Thanks Paula, I had already seen the reviews and discarded Toshi as an option. We have a back up plan of free accommodation with a friend who lives in the Upper West Side. He is a long term friend of my husbands and really wants us to stay, we just prefer more independence but we will not go 'homeless'. We are also looking at a couple of legitimate B&B's that get good reviews on TA for around $250 per night.

Bwino-Glad you ruled out Toshi and I hope the other accomodations work out. Still I stress again to make a cancellable reservation. I would get ahold of one of those Long Island City hotels (or go online) and make a reservation. There is no obligation and it is easy to cancel. At least you have something while you continue to look at the B&B's. Also check the neighborhoods of the B&B's. Some of them are not in the best areas.

Hello! I hope it is OK if I ask an additional question regarding staying in NY for December. This is my first time posting, and not sure if that is correct, to post a question on an open forum, I apologize in advance.

I will go to NY to spend New Year (a dream come true after 15 years!) Never been in NY, I am in a limited budget, wanting to find a 200 dollars room (2 people) for the night or something like that.
I have been following a lot this thread.

As my budget is limited, I am considering staying in Fairfield Inn Long Island as paula1470 suggested. My main questions are:

1. Is there easy transportation at night to go back to the hotel coming from Manhattan? I am thinking on the night of New Year and also that we really want to go to the theater. SO I am not sure if it feasible ans safe to go back late at night to the hotel?

2. If I don't stay there, another option will be staying in the Financial District or I found a hotel called The Gershwin Hotel, not bad the reviews in Trip Advisor, but again not sure about the location and accesibility of transportation.
Thanks and also many thanks for so many information, it is quite difficult to understand how is NY, but all your tips and posts here have make me to understand more the city. Thanks and greetings from Guatemala!!!

I would choose a hotel in Queens only if it was a block or two from a subway station. The Fairfield Inn is not.

The Gershwin Hotel is a good location in midtown. Even a choice in the Financial District would be preferable to a choice in Queens.

I agree with ellenem. Ellen-When I recommended the Fairfield Inn above it didn't notice the distance from the subway. I usually check that out but somehow missed it. Particularly in winter, wouldn't want to be walking that distance. Thanks for catching it.

DH and I have stayed at Gershwin and Park Savoy (see my earlier post). Park Savoy is cheaper and about a 15 minute walk from Times Square. 1 block to a metro.

We enjoyed the Gershwin's funkiness but got a better rate at Savoy. Both were very basic but clean. Both had coffee shops nearby for cheap nosh also.