I will find myself in New York state the first week of October with my elderly Mom and this will probably be the only opportunity she will ever have to visit NYC. She would like to see the sights (bus tour?) but would also like to see the Statue of Liberty and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Problems: She fatigues easily. We have a car which I do not want to bring into the city. Also, the price of hotels is dramatically up from when I visited in 2004 (in Manhattan).
Is there an good place to stay outside of Manhattan (we will be coming from the Adirondacks down the Hudson River) that is reasonable and has VERY easy access to a train. Is it easy to get from Penn Station to the Museum? Mom doesn't walk for long periods but is able to take the subway if it is close to where we need to be. I found a hotel in Staten island that meets the $$ and safety requirements. Would that be logistically reasonable? We are considering two days in the city. I would consider spending one night in Manhattan if I could find a safe hotel for $200. (priceline bid?)
Any suggestions?

Commuting from Staten Island would be exhausting even for a younger traveler. It will also eat up time, effectively cutting a half-day out of your vacation time. Yes, a Priceline bid would be a good idea. Otherwise, spring for a Manhattan hotel, call the price difference your Christmas present to each other. Take taxis.

Wow.

I would strongly recommend trying to stay in the city in order to avoid all the hassles of the daily trip in. Subways can be crowded and if your mother isn't up for a lot of walking you are risking stairs, standing and the joy that is the train/subway.

Maybe a travel agent could suggest a tour for seniors? There are certainly bus tours available.

Does she need to actually get out and see the SOL? Or, will the ferry ride suffice?

Look into getting tickets ahead of time for things you want to see. That will cut down standing time for lines.

Have you considered the YMCA (or YWCA) in Manhattan on 63rd? It's a few blocks from Columbus Circle. The prices are reasonable, and you can use the gym. The downside to the Y is that the bathrooms are down the hall, and can be a bit humid and dirty. The top floors are being redone, but I don't know what the bathrooms are like up there. Also, I've found that buses are easier for my elderly mother.Do you belong to Bank of America? The first weekend of each month allows some free entries to museums.

Thanks for the suggestions. Based on your ideas I've decided to get a modest but clean & safe hotel in Manhattan. (specific suggestions welcome--we will want a private bath, however.) I'm going to look for a bus tour for Mom and she would be happy to see the SOL from the ferry. I see a play in our future too!
Does anyone have suggestions for a location near NYC where I can return my rental car and still have easy public transport into Manhattan? I'll need to pick a car up when I leave as well. Location suggestions?
Thanks again

You can drop your car in White Plains and take Metro North Express into Grand Central in 30 minutes. Since this is the first stop on the Express train you should have no trouble getting seats.

Agree the subway is not for your mom - since in Manhattan they have a lot of stairs and you often have to stand - except late at night. Take cabs instead - or a bus tour. (NOt Hop on/off - which often has a long wait between buses.

For the Met - which is enormous - you may want to rent a wheelchair from the museum - so she can see as much as she wants.

And for the SOL I would take the free Staten Island ferry. Lots of seats and reasonably close views - as well as great views of the Manhattan skyline - without standing on line for hours for the SOL ferry and tour.

As for hotels, have a look at travel zoo and hotwire to see if you can find any deals (but don;t expect $200 - since this is high season).

Definitely agree you should not consider Staten Island and that you should consider staying in Manhattan--well worth the price difference, esp if your mom's tolerance is low. If taxis are too expensive, you might want to consider buses over the subway--the stairs can not only be very difficult, but awkward as well if you have mobility/fatigue problems and people are rushing all around you (take it from one who knows). You should contact the city tourism bureau and ask about sights and tour recommendations for the disabled. I'm pretty sure they'll be able to give you some ideas of easy or low-key things your mom could handle easily. If the Circle Line is still running in Oct you might consider a cruise around Manhattan--very nice ride and you can see the Statue of Liberty and lots more--you might even get to see the waterfalls, a temporary art exhibit of 4 waterfalls around lower Manhattan. Re the car--did you consider taking the train into the city from upstate? If you're not near the Hudson line (NYC-Montreal along the Hudson), you can pick up the train in Albany and be in the city in 2-3 hours. You're doing a really nice thing for your mom! Have fun!

Fodorites are awesome. This is exactly the kind of assistance I was hoping for. I'll check out the Albany idea as well. The wheel chair(altho she may feel odd in that) is a GOOD suggestion. Planning this trip seemed monumental, but you have all been very very helpful and I think I have a handle on it. I'll keep reviewing for more suggestions!

Although you don't want a rental car while you're in the city, you might consider doing the dropoff and pickup in Manhattan, again as a way to save time and energy.

I'd suggest trying some of the discount hotel websites for ideas on hotels. I just did a quick look see at www.hotels.com and 10/1 - 10/3 there were alot of hotels available around $230-$300, and honestly staying in Manhattan you will find it much less expensive than staying in NJ or Staten Island (which is a really bad idea, SI will take a LONG time to get into the city).

Drive the rental car into the city drop off Mom and bags and return car. There are alot of rental return places in Manhattan, depending on agency you use.

I'd suggest the Hop-on-hop-off bus tour as a good way to see the city, especially during the week, you get a good tour, and tour guide on the bus.

Also take the SI ferry at night, the view of the city is amazing or you might take one of the evening dinner cruises around the harbor.

The first week in October will probably a bit of a better time to visit the weather will be cooler and the crush of the tourist season will be not quite so bad. This summer was the heaviest tourist season I have ever seen in the city and I have lived here for a LONG time.

Also agree that taking the bus will probably be easier for Mom, during the day the wait should not be too long between buses.

I also agree that the best way for Mom to enjoy the MET is in a chair, it is HUGE and there is so much to see. You might get a book for Mom or download info from the met website so Mom can choose what she would like to see most.

Hope this helps a bit.

I'd definitely second the idea of dropping off your car in Manhattan. There are many car-rental offices scattered all over Manhattan, and there's sure to be one within 2 or 3 blocks of any Midtown hotel.

The only car-rental office in North White Plains is Hertz. It's very convenient to the Tappen Zee Bridge (about 2 exits away), and I rented a car there recently. The drop-off couldn't have been easier, and the Metro North station is across the street (no restrooms, however, at least not on the weekend).

My parents have similar problems to your Mom, and we've had a fine time in New York. Take cabs or ride buses, not the subway, and you'll get almost anywhere much slower but with much less walking. The good thing about the Met is that there are places to sit every once in a while, and the museum has elevators, though they aren't very convenient.

The worst part of your trip is that this is when hotels are starting to get more expensive, but you may find better deals on a weekend than during the week, if you can plan around that. You absolutely do not have to stay in Manhattan, but I would strongly urge you not to stay at an airport hotel and to check the location of any non-Manhattan hotel very carefully before booking. Make sure it has direct and easy access to mass transit.

You could stay at the Comfort Inn Long Island City (a much cheaper but still convenient location to Manhattan), which is convenient to several subway lines to Manhattan, but there will be stairs to climb. I always speak of the advantages of this hotel because it's 2 blocks from the subway and close enough to Manhattan that you could take a taxi there from almost anyplace in Midtown for $20 or less if you don't want to take the subway back in the evening.

There are some hotels in Brooklyn (a Marriott) and NJ (look in the Newport area of New Jersey, where there a Hyatt Regency and a couple of other hotels) with good access to transportation into Manhattan, but you don't always save that much money, which is why a lot of people recommend Manhattan.

Finally, there is a Hilton at Newark Penn Station, about a 30- train ride into Manhattan. The hotel connects directly to the train station there. You probably won't find any good restaurants there, but it might be a viable cheaper option that would allow you to take the PATH train into Manhattan each day.

Some cheaper hotels in Manhattan include the Pod Hotel (the cheapest rooms have bunk beds and shared baths though).

Also try Priceline. I doubt you can get a $200 room, but perhaps less than $250.

I seem to have missed when you are planning on doing this. Hotel rates fluctuate pretty dramatically depending on what's going on. For ex., Nov 2 is the NYC Marathon and prices get crazy around then.

While I agree staying in Manhattan is really the best idea, there are options (especially if you'll have a car anyway) just outside Manhattan that make a lot more sense than Staten Island should you not find an affordable hotel. For example, there's a Holiday Inn in Ft. Lee, NJ that's right near the GW bridge. It's clean and cheap. If you stay there, you could drive the car into Manhattan each day and park it in an iconparking.com garage near wherever you plan to visit that day. There's also a garage right at the Met Museum.

Many people find Long Island City as a good option, but I'm not sure how senior friendly it is. You really have to take the subway from there and it will require stairs and many of the hotels are 5-10 min. walks to the train. Cabs don't tend to cruise there even if you wanted to take a taxi. It's also a bit industrial looking. I think some of those hotels do have parking if you kept the car and drove in each day but double check. The Fairfield Inn is pretty new and is getting good reviews on tripadvisor.

The Travel Inn is the only hotel in NYC that has free parking. It's considered a budget hotel although recent prices would suggest otherwise. $-)

The Beacon, the Milburn, On the Avenue and the Excelsior are hotels on the upper west side that are pretty senior friendly and can sometimes be more affordable. Check quikbook.com and the hotels' own websites.

To see the Statue of Liberty, take one of the many cruises that pass it
nywaterway.com
nywatertaxi.com
circleline42.com
shearwatersailing.com
sail-nyc.com

They get closer than the Staten Island ferry will and some of these leave from midtown or Chelsea which is a bit more convenient than going all the way down to the southern tip of Manhattan.

Priceline is a great idea if you can manage with one bed. In NYC Priceline only guarantees a room with one bed for 2 people. I would stick with 4* hotels. Look at the list of hotels (and the win calendars) on betterbidding.com Check hotwire for your dates. It's often an indication of which hotels you might get with a PL bid. Also keep in mind Priceline wins in NYC often happen very last minute so don't lose hope. Make a cancelable backup reservation and see. You can sometimes find a great deal on a weekend at a hotel in the financial district, but I don't think that will be very convenient for you since the subway is not a good idea and the Met Museum is all the way uptown.

Right now there are no good offers on travelzoo.com but Tues/Wed tends to be the time they appear.

As for the actual sightseeing, onboardtours.com is a good idea as these buses are enclosed and they don't require climbing stairs (as the hop on/off buses do).

Forgot to say, for discount show tickets, look on broadwaybox.com in the left column. Lots of options that can be purchased by phone or online to save standing on lines when you're here.

We really enjoy the hop on/hop off buses. The views are magnificent from seats on the open air upper deck. But, I'd recommend this ONLY if the weather is favorable, and if your Mom will be able to negotiate the stairway to the upper deck. I don't think it's worth if you have to ride around on the lower level, as the views are not nearly as good.

I think it will be quite the challenge to find a moderately priced room in the city that week, and it may cost more to drop the car off and pick up another than keep it.

Our new favorite place to stay, when hotel rates are outrageous, is the Holiday Inn Fort Lee. It really is only an easy 20 minute drive to Midtown (though we don't go during morning rush hour). Once, we did head back during afternoon rush hour, which took only a few minutes longer and involved only the occasional slowdown. The hotel is very nice with free parking and a fridge and microwave in most rooms. The restaurant within is moderate/low priced with excellent food and an especially nice breakfast buffet (under $10 last we stayed there). You do have the $8 GW Bridge toll one direction. I use iconparking.com or bestparking.com to locate the most reasonably priced and convenient garages. I've found it you arrive at Noon or later, the daily rate is much lower (no matter what time you leave). For the difference in hotel rates (and they have a senior discount usually), we don't mind driving to and parking in the city. Wouldn't recommend if you plan to use public transporation, though, as going in is fine, but getting back is NOT easy or convenient.

If you consider other hotels outside Manhattan, as mentioned above, be SURE to investigate transit options. Just because the hotel's website says it's convenient that's not necessarily true. If you read hotel reviews on TripAdvisor, many people provide experiences using public transportation into the city. Even though with convenient transportation may include quite a bit of walking.

About the Travel Inn...we've stayed there many times, and I always used it as my Hotwire/Priceline backup. The place is nice enough, located well enough, and the rates were favorable. But, now that their rates are $350/400 or more I book elsewhere, even though our favorite restaurant is almost right across the street.

I found St. James Hotel on 45th street for $200.00 per night. I jumped on it. The reviews are very mixed and I don't expect much. (I do think I may bring a sleep sheet with me as one person accuses the hotel of having bed bugs. I love the location, about 2 blocks from the Hop on hop off bus stop. I can still try Priceline. I attempted today but couldn't get anything for 251.00. Maybe when it gets closer. I followed the prescribed strategies.
I suspect that any priceline hotel 2.5 or up will be an improvement on the St. James Hotel. ?? Hard to say. I'm going to attempt 3 star bids tomorrow.

Mom would do well on the bus. She can get up and down stairs pretty well ... heck 2 years ago she went with me in a Vietnam type no door helicopter ride in Hawaii.
Her biggest problem is that when she really gets tired she needs to lay down. I have to plan our activities carefully, lots of sit down cafe's and be ready to hail a taxi if she is overtired.
I love the idea of a fun boat trip. I believe one comes with the purchase of the Hop on hop off bus pass if I buy it online.
About the car. I checked Iconparking.com and if it leave the car for less than 48 hours it will cost between $50-80 in nearby garages. (nearby- St. James Hotel, if I keep that reservation. Changing a drop off location dramatically increases the cost of the car rental.
I hope it won't be NUTS driving in NYC. I didn't think I would attempt that, especially near Times Square. I do drive in SF all the time without any problems. I'm still thinking that it might be wise to find parking garage on the periphery of Manhattan that I can easily reach by bus to avoid driving in the heart of Manhattan.
I welcome ALL of your input. You have all helped me look at various angles.

I wouldn't stay in any hotel rumored to have bed bugs. The biggest issue is not getting bitten but the chance that you could take them home with you, a very difficult/expensive problem to resolve. Without a date I can't help you. Look on kayak.com and quikbook.com

I don't know where you're renting the car from or where you're flying out so hard to advise on the car rental. Sounds like maybe you should get rid of the car before coming to NYC and take the train in. If you do that, the Red Roof, the Herald Square, the Sanford are all budget hotels near Penn station.

My suggestion is to hire a car service or a cab driver by the hour to take you and your Mom. I did this a few years ago and it worked out great. We hired a car and driver through a programme called "Manhattan by the hour" and he took my Mother-in-law where she wanted, held purchases in the car, and 2 hours later dropped us off for lunch at a restaurant we had reserved. I did this again this week in New York city and loved the convenience of having someone waiting for us. I would definitely stay in Manhattan. If you check travelzoo and quikbook you might find a good value. I have stayed a couple of times at The Manhattan Club which is a timeshare in a great location. People post on www.redweek.com when they want to 'sell' their week as a hotel room. The elevators there are ridiculous (slow) but I love the upstairs lounge. I don't know if I would do the Met...there are so many wonderful smaller museums in the same area that are interesting and not so taxing. Broadway shows are a wonderful option - maybe a matinee. Look on broadwaybox.com.

I see no online info for "Manhattan by the hour". If you had a good experience with them twice, it would be helpful to know about contact details and prices.

Hotels that are outside Manhattan that have easy and cheap access to Manhattan are getting as expensive as Manhattan hotels.

I took my elderly in laws to Manhattan a couple of years ago and the Grayline doubledecker tour bus worked very well for us.

They were able to see everything and were able to sit comfortably.