Okay, I'll TRY to be brief. We (daughter and I) are planning a trip to NY in - of all times - February. Two or three nights.

Main reason for the trip is to roam around the Bronx, where I grew up and lives in the '40's. '50's and early '60's. We're flying into La Guardia and am debating these options, based on wanting to have a car for at least 1 day.

1) Rent a car at La Guardia and stay at a hotel in the airport vicinity because of free parking (st least at one hotel I found!). That would mean driving over to the Bronx one day and driving into Manhattan another and dropping the car back at La Guardia when we leave.

2) Rent car, stay one night in airport area, and then - after exploring the Bronx - drop car in mid-town, check into a mid-town hotel and do our thing there before heading for La Guardia. Not sure yet of the best means of doing that.

3) Head straight for mid-town when we arrive and stay there for the duration. We can rent a car for 1 day from a mid-town location.

It's just that we really need the car. I grew up around Bruckner and Soundview and I'd like to drive around the Clauson Point, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Pelham Bay and Throgs Neck areas and I don't see any other way to do it. I'm getting up there and a lot of walking would do me in!

It's been so long since I've been in NY that any and all advice would be most welcome. Thanks in advance!

If it were me, I'd hire a car service for the day to drive me around. You'll pay an hourly rate, and it won't be cheap, but you also won't have to drive yourself or buy gas. Even if it costs $200, it seems to me that it's worth it for the convenience and peace of mind. And if the weather is crummy, you won't have to worry about trying to find parking on snowy streets. The car can just circle for you.

But if you want to go to the Bronx a weekday and really want to drive yourself, I'd actually urge you to wait and rent the car at a Midtown location (try Enterprise, but all the car rental places will have good deals on weekdays in February). You give up so much by staying at a LaGuardia hotel that it's not really worth it.

Agree with Doug. NYC car rentals will cost you in the vicinity of $100 and I'd rather splurge and have someone else drive me around.

Also, you can point things out to your daughter without having to worry about getting into an accident.

No way would I stay near the airport.

If you absolutely must rent a car, The Travel Inn in Manhattan has reasonable room rates and free parking.

Thank you both! I'd never thought of being driven around. I will check into that. (Hmmm...how do I do that?)

I'm scratching off the airport hotel option! You're right, we would miss a lot of the main Manhattan sites by doing that instead of staying downtown.

We considered a trip to NY a couple of years ago and I'd read about The Travel Inn (on 42nd St?)having free parking. We didn't make that trip and then I saw somewhere that they no longer offered it. I felt at the time that we'd kind of missed the boat parking-wise if we ever thought of going again. If they do still have it, that would be great!! I'll check that, too!

As far as I know the Travel Inn still offers free parking but I agree you should either rent the car from the city for the day you need it or get a limo for that day.

Did you just want to drive around or stop and see places?

All State Limo is one co. to consider.

Call Dial Seven (#212-777-7777) and ask them about day rates.

You may only need a car service for a couple of hours.

Yes, the Travel Inn still offers free parking.

I would go for option #3 - esp in Feb. You have no idea what the weather will be - and if you make a plan to do specific things on specific days - like drive around the Bronx - you may find it to be a day that is snowy or icy.

Hotels in Manhattan in Feb will be very reasonable - esp if you use Priceline or travelzoo etc. That way you can arrange for the car whatever day you want based on weather and what else you're doing (you can get advance rates if you call the car rental 800# only the evening before - or even a couple of hours before you pick up).

There are several car rental agencies on the west side on 76/77th and I would grab the subway and pick up a car there - so you can jump on the west side highway and head straight up to the Henry Hudson to the Bronx - and explore from there.

This will prevent the fuss of changing hotels and give you maximum flexibility without costing much - if any - extra.

Once again, thanks to all who have taken their time to reply.

We are going the second week in February and if I can make one more request it's that all say a little prayer that the weather is decent. Cold is no problem but, please!, no ice or snow.

I'm going with the "stay in Manhattan and rent a car for one day" consensus. Yes, I want to walk a few streets in the Bronx and I hope it is still safe to do so.

One more question. I understand that now there are parking meters 'everywhere' in Manhattan. Can they be ignored nights and weekends or are they 24/7? It may not matter but I'd like to know..in case.

I was looking at the Belvedere Hotel in mid-town but I'm going to do some research in case there is a better deal out there. I'm hoping my 'old' age or my daughter being active military will help us find a 'cheap' nice hotel..if there is such a thing in mid-town. I'll research the avenues already suggested.

Thanks again!

Responding to your question about parking meters:
1. The hours of enforcement vary. Some are in force only to, say, 6 p.m., while others (mid-Manhattan, for example) are in force later (around midnight, I think).
2. Meters are not in effect on Sundays.

Do not assume you can park on the street - anywhere in Manhattan. It is possible - in specific areas - if you're very familiar with the system - but a visitor should really count on putting the car in a garage in Manhattan.

There are SOME parking meters in residential areas of Manhattan but you will NOT likely find them. They are most certainly NOT everywhere. You have to read the signs for the rules. If you're just getting the car to drive to the Bronx, why would you need to park in Manhattan at all?

I know virtually nothing about the Bronx but found this website with info on parking there.
http://www.nycmover.com/bronx-parking.html

I was asking about the meters in case we rent the car our last afternoon/ evening in NY. We could then head out early the next morning and tour the Bronx before driving over to LGA where we'd drop the car off in the afternoon. I just thought it might be a way of both seeing the Bronx AND getting back to the airport. And, yes, I know, there ARE garages too. (What can I say!)

And alas, I will confess a major concern of mine...parallel parking. I used to be very good at it but haven't had to do it in 40 years!! I can envision a crowd forming as I make my up-teenth attempt with bet money being collected!

HELP

We are driving from Michigan in mid-December to NYC. We want to park in New Jersey (as west of Newark as possible) and take public transportation (with as few transfers as possible) into the city. My daughter lives in Soho.

Your advice is most welcome!

Thanks for the Bronx website. My Dad always had a car because he worked shift work at the Hellgate plant (for 40 years!!) and it was the best way for him to get to-and-from work. (It was a hike from any public transportation to the plant). I remember what a hassle it was for him when they instituted 'alternate side of the street parking' but retirement was in site and he just dealt with it.

Sorry...probably TMI.

If you drive on your own to the Bronx, you should be able to park on the street without too much trouble. And yes, you can walk safely in the areas you mentioned (although I am not familiar with Clauson Point).

In Manhattan, iconparking.com is a great way to reserve a parking space near where you are and know in advance what you'll be paying.

sdcarmody, west of Newark as possible? Why? See these previous thread, but you should start your own to get best info.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34727471

PS, esd, unless you're doing the Bronx on the same day as you leave, I would dump the car. Having to return it at LGA will be a headache and you may have to pay extra for different drop off location if you rent from the city.

Thanks again for all the help and advice!!! We're booked. I found R/T airfare from Gulfport MS to La Guardia for $209pp and I booked the Comfort Inn Midtown for 3 nights for a very reasonable "MATURE" traveler rate.

Now if only the weather cooperates.......