surfingmomma

The Park Plaze Hotel in Boston was just what I wanted for our recent "historical" discovery trip. Thanks to Fodorites for the great information.

We were planning on going to NYC next year, to see the Statue of Libertty and Ellis Island. (My grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island, and our family bought a "brick" there, that I want to see.)

So, since the news media said the Statue will be closing soon, we thought, if possible,
that we might schedule the trip in late September, or early October. We have never been to New York, and want to take in the major sites, including the Statue and Ellis Is.. We have seen the "original" State in Paris, and decided we need to explore the US now.

I'd like to stay near the Statue and Ellis Is, but need to be able to commute to other site,
like the Museum of F.A., Wallstreet, Ground Zero, etc. I'd like a reasonably priced safe, clean, a/c, room.

Thanks for your vast knowledge, dear people. You've never let me down.

surfingmomma

vjpblovesitaly

I guess you are saying you'd like to stay downtown so you can have an quick trip to the ferry on the day you will go to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

If you give your exact dates, number of beds needed and nightly budget in USDs, I am sure someone can help you.

starrs

Based on what you list as interest, I'd look at the Hampton Inn at the South Street Seaport.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._New_York.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR..._New_York.html

surfingmomma

September 25-30th, are our dates, with my husband I traveling. We need one bed.

Thanks so kindly.

surfingmomma

Ug--I just re-read my first posting, and meant to say "original" Statue in Paris.

doug_stallings

I'm not sure the Statue of Liberty's interior will be open by late September next year. At least I wouldn't count on it. I think late October or early November is more likely. If seeing the inside of the statue and the museum are important to you, I'd take another look. I haven't seen the exact dates of closure, though it begins on October 29.

Also, it may not be the best thing to stay downtown. The Financial District isn't really the most tourist-friendly place. There are relatively few hotels (though they are sometimes well priced) and fewer good restaurants. It's pretty isolated from the rest of Manhattan. And you don't really need to stay there. You can get downtown from most parts of midtown in less than 20 minutes. Downtown is really deserted after dark, and the restaurants around the South Street Seaport are both mediocre and overpriced.

nyer

Doug, I assumed that surfingmommma means Sept/October of this year, before the statue closes (a change from her original plan to go sometime next year.

Is that the case?

mclaurie

You will likely get sticker shock when you look at NYC hotel prices for late Sept. Since it sounds like you want to stay downtown, you may want to consider staying in Jersey City across the river. I see a 4* hotel in Jersey City/Hoboken on Hotwire for $151/night that will be either the Westin or the Hyatt, both very nice. There's a PATH train near both (like a subway connecting NJ to NYC) or a ferry. To stay in Manhattan you'll likely pay $100-200/night more. The Hampton Inn Seaport, a nice but not luxurious hotel is $339-400/night for those dates. http://www.oyster.com/new-york-city/...out=2011-09-30

The Best Western Hanbee is $278/night on an AAA or AARP discount and not a bad option. The cheapest decent option I see downtown is the Holiday Inn Wall. st. for ~$250/night plus tax. Perfectly fine but tiny tiny rooms. http://www.oyster.com/new-york-city/...out=2011-09-30

elberko

Only the inside if the statue will be closed, and I think I've heard that only about a third of visitors do that, anyway. Are you sure you need to do that? I wonder if it would be difficult to get tickets, too. I assume they are limited?

~Liz

doug_stallings

Duh ... sorry about that. It was stupid of me. Yes, they are moving the trip up.

So forget the first part of what I said. But the OP should still remember the second part. But I do think McLaurie has a point about sticker shock.

Tickets to the Statue are limited but can usually be arranged a couple of months in advance (or by standing in a very long line on the day) except during periods of really high demand. I suspect with the closure, tickets to go inside are long gone for the rest of September and October. But the reason why 70% of people don't go into the Statue is because they can't ... not at all because they don't want to. I think everyone wants to go in and see the museum, but the number of people going is so large that they literally cannot all go.

nytraveler

I think you may find that tickets to the Statue for this Sept and Oct are already sold out. That should be the first item on your list - not the hotel. Even after it closes you will still be able to go to Liberty island and see the outside - butthe inside will be closed from 10/29/11 for approxiately a year

Bowsprit

And we love staying downtown: good deals, good access to the rest of the city including easy access to touring boats and ferries, the Brooklyn Bridge and beyond and some peace and quiet at night. One man's ceiling is another man's floor, etc. I wouldn't discount downtown, Doug.

Bowsprit

I'd add my vote to Mclaurie's suggestion and encourage you to take a look at the Hampton Inn Seaport as well. You can get a balcony King room there with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. It's a short walk to 10 subway lines. You can check the photos and all this information on oyster.com: http://www.oyster.com/new-york-city/...-balcony-room/

When we stayed there we found the room decore to be very dated, kind of like someone's blue and mauve 80's bedroom, but it was very clean and nicely situated.

surfingmomma

I knew you travelers would come through for me. And, yes, we are looking at traveling Sept, 2011. Sorry if I seemed confusing to all you nice folks.

Ok, if Seaport has easy access to get around, that is all that we need. The Hampton Inn Seaport looks very nice.

I've checked the websites and there are tickets available for the access to the "pedestal". Now this may sound dumb, but--
here goes...Is the only access (yes I know it is sold out)to the crown, by stairs? The info that I've been reading online, seems to suggest that they will be installing an elevator to reach the crown. Have people been climbing to the top of it all these years? If that were the case, I'd have to wait for an elevator to be built. hahaha

Thanks

surfingmomma

ttt

surfingmomma

ttt

elberko

Yes, to the crown is by stairs only, and quite narrow.

elberko

http://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisi...-the-crown.htm

nytraveler

The only way to the crown at the moment is stairs - many flights of stairs and they are steep and narrow - almost ladderlike. The pedestal (base) has easier access - but both will be closed at end Oct.

They are upgrading by putting in better stairs (I didn;t hear mention of an elevator) and an enhanced fire safety system.

txdbog

For hotels I just recommend going to sites like hotels.com or hotelgizmo.com to check the areas and pricing. But I am originally from New York and I would actually suggest you stay a little further north in Manhattan. If you stay in the area of the ferries to Ellis Island or the financial district you may find yourself with little to do as the day goes on after you visit the sites. Also stay away from the immediate Times Square since it is over crowded.

NYC is so easy to get around in with the subways so that would be my suggestion