Where in NYC to stay for Mets game?
 

My husband and son will be traveling to NYC for the first time in a couple of weeks for a Mets game. They also want to tour Yankee stadium while there. I'm trying to get things together for them but don't know which neighborhoods would be safe to stay in. I have no concept of where the stadium is. I'm assuming they could ride the subway to the game. Is that correct? Someone told me they'd be better off staying in N.J. and taking the train into the city. If someone could just point me in the right direction it would be helpful. We really don't want to pay $300/night for a hotel room if we don't have to. I'm sure they'll want to see Ground Zero and a few other sites but will probably take a tour to make sure they hit the highlights. My main concern is their hotel.

Thanks for any helpful advice you can give.

Staying in New Jersey will definitely NOT give your husband and son a New York experience!
Since the Mets' stadium (Shea) is in Queens and Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx and the two of them want to see the sights, there's no question they should stay in Manhattan.
You say you don't want to spend $300. What is their maximum per night for a hotel?

To see a mets game, you'll be right near lagudia(lga) airport pleantly of hotels near there. From shea you can then take the train to yankee stadium.
I know you can take the train and change over and go into manhattan.

The hotels near LaGuardia are just that - overnight places for people flying out - not for tourists in the city. Staying there would be ridicuous. They're not even very convenient to Shea by public transit.

And to get from there to Yankee stadium by public transit wold take forever - having to first take a bus and train into Manhattan and then change trains there for one going to the Bronx.

Staying in Manhatan is the only thing that makes sense. All neighborhoods with tourist hotels are safe. By subway they can get to either Shea or Yankee stadium on the subway in no more than 30 minutes.

The main questions are:

What is your budget?

When are they coming (assume they already have tickets or the game and the tour)?

What else do they want to see/do while they are here?

If they chose a hotel that was close to 42nd St, they would be a few blocks from the trains that go to both stadiums.

For Mets (Shea Stadium), the 7 train begins at 7th Ave and 42nd and stops at Sixth Ave and Grand Central before heading to Queens.

For Yankees (Yankee Stadium), The D train at 6th Ave and 42nd or the 4 train at Grand Central (Park Ave and 42nd) both go north and stop at the stadium.

Really, any midtown east or west location would work. All these areas are heavily touristed and safe for a father and son traveling together.

If they want see some sites in Manhattan in addition to Shea and Yankee stadiums, then Manhattan is the best place to stay. If just going to Shea, the Sheraton LaGuardia Airport is within walking distance of Shea and the subway stop there, and you don't have to cross any major highways. It is a decent place to stay for a game.

It is a very simple subway ride to Shea Stadium that it really doesn't pay to stay at a hotel/motel near there for one night.

Most anywhere midtown would be fine to stay. Few hotels are in questionable neighborhoods. I think Midtown South or East would be your best bet. The #4 (to Yankee) is on the east side (LExigton AV), and it also has a tranfer to the #7 (Shea) at Grand Central. ALso the 4 train (or 5 on same line) go to ground zero.

Check Affinia.com for their hotels (most with kitchenette). I had visitors stay at the Shelburne last year and they were very pleased. The Hyatt at Grand Central would be a good location too (although I personally haven't been in this hotel).

AS already mentioned the train rides to either stadium and easy and safe. On game days the trains are loaded with fans. Go early for batting practice if you can, we once rode the #7 train to SHea with Chuck Knoblauch (it was a Mets
Yankees game, Chuck was kind enough to autograph my son's baseball even though he was dressed in Mets attire).

Tell them to have lunch at Mickey Mantle's, lots of memorabelia there. Also the Met Museum of Art has a small baseball card exhibit.