A Little More Rum In the Big Apple in August

[Chief Rum]

Hey all,

Thinking of taking a trip to NYC. Never been there and always wanted to visit. Also want to see a game at Yankee Stadium before they blow it up (and maybe Shea, too, if I can squeeze it in).

But I did a search for places to stay, and, wow, nightly rates are crazy! Anyone got any advice on saving a little money on room rates if I go out there for a week? I was thinking of late summer/early fall.

***

Asked and answered. Trip planned. See details below in post 27 (if you care ).

[molson]

Priceline is your friend for NYC hotel rooms, if you're willing to stomach a little uncertainty.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by molson

Priceline is your friend for NYC hotel rooms, if you're willing to stomach a little uncertainty.

Okay, define "uncertainty".

And if my primary spots to hit are in Manhattan, is it a mess to try to get a hotel in Brooklyn or some other borough and get over to Manhattan every day? Or do I simply have to try to find a hotel on the island?

[molson]

With Priceline, you don't pick the actual hotel, only the star level and neighborhood, with no refunds. It's worth a shot - name a price of $100/night for a 4-star hotel anywhere in Manhattan and you might hit the jackpot. I've gotten $75 rooms at places that are quoted at $200+ for the same room on the hotel's website.

[saldana]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Okay, define "uncertainty".

And if my primary spots to hit are in Manhattan, is it a mess to try to get a hotel in Brooklyn or some other borough and get over to Manhattan every day? Or do I simply have to try to find a hotel on the island?

i would say this is a bad plan.

the only thing i would think about doing would be going to a hotel near the Meadowlands in Jersey....the road (route 3) goes directly to the Lincoln Tunnel...you can hit the tunnel and park at the Port Authority bus terminal, which is right there when the tunnel spits you out...that would leave you about 10 blocks from the Broadway/Times square area.

to get to Yankee stadium, you could get right on the Turnpike north that leads you to the George Washington Bridge if you are feeling daring, or just go right back to Port Authorithy and find the right subway.

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by saldana

i would say this is a bad plan.

the only thing i would think about doing would be going to a hotel near the Meadowlands in Jersey....the road (route 3) goes directly to the Lincoln Tunnel...you can hit the tunnel and park at the Port Authority bus terminal, which is right there when the tunnel spits you out...that would leave you about 10 blocks from the Broadway/Times square area.

Or, another possibility is Jersey City, in the Newport Center area. A PATH station (part of a light rail system connecting NYC & NJ) is a short walk from the hotels in this part of town--so you definitely wouldn't need a car to get around.

The last time I stayed, rates were still cheaper than in Manhattan. Obviously, if this is no longer the case, then it would make more sense to book in NYC...

[saldana]

Originally Posted by Klinglerware

Or, another possibility is Jersey City, in the Newport Center area. A PATH station (part of a light rail system connecting NYC & NJ) is a short walk from the hotels in this part of town--so you definitely wouldn't need a car to get around.

The last time I stayed, rates were still cheaper than in Manhattan. Obviously, if this is no longer the case, then it would make more sense to book in NYC...

jersey city or hoboken would do this trick...the riverfront area in hoboken has gotten a huge overhall in the past 10 years or so, and is actually a pretty happening night spot now

[Logan]

There's a couple hotels in the process of being built in Hoboken right now, but I don't think anything is up yet.

[BigDPW]

Don't remember what my wife and I paid per night but we stayed at Hotel Pennsylvania right across from MSG and had a good time. The hotel was pretty dumpy but we made do. The location cannot be beaten...

However I will warn you that most hotels in Manhattan that are not 4.5 or 5 stars are not as nice as what most are used to for their given star rating.

The Penn was decent and a place to stay. Location was great though. We could walk nearly anywhere in midtown (Time Square, MSG, Rockefeller, Empire St Building, etc.) Subway is easy and reasonably priced way to get around to Wall Street, Yankee Stadium, Central Park, if you are willing to figure out how to get places.

I thought the convenience of being in the city was priceless for our trip.

One word of caution be advised that if you drive into the city and park with the hotel you will pay a premium for parking your car while you are at any hotel in Manhattan. Probably close to what you will pay for your room... Of course there are very few cheaper alternatives if you plan to drive into the city and park...

[TroyF]

I stayed at a place just off of Time's Square and paid 119 or something like that. Priceline is the way to go. I'd also reccomend getting one of the tour packages if you have time. You can usually get better deals on the internet than you can in person. It's a great way to see the city quickly and pick out spots you want to investigate further.

[JS19]

If it's something you're up for, i second the Hoboken idea.

[Logan]

FOFC NYC meet?

[Joe]

I always stay at the Grand Hyatt

[Logan]

Before I moved into the city, I would stay there whenever I needed a hotel. One of the few places in the city where the standard room is actually a nice size.

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by Joe

I always stay at the Grand Hyatt

+1

Can't beat the location.

[Buccaneer]

What's going on in NYC duing Apr 17-19 to have such extraordinary rates?

[digamma]

I've had five trips to NYC in the last three months and stayed in a different hotel every time. The Hilton Garden Inn just off Times Square is by far the worst. The Helmsley Park Lane was decent. The Waldorf was overrated, and the Sheraton New York was average. The best for my business purposes was the Club Quarters Suites at Rockefeller Center.

That said, Priceline and Biddingfortravel.com are your friends.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

What's going on in NYC duing Apr 17-19 to have such extraordinary rates?

Comiccon?

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by saldana

the only thing i would think about doing would be going to a hotel near the Meadowlands in Jersey....the road (route 3) goes directly to the Lincoln Tunnel...you can hit the tunnel and park at the Port Authority bus terminal, which is right there when the tunnel spits you out...that would leave you about 10 blocks from the Broadway/Times square area.

I can vouch for parking at the PA bus terminal off the West Side Highway. I park there regularly when I go to visit the in-laws. It is very close to the Lincoln Tunnel, which makes getting in and out of the city pretty easy. There are Subway stops a couple of blocks over on 7th Ave.

[Chief Rum]

I'm still torn between staying in the city for convenience or doing the Jersey thing. I had actually heard about the Jersey options prior to posting this thread, but wasn't sure if that was too far out. But I don't know New York area at all--maybe Jersey is closer than some of the other options outside of Manhattan.

Thanks for the ideas, guys.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I'm still torn between staying in the city for convenience or doing the Jersey thing. I had actually heard about the Jersey options prior to posting this thread, but wasn't sure if that was too far out. But I don't know New York area at all--maybe Jersey is closer than some of the other options outside of Manhattan.

Thanks for the ideas, guys.

Jersey is a great option. I went up to NYC a couple of times when I lived in Baltimore. Stayed in a hotel in Jersey for $69 near the airport. Nothing fancy, but easy to jump on the train and go into Manhattan. Yankees Stadium and the Meadowlands are also accessable via taxi or train. Use the mass transit options. They're your friend in NYC.

[Pyser]

as someone from nj, pay a little more and stay in the city. if youre planning on staying out late, the PATH only runs every half hour or so, and its not a fun wait. the subways in ny are more convenient, and there is always the cab option, too. plus, any time you get hungry, just walk 2 blocks and youll find something. try doing that in jersey city.

[Pyser]

oh, and dont get a car. its not worth it for a trip to the city.

[Logan]

My best advice is that if the extra money won't kill you, or seriously hamper the rest of your trip, suck it up and stay at a decent place in the city.

I'm not sure what some of the number differences are that you're looking at, but try to think if it's worth it to stay in Jersey and pay to come into the city for the entire day/night, and then head back to Jersey...or stay in the city, and be able to take the subway down for a stroll through the West Village, have lunch in Little Italy, then take the subway back to your hotel to relax for a bit in the afternoon, and then head back out to walk around Central Park and grab dinner somewhere on the UWS, drinks somewhere else, and then have the short subway/cab back to the hotel.

As someone who has done the day/night trip into the city from Jersey when I was younger, and who currently lives in the city and gets to enjoy the benefits of all the closeness, it's a pretty easy call to me.

[Anthony]

here is my word (coming from a New Yorker):

Jersey is the shitstain of America. anytime the only draw a place has is "we're the place that's closeby to the place everyone really wants to go", you're better off just going to the actual place. you will not want to have to deal with PATH trains and train schedules. just hop in a cab and go where you need to go. i abhor NJ. the place is where people go when they can't afford NYC. since you aren't buying property, you should just go to NYC and live it up. leave the commute to the chumps who are unfortunate to live in that cesspool.

i spit on the ground in disgust. fuck jersey.

[Logan]

Oh, and if you do decide to stay somewhere other than Manhattan, stay the fuck out of Astoria.

[Chief Rum]

All right!

It's set. I am going to be in New York City from Saturday, August 16 (arrive locally early in the morning) and leave Wednesday, August 20, in the late afternoon. So four and a half days to squeeze in the Big Apple. Any advice on where to go?

I am definitely trying to see a game at Yankee Stadium. They play the Royals that weekend. I don't know if anyone in the area is interested, but I am definitely down for meeting up with any local FOFCers for a game, if they want.

I am pretty certain to spend time in lower end of Manhattan (Ground Zero, Wall Street, probably take the trip to the statue), and in midtown to see Times Square and all that good stuff. Definitely want to check out Central Park. Still thinking about the rest of it. Any suggestions? Or specific suggestions in areas I am already going that you think would be fun?

I am staying with a family friend out in Brooklyn, BTW (if anyone wonders, as that was the original reason for this thread).

I'm pretty jazzed. Should be fun (especially since I don't normally go darn near anywhere ).

[korme]

Have fun, Chief. I've been to many a place in my short life, but NYC sticks out as my favorite. Even if you have to, go to Yankee Stadium by yourself!

[Logan]

What? No desire to see Big Shea before it's demolished?

I think I posted this earlier in the thread, but if you want to see Times Square, literally go there, take a look so you know what it's like, and keep on going. Make it a brief stop on your trip to Central Park. It's gonna be hot and crowded...you don't need to spend anymore time there than that.

[korme]

Also, listen to New York State of Mind on your iPod as the plane hits the city.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Logan

What? No desire to see Big Shea before it's demolished?

I think I posted this earlier in the thread, but if you want to see Times Square, literally go there, take a look so you know what it's like, and keep on going. Make it a brief stop on your trip to Central Park. It's gonna be hot and crowded...you don't need to spend anymore time there than that.

Well, it was on the list. I needed to have had a NY trip for more than three weeks. It would have been somewhere between driving up to ESPN headquarters to boo the East Coast Bias Network and swimming in the Hudson.

Oh well, maybe next time.

(Actually, seriously, I wouldn't mind a trip to Shea or to MSG or to the Meadowlands, just don't think I have the time).

As for Times Square, yeah, I kinda got that vibe. I'll check it out to ogle the area and say I been there, but probably move on quick.

Anyone other recommendations for best things to do or must do places? (that's to everyone, not just Logan).

[Logan]

Since I've lived right outside the city my whole life, I never really did all the touristy stuff so I don't have many ideas for you with that. My best advice is really to walk around as see as much as you can. Also, give this thread a bump in early August and I'll be able to point you in the direction of some of those NY mags that talk about general things going on in the city (festivals, shows, etc, most of which are free) during the time you'll be here. Probably just as good an idea to see some of the stuff that might be once a year than a museum that's open year round. That made me just think...have you ever seen the Bodies exhibit? It's at South Street Seaport (that area is definitely a good place to check out, btw) but I'm not sure how much longer it will be running. I've heard it's pretty cool.

The best advice I can give you is in the area of restaurants and bars. Let me know what you like, stuff you would be willing to try, etc and I'll be glad to help.