WHERE TO STAY?
Dec 16th, 2005, 11:52 AM
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WHERE TO STAY?
Hi All....
I have to go to Westchester, NY for an interview and I'm making it into a trip for my boyfriend and me. Where is a good place to stay? We are on a budget but I don't want to stay in a terrible hotel either.
Thank you,
Kimberly
I have to go to Westchester, NY for an interview and I'm making it into a trip for my boyfriend and me. Where is a good place to stay? We are on a budget but I don't want to stay in a terrible hotel either.
Thank you,
Kimberly
Dec 16th, 2005, 01:44 PM
#3
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Pleasantville, NY??? Is that correct? She said that I could stay in Manhattan and it would be like a 45 min train ride? Thanks for your response.... obviously I am clueless. I'm from Cali.
Dec 16th, 2005, 02:29 PM
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I think a lot depends on how you manage the logistics of the trip. If I were planning this trip I'd try to make the interview at the beginning if possible. I'd stay somwhere near it in Westchester for that night and then possibly move to Manhattan for the vacation part. To do that, you'd probably need a rental car for the night in Westchester. What's your hotel budget?
Dec 16th, 2005, 04:40 PM
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I would suggest you stay in either White Plains or, depending on when you are coming, there is the Kittle House in Chappaqua, NY - only minutes from Pleasantville (which, by the way, is a lovely little village). Good luck.
Dec 16th, 2005, 07:12 PM
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Thank you very much. I will look into the areas that were suggested. We would fly into JFK on Wed night and then we could stay in either place. On Thurs my interview is from 9:30 to 12:30. Then, I was thinking to stay until Sat night. Hotel budget.. under 200 a night. Hopefully around $100.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Dec 17th, 2005, 03:50 AM
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Kimberly, are you talking about next week? If yes, prices in NYC are actually good. Well, regardless, given that scenario, you have 2 options.
1. Stay near the interview on Wed. night when you arrive. Rent a car at JFK and drive up to Westchester and stay at one of the hotels mentioned by seetheworld. This would make life simpler in the morning (assuming it easy to find the office
) and give you an idea of what Pleasantville is like. But it works best if you can drive the car to Manhattan after the interview and drop it there if it doesn't make the rental price too exorbitant.
2. It might actually be simpler and cheaper in the long run to stay in Manhattan. The train ride appears to be just under an hour. There are 3 trains in the morning that would get you to Pleasantville in plenty of time.
7:15AM arrives 8:12AM
7:50AM arrives 8:45AM
8:14AM arrives 9:09AM
I see the Fitzgerald Grand Central hotel in NYC, literally across the street from the train station available for $169/night for next week.
Another really nice hotel, the Algonquin, is available for $149. It's not as close to Grand Central, but still walkable or a short cab ride. It would be a nicer location for a vacation. Anyway, found these prices on quikbook.com which is a good site. You should check directly with the hotel to see if they have the same or a better price. If not, feel confident to book with quikbook.
By staying in NYC, you don't have to worry about renting a car or driving. From JFK, take a taxi (about $55 for 2) or a bus ($15/person) into the city.
I agree using Priceline for the NYC portion of this trip would make a lot of sense, especially if you stay in Westchester on the first night. You could get a very nice hotel in Mahattan for as little as $100-120. But if you've never done it before and are a bit overwhelmed with things, these quikbook prices don't look bad at all and you get to pick your hotel. If you want to give Priceline a try, read up on betterbidding.com or biddingfortravel.com.
1. Stay near the interview on Wed. night when you arrive. Rent a car at JFK and drive up to Westchester and stay at one of the hotels mentioned by seetheworld. This would make life simpler in the morning (assuming it easy to find the office
) and give you an idea of what Pleasantville is like. But it works best if you can drive the car to Manhattan after the interview and drop it there if it doesn't make the rental price too exorbitant. 2. It might actually be simpler and cheaper in the long run to stay in Manhattan. The train ride appears to be just under an hour. There are 3 trains in the morning that would get you to Pleasantville in plenty of time.
7:15AM arrives 8:12AM
7:50AM arrives 8:45AM
8:14AM arrives 9:09AM
I see the Fitzgerald Grand Central hotel in NYC, literally across the street from the train station available for $169/night for next week.
Another really nice hotel, the Algonquin, is available for $149. It's not as close to Grand Central, but still walkable or a short cab ride. It would be a nicer location for a vacation. Anyway, found these prices on quikbook.com which is a good site. You should check directly with the hotel to see if they have the same or a better price. If not, feel confident to book with quikbook.
By staying in NYC, you don't have to worry about renting a car or driving. From JFK, take a taxi (about $55 for 2) or a bus ($15/person) into the city.
I agree using Priceline for the NYC portion of this trip would make a lot of sense, especially if you stay in Westchester on the first night. You could get a very nice hotel in Mahattan for as little as $100-120. But if you've never done it before and are a bit overwhelmed with things, these quikbook prices don't look bad at all and you get to pick your hotel. If you want to give Priceline a try, read up on betterbidding.com or biddingfortravel.com.
Dec 17th, 2005, 04:41 AM
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I just happened to notice there's a special at the Barclay Intercontinental for $159/night for 12/19-12/29. It's posted on a link on travelzoo.com and sends you to
http://www.eleisurelink.com/danay/SP...alw-nobatz.asp
It's a lovely hotel also near Grand Central.
http://www.eleisurelink.com/danay/SP...alw-nobatz.asp
It's a lovely hotel also near Grand Central.
Dec 17th, 2005, 06:46 AM
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I agree with mclaurie's option #1, but would not recommend option #2 (staying in Manhattan before the interveiw)
If this is an interview for a job that you really want, I would recommend staying closer to the interview rather than farther away in Manhattan the night before. You want to be well rested, fresh, alert, and non stressed for your interview, and commuting from Manhattan isn't what I would do. You could stay in Westchester county (i.e. at one of the hotels recommended by seetheworld, or something on priceline in the White Plains or Tarrytown area. Both are close to Pleasantville, and any of the 3* or even 2.5* business hotels like Courtyard, Residence Inn, etc will be perfectly fine. (see biddingfortravel.com for invaluable tips about how to use priceline)
White Plains will be easier & quicker to get to from JFK (~45min), but Tarrytown is only about 20min further drive. It'll take you less time to get to White Plains than it will to Manhattan from JFK.
With the possibility of a NY City transit strike, uncertainties of December weather, and unfamiliarity with the area, I would always prefer to be as close to the interview site in the am as possible.
Another thing to consider. Are you familiar with the cost of housing in the Westchester area? Common Fodors terms like affordable, resonable, or moderate, no matter how one defines those terms, is NOT how I would describe Westchester County. Many people who work in Westchester live 30-40 miles away (West, North or Northeast) just to afford a single family home.
As a hiring manager I always recommend that people moving to a new area take the time to look into housing options and costs when they visit a new place for an interview. Many companies will gladly hook you up with a realtor who can show you houses and/or rental properties. It's a common relocation practice and noone will be offended - be sure to ask the hiring company before you visit so they can arrange something for you.
Since you'll be renting a car at JFK, you could return it in Westchester County at a location nearest a MetroNorth train station, then take the train into Grand Central. Might be easier than the hassle of returning in NYC (especially if the strike imposes a 4 person minimum on all cars entering Manhattan weekday mornings)
If this is an interview for a job that you really want, I would recommend staying closer to the interview rather than farther away in Manhattan the night before. You want to be well rested, fresh, alert, and non stressed for your interview, and commuting from Manhattan isn't what I would do. You could stay in Westchester county (i.e. at one of the hotels recommended by seetheworld, or something on priceline in the White Plains or Tarrytown area. Both are close to Pleasantville, and any of the 3* or even 2.5* business hotels like Courtyard, Residence Inn, etc will be perfectly fine. (see biddingfortravel.com for invaluable tips about how to use priceline)
White Plains will be easier & quicker to get to from JFK (~45min), but Tarrytown is only about 20min further drive. It'll take you less time to get to White Plains than it will to Manhattan from JFK.
With the possibility of a NY City transit strike, uncertainties of December weather, and unfamiliarity with the area, I would always prefer to be as close to the interview site in the am as possible.
Another thing to consider. Are you familiar with the cost of housing in the Westchester area? Common Fodors terms like affordable, resonable, or moderate, no matter how one defines those terms, is NOT how I would describe Westchester County. Many people who work in Westchester live 30-40 miles away (West, North or Northeast) just to afford a single family home.
As a hiring manager I always recommend that people moving to a new area take the time to look into housing options and costs when they visit a new place for an interview. Many companies will gladly hook you up with a realtor who can show you houses and/or rental properties. It's a common relocation practice and noone will be offended - be sure to ask the hiring company before you visit so they can arrange something for you.
Since you'll be renting a car at JFK, you could return it in Westchester County at a location nearest a MetroNorth train station, then take the train into Grand Central. Might be easier than the hassle of returning in NYC (especially if the strike imposes a 4 person minimum on all cars entering Manhattan weekday mornings)
Dec 17th, 2005, 07:21 AM
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J52, my first instinct was to do as you suggest, and given the potential for the strike, I do agree with you. Returning the car to Westchester airport is a great idea. How would they get from there into the city?
Dec 17th, 2005, 07:32 AM
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MC
I'd return at a city location in Westchester county, not necessarily at the airport. Avis and Hertz & others have neighborhood locations. I've rented Avis from JFK to Poughkeepsie (for example) with no drop off fee. Scarsdale, Croton-on-Hudson, Tarrytown. I expect that there are numerous Westchester in-town locations to drop off (sometimes at a major hotel) that would work. Scarsdale Avis is 1/2 blk from train station, according to Avis web site.
I'd return at a city location in Westchester county, not necessarily at the airport. Avis and Hertz & others have neighborhood locations. I've rented Avis from JFK to Poughkeepsie (for example) with no drop off fee. Scarsdale, Croton-on-Hudson, Tarrytown. I expect that there are numerous Westchester in-town locations to drop off (sometimes at a major hotel) that would work. Scarsdale Avis is 1/2 blk from train station, according to Avis web site.
Jan 16th, 2006, 08:56 AM
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My interview is this coming week on 1/19. I am staying near the interview site on the first night and then we are driving to downtown Manhattan and dropping the car in a drop spot downtown for no additional fee. Thank you for all of the advice!
