Traveling to NYC
#2
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Stay in the city if you can. That is the general consensus here and, yes, it has been discussed frequently.
If you want hotel recommendations, you will need to give EXACT dates, number of beds and people, and nightly budget in USDs.
If you want hotel recommendations, you will need to give EXACT dates, number of beds and people, and nightly budget in USDs.
#3
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Stay in the City. Staying in New Jersey involves transportation costs and inconvenience and missing the whole NYC experience. As suggested, if you give exact information you will get help from people on this forum.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Another vote for staying in the city.
Don't inconvenience yourself by staying in NJ and commuting to the city. I did that every weekday for 21+ years and can tell you it gets "old" very fast. Any money you save by staying in NJ will be eaten up by commuting costs as the time you'll waste getting in/out of the city.
Don't inconvenience yourself by staying in NJ and commuting to the city. I did that every weekday for 21+ years and can tell you it gets "old" very fast. Any money you save by staying in NJ will be eaten up by commuting costs as the time you'll waste getting in/out of the city.
#5
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This is a question only you can really answer, after you weigh the time and expense of going and coming from NJ.
Not that it's the only way, but let's say you come in via the Hoboken station to 33rd St. That takes about 20 minutes and cost about $5 round trip, plus parking near the station. Then you'll probably want to take the subway uptown from 33rd. So you're going to take the train in every a.m., take the subway, stay in the city all day, including dinner, and then head back to Hoboken via the same route?
I dunno. Is it worth it to you?
Not that it's the only way, but let's say you come in via the Hoboken station to 33rd St. That takes about 20 minutes and cost about $5 round trip, plus parking near the station. Then you'll probably want to take the subway uptown from 33rd. So you're going to take the train in every a.m., take the subway, stay in the city all day, including dinner, and then head back to Hoboken via the same route?
I dunno. Is it worth it to you?
#7
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If you absolutely cannot afford Manhattan (and I encourage you to do so - even at the cost of cutting back on other things) then I would do Long Island City versus NJ. In LIC many budget motels are near the subway and you can be in the city in 10 to 15 minutes - versus looking for a place in NJ - many of which are an hour or more commute, which may be an expensive one.
Also, if you plan on staying in the city for dinner, show or other activities - the subway runs 24/7, while transit into Jersey can be very sparse after commuter rush hour.
Also, if you plan on staying in the city for dinner, show or other activities - the subway runs 24/7, while transit into Jersey can be very sparse after commuter rush hour.
#8
Join Date: Feb 2004
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As nytraveler suggests, consensus on this board is that if you absolutely can not stay in the city, then consider Long Island City.
I have been looking at hotels and options myself for the past day or so, and depending on your dates, there are decent specials, especially non refundable ones. And if you are willing to go nonrefundable, then consider Hotwire or Priceline. Many discussions here on using both. This works best if you are only two people and don't care about bed configuration. Done it myself many times.
Travelzoo had decent specials listed last night.
I have been looking at hotels and options myself for the past day or so, and depending on your dates, there are decent specials, especially non refundable ones. And if you are willing to go nonrefundable, then consider Hotwire or Priceline. Many discussions here on using both. This works best if you are only two people and don't care about bed configuration. Done it myself many times.
Travelzoo had decent specials listed last night.
#9
Join Date: Mar 2009
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We live in New Jersey, 22 miles due west of Times Square. Our best commute to NY Penn Station takes 45 minutes, but, frequently, the trip is more like an hour. Add to that the transfer at NY Penn to the subway, the wait for the train and riding time for the subway to wherever in Manhattan you're headed. That's roughly another half hour. So, assuming you stayed close enough to NYC to cut your commute to, say, 20 minutes, you'd still be looking at almost two hours round trip. And, as suggested above, the frequency of trains back to NJ at night is hourly or worse. We can manage that, but we don't do it every day as you would were you vacationing here.
Stay in Manhattan if you can; if not, have a look at Long Island City. As suggested, it's only a stop or two on the subway fro Manhattan.
Stay in Manhattan if you can; if not, have a look at Long Island City. As suggested, it's only a stop or two on the subway fro Manhattan.
#10
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A hotel in Jersey City near a PATH train ( Westin, Hyatt, Doubletree, Candlewood Suites) is not a terrible option if you're using Newark airport or are driving here and can't afford Manhattan prices . The Sheraton in Weehawken and the Homewood Suites in Edgewater are also not terrible with ferry service. The hotels that require you use a bus, or worse still depend on a hotel shuttle to a bus stop are problematic because tradfic can be terrible.
The obvious downside is not being able to easily go back to your hotel midday to change, rest, drop off packages and the time spent commuting.
The obvious downside is not being able to easily go back to your hotel midday to change, rest, drop off packages and the time spent commuting.