Hello
We have just come back from a wonderful 3 week holiday in California and I got so much info reading all the posts on the Fodors forum. When we got back my children presented me and my husband with my 60th birthday present - flights to New York for the first weekend in December, so thats east and west coasts in the same year! Not bad!
My immediate concern is that I must book a hotel asap. My son thinks New Jersey might be an option as ideally I would like to spend no more than $250 a night. Especially as the 3rd night will be very short, we have to be at the airport about 6am! We have just two and a half days in New York.
If you can bear to read it my son has sent me the following email copied below - would those of you who know New York be able to comment on the New Jersey option. I am not v knowledgeable about Priceline but would be prepared to give it a go..I do not want to share a bathroom and I would like a hotel either with very effective glazing or where I could request a bedroom at the back where traffic noise might be less - I found this v effective in San Francisco and Los Angeles but I suppose you cannot specify on Priceline.
Son's email:
"Been looking into the whole New York hotel thing. Essentially, I’ve learnt what we already knew: you get the least bang for your buck in North America in New York and Christmas time doesn’t help. However, with a bit of creative thinking a nice hotel for a reasonable amount of dollar is possible!

The best central hotel for a non crazy amount of cash (i.e. downtown next to everything) is hotel Penn:

www.hotelpenn.com

Booking direct works out at about £600 for three nights! So not cheap. It’s had mixed reviews but from what I can discern it’s clean and does the job. We could try and priceline central new york but my view would be to go the New Jersey approach. This would mean staying outside central New York but only a $1.50 15 minute train ride away from downtown. The third post of the following link shows the hotel options with reviews in New Jersey .

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...new+york+hotel

I like the Hyatt: http://jerseycity.hyatt.com/hyatt/ho...ment/index.jsp

This looks like a really nice hotel with all the facilities (a pool and gym) and works out at £400 for three nights if you book direct. Check out the views of Manhattan ! All the other hotels recommended look good too.

However this is where priceline comes in. The following link explains how to use priceline:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....html?t=233768

The following website shows you the hotels you might win if you were to bid in a specified area:
http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelinean...icID=199.topic

This includes all the hotels recommended above. So seeing as its £400 for three nights roughly for a three star in that area I say we go in at £250 ish for three nights. I’m happy to try this on priceline for you once we’ve discussed and if you’re happy. I don’t think transport is a problem as trains run every few minutes at its only 2 minutes to the former world trade centre site and 15 minutes to the centre. Its also only 35 minutes with a change to JFK. I think you’d spend most of the day in New York on Saturday and Sunday. You could then do the one trip back and forth late afternoon (to rest at the hotel) and then go back. The only draw back is the first Friday night where you might stay in. However it would be nice to relax in the hotel and trains run all night so you could go to time square for a couple of hours if you wanted?

The Hotel Pennsylvania?!?!?

It is literally a fleatrap. Maybe the worst hotel in the northeastern US.

December is a magical time for NYC, and hence makes it very expensive. $250 a night is going to be very difficult. Well, practically impossible, if you have hopes of staying in a safe, CLEAN hotel with private bath.

You can try Priceline, but I will steer you in the direction of a small chain of budget hotels in relatively good areas in Manhattan:

www.applecorehotels.com

One is down the street from the Pennsylvania and is a far better choice (the Red Roof Inn on 32nd). It's in the heart of Little Korea, but the hotel itself is clean and quite and comfortable, albeit far from luxurious.

The Affinia group of hotels is reasonably-priced and gets rave reviews from many Fodorites, so you might check them out as well (several in New York):

www.affinia.com

The Hyatt in Jersey City is going to run you almost as much as a hotel in Manhattan. The first couple of weeks of December it is closer to $300 than $250 per night.

Do not stay in New Jersey. It isn't the same.

Bite the bullet and pay a little extra and stay in Manhattan.

Try the Milford Plaza, Apple Core Hotels, and The Travel Inn.

Anybody who recommends the Hotel Penn is absolutely not to be trusted for travel advice, IMHO.

I agree that staying in NJ isn't a good choice, either, although the PATH subway lines can have you in downtown or as far north as 34th Street in good time.

Indeed Priceline doesn't let you specify anything, though all PL rooms will have private bath and bed(s) for two people. When you arrive you can request preferences like bed type, floor, etc. In my experience, most NYC hotel rooms are quiet, by virtue of glazing, exposure, or altitude above the din.

If you have to choose, I'd pick the Milford Plaza over the Hotel Pennsylvania, which is accurately described as abysmal. I'd strongly advise against staying in NJ; buses into the city are particularly slow and expensive.

A reasonably priced alternative outside of Manhattan that is still convenient to the city's subway is the Comfort Inn Long Island City. It's also less than $20 by cab from most parts of midtown in case you stay out late and don't wan to take the train back.

Hotel rates are at their highest in December, and even mediocre hotels charge $300+ per night. You may be able to get a good rate from a travel agent in the UK, but most of the good rates are packaged with airfare.

Apple Core Hotels is the mid-range hotel company in Manhattan, but as I said before, most of these hotels are at leaset $300 per night in December.

Good luck. There are many threads on this topic, so do read around.

I would stay in New Jersey - or Queens - only if there were literally no other choice.

I would sleep in a chair in the lobby of a decent hotel rather than stay in the Hotel Pennsylania - which is widely runored to be infested with vermin.

Applecore is a group of basic budget hotels - but clean and in reasonable areas of Manhattan - that you might be able to get something in the $250 to $300 per night range (including tax). (Don;t know your dates so can;t be specific).

If they don't have availability do a seach below on NYC budget hotels - and there is a list of pensions/small european style hotels which may be older and require a shared bath - but are clean - and in Manhattan.

Prcieline will do you little good in December - since most hotels sell out and don;t have inventory to give to Priceline.

Don;t underestimate the cost in both time and money of trekking into the city from the suburbs. Especially at that time of year roads are mobbed - often gridlocked - and it can easily take 2 hours to get into the city by bus. (If you must do NJ be sure it is a hotel with immediate access to rail.)

Also - get a hotel ASAP - since prices are oly going to go up - not down.

The first weekend in Dec. is maybe the most expensive weekend of the year for hotels! Which airport are you scheduled to fly in and out of? JFK or EWR? If it's JFK, staying in New Jersey is crazy. If it's JFK, you might want to consider the Pan American in Queens with both subway and bus service into Manhattan nearby.
panamhotel.com
It's cheap and cheerful at best.

Try contacting www.apartments2book.com a London agency that has contracts with some of the apt/hotels in Manhattan. See what they can offer.

At the same time, have a look on vrbo.com and see if there are any apts. that look good within your budget.

The Apple Core hotels are showing availability at $329 for the first weekend in Dec.

With such a short visit, you don't want to waste time commuting in from NJ.

hey look up the best western president it looks pretty reasonable. I am looking to in the couple of weeks and the prices are under 250.00.

Sorry - for the December dates the Best Western President has rates starting at $415.

The Royalton has a special rate for that weekend 299 inc. cont. bkfst.

http://www.royaltonhotel.com/royalto...l_specials.asp

check their other properties too

Also Sheraton in Weehawken Nj, just a 7 min. ferry ride away for 315 a night on Expedia

You should be able to find a number of B&Bs in NYC with availability on your dates and your price range. They can be just the ticket. Most require a minimum stay of 3 or four nights. Try www.bedandbreakfast.com/new-york-city-new-york for a start. Which airport do you need? What time is your flight back?
Whatever you do, regarding the Hotel Penn, fuhgetaboutit.

I would also suggest that staying IN Manhattan is a much better choice, since you will spend way too much time traveling if you are outside Manhattan.

That said, try www.hotels.com for suggestions on hotel availability, and an idea of the prices of hotels for your dates of travel.

As everyone has said, that's the most expensive time of year, but to be honest, the city is so beautiful with all the lights and holiday cheer, it really is the BEST time of year to visit.

I would suggest check the Travel Inn, on W 42nd St and the Hotel Grand Union, as decent choices, clean and well priced.

The websites are www.travelinn.com and www.hotelgrandunion.com

Let us know when you are here, I would be happy to give you a bit of a tour.

A good value is the hotel Beacon in Upper west side : www.beaconhotel.com
You can try also: www.newyorkhotel.com site which have 5 units in NYC(Lucern, Belvedere, Newton,
Travel Inn and America Inn), all with good reviews...
I'm not sure that by the usual sites of discount you can find some better prices than directly for this period...
For next year in April, by hotelbooking.com I've got the beacon at less than 200$.
Good luck,
Erik.

Sorry - Beacon is booked - and all except Belvedere from that group is booked - and that is well over $500 per night.

November/December is MUCH more expensive than other months - so if you paid $250 at some other time - assume in Nov/Dec it will be $500.

Have not heard back from the OP - and hope they have booked something - since almost every web site I'm looking at now is booked solid.

The URL I supplied for B&Bs does not seem to work. Try this one www.bedandbreakfast.com/manhatten-new-york.html
There are several that appear to have vacancy for your dates and price range.
the Gracie Inn www.gracieinn.com is on the upper east side near Gracie Mansion. 1871 House is also on the upper east side in the 60s between Park and Lexington, the Stay the Night Inn is in the 90s just off 5th and Wyman House is on the Upper West side in the 70s on Riverside Drive. 1871 and Wyman may be a bit more than your budget, but still under $300. All have good reputations. There are a number of others on the site too.

Try The Hotel 414. I got a room for 199$ plus bkfst for Dec 11-15

i would try the Salisbury Hotel. also try www.quikbook.com. With only a few days i would NOT want to travel into the city.

Hilary- You aren't allowed to get new trip info until you file a report to the last trip that fodorites helped you plan!

Well, not really, but a trip report is a great way to give back.

doesn't have to be fancy...just your itinerary, any special tips and how you liked the hotels.