$35 a night hotel rooms in New York City????????

OK I went and read the other thread. One person mentioned a *hostel* that is $40 per person for a bunk bed.

Airport to your hotel - just grab a taxi at the airport. There's a set price. (Plus give a 15-20% tip.)

I shudder to think what $35 would get - I spent that much 20 years ago for a hostel in Switzerland not NYC...

Good Luck with that. I am sure you will find soemthing with the help of Fodorites.

I'm sorry but I really think there is a misunderstanding about ANY place to sleep for only $35 a night in NYC. Now that IS one thing that might actually NOT be safe!!

"Many of you spoke of rooms for $35 in NYC... well I can't find them, no decent places at least."

Huh? Many? Where? I have never seen such posts, what are you talking about?

Apropos of the "Shoe" thing. In the documentary "The Out of Towners" didnt Jack Lemmon have his shoes stolen in Central Park? Beware.

A bunkbed room at the Pod Hotel can be had for as little as $139 before taxes (this is with a shared bath). I think if you search, you may find a room in NYC for $99 to $129 per night not including taxes if you are willing to stay at a hotel like the Comfort Inn Long Island City, which is in Queens 2 blocks for a major subway station (though an otherwise unexceptional neighborhood).

You can get any car service to or from Newark for $45 to $48 plus $10 in tolls plus $8 tip. That $40 car service doesn't include the toll or tip. If you use Dial 7 or Carmel car service, they are both realiable and known. I don't know the service you are talking about, but you can get into Manhattan for $7 each by using the Airtrain and subway combination. That is as cheap as an airport transfer in NYC can get.

Re: airport transfers...

How many bags do you have and how heavy? It's pretty easy to take the train from EWR to Manhattan. I think it's around $15. You take the airtrain from EWR to NJ Transit and then a train that ends at Penn Station in NYC.

There's also a train from JFK to the NYC subway. Depending on how many people you have with you, the cabs may not be that bad. It's a $45 flat rate plus tolls (and tip) from JFK to anywhere in Manhattan.

Also, I agree with everyone else who says that you don't need to put money in your shoes. Just practice common sense safety (don't walk around with your bag hanging open or wallet hanging out of your pocket, etc) and you'll be fine.

The thought of a hotel room in Manhattan for $35 my be the most frightening thing I've ever read about NYC.

Check The Jane Hotel. Rooms with shared bath for under $100.

Doug, as we know hotel rates vary a lot by travel dates. Last month I stayed at the Red Roof Inn, part of the Apple Core group, for $135 per night for a lovely room for two people with a king-size bed and, of course, a private bath as well as free breakfast and WiFi and other comforts. I would encourage visitors to do plenty of research into these hotels, and Priceline, before settling for a bottom-rung accommodation like the Pod's shared-bath bunkbeds.

Maybe that rate was $35 PER HOUR.

There are a couple of reliable hostels that go for $35-$40 per bed per night (plus locker for your belongings) in a dorm room with 5 or 7 other people. (Check out Hosteling International.)

There are NO hotels in NYC for $35. Many garages will charge $40 or more to park your car overnight.

My brother in law grew up in the Bronx, son of an NYC cop, When he lived there 30-35 years ago, the place was a mess. Last year he took his two 20 something daughters to Manhattan. He was amazed that he could let them go alone to Times Square without feeling they were in danger.

Hi all... I must have misunderstood the prices of lodging and got all mixed up with all my topics. To be honest, I really do not know what is a reasonable price for a room for a night. From what I can gather, I will be able to find something reasonable and decent, no frills etc, for $100-$150 per night? Is that correct? If I am wrong, please give me some guidelines.

I am not scared of NYC anymore. I realise that many people say things about countries which aren't true at all. I had a real laugh when I went to see the questions people asked about South Africa, where I live. The one topic was about the safety of our food. The travel agent in europe told this lady that she is not to eat any fruits and vegatable, drink our water and be extremely carefull of our restaurants. Shame, this lady is actually booked into ine of our top hotel groups in our country, but scared to stay there and scared to eat the food. How ironic! We are farmers, and all our best fruit, approx 89% of our produce, is shipped to the EU, and now she is scared to eat our food. When she is at home, she eats our fruit!

Another topic was Malaria... A lady wanted to come but wanted some malaria advise... some other person, told her only our big cities don't have malaria, well actually only 10% of our whole country does have malaria maybe, in summer, and our government sparya high risk malaria places twice a year for malaria, and then this person told her us locals treat ourselves when we get sick, as we know what to use because, I am assuming roots of plants etc, where actually, we just go for a REAL bloodtest, at a REAL LABORATORY, WITH REAL DOCTORS And we actually have brilliant Doctors, just a pitty they leave to countries such as Canada and England, who pay them lots more money!

Someone once asked me if I have lions and elephants in my garden. People really have a wrong idea of our country.

Just to illustrate how some people with no clue, actually give such stupid advise!

Horrible West End Studio's charged $53.5, all taxes included for a doubel bed with shared bath, per night. I think this is where I had my mind set on $35 per person per night.

One key point to remember is that many places like hostels will give you a price PER PERSON, whereas regular hotels are priced per room. So if you're paying $40 per person at the Pod or a hostel, then that's really $80 per night that you should use as a basis for comparison. And don't forget to factor-in other considerations like breakfast.

You can compare prices at a wide variety of hotels that are available for your dates on www.quikbook.com. Prices fluctuate wildly depending on the date and demand.

I feel sorry for the poor clerk that has to handle the money that came out of your shoes!

I loved NYC and never felt unsafe there.