to leave for Boston(there are rental car agencies all over the city).
Back to 1st assumption. You will have trouble finding anything less than $30-35 a day - with most of these places being downtown or far up on the UES or UWS or far west side. Check out http://www.parkingnewyork.com which is the website for Icon parking systems, who run many of the parking garages in NYC. They can give you price quotes for their garages.
Also, there are a lot of neighborhoods that have "no stopping/standing rules" from 8am-6pm or 7am-7pm Mon-Friday, which mean you can park on the streets on the weekends for free. Depends how much you want to worry about your car.
Everyone has his/her own way of valuing time/convenience for the $$.

Thanks for the replies. It looks like my great rate at the Waldorf just went up $45. Well, that's just life in the big city, I can handle it (after the initial shock). Again, thanks.

There is a lot on 60th and 11th Avenue. 24 hour parking would be less than $20. Driver from hotel to the lot, after dropping off the family, will take about 20 minutes, give or take a few minutes. A cab back to the hotel will cost $5 to $6, tip extra. If the family consists of 4 or less people, when leaving the family can travel in one cab. From the parking lot getting out of town is not a problem . You have easy access to the West Side Highway (entrance is at 57th and 12th Ave.). Distance from the parking lot to the hotel is less than 1 3/4 miles. Question - is it worth the inconvenience to cut parking cost in half.

Good Morning,
There are tons of free parking on the streets of NYC. I never pay for parking. I know when parking is available and when it isn't. If you are willing to take a subway ride and you do not have a flashy car I'll get you parking for free.

For instance, you can leave your car in Queens in a very good neighborhood, for free for several days and you are just a 30 minute subway ride away. Look near the corner of Northern Boulevard and 54th street. There are many streets there that have no alternate-side parking rules. I do this all of the time with a 1997 Ford Explorer and have no problems. Jump on the subway and you'll be in Midtown in 20 minutes.

When I go on vacation I look for parking near 24th Avenue and the 90's Streets near Laguardia Airport. Again, there is no alternate there. I've left the Explorer there for 7 days for free with no problems several times. You can practically walk to Laguardia from there.

Also after 7PM and before 8AM you can park on virtually any street for free. In my glory days I used to live in Manhattan and drive to work daily and I left a brand-new Cadillac Brougham on the streets (usually 1st Ave and 75th Street). The streets are full of partiers and thieves think 'This car is being watched' when they see a new car parked in front of a bar or restaurant. The only problem is that I had to be out by 8AM which was no problem because I drove to work.

I know of a pay garage which costs about $10/day in Brooklyn on the Manhattan waterfront right near where I work. You will have a spectacular view from the lot and you'll save tons of money.

So...email me with what you need. $45 / day parking is crazy.