sf7307

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Starrs, I've used Hotwire on many an occasion, and I've never seen any option for choosing bed type. You can choose number of people, which means you will be assured of two beds (if you put in 3 or 4 people), but bed type?

starrs

sf, I looked again to doublecheck. "Bed choice" is an option for some of the hotels, but not all of them. Having said that, I've always been able to get the bed type I wanted by calling the hotel after making the reservation when I've booked with Hotwire. That is decidedly not the case with Priceline. I was given a full bed (not queen) in a tiny room at the Georgian Terrace when the place was virtually empty with a Priceline reservation. There's another hotel I book often that gives me a king bed upon request via Hotwire (if available) but charges an upgrade fee when booked via Priceline.

divineMissM

Women with heart ailments don't want to be walking around New York City in the heat and humidity of August.

Get them some great travel videos and some great NY-themed movies and plan them a nice movie weekend together.

sf7307

Thanks for checking, starrs.

tuscanlifeedit

Ok, I had to check this out.

At Port Imperial, the round trip ferry ticket is $17 per person. Overnight parking is $10.00 per day.

So, 4 x 17= 68, plus $20 for two nights parking, is $88. The bus from the terminal to various stops around Manhattan is free, but that doesn't mean they stop near your hotel. If they don't, you will have to add taxis to that.

We have twice payed $40 per day for valet parking this year, at two different midtown hotels. A much better deal, unless you are staying longer than I recall.

We sometimes make a reservation and use a coupon from iconparkingsystems.com, but unless the lot is an EASY walk to our hotel, that doesn't pay so well either.

It seems to me that after driving for two days, pulling right up to your hotel will be a lot easier than driving into Weehawken, parking at the ferry lot, loading all the ladies on the ferry, then off the ferry, then onto the free bus, then to the hotel.

We do this drive, just from Pittsburgh, at least twice every year, and sometimes a lot more often. We have turned this parking thing around in our heads a dozen ways, calculating costs, and have finally decided that if valet parking is $40 per day, we are paying it.

clarkgriswold

Priceline is an absurb idea for older ladies who may have to change their dates and plans several times before they finally make it to New York.

Bowsprit

You may have a point, clarksgriswold! You're right: priceline rooms are non-refundable and there's no flexibility once booked. On priceline you get what you get and you don't get upset.

Graziella5b

TO GET THERE go to Airfarewatchdog <[email protected]> once you inform them your city of origin they will feed you weekly the best buys. This totally free and very helpful.
Also check with Blue Jet, they fly for instance Chicago IL (ORD) to New York, this airliner has incredibly low rates depending of the day you are flying and how early you buy. For instance
I flew only this week between Fort Lauderdale, Fl and Washington DC, Reagan for $44 dollars each way plus taxes.
This airliner seats with a decent leg room, and it is very pleasant in all.
I think the best for you would be an apart hotel maybe the affinias hotels, because you do not need to have both dinner and lunch out. IT will be nice to be able to eat breakfast at the hotel etc. Good luckThere is a discount website for Broadway.

sf7307

Just to clarify, the name of the airline is Jet Blue, not Blue Jet (hoping to help some future poster doing a search!)

edeevee

Thank you again for all of your kind replies, and really, for the unkind ones too -- at least they give me a different perspective

Glad to know I don't need to fear twin beds and no elevators if I go the Priceline route. I'm starting to get clarkgriswald's heebies about advance planning with two older women in tow though. Just this week Mom's bff announced she needs major surgery next month. However, most of the best hotel prices all seem to be advance purchase/no refund whether I go Priceline or not, so ...? I'm going to ponder this for a bit then either take the extra $ hit for refundable at the Hampton near Times Square (free breakfast, less walking) or just wait until the trip is much, much closer and I can feel more secure that everyone will be healthy in August.

About the Staten Island Ferry and parking. I am confused. On the ferry's website they list private, attended parking for only $6/night at a baseball stadium nearby. My thought was to drop off the elders and luggage at the ferry terminal, park, and then walk back by myself. I really hope that plan will work. DH and I took the ferry ride on our 2nd or 3rd trip to the city years ago and I remember thinking THIS is the way to see New York for the first time. It's such a grand view.

What is the down side of this plan?

I am pretty set on driving at this point but, Graziella, thank you so much for the fare watch dog site. If we can pick up something super cheap through there, it would definitely help our budget and maybe allow us to spend more time in the city. Even if we don't fly this trip, I will definitely be able to use it in future travels.

Thanks again!

starrs

Be sure to check the senior rate.
It's a very smart idea to book a hotel room that you will be happy with that allows you to cancel if your plans change and/or you find a better deal later on.
I don't ever book the non-refundable advance purchase rate from the hotel website. Ever.

Happy planning!

ellenem

The Staten Island Ferry is the WRONG ferry if you are coming from Indiana. You should go to the Port Imperial Ferry in Weehawken, New Jersey, which will be much more direct and take an hour less time than traveling to Staten Island--plus you will have to negotiate heavily trafficked highways and pay for the bridge to Staten Island. The Port Imperial Ferry has just as dramatic views of midtown Manhattan as the Staten Island Ferry. Yes, it costs money to ride the Port Imperial Ferry while the Staten Island Ferry is free, but the agony and time to reach Staten Island makes Port Imperial preferable.

ellenem

Forgot to mention--the Port Imperial Ferry also arrives in midtown on the far west side, a much shorter (and therefore less expensive) taxi ride to a midtown hotel than the trip from South Ferry where the Staten Island Ferry arrives. Also, the Port Imperial Ferry has free shuttle buses to various areas of Manhattan, which may or may not take you quite close to the hotel you choose.

Elainee

Beware of the prices of carriage ride Central Park. Really high..priced on half hour ride. Do it if that is what you want but it will cost about $70 plus tip.

starrs

I don't think that price is accurate. I remember it being about half that (within the last year).

edeevee

Thanks for the tip, Elainee. I'll double check the price. I was wondering anyway, given our short time in the city, and since we're planning to take a six hour tour that stops at the park, and now that elainee suggests it could be pretty pricey -- is this maybe something we should consider cutting from our agenda?

starrs

No need to do both. Those with mobility problems may have difficulty getting into the carriage. But you may have someone in your party for whom a carriage ride is one of their "Things to do in NYC" bucket list items. Yes, it's a very "touristy" thing to do. But I (for one) have no problems doing touristy things

ellenem

Here's the "official" info about carriage rides in Central Park. prices begin at $50 for 20 minutes plus tip and escalate with added time.

http://www.centralpark.com/guide/act...carriages.html

"is this maybe something we should consider cutting from our agenda?"

I've lived in Manhattan for more than 30 years and have managed to survive without a carriage ride in Central Park. However, if this is high on your Mom's priority list for her dream trip, I'd consider carefully before cutting it from your itinerary.

If you are still coming in August, keep in mind that carriage rides cannot take place when the temperature is above 89 degrees.

travelgirl2

I didn't read all the replies, so forgive me if I'm repeating...

Priceline is best on the weekend in NYC, if you can time your visit then. Sunday night is especially good. I've had the best luck in non-touristy areas, such as near the Financial District on the weekend. But with limited mobility, I would try to stay in a more 'touristy' location. Also not sure nonrefundable is best for your group...

We recently stayed at the Doubletree Times Square hotel. It's pricey, but really nice with 2 beds and a living room with small kitchen. And centrally located.

Restaurant.com has gift certificates for some good Manhattan restaurants. You can generally buy a $25 gift certificate for $10. But, there are always deals for 70% or 80% or 90% off. I find the discount codes sometimes on hip2save.com. So, you can buy a gift certificate for $2 that is worth $25 at a restaurant. You usually have a minimum amount that you have to spend. My son and I recently went to a place with a minimum of $50 purchase, so we spent $50 plus $2 for the certificate, and then got $25 off the meal. Great price for dinner in NYC.

If you want to go to Ellis Island, it's best to make a reservation in advance. Otherwise there is a huge line to get on the ferry. With advance reservations (for a specific time), you can print the ticket at home and get in the short line at the appropriate time. I think the folks with reservations for the day had to stand in the long line, whereas we with reservations for a certain TIME got to wait in the short line.

travelgirl2

P.S. If you are driving, why not spend a cheap night in NJ and then head into the city early the next day? You could save lots of hotel money doing it that way. You could do the same on the way home; head to NJ in the evening to spend the night before beginning the drive home.