nyc travel
 

Traveling from Pittsburgh, PA to NYC. Considered taking bus, long ride, but $45 roundtrip. A coworker suggested driving to Newark, NJ, staying at the Holiday Inn near the train station and taking the train into NYC. I guess the hotel allows you to leave your car parked if you spend a night. Any suggestions... other options?

Thanks for any help you can give!!!

I think that is an awful idea. The city of Newark is not a place you want to be at in the evening, it is dangerous. There are parking lots in Manhattan that are only about $20 per nt to park in. If you are planning to come see Manhattan, you should stay in Manhattan.

Oh, we plan on spending 3 nights in New York City. We are just debating on how we want to travel. Plane tickets are $260 pp. so we thought we'd either take the bus or drive ourselves and leave our car outside of the city. The extra money could then be spent on something else.

A few years ago my husband and I took two foreign exchange students to see New York. We stayed in Newark at the Hilton Gateway and took the train from Penn Station right across the street. We had no problem at all, and I felt perfectly safe. The train was inexpensive and the girls loved it. True, I wouldn't wander the streets of Newark at night, but the short walk across the street to the train station was fine.

I've stayed at the very convenient Gateway Hilton too, as well as the Airport (Newark) Hilton, which had a few scheduled free shuttles to Newark Penn Station. Maybe your Holiday Inn provides shuttles as well.

No, I wouldn't want to walk around Newark at night, and while I enjoy seeing Manhattan, I see no reason to stay there as well, with the prices (and taxes) of NYC lodging. Avella is right about "The extra money could then be spent on something else".

As someone had pointed out to me previously, if you drive and leave your car outside the city, remember you'll have to pay to get into the city anyway, and perhaps a small parking fee wherever you park. I'd just take the bus if you want to save the $$ and the hassel of the car.

I just checked the info for the only Holiday In in Newark, NJ. It costs ALL guests $15/nt to park a car there. So again I ask, why would you do this when it costs only about $5-$8 yo park in Manhattan? Manhattan hotel rates are at it's lowest level in over 10 yrs - I checked a sample date for this Holiday Inn - it was $100/nt so why would you stay at an Holiday Inn In Newark, NJ, pay the same rate as a hotel in Manhattan & have to pay $15/nt to park your car, when you are planning to see Manhttan? Explain the logic of how this will save money on a 3 nt visit to NYC?

Opps! I have a typo in my last post. I meant to say why would you pay $15/nt to park you car in Newark when it only costs about $5-$8 more to park in Manhattan?

Another option would be to drive and stay in Fort Lee, New Jersey where there is a Best Western, Hilton, and Holiday Inn. These properties offer free parking. You will be right near the George Washington Bridge where you can take any bus that crosses that bridge and then use public transportation. There's also a Days Inn in Edgewater, New Jersey, which is a couple of miles south of Fort Lee. This hotel is located on River Road along the Hudson River. It also offers parking. Secaucus, New Jersey is another area in the vicinity of the Lincoln Tunnel which has many chain hotels and restaurants. Again, you could take any bus going into the city and then use public transportation. Fort Lee, Edgewater, and Secaucus are all convenient to the NY Waterways Ferry which I highly recommend. An added plus to the ferry is that when you arrive in the city they have a free shuttle bus service that will drop you off at all the major tourist areas.

Some additional info. The Holiday Inn Newark is 3 miles from Newark Penn Station, so it is NOT a convenient location to take the train into Manhattan.
As for others suggesting The Hilton Gaeway, which is located in downtown Newark and next door to the train station, there is a $20/nt fee to park your car, and the lowest rate I found for a sample weekend in June was $135/nt, which again is either the same or even MORE than what you can now pay for a hotel in Manhattan.
Again, many people do not seem to realize is that NYC is hurting for tourist business. Hotels have cut their rates so that you can now regularly get nightly rates of $110-$125/nt in a decent hotel, and that's not even using services like priceline, where you can get 3* hotels for under $100/nt!. At those rates, it makes no sense to stay outside of Manhattan, when your whole point is to visit Manhattan!

Again, the Fort Lee suggestion dosen't make sense. Here is a sample itineary so you can compare prices and see it is NOT expensive to stay in Manhattan:

Trip date: 6/13-6/16
Hotel prices fom Expedia.com
Ft Lee Hotels and prices:
Hilton FtLee - $117/nt
Best western - $139/nt
Holiday Inn - $99/nt

Manhattan Hotels and prices:
Rosevelt Hotel - $117.10/nt
Best Western President - $100.34nt avg

Manhattan Parking cost:
info obtained from www.iconparking.com
$45 Total for the 3 days!!! @ the Primary Parking Garage located at 49th st & 10th Ave.

NJ Bus from Ft Lee into Manhattan cost-
Info obtained from www.njtransit.com
Mimimum $45 = 4 roundtrips for 2 people for the 3 days

So you tell me - how is it cheaper to stay in NJ than in Manhattan???????????

We booked our hotel through Pricline.com. We are staying at the Brand new Westin Times Square for $95 per night. We aren't driving, so I don't know parking costs. If you are unsure of what hotels you might get, check out biddingfortravel.com and this tells you which hotels fall in the different zones. I highly recommend it!

Stick to your plan. $45 roundtrip is a good price even if it means sitting on a bus for what, about 10 hours (that's a guess). You won't have to monkey around with a car and the bus will deposit you right in NYC.

Not to mention that Newark, NJ, although better than it used to be, is still a godforsaken place that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

No wait, maybe I would...

Wow! You have all been so helpful! We are very excited about visiting New York. Just not sure of how we want to travel and where we will stay.

First, I been told to never attempt driving into New York City, but I guess with good directions maybe. Also, knowing where to park if not at the hotel we stay at. We are considering the Roosevelt, Helmsley Park Lane, the Majestic. Looking to be in walking distance to Times Square, Central Park, shopping...and still close to bus or subway transportation to visit WTC, Brooklyn Bridge...Any suggestions on hotels and driving would be great! You have all been super.

It doesn't seem to make sense to park outside the city at those parking rates and lodging rates. We DO plan on spending three nights in Manhattan. We could consider driving into Manhattan, but have to admit, It does make me a little nervous. I don't think it compares to Pittsburg!!! We'd fly but it just seems silly to spend $250 pp when NYC isn't that far!

Avella:

Drive all the way to Manhattan!! First get yourself a great price on a Hotel in Manhattan (try hotelres.com)
Next, get the parking information for that hotel. (rates, valet parking?, etc.)

You will probably pay at least $20 and up per night.

But.....u will be in Manhattan
u will not have to schlepp into the city everyday and schlepp out everynight. You have that hotel to "rest' between all the activities that you will find to do in Manhattan.

The drive is not that bad after 10AM and before 3PM Just add the Tunnel tolls ($6.00) Parking $25 x 3 nights and see if it is worth it....I think so!

And with Valet Parking you stop in front of the hotel and kiss your car goodbye! That last point needs to be clarified, just make sure that the person you give up your keys to is affiliated with the hotel!! Or you will really "Kiss your car goodbye!!"
JOHN

Also, bear in mind that Newark has one of the highest auto theft rates in the nation.

I recommend driving and staying in Manhattan, getting a nice hotel on priceline. I think someone suggested previously www.iconparking.com where you can find reasonable parking.

A great place to stay is Sheraton Suites on the Hudson. It is located in Weehawken, NJ. You have a beautiful view of the NYC skyline, free breakfast, free parking, and free shuttle service to the ferry. You pay for the ferry, it takes you into NYC and then you take free buses all around the city. If you drive, the hotel is right around the corner from the tunnel. Nice big rooms also!

A did a sample weekemd of 6/13-16 for the Sheraton Suites Weehawken, and the cheapest price was $139 for an AAA rate. SO even if there is free parking and free ferry service, it would STILL be cheaper if you took a room at say, The Roosevelt Hotel, a nice 3 * in a great midtown Manhattan location, for $117/nt, and use the other $22/nt, which is the difference between the Roosevelt and The Sheraton Suites nightly rate, to park the car in Manhattan. Then you don't have to use a ferry service to go back and forth to your hotel. When your hotel is right in Manhattan, then you can go to your room in the late afternoon for a rest and to freshen up before dinner. It would be alot of hassle to do that is you stayed outside of Manhattan. Not to mention if you went to see a show and drinks afterwards, in Manhattan, yuou just take a cab or even walk back to your hotel. Do you want to fuss with ferry serice at Midnight???

I don't care what anyone says. These days, it is actually CHEAPER to stay in Manhattan than to stay outside and commute back and forth! I challenge anyone to come up with a plan that is substantially less money AND NOT an inconvience for a 3 day traveler that is here to see Manhattan, NOT New Jersey!

Anthony,

You have been very helpful, you have pretty much changed my mind about travel. But, I would never consider going back and forth from NJ to Manhattan. We were only going to drive out stay one night just to leave our car and go into NY Friday morning until Monday!!! Not go back and forth.

You seem so knowledgeable. I am worried about driving into the city, though. What is you opinion on hotels between the Roosevelt, Helmsley Park Lane and Majestic? I don't want to bid on a hotel, I like to pick them myself. Thanks again for your help!

Thanks for your compliments. Are the 3 hotels you chose all the same price? I think in terms of location, The Roosevelt is a good choice. It's location on Madison & 45th St puts it close to both 5th ave shopping & siteseeing, and within walking distance to the theater district & times square. It is close to Grand Central and the subways there. The Madison Ave bus is convient for you to use if you are going uptown to the museums & Central Park.
The Park Lane has a 'fancier' address & location, being on Central Park South between 5 & 6th Ave, and directly across from Central Park. If you can get a Park view, that would be wonderful. It's gotten some mixed reivews, but would be generally considered a step-up from The Roosevelt. But since it is further uptown than the Roosevelt, it is not as convienent to Times Square. It seems to me that the Park Lane would be more expensive than either of the others you mentioned, so I would choose The Roosevelt and use the savings for nice meals. I don't think you can go wrong with the majestic, either; I checked some of the reviews on travelocity, and they were good. It is closer to the theater district, so if you plan to spend alot of time in the times square area ( and you don't have too, since there are many other things to see & do) the Majestic seems like a good choice. Pricewise, it seems to be lower than the Park Lane but slightly higher than the Roosevelt.

Helmsley Park Lane, on New York.com is pricing at $160 a night, The Majestic, $149, and The Roosevelt, on quikbook $110. Parking at all are around $40 a day for valet parking. Or...should would park at a city lot. I just thought valet parking would be less of a hassle. I am very open to suggestions though as far as hotels go! There are so many hotels to pick from. I know I'll love Central Park, I'll want to see Times Square, Theater area...Fifth Ave. shopping, I'm afaid I won't come home! Really. We want to see a show, I need to get on the ball with tickets for that. Hairspray, what do you all think?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! for all of you help!

If it was me, I'd take the Roosevelt, and with the price difference vs. The Park Lane, it will pay for valet parking, which I would agree would be easier than driving to another lot elsewhere in Manhattan - but of course, it's more expensive. Since I live in Manhattan, I haven't been inside all the rooms of the hotels here, but I know that the Roosevelt has nice rooms.
Maybe some other posters whom have stayed at the Park Lane can vouch whether it's worth the extra money.

Given the rates you quoted, though, I would either choose the Roosevelt for the low price, conveinent location and a nice, solid 3* hotel, or spend the extra money and upgrade to the Park Lane, and be nice and friendly to the desk clerk and see if you can get a free upgrade to a room with a Central Park view.

I would rule out The Majestic based on the rate you quoted.

In any case, as you see from the rates you got yourself, it really doesn't pay to stay outside Manhattan to save money, because you won't! Just remember, these rates for Manhattan hotels would have been 50-70% higher just 2-3 yrs ago!!!

oh, also, are there any NYC travel books that anyone would suggest that are great! They sell so many, or are they not worth it, should I just buy a good map...and there are so many of them too!

Suggestions also on driving directions to Manhattan from Pittsburgh. AAA trip tick? MapQuest hasn't been that accurate for me lately, or the ole' road atlas!

Anthony, we must have both been posting at the same time! You have been an amazing help!!!! I can't thank you enough!

Avella...
If you're uncomfortable driving into NYC, then don't. I've been living in NJ for 10 years now. My husband and I drive into NYC quite a bit (we're about 45 minutes away). We go see bands play at bars, we go to the theatre, dinner, etc...(my point is that we go a lot). And after 10 years, I'm still not crazy about driving in NYC. There's so much traffic, bad and aggressive taxi drivers, one-way streets, and I can go on and on and on (My husband is a New Yorker so he doesn't mind-although he does seem to curse a lot when we drive into NYC)...
The Holiday Inn front desk can get you a TAXI to the train station and you go from there. Yes the other posters are right, don't walk around Newark at night (but then again, there are areas in NYC I wouldn't recommend walking around at night either!), but you'll be fine during the day ESPECIALLY if the cab drops you right at the station.
I'd love to know where the $20/night parking spots in Manhattan are! We never can seem to find them.
Avella, staying in NJ is a good idea if you don't want to drive into NYC. Donnabee's suggestion is a pretty good one, by the way.
Good luck!

Oops...I do see where Anthony posted the garage info for $45/3 nights. We'll have to check it out next time we're in Manhantta.
But Avella, I still say park your car in NJ. Manhattan driving sucks.

Avella, have you considered taking Amtrak into New York City? I would bet it would be around $100 per person which would get rid of the car problem.