Long Island Advice
 

My brother and his family are moving to Great Neck on the north shore of LI. Other family is coming from California and staying in the city the week of Thanksgiving. I'd like to meet them in Great Neck on Friday and, perhaps, we would all stay over night somewhere close to my brother's house. "Close" is relative, of course, and I think we would stay up to 45 minutes away. The city itself is too expensive for me that week considering that I will have to pay for several rooms. Thanks for any help.

Suki, you've left out a lot of information like what you expect to pay per night for hotel and most importantly whether you intend renting a car. The Floral Park Motor Lodge is ~18 mins. from Great Neck by car, according to Google maps. It,s a good basic affordable place to stay and near enough to a Long Island Railroad stop to get into Manhattan for sightseeing. What I don,t know is whether you could use the train to get out to Great Neck. Having a car is easier.

The Anchor Inn in Bayside Queens is also relatively close but I think you really need a car if you stay there.

If you are staying on the Island and expect to get around the island you will really need a car - unless your family can lend you one. This is dense but very suburban. There are lots of trains going to and fro the city if you can find a place to stay near a train station - not easy. But to get around on the Island and visit your family you will have to have a car.

As for where to stay how many people, how many beds and what is your budget?

Suki - I have stayed at the Melville Marriott several times - my husband stayed there about 1 X a month for about 4 years while traveling on business. It appears to be about 21 miles from Great Neck - I have no idea if that is close enough?
Are you planning on going into Manhattan while there? I assume you are driving? It is such a business hotel that it is cheap that weekend - (I did Friday - Sunday and it was 139.00 per room) It is a little dated, but the service was good and it is a full service Marriott - if you happen to stay there - ask for a room NOT on the atrium - I felt like I was in an interior room when we stayed there as the "windows" are to the atrium not to the outside.

Melville is too far away. if you can't find anything closer or cheaper take a look at the Garden City Hotel.

Imdonehere - I was afraid of that. Too bad!

Melville is at least an hour from Great Neck - given the usual state of LI traffic - and farther away from the city than Great Neck. Really just for corporate parks in the area.

Garden City hotel is closer but think not very budget.

There used to be some sort of hotel in Great Neck - have no idea of the name - went to a sweet 16 there in the last ice age. Have you looked at TA?

You might take a look at The Andrew in Great Neck.

Please read reviews of the Andrew hotel on Tripadvisor before deciding.

I'm sorry that I didn't come back to this thread.In case any of you folks that commented see this, thanks. We are driving to LI and not going into the city. Family from CA will have just spent 4 or 5 nights in Manhattan, and we live close enough that we can go anytime. This trip is just about seeing family. I looked at the Inn at Great Neck which is really close to my brother's hose, but decided on a vrbo rental on the water in Sea Cliff. It's about 30 minutes north of Great Neck but the family from CA and my family can all stay together, and we will visit my brother for a few hours on Friday and a few hours on Saturday. I think it's a good solution but I haven't sent the deposit yet so if it's a big mistake, let me know.

Would need more info on where the place is in Sea Cliff - what has VRBO told you. (Neighborhoods are often "flexible" on these sites - not in the pleasant places you imagine.)

And you will definitely need a car/cars to get around.

Yes, we have cars. As I said, we are driving to LI. The house is on Prospect Ave. in Sea Cliff.

Well, it't hard to know exactly where that is - since Prospect Ave is quite long but looks like the area should be fine.

Prospect Ave near Sea Cliff Ave. It's only for 2 nights and the house itself looks fine. Older, but good reviews on vrbo, so I think it will be okay. Thanks.

I see nothing listed on vrbo in Sea Cliff.

Agree - don;t see anything there.

Please post the vrbo listing link.

http://www.vrbo.com/441198

Sorry, I've been traveling since 9/19 so I haven't been back to this thread.

welcome back!!!