janice_ong_7311

Hi, I'm traveling with a my family of 4 ( 2 child age 16 & 13) to New York for the 1st time for 12 days from Nov 22 to Dec 4. Didn't realize it's Thanks Giving holiday and I had already booked the air tickets.
We will be traveling long distance from Singapore inbound to JFK airport. Being a 1st timer I'm searching for a hotel between USD200-300 near a nice neighborhood area n yet has easy accessibility to the must see attractions. I tried searching many different websites to look for lodgings with safe surroundings, affordability n accessibility and read many reviews but I'm still unable to settle on one. Looking forward to some suggestions. Many thanks.

SusieQQ

Try the hotels in Long Island City, Queens. Get one near a subway station for easy access into Manhattan. They are frequently recommended for their good value.

nytraveler

Unfortunately you are arriving at the most expensive time of year and your budget is very low - especially for a room that will accommodate 4 people (many rooms have 1 double bed and can hold only 2 people).

Assuming your children can share a queen size bed you might look at the Newton on the upper west side. They have a special advance purchase (no refund if you change your mind) available for your date. There are 2 queen beds and this is a reliable budget property less than a block from the subway.

I would grab this place in a minute versus LIC. The upper west side is in a mid/upscale residential area with lots of restaurants and shops and good transit to . Long Island City the rest of the city is find if you are desperate - but the area is mixed use (inexpensive motels mixed with warehouses, body shops and fast food places but few services).

However, you need to move quickly - or anything decent will be fully booked.

If you have other specific places you ar considering that are in your budget list them here and people will provide info on benefits/detriments.

As for the seoncd poster - Manhattan does not have motels - it is a city - no motels by the side of the highway with tons of parking and practically free rooms. The poster has obviously never been to New York.

DebitNM

2nd poster is spam/ad and editors have been notified. Look at his screen name....really?

janice_ong_7311

Hi nytraveller,
I was considering Newton Hotel but read in one of the reviews about shared bathroom/toilet and that's not my preferred choice. What about morning side inn ? Saw there's free wifi available but I wasn't sure it was rated as 1 star. One of the review said worst experience ever. I was also looking at Comfort Inn manhatten bridge. It indicated it was located at chinatown-little italy. Is it safe to stay in that area ?
Here's some more list solely based on price & hv not browse the reviews -
1) Windsor hotel , the bowery house hotel (Chinatown little Italy)
2) hotel Pennsylvania (Chelsea)
3) royal park hotel n hostel (CP UWS)
4) riverside terrace NY (UP UWS)
5) Gracle Inn Hotel (CP UES)

topeater

I checked out Expedia for your dates and there are several hotels within your budget & some really nice ones for a bit over $300.00. Since you have children, I would check out hotels on the Upper West Side since you will be fairly close to Central Park. I would avoid at all costs hotels around Times Square as it will be too crowded & noisy. I find NYC to be one of the safest cities I have visited...just don't be careless.

Tabernash2

Yes, the upper west side is great for families.

If you can get something on Expedia, do it now. (Then confirm it with the hotel after 24 hours.). We have used Expedia several times for hotels, and never had any problem.

Tabernash2

12 days is a long time. Would you be interested in spending a few nights elsewhere, like Boston, another great city?

nytraveler

I am not aware that Newton has any rooms with shared baths. In any case they definitely do have rooms with private baths and that's what you would have to book.

I'm sorry - but some of the places you are listing I would not touch with a barge pole. Every hotel will have a few complaints - since there are 1) some people who live to do noting but complain and 2) some people with unrealistic expectations based on prices - since they don;t understand the hotel market in New York.

The Newton is not a 1* hotel it is a 3* (tourist class) hotel. (Tripadvisor stars are not government ratings - they are opinions/popularity contests - there are no official ratings for hotels in the US).

You do not want anything called a hostel. Hotel Penn has the reputation of an absolute dump - unclean and verminous. The area is not pleasant. Riverside has numerous complaints - again unclean and "rooms" that are essentially the same size as the beds.

Have you looked at the website for the Newton? There have been several reports here of people happy with it for a budget hotel. If you are willing to spend more look at the Beacon - which has suites good for families - but you may hae to contact them directly.

janice_ong_7311

nytraveler, thanks fro the advice. i just booked the Newton. Would be great if they have free wifi To stretch my $$, any advice on more saving deals for the subway & must-see places. thanks.

Tabernash2, not planning to travel to Boston. i'm flying out of JFK. don't want to drive to and fro.
and added cost to rent a car.

janice_ong_7311

Btw since i hv 12 days , is it advisable to stay couple of days in manhatten only n then travel to the restraining boroughs of NY like Brooklyn? Is Hotel cheaper there ?

HappyTrvlr

You do not need to drive to Boston, you would take the train, Amtrak, from Penn Sation in NY eight into Boston.
I would stay in Manhattan the whole time with a day trip to Brooklyn if you like.
NYC will be decorated for Christmas when you arrive so make sure you take a walk on 5th Avenue.

buffylou

Every time we go to NY, I book on Priceline for something in the Grand Central / Midtown / Murray Hill areas, and have never been disappointed. Have fun in NYC!

doug_stallings

Brooklyn is not much cheaper than Manhattan, but Queens s considerably cheaper. You might find a cheaper hotel there, but you might not. This is the single busiest and most expensive period in NYC of the entire year.

It might be cheaper in Boston but possibly not. But transport there isn't bad, and you can easily take a bus if the weather is not too bad. Or you could go to Washington, D.C. For a few days.

FYI: the Newton is fine and in a good location. There's a Starbucks across the street with WiFi.

nytraveler

Well, you're right on top of the subway so it's easy to get anywhere in the city. And if you take the 96th St crosstown bus through central park you will find yourself on museum mile - which has a ton of great places to explore including the Met, Cooper-Hewitt, Museum of the City of NY.

On the west side of the park you will find the Museum of Nat;l Hist, the Planetarium and the NY Historical Society.

Broadway is lined with interesting shops - as is Columbus and Amsterdam from the 80s on down. Tons of restaurants of every possible ethnicity line all the avenues.

Suggest you get advance tickets for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island - to avoid very long lines for the ferry.

For discount show tickets go to Broadwaybox.com about 90 days in advance. they will list the shows that are offering discounts - and you will get a better shot at getting tickets at good prices and 4 seats together.

cmstraf

The BeacOn is worth extra cent--And has a full kitchenette in every room. Near the park, our home in NYC. Can't praise it enough.

SandyBrit

Janice_ong_7311:

Do look at The Milburn Hotel located on the upper west side - http://www.milburnhotel.com

This is a family hotel with small kitchen. Very handy for snacks, drinks etc. Good location. Many family places to eat close by.

Look at hotel reviews on tripadvisor.com

Welcome to Fodors

Sandy

janice_ong_7311

ok, i'm starting to consider travelling to Washington, DC for a few days since i have 12 days.
Since i'm booked for flights departing late night flight from JFK back home, it means i will have to go DC for 2-3 days and then back to JFK.
i saw a traveler mentioning trains travel directly from Penn station in Manhattan to Union station in DC, Acela service takes less than 3 hours while others take 3.5hrs. The pros is pricey. Bus seems a more affordable option but takes longer time. is it worth doing it ? will the bus have luggage space for me ? do i need early reservation/purchase or buy before depart ? i

janice_ong_7311

btw, would you advise a day's trip instead ? then i won't need to bring my luggage ard.

sf7307

DC is too far (and has too much to see) to go as a day trip from NY. Two days minimum -3 or 4 even better.