Want to enjoy NYC, without staying in NYC
 

We will be going to NYC for 3 days in August. We are landing in Newark, NJ and will be going to Giant Stadium for some events. We would also like to see New York City, but don't want to spend the NYC prices for hotels. We won't have a car.

Can anyone recommend where to stay that is accessible to Giant Stadium and also NYC? Whats the economical way to get to NYC (Times Square) from where you recommend? We will be travelling sometimes late at night (11pm), so want to sure that we get to our hotel safely and without breaking the bank.

What is your budget for lodging? It would be impossible to recommend a hotel in NJ without first understanding what your budget is. It's also quite likely that folks here will have recommendations within your price range for NYC proper.

Less than $100 per night. We want something that can get us into NYC easily, do any have shuttles?

I really think you should try for a Priceline deal in Manhattan. This summer the hotels are not running anywhere near full capacity, so staying IN Manhattan would make the most sense and you can take a bus/NJ Transit to Giant Stadium.

In NJ you will HAVE to have a car to get around, there is little in the way of convenient public transit, and cabs will be VERY expensive.

We've had terrific luck with Hotwire and Priceline, staying at either the Hyatt Regency or Westin in Jersey City many times. Both hotels are outstanding and are very convenient to NYC (via NJ Path) 24/7.

See the venue website for transit options from various points.

Depending on the specific event you are planning to attend there may be NJ Transit train service direct to Giants Stadium as a new train from Hoboken is to start going to Meadowlands for certain events. There is also a direct bus connection from the NJ transit rail station at Secaucus Junction that operates 90 minutes prior to major events at the Meadowlands complex. Check out this website for more info: http://tinyurl.com/869rfn

There are many transportation options by which you can reach Manhattan from New Jersey. We won't know which methd will be best for you until we know where you will be staying.

However, unless you are staying at one of the locations close to a PATH station (trains to Manhattan $1.75 each way), you are likely to use a bus, train, or ferry that will cost at least $5.00 each way, probably more. (For two people, that's at least an additional $20 on your expenses.) Plus, if it is via bus, you will be dealing with some of the most intense commuter traffic in the area and limited schedules during non-rush-hour times. So when you balance hotel costs, do check the cost of transportation as well as the schedules.

How many will be in this room that costs less the $100 per night?

A very new Fairfield Inn is available on Travelzoo.com for $125/night. I know that this is above your budget of $100/night, but I think you would make up the difference of $25 in the cost savings of not having to pay for transportation to/from Manhattan to New Jersey. Plus, it has free breakfast.

There aren't any hotels that I can think of that have shuttles from NJ to Manhattan. You'd have to rely on public transit, and as others have said, it's not always at convenient times outside of rush hour, unless you're using the PATH train.

There are no hotels with shuttles into Manhattan. The only hotels with shuttle are thise near an airport - and then it's from the hotel to the airport. $100 for 2 people is a very restricted budget for any place in the NYC area. (Even low for Jersey unles youwant to stay a good distance out - and then it will cost a lot in time and transit $ to and fro the city.) I would look at travelzoo.com for your dates and also bidding on Priceline.

Don't know about local NJ transit to Giants Stadium - you would need to look at the site for the event to see what they are offering. From Manhattan to the Stadium they typically have buses - but only when there is a special event. Otherwise no service to the Stadium.

Giants stadium is further from NYC than you want to be if you're trying to visit NYC. djkbooks idea of Jersey City or Hoboken via Priceline or Hotwire are excellent options and connected to NYC by a PATH train (like a subway). http://www.panynj.gov/path/schedule.html But Giants Stadium is in the Secaucus/Meadowlands area which is further.

To be blunt, you are crazy to be near NYC and not stay there. It is not worth a few dollars to 'commute' to NYC from NJ. There are tons of inexpensive hotels in NYC, even in Times Square area.

<<To be blunt, you are crazy to be near NYC and not stay there. It is not worth a few dollars to 'commute' to NYC from NJ. There are tons of inexpensive hotels in NYC, even in Times Square area.>>

Until recent years, I would have been in total agreement.

However, rates have skyrocketed in NYC, but have dropped in Jersey City with the addition of the brand new Westin and W Hotels, along with the Doubletree Marriott Courtyard, Hyatt Regency and others - all steps from a Path station and often available on Hotwire or Priceline for well under or just over $100/night.

We used to think the best deal possible in NYC was preferable to staying in New Jersey.

And, we've also come to realize that it's great to get away from the madness at the end of the day - and the views of the Manhattan skyline from NJ are magnificent, in much more peaceful surroundings.

Staying in Jersey City, it's taken only 45 minutes from our room to Midtown.

I also think it depends on what time of year you're coming and what the price difference is b/w Manhattan and NJ. In August, there are great hotel deals in Manhattan. But this poster hasn't made it clear how many times he/she is going to Giant stadium over what period of time and which is more important-visiting NYC or the events in Secaucus. The trip planner on njtransit.com suggests that getting between Jersey City (like the Hyatt) and Secaucus by public transportation is not easy and will take forever. Whether that's true, I don't know.

I fy ou are coming from Jersey it's assume that you have a car and public transit to the Stadium is extremely limited. It seems counterintuitive - but without a car it's actually asier to get to the Stadium from Manhattan than many places in Jersey. And many. many hotels in Manhattan are having "bed economy" specials. I wouldn;t settle for Jersey without exploring Manhattan options.

As for getting away from the "madness" of Manhattan - that's a function of staying too near times Square. Much of Manhattan is busy - but only Times Square is frantic to the point of madness.