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NYC hotel somewhat convenient to Frick but not $$$$$

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NYC hotel somewhat convenient to Frick but not $$$$$

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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 04:18 AM
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NYC hotel somewhat convenient to Frick but not $$$$$

Going to see "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in November. We have only 2 nights in NYC (a Fri. and Sat.) I am going with my teen daughter and late-60s mother and walking wipes out my mom very quickly.

Of course, finding a room for 3 for a good price is a pain. I'd like to spend no more than $500 per night, taxes included.
Affinia Gardens seems to be my best option. (Surrey, Mark, Pierre, Carlyle, etc. are way out of my price range.)

Not sure what else we will do this trip. I told my travel mates we should each pick out one must-do each My daughter wants to visit the Cloisters but it looks like the cab ride alone would take 48 min.!

Anyway, does anyone have any other suggestions for lodging?
Thank you.
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 05:04 AM
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We stayed at the Club Quarters near Rockefeller Center in March. It might have some options for the 3 of you. It is an easy bus ride (up Madison Ave) to the Frick if your mother can handle that

If your daughter hasn't been to the Metropolitan, maybe you can persuade her to try that instead of the Cloisters this time.

My husband and I are also going to NYC for a weekend in October and are excited about the Vermeer exhibit. It is certainly a challenge to find anywhere affordable to stay. (We are staying at the Comfort Inn Central Park West)
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 05:11 AM
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Yes, it's a 45 minute ride to the Cloisters but an amazing experience. I went for the first time last year and loved it. The collection is wonderful but the quietness and beauty of the surroundings were lovely. I think it's worth a consideration.

Why not stay in the UWS and take a quick cab ride through the park to the Frick? A great solution = less expensive hotel and a beautiful ride. Maybe the Hotel Beacon...
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 05:18 AM
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Read this on the Beacon - http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...tel-beacon.cfm
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 05:24 AM
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Maybe another hotel on the UWS.

I stay in a private apartment so am not that familiar with the hotels in the area. I've found that it's an easy bus ride or cab ride to the UES and I like the area better too.
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 05:26 AM
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Here are some ideas -
http://www.booking.com/district/us/n...t-side.en.html

Although I prefer booking directly with the hotel.
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 10:03 AM
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Thanks for the advice.

starrs - I like your idea of staying on the UWS. Have never stayed in that area and would like to. Hadn't thought about cutting across the park...
Thank you for the Cloisters encouragement. Now I think we should go for it.

Vttraveler - have a great time on your visit next month I will look into both the Club Quarters and the Comfort Inn CPW.
Thanks about the Met. This will be my daughter's 4th trip to NYC and I have dragged her to the Met each time She's in a big Medieval phase right now, which is why the Cloister's of such interest.
Thanks again!
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 10:48 AM
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The fastest mass transit way to reach the Cloisters is the A train to 190th St. Elevator to street level, then walk (slightly uphill) or transfer to the M4 bus for one stop. I suppose a taxi taking the Henry Hudson would beat it though.

Right now there is a special medieval exhibit in the medieval halls of the main Met building. http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions...rom-hildesheim
Reviewed in the Times http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/ar...anted=all&_r=0
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Old Sep 21st, 2013, 10:56 AM
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Thank you, Fra_Diavolo, for all the info.
The exhibit sounds very special. And what a wonderful review it got! Thanks so much.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2013, 09:36 AM
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Actually ended up booking Affinia Dumont, which was on "flash sale" for $350/nt which includes taxes. Booked a 1-bedroom with 2 queen beds and a kitchen and "spectacular views of Chrysler Building". So, I'm happy. We will be quite comfortable. And looks like we can take a 10-min. cab ride to Frick, and also be closer to some other things on our list (Bryant Park, Eataly, Morgan Library.)
Thanks again for the help.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2013, 12:09 PM
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We stayed there last summer and got the Chrysler Building views and they were great. You are very close to the Morgan. We walked over there and did the free Friday evening admission.
Second Avenue Deli is just around the block behind you on 33rd Street; don't miss it.
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Old Sep 25th, 2013, 07:53 AM
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Thanks, 5alive. I have printed out your trip report and look forward to reading it.
Thanks so much for the deli tip!
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Old Sep 25th, 2013, 10:04 AM
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The Dumont is a good hotel in a convenient location. There's a Duncan Donuts downstairs and several restaurants (including Le Parisien, a nice neighborhood French bistro for which you need to make a reservation) a couple of blocks away. I can also recommend Ethos for Greek food. There are several decent diners nearby for sit-down breakfast.

The Frick may be a bit more than 10 minutes by cab depending on the time of day, but you can get there easily. Spend the $150 you saved from your hotel budget on cabs and keep your mom happy. But you can (and probably should) hop on the bus or subway at times.

But if you go to the Cloisters, you need to arrange transportation up there. The subway is fast but deposits you a very long walk downhill from the museum. But a city bus can take you up there to the door, though it never seems to arrive, and the open area at the subway station can be cold. The city bus also goes all the way to midtown, but that full trip takes almost 2 hours, which you can't spare. You might have to do a taxi at least partway. We do have these new lime-green taxis that can pick up passengers above 125th Street, so that might be an option. You could take the subway that far and get a cab.
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Old Sep 25th, 2013, 10:24 AM
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I took the subway part of the way, transferred to the bus and it took me to the door of the Cloisters. A taxi is an easier option. I wonder how much Carmel would charge? That would be a nice treat - going in a town car and calling for a return when you are ready.

I also stopped at St. John the Divine on the way back. Take a look at that if you think you may be interested.
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Old Oct 17th, 2013, 09:37 AM
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Haven't been on here in a few weeks... Doug and starrs - I am very grateful for your help.
Thanks for the restaurant recommendations, Doug and for the bus/taxi advice. My mom would not enjoy arriving a "long walk downhill" from anything
starrs - I used Carmel for airport transfers last trip, thanks to your advice. I'll contact them re. the Cloisters trip. Thanks!
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Old Oct 18th, 2013, 04:26 PM
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My daughter wants to visit the Cloisters but it looks like the cab ride alone would take 48 min.!

It is possible to go by subway or by bus to the Cloisters. Use Google map to find out the different options. The subway requires an 8 minute walk, the bus requires a change but goes directly there.
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Old Oct 19th, 2013, 09:38 AM
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The bus takes about 90 minutes from midtown, so that's not a very good alternative. The subway ride up to the Cloisters from midtown can be done in about 20 minutes, but it's far more than an 8-minute walk from the subway station and it's all uphill, though it's a lovely walk of more like 15 minutes through the park. The bus takes about 5 minutes from the subway stop, but the bus and subway never seem to be on the same schedule. But if you use a Metro card, then transfer is free.

People don't realize how far up in Manhattan the Cloisters is, but it's not unreachable, though it's a slog regardless of the mode of transportation. Still, it's closer than any of the airports and is unlikely to take 48 minutes unless one is traveling from the Financial District, and even then it depends entirely on the time of day.
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Old Oct 19th, 2013, 10:20 PM
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but it's far more than an 8-minute walk from the subway station and it's all uphill, though it's a lovely walk of more like 15 minutes through the park.

You are assuming going through the park from the Dyckman St. exit whereas Google assumes the 190 St. exit which is on top of the hill by elevator.
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Old Nov 14th, 2013, 07:53 AM
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My daughter wasn't able to come on the trip, so we put off visiting the Cloisters. Next time.

Seeing the "Girl With a Pearl Earring" was worth the trip in itself. She is so lovely.

Doug - thank you very much for the Le Parisien recommendation. We had dinner there Saturday night and it was wonderful! What a charming little place - and everything we ordered was delicious (steak frites, rainbow trout, and pate). Couldn't have been more convenient to our hotel (Affinia Dumont), either, so thank you again.

5alive - we had lunch at the 2d Ave Deli right after we arrived and it was yummy and quite an experience. Shared Matzoh ball soup and the Instant Heart Attack sandwich. Thank you for recommending the place Again, so convenient to the hotel.

I adore New York City. I need to move there for about 6 months!
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Old Nov 14th, 2013, 09:51 AM
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I'm so glad you enjoyed Le Parisien. It's one of my favorite little neighborhood restaurants and really feels like something from Paris. Murray Hill is a great place to stay for neighborhood restaurants ... I still miss it now that I no longer live in the area.
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