New York Hotels

[drron]

Just reminded me as well, if you are a member of NRMA/RACV/etc makes you eligible for the AAA rate, entering the 16 digit NRMA card number into the AAA field when booking on the hilton website will generate these rates (although often prepaid rates are cheaper anyway). Not sure which is cheaper MVP or AAA rates.

Not just hilton that this works for-SPG,Hyatt,Best western,Marriott etc
For details go here-
Welcome AAA Affiliates

And its not just hotels-go to outlet malls and 20% of Rockport,Reebok.Discounts at Gap etc.
And in NYC do use the metro-subway or bus.Very convenient and cheap.If staying 4 days or more the 7 day pass is good value at $27.See here-
MTA/New York City Transit - Fares and MetroCard

I saw the hotel Pennsylvannia mentioned.We stayed there on our first trip to NYC and would not reccomend unless you want to partake of the bed bug challenge.

 

[dajop]

I saw the hotel Pennsylvannia mentioned.We stayed there on our first trip to NYC and would not reccomend unless you want to partake of the bed bug challenge.

+1. I stayed there in 2002, on our first trip to NYC as well. First two nights were in THE most appalling hotel rooms I've ever stayed in. That includes $5 hostels in Vietnam. We managed to move rooms to a renovated room on the third night - it was much better. But I notice that more recent reviews on trip advisor still indicate this is a lottery.

Another option I've heard that is OK from people who have stayed there - but not from my own experience - is the pod hotel (google pod hotel new york) - small but modern.

 

[thill]

Have been reading this thread with interest as we are spending 5 nights in New York mid September (Mon - Sat). For 4 star its up in the $400 plus. Prices are expensive and can't seem to get any of the prices spoken. I was trying to jag a good price through Name Your Own Price (Priceline) but when filling out billing address seems to only accept USA or Canadian customers. For those who have used it what have I been doing wrong?

 

[drron]

Have been reading this thread with interest as we are spending 5 nights in New York mid September (Mon - Sat). For 4 star its up in the $400 plus. Prices are expensive and can't seem to get any of the prices spoken. I was trying to jag a good price through Name Your Own Price (Priceline) but when filling out billing address seems to only accept USA or Canadian customers. For those who have used it what have I been doing wrong?

After Labor day(first weekend in September) prices rise in NYC.This marks the end of the summer holidays.Just looking at the Hilton website the HI Empire state is $US380 including taxes.
If you were willing to stay outside NYC(and I dont reccomend it if your first visit)the Embassy suites Secauscus is $US180 per night.The bus for NYC goes from across the road from the hotel.This was for13/9-18/9.

 

[Alanslegal]

I was trying to jag a good price through Name Your Own Price (Priceline) but when filling out billing address seems to only accept USA or Canadian customers. For those who have used it what have I been doing wrong?

All you need to do is ADD an american based state and postcode at the end of your billing address and you will be right. I have been consistently using the state California and postcode 90210 <-- yes, no joke! And it's been working for over three years now.

For example, 1 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW CA 90210

 

[Walter Plinge]

I'll be in NYC in June and am trying to decide where to stay. I was last in NYC in 2003 and stayed in some hostels but am keen on a hotel this time.

Ideally my budget would be $200 a night at most but this is giving me hotels with communal bathrooms and bad reviews or nice hotels in Long Island. An American friend has said to avoid Long Island.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Karen

Chelsea Lodge, Chelsea for me (week in June 2010). Small rooms with own shower but shared toilet: USD $119 a night + taxes = AUS $150 a night. Good reviews and essentially mid-town.

I was trying through Priceline but gave up -- too uncertain and only good for 1-3 night stays.

 

[MissBurrill]

Chelsea Lodge, Chelsea for me (week in June 2010). Small rooms with own shower but shared toilet: USD $119 a night + taxes = AUS $150 a night. Good reviews and essentially mid-town.

I was trying through Priceline but gave up -- too uncertain and only good for 1-3 night stays.

Thanks Walter. Chelsea Lodge looks like a definite possibility.

 

[Walter Plinge]

Thanks Walter. Chelsea Lodge looks like a definite possibility.

You're welcome. I've been researching NY accommodation for 8 months looking at Jersey City, Queens, and Long Island City in addition to Manhattan. I was pretty well set on Jersey City (15 minutes from mid-town by PATH) but at the last month the Chelsea area suited me better. I could have got something cheaper but not as good value. There were a couple of hotels nearby but they were part-used as social accommodation by the City of New York and had communal showers. This didn't appeal.

My first trip to NY was in 2008 and by a string of coincidences I ended up sharing with a friend in the Waldorf-Astoria with his employer paying. That was US $400 a night.

 

[meltingchickens]

I'll be in NYC in June and am trying to decide where to stay. I was last in NYC in 2003 and stayed in some hostels but am keen on a hotel this time.

Ideally my budget would be $200 a night at most but this is giving me hotels with communal bathrooms and bad reviews or nice hotels in Long Island. An American friend has said to avoid Long Island.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Karen

Hey Karen,

Hotel Beacon on the Upper West Side is a good option, I've stayed there before, and my dad quite a few times. Just Google it for pricing and so on.

 

[MissBurrill]

Just looking at expedia and it's offering me my first 3 nights at the Thirty Thirty Hotel for AU$567.93. The room is a petite single but I am little .


The hotel website says.........

Located between Park & Madison Avenues on East 30th Street. The hotel is easily accessible by taxi, car, bus or subway.

 

[cove]

I looked up Expedia and they have Marriott Marquis at $331AUD plus taxes.
It is right at Times Square so you get straight out into the buzz when you walk out the door.
Their reviews are good and they need to be for the money.

 

[drron]

Just looking at expedia and it's offering me my first 3 nights at the Thirty Thirty Hotel for AU$567.93. The room is a petite single but I am little .


The hotel website says.........

Located between Park & Madison Avenues on East 30th Street. The hotel is easily accessible by taxi, car, bus or subway.

Dont know the hotel but the position is reasonable.Very close to one of my favourite restaurants for spicy food-http://www.chinesemirch.com/lexington.htm
Less than half a km to my favourite BBQ restaurant-http://www.hillcountryny.com/home.php
You are 3 blocks along Park to 1 subway entrance(250 metres) and 2 blocks the other way(south or downtown).About 1 km to Grand Central or Macys.A little less to the Flatiron building which is around the corner from the Museum of S*x.About 400 metres to Union Square with its Farmer's markets and discount shopping.

 

[cove]

Go www.shulas.com for amelt in your mouth steak in New york as it is about a block away from Marriott Marquis Times Square at Westin Times Square downstairs.
We thought it was as good as Mortons and Ruths Chris without the taxi ride.

 

[Walter Plinge]

I looked up Expedia and they have Marriott Marquis at $331AUD plus taxes.
It is right at Times Square so you get straight out into the buzz when you walk out the door.

... and the noise all night. Most travel advisory sites, e.g., Tripadvisor, recommend avoiding Times Square for that reason.

 

[cove]

We had 3 rooms on different floors all with zero noise at the Marriott Marquis last summer.
The extra money it costs for New York can be recouped in other cities like Las Vegas.

 

[drron]

And the Doubletree times Square also has quiet rooms.The DT Metropolitan though is very noisy with a firehouse and precinct over the road.
TS hotels realise it is noisy and at least some take measures to minimise this.

 

[MissBurrill]

The extra money it costs for New York can be recouped in other cities like Las Vegas.

There's an idea - a status run from New York to Vegas and bet it all on BLACK!

I went to one of our local travel agents to see what accom they could find. Besides discovering I know more than they do on well most everything :shock:, the agent did suggest the 'Fashion 26 A Wyndham'. It's a 4 star and looking at Expedia not too badly priced for my last 3 nights (especially compared to what the travel agent quoted).

The gist of my trip is about 3 nights in NYC a week in Maine then back to NYC for another 3 nights.

 

[cove]

Red Roof Inn Manhattan scored a 10 out of 10 from 1 review on Priceline at $197 US may be risky (could be a review by a relative).It is between Broadway and Fifth.
Wannabe a guinea pig for our forum?

 

[MissBurrill]

Red Roof Inn Manhattan scored a 10 out of 10 from 1 review on Priceline at $197 US may be risky (could be a review by a relative).It is between Broadway and Fifth.
Wannabe a guinea pig for our forum?

Ha ha ha no.

I've noticed with Expedia that the NYC prices change regularly thoughout the day for a lot of properties. The Fashion 26 I mentioned earlier has suddenly gone up in price. Oh well, will keep searching.....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Myself & SO stayed at the Cosmopolitan at Tribeca www.cosmohotel.com which is right above the Chambers St subway station. There is a Starbucks on the corner a diner called The Soda Shop next door plus a 24 hour Donut King & a Deli just one block away. A couple of times we headed out at 0200 for a snack and felt totally safe doing so. Although I would not plan on venturing out at that hour on my own I would still feel safe doing so if I absolutely had to.

It's a 4 block walk from Ground Zero. We used the subway heaps - head downtown to South Ferry subway the end of the line if getting a taking a cruise to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island or head uptown if heading for Times Square or Broadway.

We stayed in a loft room which was USD195.00 per night plus tax and it was pretty tiny but typical NYC. It was exactly how it was pictured on the web sites so no surprises there. Rooms have private facilities and weren't noisy at all.

There are rooms available in June for USD169.00 plus tax when I checked the hotel web site. We didn't have any view out the window except for a wall of a concrete building but you could maybe request a front facing room.

Just one thing re paying by credit card with this hotel, it did take several days for them to clear the hold amount which was about USD800.00 so definitely take another credit card to use when checking in at your next hotel.

It's also a good idea to book the Supershuttle (tel: 1 800 258 3826) airport transfer the day before for arrival in NYC. We arrived about 2240 into JFK ex VX from LAS and waited for the driver to meet us at the ground transportation desk in the terminal.

Be wary of all the touts who come in to the terminal & even hang around the baggage claim area - they're not registered cabbies. The cost for 2 of us was fare USD36.00 state tax USD1.44 county tax USD1.76 & tip USD6.48 total USD45.68 prepaid on credit card. No mucking around with change or tips on the day.

Cheers

Oz