Manhattan hotel for 5 students...
 

Hey guys,

Haven't been here since organizing my last trip to NYC. Well, I'm thinking of going again and I need your help.

Myself and four other friends want to head up to Manhattan for 4-5 nights. It will be the first time there for all of them. However, all being University students, we have to be able to do the trip fairly inexpensively (I know, hard to do in Manhattan). The first hurdle is finding a place to stay. Preferably, we'd like a place where we could all stay in the same room (2 double beds + cot) in order to split costs. We'd also like to be as close as possible to time square. Finally, we need a cheap place - $150 max would be nice, but lower would be nice. Any ideas? I stayed at the Holiday Inn on 34th last year and found it quite nice. A hotel of that quality is what we're looking for (no frills, but clean and comfortable).

Forgot to add - we'll be going in mid-may.

Very few Manhattan hotels will permit 5 people in a room -- fire laws.

Go to www.biddingfortravel.com and read everything they have to say about bidding for hotels on Priceline. I'd recommend that you bid for TWO rooms in Midtown East, where people have been winning the Courtyard by Marriott MTE for $65 or $75; their rooms have 2 beds or a bed and sofabed.

I agree, I think you might want to try Priceline AFTER reading www.biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com. if you do not want to bid for a room, take a look at the Red Roof at 32nd & B'way (newer hotel, $99 for a double with a limited continental breakfast, website is: http://www.redroof.com/reservations/...?innNumber=605). I know you wanted to be near Times Square, but you can easily walk from 32nd. (or bus, etc)

You have a lot of time to bid, so I think you should be able to get a 3 or 4 star hotel via Priceline for under $100/night (per room) Study the zone maps, a bid in Midtown West would put you in the Times Square area, but Midtown East MIGHT get you the Courtyard (2.5 star but very good - clean etc.) for less money.

several of the Y's in Manhattan offer lodging at reasonable prices. you might check into them.

For a room with bunk beds and a shared bath, the Y will charge you the same as you'd pay on Priceline for a 3- or 4-star hotel.

Hey all,

I went over to Biddingfortravel.com and they don't seem to understand the concept of giving opinions. I realize there is no cut and dry response to my questions, but I'm looking for opinions, not the automated-like response of "Priceline is risky, there are no guarantees, yadda yadda yadda" - I know all of this. For priceline users, I'd like to know what YOU'D do. This was my post:

I understand 100% that there are no guarantees when using priceline. HOWEVER, it seems as though MANY have been getting the Courtyard and, at the moment, it seems like our best bet.

So, my questions are:

a) In my situation, does it seem reasonable to take a shot at the Courtyard for $65. At the moment, the Marriot is telling me $239 for Tuesday to Thursday and $219 for Friday. ($259 at the Doubletree).

b) In my situation, where getting two rooms at a normal rate is an impossibility, would you consider using Priceline despite needing room for five (considering that MOST people get two double beds if they need it). Also, keep in mind that there are only five of us and would only need ONE room with enough space for 3; the other could be double occupancy.

c) If you are familiar with the Courtyard, do you know how friendly they are to Priceline users? Meaning: will they be helpful in getting us a room that we need, or will they thumb their noses at us for using discounts.

FYI, when considering your options please keep the following in mind:

Manhattan hotel rooms are smaller than in most of the country due to very high real estate values and taxes. Unlike most of the country (more like europe) the average room does not have 2 double beds. When they say the room is double that means you get only 1 double bed - or sometimes 2 twins if you prefer. Most rooms cannot hold 5 people under any circumstances - and few hotels will allow you to book 5 in a room (as opposed to suite) at any price.

Also, please note that many hotels will not allow you to check in unless you are at least 21. (If no one in your group is 21 you will need to confirm in advance if the hotel will let you stay.) I'm not enough of a Priceline expert to know if they have taken this into account. I would confirm before using them to book a hotel.

Before bidding on Priceline I would confirm directly with the Marriott the general availability of rooms for 3 adults (as opposed to 2 adults plus a child) and if they allow under 21s to book rooms (if you all are).

I have no idea if Priceline breaks down a double room. However, in hotel parlance there are two types of double rooms:
1. A double, which means one bed for two people.
2. A double/double, which generally means two beds for two people.
Any hotel of a decent size in New York has both types.

I have stayed in rooms in Manhattan that were so small that they would have been uncomfortable to two and no way they would have fit three.

What is wrong with the Holiday Inn? If it worked for you last time, I would go there again.

Biddingfortravel is NOT the place to ask your questions. They have legal reasons why they won't answer the questions you're asking. I think Priceline may be too risky in your situation but you might try betterbidding.com which is a somewhat "friendlier" site for bidding help for Priceline & Hotwire.

I use biddingfor travel as a guideline to see what hotels are be awarded at what prices. Even if the Courtyard shows up frequently, it does not necessarily mean that it will be awared if you should palce a bid. Priceline, in general, does not guarantee an acommodation for more than 2 in a room, and in a place like Manhattan where rooms can be small, even adding a cot to a double, could be questionable. I would check with the lower end chains like Comfort Inn, Red Roof, etc.

Check the website travelnow.com (hotel deals). I don't know you rdates, but they do have some listing for < $150. There was a suite (for up to 5) at the Manhattan Broadway Hotel (I know nothing about this place), located midtown, in your pricerange.

Have a look at the Larchmont hotel in the village. Read the reviews here on Fodors in the hotel section.

MURRAY HILL EAST SUITE HOTEL
149 EAST 39TH STREET
NEW YORK NY 10016 0913
212 661 2100
Plenty of room in these suites plus you have a kitchen.
Well located in mid-town.
If you plan to rowdy, forget it... they will kick you out.

TxTravelPro, if you know where the Murray Hill can be had for < $150/night please let us know.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. After much searching, the best deal I could find was at the Portland Square Hotel ($110 a night for a five-person room).

Has anyone ever stayed here before? I'm sure it isn't GREAT, but clean and bearable would be nice. Any ideas?

Reviews on TripAdvisor are mixed but all agree the hotel is very basic and the rooms are the smallest they've ever seen. I'm surprised they can accommodate 5 - is this 2 rooms or a suite or?

It is not a suite. Believe me, I'm just as sceptical as you. However, I e-mailed them and this is what I got:

"The Quad room is big enough for the rollaway bed."

Anyone ever been in their quad rooms. Can you picture a roll-out being in there.

ttt