My 17 year olf nephew and a friend want to go to NYC for 7 days. I'd love a recommendation for a cheap hotel or youth hostel in a safe neighborhood. They'd love to be near Madison Sq. Garden if possible. Any suggestions?

Try the Red Roof at Broadway & 32nd, website is http://www.redroof.com/reservations/...?innNumber=605 if they have something available it may well be under $100/night. Also try the Habitat hotel on 57th (not near MSG, but a good location anyway) rooms start at $75 website is http://www.habitat-ny.com Also, give Priceline a shot, you could get a better located room than a hostel for a very reasonable price. Read the tips at betterbidding.com and biddingfortravel.com before you place a bid.

If your nephew's friend is also under 21, they had better be sure in advance that the hotel will allow them to check in. Priceline is a bad idea for them, since its terms and conditions say that you must be 21 to use their service.

I never thought about the age factor....I believe my nephew's friend is 18 if that's any help. I just assumed that if I pre-paid wherever I select, there wouldn't be any problem. Neither one has a credit card of their own...will that present a problem? Thanks.

I don't know how cheap you are thinking of, but back in the days when I didn't have much $, I used to stay at Herald Square Hotel. It is on 31st between 5th & B'way (heart of Korean town) and close to MSG. Rooms are pretty small.
http://www.heraldsquarehotel.com/

they won;t be allowed to check into any hotel without a credit card - even if the room is prepaid. One will have to get an extra card on a parents account. Also - its; not a good idea for them to travel anywhere far from home without a credit card and/or ATM card - whatever would they do in case of any sort of minor emergency (flight changes, need to see MD or hospital - even for something minor) etc.

Sorry - hit post too soon.

there a hostel at 103/4th and Amsterdam that's used by a lot of young people from other countries. they might feel more comfortable there than in a hotel. Also, that way meals etc will be much cheaper than they would be in midtown.

Check out http://www.betterbidding.com .

Priceline.com has the terms about age 21.

However, http://Priceline.co.uk and
http://www.priceline.com.hk only require that the person checking in be age 18. You have to enter your bid in the local currency of the site, but otherwise there shouldn't be a problem. However, I would be sure to print off the page about the age 18 limit, in case they were questioned.

They would still need a credit card for incidentals, at check-in.

www.jazzonthepark.com

Priceline may say people can stay from 18 up - but hotels are each allowed to set their own rules. And many will not let people under 21 check in unless accompanied by an adult.

I've stayed at the HI/AYH hostel at 103rd & Amsterdam several times.

http://www.hinewyork.org/

It seems to be a LOT of late teens/20's, but a number of families and older people too. It's safe, two blocks from the 103/Broadway subway stop (lines 1/9) has a cafeteria, and also a number of discount/free tickets for local attractions. Lot's of reasonably priced restaurants/delis in the area too. Non-residents are NOT allowed into the dorm area, and each room uses the "cardkeys" for access. There are lockers in both the rooms, and storage available for after you check out. I think they'd like the camaderie of similar-aged residents, many of them foreign, as well.

Disclaimer: I'm near 50 y/o, and each of my stays were arriving later at night (10pm-midnight) so I could be to LaGuardia early in the AM for a flight, so each time I've been gone by 7am. BTW, if they're flying, they can get to 106th/Broadway from LGA for $2 on the #M60 bus - a safe & easy walk from the hostel. The #1/9 subway will get them to Penn Station / MadSq Garden.

A 17 year old and 18 year old alone in New York City for 7 days? Without a credit card?? Please tell me you're joking.

Further to Gekko's comment, a "very inexpensive NYC hotel" compounds the contingenies.

And, why do they want to be near Madison Square Garden?

When I was 19 and made my first trip to New York all alone (that was just after the last dinosaur passed away) I stayed at the West Side YMCA for $6 a night. It was a lot like a dorm with a large shared bath down the hall, but the place was spotless and clean. Are the YMCAs still a possibility?

Sure, the Y is still a possibility, except that nowadays it costs 10 times more, the same as a 3* Priceline room.