SiobhanP

Hi all,

I am a former NY/NJ gal living abroad for 10 years and I am planning a trip home after 4.5 years since my last visit. Time flies! I want to take my other half to NYC for a few nights before we head back to Ireland at the end of our trip. I looked up some posts and found The Excelcior which sounded nice and I know the area from years ago and also I want to know if anyone stayed at the hospitalityco Bleeker street apartments or anyother on their listing. I want to walk the city and take him to some old haunts and just eat our way around the differnt types of food (Miss that!) I have not used priceline and unsure I want to lock myself in that without choosing the hotel myself. I don't want a dump but would like a decent place that is clean and smart...size is not problem as we are used to smaller European rooms in hotels. Sorry if this is too vague but I need to start somewhere. I would like to pay under 200 dollars per night and spend more on food and shopping and nightlife .

SiobhanP

Fot those on the Euro board...yes once again I can't spell and type too fast! Apologies too all on this board

starrsville

Siobhan, if you check out Biddingfortravel.com or BetterBidding.com you can see the hotels you will end up with on Priceline. So, even you won't know exactly which of the five or so hotels in each area/ star level, you know what the options are. I've been able to get great deals via Priceline. Posters also let you know what bids have been accepted. Search Priceline and NY on this board for more info.

Happy travels "home"!

mclaurie

Siobhan, there are a number of decent hotels on the upper westside. The Beacon and the Millburne are apt style hotels with kitchenettes in most rooms. The Lucerne is IMO the nicest hotel in the area. The Exclesior probably has the prettiest location, directly across from the Museum of Natural History.

In midtown, the Salisbury on west 57 st is another that has apt style rooms.

I don't know about the hospitality co apt on Bleecker St. but I know someone stayed in a studio apt on Bleecker a while back through
http://www.metro-home.com/
and liked it.

If you want to use Priceline, people have been getting the NY Hilton with a bid of $100-120/night when bidding 4* midtown west location. I think you have a better shot of succeeding with Priceline for a short stay (vs a week or more). You should read up carefully though.

Really I think you either have to decide exactly which location you want or just shop around and see what you think is the best deal.

You should have a look on travelzoo.com and see if any of the specials they feature interest you. They're featuring a package at the Millenium UN (which has a beautiful indoor rooftop swimming pool) but not sure it's good for your dates. There's also a $199 rate for the Barclay (a lovely midtown hotel) or the Crowne Plaza Times Square (I think they have a pool too). Also good deals for the Roosevelt, a nice old grand dame and the trendy Morgans. I wouldn't go for the Park Central. There are some mechanical problems with that building if you read tripadvisor.

sks

I recently stayed at the Milburn(76th &Broadway) for $179/night and really liked it. It's simple and clean with enough room (tiny bathroom though) and a little kitchenette.

SandyBrit

SiobhanP

I have stayed at The Milburn hotel on the Upper West Side. The rooms are big by NYC standards. Not a fancy place but quite adequate. Good location, plenty of places to eat nearby and subway on your door step. Good value for $$ - www.milburnhotel.com

I have also stayed at The Inn on 23rd Street locted in the Chelsea District. A small family run B&B with 14 rooms. Inn serves a nice breakfast and other perks like free museum passes. Take a look at www.innon23rd.com

Recently stayed at The Embassy Suites located in lower Manhattan, 102 North End Avenue - details www.embassysuites.com - Very nice suites and good value for your $$'s when you consider that a full breakfast is served and evening cocktail reception is included in the cost. I liked this location across from the Hudson River, lovely walks. Irish memorial being constructed in front of this hotel.

You can see reviews of all these hotels on www.tripadvisor.com

Best wishes for a lovely visit home to you and your other half.

Sandy

wantsomesun

Also try www.hotels.com. It will give you a better idea of lots of rates for your dates of travel and probably remind you of what it's like being in the city.

The listings will include location, amenities as well as the rates for each day you are planning on being here.

Have a great time!!!

SiobhanP

Thanks so much everyone. It's weird coming back and being a stranger. I want to get aquainted with the city again and have a look at my old work places and haunts pre-9/11. I still can't believe the WTC is not there. I will have a look at bidding for travel and the other places mentioned. I think we stayed at the Beacon 10 years ago on a girls night out before I left.

GoTravel

Siobhan, as of yesterday afternoon, there were only two posts on the NYC section of BiddingForTravel.com so you may want to try BetterBidding.com.

Even though the rooms are small, I highly recommend the Park South. It is on the corner of 28th & Lex and just a block from the Lex line. Very boutiquy and it fits your budget. There is a Korean and a Duane Reade on either side of the hotel.

Lee4

I stayed in the Atrium Apartments on Bleeker last June (2004) by renting through metro-home (I think this is the same as the hospitality company). We had a studio apartment, with a queen bed, couch and chair, small kitchenette (no microwave or toaster oven), and small bathroom. The studio was clean, the building seemed safe and secure (there is a doorman who gives you the keys upon check-in) and was in a good location. It was easy to walk to 2 different subway stops and there were a grocery store and pharmacy near by. We had one small problem when we got in the apartment--only one set of towels and we were staying for 8 days. It took several phone calls with the metro-home people, but they finally delivered more towels by the next day. Overall, we had a good stay and would consider staying with them again. We are going back this summer, incidentally, but are trying a new apartment on the Upper West Side. My husband was in charge of the apartment this year and I can't remember the company he found the apartment through. If it comes to me later, I'll reply again.

TC

We just spent 11 days at the Blakely Hotel at 55th and 6th Avenue. It was a great location with two subway lines within a block and a third about 5 blocks away at Columbus Circle. We found lots of great places to eat nearby, had easy access to either the UWS or UES or Midtown or Theater district and were only 3 blocks from Central Park. 49th Street/Theater District was only one stop away on our subway line.

The hotel (the old Gorham) has been refurbished and is quite nice. Our king room had a loveseat and large chair with ottoman. Also a small kitchenette with tiny micro, fridge, sink, plates, coffeemaker, etc. Very nice for snacks or breakfast.

We paid $229 through QuickBook.com

Another option in the Village is:
http://www.roomstolet.net/garden.html
I haven't personally tried this B&B, but it looks very nice. I have a friend who lives just a block away and this is a great area.

Lee4

Hi again,
I have the name of the apartment rental company we're using for our NYC trip this year: http://www.urbanliving-ny.com/. This is our first time using them so I can't comment on how good (or bad) they are at this time. They are apparently more like middlemen--we set up the reservation with them and put down the deposit and then we work with the apartment's owner to take care of the rest--arrival-type stuff, payment, etc. I'll try to remember and post something about them after we return.