Traveling to NY as a student tourist in Xmas and New Years
Oct 27th, 2013, 05:11 PM
#22
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To see the ball drop you need to stand in Times Square in whatever weather may be 40s or may be 20 and snow/sleet) from about 3 in the afternoon until midnight. Local transit stops around 4 pm and everyone is blocked into pens with police horses (wooden kind) and can only leave -- not return. There are no facilities and any backpacks or bags are thoroughly searched by police before you can enter.
Frankly - I think it is close to hell. I did it once, when I was in college - but that was many years before 9/11 and the security was much less. But you are still standing there for 8 hours or more waiting for anything to happen.
April will be better - but still don;t expect any hotels for under $100 - and that would be shared bath.
Frankly - I think it is close to hell. I did it once, when I was in college - but that was many years before 9/11 and the security was much less. But you are still standing there for 8 hours or more waiting for anything to happen.
April will be better - but still don;t expect any hotels for under $100 - and that would be shared bath.
Oct 27th, 2013, 06:27 PM
#23
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With the Priceline "name Your Own Price" bidding, you can keep bidding until you get a star level you want in a zone you want for the price you want.
If you read the sites I mentioned, you can learn about how to do "free re-bids" so you don't have to wait 24 hours between bids.
If you read the sites I mentioned, you can learn about how to do "free re-bids" so you don't have to wait 24 hours between bids.
Oct 28th, 2013, 02:26 AM
#25
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I like the Larchmont, also downtown with shared baths, but you're still going to be over a hundred, even in April. It is worth the hassle of not trying to drag all the way in from Edison, however.
Oct 28th, 2013, 03:27 AM
#26
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Yes, but in high season many hotels don;t have rooms to give Priceline - and if they do - the prices won;t be very low.
And agree that in April $150 is still going to be difficult - altough migh be doable as Priceline.
And agree that in April $150 is still going to be difficult - altough migh be doable as Priceline.
Oct 28th, 2013, 04:40 AM
#27
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I suspect one of the problems is that December 31 is included in your dates. Could your visit be a shorter visit? December 24-31 (actually departing Dec 31) would eliminate a high-priced New Year's Eve hotel. Yes, it also eliminates your dream of being in NYC for New Year's Eve, but seems as if your budget will require some compromises.
Oct 28th, 2013, 04:56 AM
#28
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When you go in April, you will have many more options on quikbook.com, travelzoo, priceline, etc. Go back to check on Long Island City hotels at that time; they'll likely be your best option.
The best place to see the ball drop is in front of your television in your own living room with a roaring fire in the fireplace, champagne just opened and chilled in the bucket, and the Chinese food just being delivered. Now, That's a proper New Year's Eve celebration!
The best place to see the ball drop is in front of your television in your own living room with a roaring fire in the fireplace, champagne just opened and chilled in the bucket, and the Chinese food just being delivered. Now, That's a proper New Year's Eve celebration!
Oct 28th, 2013, 06:33 AM
#29
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Dec 24-28 is not that expensive. Its the dates around. NYE that are so terrible. If you're willing to change locations, that's one idea. Bidding on Priceline is not likely to yield one hotel for the entire 9 days but you might get something in 2 different places.
The Verve hotel in Long Island City, a 15 min. ride to midtown Manhattan by subway is $169/night plus including breakfast for the entire 9 nights if you prepay. For the first 5 nights, it's only $136 plus tax if you prepay.
Seeing the ball drop is a major production. Look at the FAQ on timessquarealliance.org. There,s no easy way to do it. I would consider coming to NYC for 5 nights and then spending New Years in Boston or Washington.
The Verve hotel in Long Island City, a 15 min. ride to midtown Manhattan by subway is $169/night plus including breakfast for the entire 9 nights if you prepay. For the first 5 nights, it's only $136 plus tax if you prepay.
Seeing the ball drop is a major production. Look at the FAQ on timessquarealliance.org. There,s no easy way to do it. I would consider coming to NYC for 5 nights and then spending New Years in Boston or Washington.
Oct 28th, 2013, 08:11 AM
#30
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The week between Christmas and New Year's is generally cheaper than April, which can be quite expensive. Don't assume you'll find something cheaper then.
Here's my only thought about staying out in the suburbs. Trains are geared to commuter hours and generally become scarce and have much longer times after 9pm. Trains rarely run more than once an hour after regular commuting hours and may take significantly longer. So there's a distinct disadvantage in staying in a NJ or Long Island suburb. Taxi service in suburbs is also very hard to come by after hours. So if you arrived even in a busy station like Valley Stream, LI at 10:30PM, you would likely not find a taxi and might have to wait 15 minutes for one to arrive.
Commuting costs have risen dramatically over the past few years, so you need to realize that if you are buying regular tickets, a single ticket between Metropark and Manhattan is going to cost you $10 per person each way, adding the equivalent $50 onto your lodging costs per day for two people. And the taxi might cost $10 each way, so that means you are not paying $56 to stay at that Econolodge but rather $116, so it may not seem such a good deal when looked at that way. And remember that you are still going to pay for the subway when you get into Manhattan. I'd probably pay the additional $30 per night to stay in Queens to be on a NYC subway line.
But before you book a Queens or Brooklyn hotel, be sure to run the location by people here who know the city. We can tell you if the hotel is convenient to the subway or not. Hotels near the NYC airports are normally NOT good places for tourists to stay.
Here's my only thought about staying out in the suburbs. Trains are geared to commuter hours and generally become scarce and have much longer times after 9pm. Trains rarely run more than once an hour after regular commuting hours and may take significantly longer. So there's a distinct disadvantage in staying in a NJ or Long Island suburb. Taxi service in suburbs is also very hard to come by after hours. So if you arrived even in a busy station like Valley Stream, LI at 10:30PM, you would likely not find a taxi and might have to wait 15 minutes for one to arrive.
Commuting costs have risen dramatically over the past few years, so you need to realize that if you are buying regular tickets, a single ticket between Metropark and Manhattan is going to cost you $10 per person each way, adding the equivalent $50 onto your lodging costs per day for two people. And the taxi might cost $10 each way, so that means you are not paying $56 to stay at that Econolodge but rather $116, so it may not seem such a good deal when looked at that way. And remember that you are still going to pay for the subway when you get into Manhattan. I'd probably pay the additional $30 per night to stay in Queens to be on a NYC subway line.
But before you book a Queens or Brooklyn hotel, be sure to run the location by people here who know the city. We can tell you if the hotel is convenient to the subway or not. Hotels near the NYC airports are normally NOT good places for tourists to stay.
Oct 28th, 2013, 08:24 AM
#31
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<I'm afraid you've picked the most expensive time of year to come to NYC>
What do you know, the same refrain, and still wrong.
I agree, Christmas week is not the most expensive time to visit NYC; the weeks leading up to it are high, and New Year's Eve is the real problem. Rooms also book quite a bit in advance. If the OP can adjust his dates to avoid New Year's Eve, he may have better luck, unless everything in his price range is already booked. This is a far better strategy than to shoot for April. If only the trip could be done next December!
What do you know, the same refrain, and still wrong.
I agree, Christmas week is not the most expensive time to visit NYC; the weeks leading up to it are high, and New Year's Eve is the real problem. Rooms also book quite a bit in advance. If the OP can adjust his dates to avoid New Year's Eve, he may have better luck, unless everything in his price range is already booked. This is a far better strategy than to shoot for April. If only the trip could be done next December!
Oct 28th, 2013, 08:51 AM
#32
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Well I looked at a number of hotels and those that are not already booked still have high prices - not just for NYE (which was almost universally higher) but for that whole period.
It's not like the hotel is $500 on NYE and $50 the other nights.
None of the hotels in Manhattan are showing rates like the OP is looking at in god knows where NJ - $50 something per night.
NewbE -
The problem is that you disagree with everyone - but you don;t provide any specifics for the OP to look at. Exactly what hotel are you recoing they look at that is cheap in the week between Xmas and New Years?
It's not like the hotel is $500 on NYE and $50 the other nights.
None of the hotels in Manhattan are showing rates like the OP is looking at in god knows where NJ - $50 something per night.
NewbE -
The problem is that you disagree with everyone - but you don;t provide any specifics for the OP to look at. Exactly what hotel are you recoing they look at that is cheap in the week between Xmas and New Years?
Oct 28th, 2013, 10:00 AM
#33
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NYE prices are extremely high, and the weekend just prior to NYE is inflated as well (in anticipation of people traveling in for a 4 day weekend). Christmas week itself should be relatively low cost.
Can you alter your dates to arrive a bit earlier and leave before NYE weekend? Or, better yet, just stay the 24th-28th. A shorter trip will be easier on your budget.
IMO, It's much better to stay 4 days with a reasonable budget to stay in a convenient location and enjoy yourselves vs overextending your budget for 10 days and staying in a terrible or very inconvenient location.
It's really important to be able to come and go from your hotel vs having to be out on a giant "day trip" every day, especially in winter!
Can you alter your dates to arrive a bit earlier and leave before NYE weekend? Or, better yet, just stay the 24th-28th. A shorter trip will be easier on your budget.
IMO, It's much better to stay 4 days with a reasonable budget to stay in a convenient location and enjoy yourselves vs overextending your budget for 10 days and staying in a terrible or very inconvenient location.
It's really important to be able to come and go from your hotel vs having to be out on a giant "day trip" every day, especially in winter!
Oct 28th, 2013, 10:05 AM
#34
We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites in Long Island City last year for three night, cost us then $ 139.00 plus taxes. You got free breakfast, and free Wi-fi. The subway is about three minutes walk away and it is one stop to Manhattan.
Oct 28th, 2013, 01:31 PM
#37
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What about the Leo House (www.leohousenyc.org)? A friend used to stay there when he visited NYC and said it was a basic but clean guest house on W 23rd that was operated by nuns and originally catered to new immigrants to the US. It looks like a room for 2 is $125-135. It's been several years since my friend has been there, so if anyone can provide current details, it may be a good option for the OP.
