persimmondeb

I got 219 for the 10th and 11th, but 159 after that, and it looked like if you booked the five nights together, you would get a "long-term-stay" rate of 159. That's a holiday weekend (many people have Monday off), which is why it's tending to be more expensive. I sometimes recommend the Larchmont Hotel downtown for Manhattan, too. It is clean and respectable, but the rooms are small and the bath is down the hall. IF they have availability, they're usually under $200, but the secret is out, so they may be booked.

ellenem

Is the Glenpointe near public transportation to Manhattan? Without easy connections, it might be nicer but not better.

persimmondeb

Hot and cold running buses to Manhattan right outside the door. Takes about 40 min., but it's cheap and simple (around $5 each way).

doug_stallings

It's going to be difficult to find something at this late date for a busy holiday weekend in October, the beginning of our high season. Hotels that had been $250 per night in the summer are jumping up to $400 per night for the fall.

I'd look for hotels near subway stations in Queens (though NOT by either LGA or JFK). These are going to be substantially cheaper, though initially will be schlep for you on arrival and again on departure. But that's your best bet for finding something under $200 per night.

Second choice would be a hotel in NJ. There are a few hotels in the Newport area of Jersey City, which is on a PATH line directly into Manhattan (2 or 3 stops). There are also hotels in the Seacaucus/Meadowlands area. While I would not normally recommend a hotel here, there are hotels that are on direct bus lines into Manhattan or near the Secaucus Junction Train station, which offers service (albeit expensive) into Manhattan. None of these options is particularly convenient, but you'll certainly have better service than you would at Jersey Gardens.

Finally, there is Priceline. While it's unlikely you'll find something, I'd bid $220 per night and see if something decent (3 stars or higher) shows up in Manhattan. A lot of hotels are showing availability, though at extremely high prices, so you might get the Grand Hyatt, Hilton, one of the many Marriotts, or a Sheraton. Even a hotel in the financial district would be better and more convenient than New Jersey. But watch out for the Millennium Hilton across from the WTC construction site; many hotel rooms there are quite noisy since the work is practically nonstop. Other hotels downtown are fine.

In the meantime, Applecore Hotels is showing several options under $300 per night. You could reserve one of those rooms, which are cancelable, as a fallback in case you can't find something better between now and then. Even the Podhotel is showing rooms at around $300 per night for this period.

A hotel near EWR is your LAST option. There are a few hotels closer to the airport that offer better shuttle service.

I'm sorry you've been place in this situation. Had you reserved a Manhattan hotel through your travel agent in New Zealand a few months ago, you would likely have gotten something better. But perhaps through a variety of strategies you can salvage something. If not, you can always take the bus in from Jersey Gardens.

travelbuff

I live on the uppest west side of Manhattan and there are several quite nice B&Bs in the area you might check, the Harlem Landmark Hotel, the Sugar Hill Inn to name two are in residential areas close to transporation and around $100nt. I toured the Harlem Landmark not long ago on W. 147th St and I thought it was VERY nice. The rooms were large and nicely decorated and there's a bathroom on suite, or down the hall.

The subway is just a block away and you can be in midtown in 15 minutes (that's what I love about this area).

Hope that helps and if you need any more info, please let me know.

travelbuff

I missquoted the name it's The Harlem Landmark Guest House.

paula1470

That is a very busy and expensive week. Try the Quality Inn in Long Island City. They get decent reviews, are right by the subway and it's a 10-15 ride to midtown Manhattan. Looks like the rooms are running $145-165 without tax. I would book something cancellable right away and you can continue to do some research.
http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-long...new_york-NY400

d_claude_bear

bspielman: You wrote, "The one-way NJTransit fare from EWR to New York Penn Station is $15 (or $11.25 for seniors--62 or over), including the $5.50 AirTrain (monorail) off-airport fee."

Does "including" mean that the AirTrain cost is part of ("included in) the $15 basic NJT fare? Or that you have to pay it in addition to the $15, meaning that the cost per person is $20.50 each way?

ellenem

$15 is the total cost from Newark Airport Terminals via AirTrain via NJ Transit train all the way to NY Penn Station.

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/pdf/e...re-english.pdf

nytraveler

The fare is $15 each way - or $60 round trip per day for 2 people - plus whatever they have to do to get to the airport.

And i fusing this method be sure NOT to get off at Newark Penn Station - but to wait to get to NYC Penn Station.

ellenem

(NY Penn Station will be the last stop.)

bspielman

Confirming nyt's and ellenem's replies, yes, the combination $15 one-way per-person fare includes both AirTrain (from the airport terminals to the NJTransit airport station) and NJTransit (two stops to New York Penn Station).

roses4me2

Thanks all - hoping I can move my accomodation still waiting to hear back from tour operators.
Trying to work out how to see everything now. Anyone want to help with itinerary? See my new post

roses4me2

Help Quick Please
The travel company has offered us either Courtyard by Marriott at LaGuardia or Days Inn Long Island . Which is the best for getting into the city from etc?

J62

Do you mean Long Island City at 31-36 Queens Blvd., Long Island City, NY? If so, that's the far better location, right near several different subway lines which can get you to different parts of Manhattan within minutes.

Marriott at LaGuardia is bad location for touring. Nice hotel, handy to LGA airport, but hard to get in/out of Manhattan.

roses4me2

Thanks I have asked for the Long Island Hotel

J62

If it's a different Day's Inn, please give us specific location. Long Island is, well, how to describe it. It's a long island from end to end, so there are other Days Inns that could be 1hr+ away.

roses4me2

Oh sorry it is the Days Inn at 31-36 Queens Blvd., Long Island City. I am stuck with the flight into Newark airport though. How will we get from there to Long Island? Catch the train to Penn Station from Newark and then what?

J62

simplest would be the E-train subway towards Parsons Archer to the Queens Plaza station, then a short walk to your hotel.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...2&z=14&start=0

Click on the public transportation icon.

or even easier might be just to walk or subway (1 or 2 train) a few blocks north of Penn Station to Times Square, then take the 7 train to 33rd St/Rawson St in Queens - that subway stop is closer to your hotel. I'd just walk up to Times Sq and get the 7 train myself.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...ansit:&start=0


sorry for the long link - i just cut/pasted from google maps. Try using www.maps.google.com a bit - it's a handy tool.

doug_stallings

Long Island City is not in Long Island. It's in Queens, one subway stop from Manhattan. Take the Airtrain into Penn Station and then the subway to the hotel. It's near the 7 or E trains. The hotels web site will tell you the nearest subway stop. If you are in a rush, you could take a taxi from Penn Station for about 25 dollars or so.