Hi I'm going to NY from NZ in April and was thinking about staying at the International Student Centre on the Upper West Side. Is this too far from the action? Would I be better off at the Banana Bungalow? The New York Hostel on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn is very cheap but is it safe / a good place to stay? I am arriving at 9.30 at night , would it be safe taking the subway with a backpack at this time of night? Also where are the best / cheapest / most fun places to have a few beers in Manhattan ? Help me out. Thanks.

Still need some help guys. Hello? Scott.

The Youth Hostel on the Upper West Side is a better choice than the Brooklyn location. Although being a NYer I have never stayed there, it is in a perfect fine location, and have never heard or read of any problems. Where are you staying exactly? I see a listing at 38 W 88st, but I know there is a youth hostel further uptown on Amsterdam, I think? In either case, it is a good location, and you will have NO problems taking the subway to the upper west side at night. There are bars on the upper West side that someone your age (I assume you are of student age) would enjoy that are located on Columbus and Amsterdam Aves, between 79thSt and 86th St.. If you let me know exactly where you are staying, I can give you more advice.

Wow. I used to live at 44 W 88th st. Of course that was 25 years ago, but it is a great neighborhood. You are 1/2 block from the subway stop at 88th & Central Park West. Anyone know if the Cuban-Chinese restaurants are still around? This is a great example of residential NYC. I really think you will love staying in that area.

Scott: Consider the Habitat Hotel on E. 57th Street and Lexington Avenue. The location is very central and the hotel was recently completely renovated. I saw an ad in today's NY Times for $69 a night rooms in January. I believe you have to share a bath, but rooms with private baths are available at a higher rate. Best of Luck.

Thanx for the advice guys. Anthony, the hostel you found at W.88th is the one I was thinking about staying at. Are you sure I would be O.K. with my stuff on the subway at 9.30pm? I would need to go from JFK to the Upper West Side. Any tips for riding theNY subway for the first time? Sorry Frank, $69 per night translates to about $100 australian and therefore way out of my price range. I'd prefer to not even pay $20 if I can help it. Cheers, Scott.

Scott:
Make your reservation RIGHT NOW, then!!! You are in a GREAT location in Manhattan, only 1 block from Central Park ( I live 7 blocks away!) Again, you will have NO problem with the subways. If you are planning to take the subway all the way from Kennedy, you will have to take a bus from the airport to the subway, and take the 'A' train all the way to the 59th Street stop, and change to the 'C' train just across the platform to '86th St' Stop. (Be in the front of the train). You will be only 7 blocks from the museum of Natural History, and by springtime, they will have opened the NEW Hayden Planatarium, which will be the most advanced Planatarium in the world! It is a beautiful,futuristic building: a Huge multi-storied globe that 'floats' within a 8 story glass cube!!
You are only one bus stop ride away from The Metropolitan Museum of Art on the other side of Central Park.
This location is 'hands down' a better location than Brooklyn, especially to get back to after a night of bar-hopping or clubbing...
Anyway, let me know if you have any other questions, I can give you some recomendations if you give me more info about what you what to see, eat, do....