I've traveled w teens a lot, taken up to 12 at a time to places like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, DC. Our trips are usually centered around a rock show, a couple of decent but cheap meals, minor shopping (thrift, music stores), people watching -- and I try to throw in something educational/cultural.

My youngest daughter is a high school senior this year. We'd like to do a last hurrah- spring break trip. NYC seems perfect for this group.

Question #1:
Can I do three days/two nights in NYC for $200 a kid (assuming there would be 12-20 of them bunked four in a room)?

Question #2:
How?

Thanks in Advance,
-d

Have you checked hotel prices? Quad rooms are more expensive in Manhattan than double rooms because of space.

A decent hotel in Midtown will for four people will probably run you at least $300 per night. With taxes you are going to be close to your limit.

I'd say $400 would be a much more reasonable budget.

I would immediately contact the NYC Convention and Visitors Bureau and get their help. This is what they do.

I don't know what the $200 is supposed to include. Everything? Sounds like you want to stay in a hostel and I don't know what they cost. Look at Hostel International on the upper westside. Check for info on hostelz.com Another option is one of the Ys. The Vanderbilt and Westside Ys seem to be ok based on tripadvisor reviews. Again, not sure of price.

I can't imagne how you can do it for this price. Even with shared hostel rooms and simple meals - just the cost of a concert ticket would take a significant part of the funds.

And you donlt mention how you'll be traveling in and out of the city - hired bus? Or public transit from JFK or Newark (not realistic from LaGuardia).

(there area few very inexpensive hostels downtown with shared baths - but don;t know if they would have enough rooms for your whole group.)

Thanks for your suggestions so far.

There's a (decent looking) hotel nearby in New Jersey with double/double rooms for around $150/night. There is a 24 hour PATH station next door.

If we could get rooms there, the cost (w/parking) should be $50 per kid, per night.

So ... the $100 each would have left is unrealistic for a show and three days of meals? Even cheap meals -- pizza, chinese, italian?

Most of these kids work part time. Some of their parents would pitch in but others wouldn't -- and we'd really hate to leave anyone who wants to come behind.

I'll check the hostels and Ys -- maybe they'd be cheaper than $50/night, but then what about parking? We'd probably have 3+ cars. Hmmm ... park n ride an option?

Another possibility might be to drive somewhere close (Pennsylvania) spend the night in priceline rooms, get up early and find a way into the city. Spend the whole day in the city, use my (relatively) cheap Jersey hotel, spend a second day in the city, then head out of town in the evening.

Assuming I could priceline in Penn for around $60/room/night that would save $100/room.

Does this seem more reasonable or should I just give up?

Call the Travel Inn on W. 42nd St. I would think your price per kid would be right on line with their rates AND staying there the parking is free.

It is close to Times Square and lots of restaurants very close by. I think some of the rooms have small refrigs so you could cut down on the cost of some meals.

There are also a couple of Best Westerns in the city and they give group rates, so you might call there as well.

Also check www.hotels.com for rates on lots of hotels in the city, and you can input your dates of travel so you can get an idea of what is available.

TKTS would also be a good bet for theatre tickets, although you probably won't get to go to the same show, but if you split up the group and met up later for a late snack.

There are lots of fun places the kids would love like Pom Frittes on the lower east side for great fries, and the ice creamery on W. 42nd (the BEST ice cream I have ever had).

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Wow, thanks. I'll be gone shopping all day tomorrow (Hey, maybe I really AM crazy?) but I'll be back on Sunday to check in. Any other advice you can offer?

Thanks again,
-d

Instead of a two night trip with your budget staying in New Jersey, I suggest a one night trip staying in Manhattan.

Even discounted, show tickets will cost you at least $50.

You don't want to stay Jersey City.

While New York can be done cheaply, I don't think your budget is reasonable for two night and three days.

The kids could have a much better time and still get the thrill of staying in Manhattan.

I actually think it can be done. There is an apartment hotel on the Upper West Side with good rates and kitchenettes. It usually has an ad in our Sunday paper and I will try to look for you. Also like the suggestion of calling the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

And why Priceline out of Manhattan? A friend of mine gets rooms on Priceline at 2.5 star with parking at the rate of about $70 per night. This is in the United Nations area. And if you are coming on a weekend, you can usually Priceline Financial District rooms at great rates.

Forget a Broadway show, but go to an off Broadway. Or really, an Off Off Broadway. Time Out NY usually has great suggestions. There are certainly fun and interesting shows that they can see for much less than what discount Broadway tickets will cost.

And there are so many good dining choices that will be fun and affordable. Let them have fun in the East Village for shopping, with lots of inexpensive dining choices. Why not Russian-Polish food at Verselka, but don't go during weekend brunch hours when it is very crowded. They can eat their fill of borscht and such for very little, and it will be an experience.

The small chain Spice has great fixed price lunches that are very affordable and lots of fun with distinctly different Pan Asian food.

A great and cheap meal can be had at
http://www.labonnesoupe.com/about.php

I can just think of so many things to do and so many ways to make the budget work. I wouldn't be discouraged if I were you, but I'd realize that you might have to work harder than usual to pull it off.

My daughter went on a lot of trips to NYC when in junior college in a theater department. They had very low budgets and the kids planned the trips themselves. If they can do it, so can you!!

These may be of help to you:

School Ticket Theater Program (212/354-4722, www.schooltix.com) offers discount vouchers for 30-50% off Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and music, dance, and other performances to librarians, teachers, students, and school personnel. Schools can order vouchers via www.schooltix.com; individuals cannot request vouchers.

Theatre Development Fund(212/221-0885, www.tdf.org) offers discount tickets to qualified and registered students and teachers. It also runs the TKTS discount theater booths and numerous other programs.

Tuscan, rethink your advice on priceline. She's packing four in a room and will need at least four rooms.

I've never ever gotten a NYC room on priceline that has two beds. Also, she's taking a chance that the group could be split up in two different hotels for more than four rooms.

Also, if you check prices for Easter Week (Spring Break for most high schoolers which is when she wants to visit), prices are already stupid expensive.

Or am I just misunderstanding your post?

I don;t want to be discouraging - but by my calculation 3 meals at Mickey D's fopr 3 days is $75 per kid. Transport will be at least $20/$25 each. Don;t know where you're going to find any type of show or anything for less than about $50 (they do have student tickets at about $15/$20 for shows that are about to close - but there's no guarantee on getting enough for anyone).

Even an extra coke or a pretzel from a vendor would completely break the budget.

I would hate to see you bring the kids here and have them see little and go hungry.

For a realistic budet I would start with specific hotel info (and for that budget I think you wil have to do group rooms in a hostel).

If you want to take the kids to a traditional hotel you need to call the hotel directly and ask for a student group discount. The Edison used to take school groups, I don't think they do any more. Call some of the other larger hotels and make sure you are speaking with someone who has the authority to "make a deal". Book as soon as you can - spring break is a busy time in NYC

For food the kids can bring something from home for the mornings like breakfast bars etc., they can split pizzas for dinner or try some of the less expensive ethnic places that NYC has to offer.

Have some fund raisers (garage sale? bake sale?) before you go to give everyone a chance to afford the trip.

Sorry to ask my questions then disappear. Arrived home from a Thanksgiving weekend trip to find my laptop inoperable.

I know New York is expensive but is it really that much more than Chicago? We see up and coming indie bands for around 15 bucks there all the time. I'm not talking Rolling Stones here.

Also, I understand what you're saying about the magic of staying in Manhattan. I tell people all the time to sacrifice a few bucks and stay right in the city when they ask me why they shouldn't get cheaper rooms out by O'Hare. But Chicago hotel rooms almost always come with two beds or at least a king. My kids aren't afraid to scrunch together. They don't sleep much anyway on these trips. Jersey City seems like an affordable compromise. Close. "Regular" hotel rooms. Cheap transportation to the city nearby.

Food. How do New Yorkers afford to eat?

I may be living in a fantasy world but I really want this to work. We've got a few months -- the kids would certainly be willing to hold bake sales, heck, maybe with all the musicians in the group, they could put on a show.

Thanks again for all your help so far.

"I know New York is expensive but is it really that much more than Chicago?"

YES.

Some cities more expensive than NYC: London, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tokyo.

Cities cheaper than NYC: Everywhere else.

"We see up and coming indie bands for around 15 bucks there all the time. I'm not talking Rolling Stones here."

You WILL be able to find a decent all-ages show in the $10-$15 per person range, less for not-so-good shows. DO NOT listen to the lame 55 year olds here who think Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden is cutting edge.

Try NORTHSIX in Brooklyn and the KNITTING FACTORY in Manhattan. Both have listings online. The Village Voice (online too!) will have show listings and it is FREE on streetcorners here!

"Also, I understand what you're saying about the magic of staying in Manhattan. I tell people all the time to sacrifice a few bucks and stay right in the city when they ask me why they shouldn't get cheaper rooms out by O'Hare."

BUT, in my opinion, being on the PATH is good enough if the budget is so tight. Be aware though that means that EVERY trip is a DOUBLE fare- there is NO free transfer from PATH to Subway - they are SEPARATE systems! And you can't walk to ANY attractions! Double fare = $4 each way twice per day versus ZERO fare or $2 each way if you can walk to attractions from the hotel or take a short bus ride. How much are you really saving if EVERY kid needs to pay the train fare?

"But Chicago hotel rooms almost always come with two beds or at least a king."

Not the case here. Sorry.

"My kids aren't afraid to scrunch together. They don't sleep much anyway on these trips."

The NYC Youth Hostel is at 103rd and Amsterdam.

(212) 932-2300. CALL NOW, IT FILLS UP FAST.

"Jersey City seems like an affordable compromise. Close. "Regular" hotel rooms. Cheap transportation to the city nearby. "

I agree with you. But keep in mind the double fares and no walking to fun stuff. If they aren't there to sleep, cram then in the hostel.

"Food. How do New Yorkers afford to eat?"

Don't listen to these clowns who think it costs $9 per person per meal at McDonalds. FALSE.

My local (excellent) pizzeria offers a large plain pie (8 slices) for $13.50. That should feed three hungry teens. Add 3 cokes at $1 each. That's $16.50 total or $5.50 each. Where are you people getting EIGHT BUCKS+ at MCD's FROM?

Gray's Papaya offers 2 Hot Dogs + a drink for around $2.50.

Indian Restaurants on 6th Street offer $6 and $7 entrees that can be shared.

Buy a bag of bagels and some cream cheese for less than $10 for some alfresco dining. You may be able to feed up to 5 this way.

"I may be living in a fantasy world but I really want this to work. We've got a few months -- the kids would certainly be willing to hold bake sales, heck, maybe with all the musicians in the group, they could put on a show.

Thanks again for all your help so far"

GO FOR IT. But make sure a responsible adult has a credit card or can get cash to bail people out of trouble if a plan falls through.

Your main hassle will be the care & feeding of THREE CARS. Anticipate as much as $50/day PER CAR for parking for garage spaces. Park-and-Ride is not a real option, you will be VERY far from the city, and train fares will be high. Imagine parking in Des Plaines and taking Metra in each day. Convenient, no?

P.S. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is PAY WHAT YOU WISH. You can WISH for very little, like $1.

Having stayed in Jersey City (at the RV park, no less!), I want to offer a few clarifications:

PATH costs $1.50, not $2. They accept the pay-as-you-go NYC Metro card, but not the unlimited-ride version. When you buy this card, you get a bonus: Pay $10, get $12 worth of rides, pay 420 get $24. A single card can be used by multiple people, and you can "refill" it adding more fares.

PATH stops in downtown, Greenwich Village, and 34th Street near (maybe at) Penn Station.

IMHO, the best place for your troops in midtown would be the Murray Hill East Suites. The location is safe though not central, but each suite has a full kitchen and at least two beds. Or contact the Apple Core group of 5 budget midtown hotels to discuss your plans.

Full admission fee at the Met is $7 for students and can also be used to go to the Cloisters on the same day. Please don't encourage the kids to budget by stiffing the Met.

I think I love you guys ;^)
-darcy

Whoa---I would not stay in Jersey; just the transportation costs there and back would probably feed everyone a meal per day.

Don't understand if you are planning to drive? Why don't you take a bus, instead? A group bus rate would be cheaper than flying, and you wouldn't have the car parking fees---which will be high, even if you stay in Jersey. In NYC you just can't--and don't want to afford it.

My suggestion is to go to a school travel agency and get something affordable arranged through them--lodging and shows. They can get you discount tickets to things like Ellis Island and some shows.

If you aren't picky about your meals, you can definitely eat on your budget. Pizza is cheap everywhere, and bagels at delis and food marts are what most people eat for breakfast anyway. A few trips ago we stayed at the Doubletree in the theater district (quick trip for four plays) and the breakfast bar was $31 per person! This was for a fairly decent, but not $31 dollars worth, breakfast. The next day we sent a teenaged son down the block, who brought back an incredible array of bagel sandwiches (with ham, eggs, bacon, some plain, all kinds of cream cheese, etc.) for five people for the cost of one hotel breakfast!

Good luck planning, and you're a brave soul to shepherd a group like this through NY!

ps make sure each person has either an insurance i.d. card with him or her, or a photocopy of the card---better yet, YOU carry a copy of each person's drivers' license and medical insurance card, just in case.

I wouldn't recommend priceline. There's no guarantee you'll get a room with 2 beds, they only guarantee a room for 2. Many NYC hotel rooms only have 1 bed. Also I think you can only bid for up to 4 rooms on priceline.

I think the most economical approach is staying in NJ considering your budget, and parking, etc.

There are ways to eat economicly in NYC. In any case, there's no way you can walk in a restaurant with 12-20 people without a reservation, unless you are eating at very off hours. Beside pizza, and hotdogs, inexpensive chinese food can be found in chinatown, and around the city. There are also some very inexpensive indian restaurants in little India (e. 6th st between 1st and 2nd av) and some decent burger palces (better than McD's,etc). Another food option would be the food bars at WHole Foods (TIme Warner bldg & Union Sq).

That's true--I hadn't thought about that because we've always been given two queens or two doubles with priceline rooms. But the rules clearly say that the room will accomodate two people---something to keep in mind that always could be enforced at the most inconvenient time!