Cheap hotels in expensive cities

[Skyring]

Off travelling at the end of the month. Two RTW on OW in Y, seven cities. Basically we spend a day travelling, two nights and a day in the target city, then off to the next one.

23YO daughter and I, so we're looking at twin beds rather than a double. Edinburgh, Washington DC and Rockhampton we've got sorted, leaving Tokyo, London, Paris and New York to find beds. I've had some excellent advice from this forum before, so I'm laying the thing open.

What I'm hunting for are cheapish city hotels reasonably close to transport terminals (Gare du Nord in the case of Paris) and I'm not needing grand luxury and acres of space. Bug-free beds and a bit of security is my goal here. A step up from a hostel bunkroom, in other words.

Somewhere in the region of $US100 per night for a twin room, though I'll go higher for a standout.

I've been looking at various booking sites and while I can generally find hotels at the cheaper range, looking them up on traveller review sites usually explains why they are cheap.

Recommendations, anyone?

 

[markis10]

The family and friends rate might be an option for you for IHG hotels in the cities you are after, London and Paris are around 100 euro and $125 for Manhattan, mode details over at FT in the IHG section .

 

[Evan]

Japan should be ok believe it or not there is actually lots of cheap 'business' hotels, clean, free internet but no room service etc. But avoid smoking rooms !!

Chains like Hotel Reservations - Hotel Chain Toyoko Inn
I have used them before and found them good, what cities are you visiting in Japan i may also have some other Ideas.

 

[Skyring]

Japan should be ok believe it or not there is actually lots of cheap 'business' hotels, clean, free internet but no room service etc. But avoid smoking rooms !!

Chains like Hotel Reservations - Hotel Chain Toyoko Inn
I have used them before and found them good, what cities are you visiting in Japan i may also have some other Ideas.

Looking at the site - they seem fine. I'm staying in Tokyo for two nights. I have only the foggiest notion of Tokyo's layout and I'd be looking for something close to the station for the airport train, and within easy distance of places to see.

I can speak enough French to get by, but in Japan not only am I totally without the tongue, but functionally illiterate in the Japanese characters. So I'd be looking at minimising train transfers, especially with luggage.

(ETA) I've got the Dorling-Kindersley guidebook for Tokyo, and the map of the subway system induces a panic attack.

 

[Evan]

You should not be scared of train transfers in Japan but in Tokyo but you should aim to stay near the Yamanote JR line, its the green circle line that accesses the most points of interest for most people. It is 100% easy to use, has LCD screens showing the whole circle line in Japanese and English and announcements also.

Map of JR lines in Tokyo.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf

The Narita express stops at 3 stations on this line, Uneo, Tokyo, and Ikebukuro

I was going to mention the Strix hotel but it seems to have got very expensive compared to when i last booked last year !
The Crowne Plaza is now a different chain, its right at Ikebukuro but breakfast is hugly expensive and not special.

One place not to stay in my opinion that always seems to look cheap for a quality hotel and that is the Sunshine City Prince. Its rates 4 or 5* i think, but no way it is.

 

[Evan]

<..>
(ETA) I've got the Dorling-Kindersley guidebook for Tokyo, and the map of the subway system induces a panic attack.

Just remember i know half the people who go to Tokyo never leave the Yamanote green circle line or maybe one or two of the other major JR lines.

The private subways are a bit more complex than the JR lines but really you will be fine

 

[wandering_fred]

Using the Keisei line from NRT to Ueno - the rapid express is fine at 1000 Y (the fancy one is 1920) but avoid the local. Arriving at 0700 it didn't matter all that much but takes more then 2 hours.

Oak Hotel is one subway stop - easily walkable with out luggage. clean smallish rooms very small toilet shower. Very high on the backpacker recommendation lists. 6K Y single on the internet. Spent 3 nights there a couple of weeks ago. They do enforce the checkin times, but will happily keep luggage till then.

One block (direction away from Ueno) is a very nice (modern) local restaurant where western breakfast is 600Y. Starbucks at Ueno. McD at the nearest traffic light.

Even there for two days get an electronic fare card for the rail/subway system. The JR station at NRT (next to Keisei) will sell the Suica card. 500Y deposit on the card plus what ever fare you want built in. Two people need two cards. Return the card when leaving and get the 500Y back - the remaining fare amount may be subject to a service charge.


Wander more often

Fred

 

[Evan]

Fred, good hint about the starbucks, in Japan the starbucks have good things for breakfast, i always prefer it to hotel breakfasts.

London - i am also looking ! but need to decided if i stay long in London, i have friends there so i should be ok.
Paris - been so many years since i have been in the city that i can offer no advice at all
New York - Book early ! nothing is cheap is what i have found, i ended up using 25k IC points a night to stay at the Crowne Plaza since all the IC's were booked out and all hotels looked like being $300 AUD a night ! Only cheap ones were either terrilble (really bad from reviews) or not on the island. If you want to stay out in one of the other burrows then you can get cheap but NYC i figure you have to be on the island somewhere.

Another member (Sorry i don't remember who it was to credit) add this link in my thread about hotels in USA
Travel Deals: Airfare, Vacations, Cruises, and More | Travelzoo
You may find it interesting also.

 

[PeteJ]

I stayed at "Hotel Unizo Kanda" in Tokyo earlier this year and found it very good, well priced and well located. It is about a 4 or 5 minute walk from JR Kanda Station which is on the JR Yamanote line. Kanda is only one station away from JR Tokyo Station.

 

[wandering_fred]

Fred, good hint about the starbucks, in Japan the starbucks have good things for breakfast, i always prefer it to hotel breakfasts.

OTOH Starbucks mid size coffee is almost as much as the full breakfast I referenced (including a semi-serious coffee) Compared with 4*+ hotels - probably not a contest. And if you need the serious caffeine fix........

Paris. Location location. IBIS are typically basic but there prices seem reasonable (for Paris) at the moment. Many many years ago I stayed out on the end of one of the metro lines and the metro worked fine. OTOH the Latin Quarter is not inexpensive. You should be able to find something around Gare du Nord in the AU$150-250 range (2*) I would think. At the moment the IBIS garedunord is in or below that range depending on the sales coniditions

Fred

 

[kpc]

Looking at the site - they seem fine. I'm staying in Tokyo for two nights. I have only the foggiest notion of Tokyo's layout and I'd be looking for something close to the station for the airport train, and within easy distance of places to see.

I can speak enough French to get by, but in Japan not only am I totally without the tongue, but functionally illiterate in the Japanese characters. So I'd be looking at minimising train transfers, especially with luggage.

The airport limousine bus is something else to consider as it is door to door, and you don't have to carry your luggage through train stations. You could also consider accommodation near any of its pickup / dropoff points
NaritaAirport Service Route | Scheduled Service | Airport Limousine

Don't worry about the langauge....I can't read or understand Japanese, and I got around quite easily. Most signs are also in English, the signs in the train stations are also in English, and even the train announcements are also in English. Arm yourself with a map, your hotel name in Kanji (in case you are really lost and have to cab it back!!) and you will be fine; some Japanese can understand a little English, and most restaurants have plastic models of all the food, and it is a matter of pointing to what you want!

I've got the Dorling-Kindersley guidebook for Tokyo, and the map of the subway system induces a panic attack.

I too was somewhat anxious when studying the subway map before arriving in Tokyo. Please distingiuish between the Tokyo subway (which is run by 2 separate companies to make things a little more confusing) and the JR lines (incl the Yamanote line which is part of the JR network, as indicated by the map provided by Evan below). They all have common stations if indicated on the map, and you can transfer easily between all of them. As stated everywhere, avoid the stations / trains at am and pm rush hour; otherwise it will be quite comfortable!

You should not be scared of train transfers in Japan but in Tokyo but you should aim to stay near the Yamanote JR line, its the green circle line that accesses the most points of interest for most people. It is 100% easy to use, has LCD screens showing the whole circle line in Japanese and English and announcements also.

Map of JR lines in Tokyo.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf

The Narita express stops at 3 stations on this line, Uneo, Tokyo, and Ikebukuro

It also stops at Shinjuku

 

[dragonman]

.... The Narita Express It also stops at Shinjuku

Look I have done what you are doing twice recently. My advice is try the Sunroute Shinjuku Hotel. You are a few minutes from the Shinjuku station directly accessed by the Narita Express. The bus service mentioned above is good, but if the traffic gets ugly you can be on it for a long time.

You can eat very cheaply in Tokyo. My advice is to ask the front desk staff where they eat and go there. I particularly enjoy sushi train type places and they are better and cheaper than in Sydney.

If you want to eat a little upmarket try the Takashimaya Department store nearby. On its top 2 floors, where there are a bunch of great restaurants I had one of the great meals of my life for about $50 AUD, just remember that lunch prices are much cheaper there than dinner.

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

You should be able to find something around Gare du Nord in the AU$150-250 range (2*) I would think. At the moment the IBIS garedunord is in or below that range depending on the sales coniditions

Fred

I'd avoid the "Gare du Nord" area like the plague. Rat and drug addict infested, plus a huge crime rate. Trust me, I've been there many times. There are much nicer areas in Paris.

Why not do what my wife and I do. Stay near CDG and catch the RER into town. Quite quick plus you get free entertainment with the on-board buskers.

 

[Blackadder]

Can thoroughly recommend the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square, around US $195 per night from memory but has free hi speed internet, two blocks off Broadway and 1 block from Times Square, subway across the street..very helpful friendly staff.

Check out Cheap Flights, Hotels, and Rental Cars -- Discount Airfare | Priceline.com and use the name your own price for some real bargins, if you dont mind not getting hotel points etc.
(Seemed to work okay with a aus credit card)

 

[medhead]

I stayed at a Citadines in Paris, the one on the left bank. It was very good and might just match the price range.

Otherwise, I've read a review about a hotel that is attached to a hospital that said cheap and clean. Sorry can't do a link as I'm ok iPhone right now. But the hospital is on the ile de la cita, the island where notre dame stands. A basic google should find it.

 

[drron]

Not an expert on cheap hotels but can give some advice on Tokyo.Do not worry about not speaking Japanese.Most of them do learn English so understand some of what you say.They do not speak it as often afraid of getting it wrong and losong face.Therefore make a fool of yourself first by murdering the Japanese language-say ie nihongo-basically no Japanese but grammatically incorrect then ask if they speak English.Much more likely then to respond in my experience.Next praise their English speaking-though dont go over the top.
Basically agree with what you have been told,stay near a train station and dont get too hung up about your luggage-have dragged ours around by train several times without problems by train.
Enjoy.

 

[sr81]

When are you look for NYC hotels? I will be in NYC mid July and have been able to find some pretty good deals.

New York on Sale. Hotel Deals and Discounted Rates in New York City This one is good for Hilton to see what the prices are doing. Doesn't show Gardens or their budget options but the Waldorf=Astoria for less than USD200 takes some beating.

I have also has some luck with Affinia Hotels and they have specials going at their new property. http://www.affinia.com/

Also agree that if you don't care about points then Priceline is the way to go.

 

[NM]

Note that in some cases it can be cheaper to purchase Priority Club points with $$$ and then redeem those points for accommodation. In some cases it can work out cheaper than paying the going room rate. So check out award night availability and the cost of points compared with the going room rates. I have seen this being the case in places like New York.

 

[albatross710]

For researching towns Tripadvisor.com is usually worth a look to get feedback on and ideas on venues.

 

[auriga]

Look I have done what you are doing twice recently. My advice is try the Sunroute Shinjuku Hotel. You are a few minutes from the Shinjuku station directly accessed by the Narita Express.

I stayed a few nights at the Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku a few months ago. A very nice hotel, smallish room, but would highly recommend. About A$200 odd per night (when I was there). Very convenient as Shinjuku is one of the stops on the NEX. Shinjuku is also a very busy and happening place, one of my favourite part of Tokyo!