Cheap hotels in expensive cities

[SnowYeti]

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)

I can recommend this too. I stayed there 2 weeks ago, it's on 34th from memory. Was $185 plus taxes. About $900 AUD for 3 nights with taxes using the "VISA" promo. Always ask if there is an AMEX or VISA promo and it's usually cheaper ...

The sub way (E) to get you back to Jamaica is not the subway next to the HGI. You'll need to cab up the road, about $8 USD (well worth it if you have luggage).

And the star bucks everywhere has Internet of course ...

 

[Skyring]

Hostel in London, Waldorf-Astoria in NYC!

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[dede]

I also just discovered the AAA rate. I can use my RACV card (NRMA also works, not sure about other states) to get the special AAA rate. It gave a $10 p/n discount at the Marriott in Orlando. They just need to sight it on checkin. I also used it at Universal Studios for 10% discount on merchandise, also works for food there.

 

[AllanG]

Has Priceline - Name your own price changed its policy? As it only used to accept credit cards that had a North American address.

 

[midnight]

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?

For Tokyo try the Hotel Nikko Ginza, Just off the Ginza A couple of hundred metres from the Sony building (worth a look) not sure of the train line but I think it is the one everyone is talking about, hotel is a few hundred metres from the station. Tokyo really is easy to get around so don't worry. About 10 minutes walk to the Palace. Also if staying around here it is worth doing it on a weekend as they close the Ginza to traffic and it just becomes a pedestrian area.
The trick with the hotel is to book on their site. Before booking you need to join JAL FF (free) as you get preferred rates and you receive points. Not sure how that works with oneworld but the main thing is it reduces the hotel rate. Just did a quick quote on their site and it gave the best rate at 12500 yen which is pretty good for central Tokyo.
The rooms were not huge of course but it had everything you need. When I next go back, I won't even bother searching for anywhere else as this place is ideal.
Hope this helps.

 

[leahm]

In Japan, try a ryokan
In New York, definitely The Pod!

 

[JohnK]

Has Priceline - Name your own price changed its policy? As it only used to accept credit cards that had a North American address.

Last time I looked Priceline did not accept Australian credit cards. I think people are fudging the address by adding a leading zero to their Australian postcode.

 

[Evan]

Last time I looked Priceline did not accept Australian credit cards. I think people are fudging the address by adding a leading zero to their Australian postcode.

That or just using say my USA office address. Somebody mentioned once you crate your profile with a USA address you can go in and change it to your normal AU address also without a problem.

In any case the AU or SG credit cards are no issues used it a few times for accommodation this trip. $75 at a Hyatt regency, $115 at an IC (and i still got my RA privileges !!! nice of them)

Somebody was talking above about hotels in NYC< i used points to stay at the Crowne Plaza near the theater district (Broadway and 49th) and it was a nice hotel, reasonably good. Also the 50th street subway is very close, that means $7 from JFK airport (Airtrain to Jamica then E subway toward Penn station just get off at 50th st)

 

[medhead]

Last time I looked Priceline did not accept Australian credit cards. I think people are fudging the address by adding a leading zero to their Australian postcode.

Hey, the few times I've needed a USA "zip code" I've just used 90210.

 

[whereishome]

Tokyo is pretty good.

You'll find airport access pretty easy from anywhere within the central Tokyo Yamanote line (as other posters have mentioned). Don't bother with the Narita Express - it's ¥2940 each way as opposed to the Keisei Rapid's ¥1000. And with two of you travelling, the difference is a breakfast and a lunch.

The Keisei-Narita lines terminate in Ueno, from which it is easy to transfer to the Yamanote line at the main Ueno station.

From Ueno to Akihabara in under 5 minutes.
Tokyo hotels Remm Akihabara hotel Japan Remm Akihabara hotel photos
Very new, stylish and all designed around getting you some sleep. and tourist shopping. Akihabara is the "Electric Town" district, with lots of technology shopping but an easy return to Ueno for the art and national museums, or a quick subway trip (under 10 minutes) to Asakusa for shrines, temples

From Ueno to Shinjuku (change to Chuo Rapid Line at Tokyo Station) in about 30 minutes.
SHINJUKU WASHINGTON HOTEL, Tokyo
Nestled in the Skyscraper District, next to the Park Hyatt (as seen in Lost in Translation). The money you save on your hotel room can go towards the really expensive drinks and ¥2000 cover charge that kicks in after 5pm for the bar in the Park Hyatt. Convenient to Shinjuku's sights, Metropolitan Government Building, Times Square, Kabukicho and a short train hop to Shibuya (THE shopping mecca with the iconic Hachiko scramble crossing and 79 billion superscreens).

I've stayed in both these hotels and can recommend them pretty well over 3 years of travelling to Tokyo whilst living in rural Japan. I've also referred other friends who don't speak Japanese and they had no issues there either.

Also, if you get a chance then check out this fantastic lounge bar.

Legato

Bombay Sapphire Martini with about 6 ounces of gin for ¥1100 last time I was there.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

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?

You may already be on your way but Travelodge in London is the way I will go next visit. £ 29 is the rate I got for a triple at LHR. Covent Garden TL is just a few £s dearer most of the year. I found them basic but streets ahead of a hostel.

 

[Skyring]

SHINJUKU WASHINGTON HOTEL, Tokyo
Nestled in the Skyscraper District, next to the Park Hyatt (as seen in Lost in Translation). The money you save on your hotel room can go towards the really expensive drinks and ¥2000 cover charge that kicks in after 5pm for the bar in the Park Hyatt. Convenient to Shinjuku's sights, Metropolitan Government Building, Times Square, Kabukicho and a short train hop to Shibuya (THE shopping mecca with the iconic Hachiko scramble crossing and 79 billion superscreens).

I've stayed in both these hotels and can recommend them pretty well over 3 years of travelling to Tokyo whilst living in rural Japan. I've also referred other friends who don't speak Japanese and they had no issues there either.

I've booked the Shinjuku Washington, which looks good and had a great rate. It's been a major hassle, this one!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

i would recommend using:

Hotwire.com: Discount airfare, hotel reservations, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises - all secret hotels

Cheap Flights, Hotels, and Rental Cars -- Discount Airfare | Priceline.com - make a bid and you might get lucky :mrgreen:

Orbitz Travel: Airline Tickets, Cheap Airfare, Hotels, Vacations, Car Rentals & Cruises - quite often some good deals

www.expedia.com (and .au)

I used hotwire a lot for my recent trip tot he USA. Was able to score the Westin market St San Fran for 99 USD, Intercon Cancun for 77 USD.

Priceline got me the Helmsley Hotel NYC for 120 USD, and the Mariott Singapore for Nov at 120 USD.

Expedia can quite often have 15-50% of promos. You just need to do a search fairly regularly

hotwire allows u to set up email alerts for various cities.

 

[whereishome]

I've booked the Shinjuku Washington, which looks good and had a great rate. It's been a major hassle, this one!

You should be pretty happy with that one. The Washington hotels are a pretty safe bet around Japan, and they intersect nicely on the service vs price vertices. My personal favourite was the Akihabara one, however it's currently closed for renovations.

"Renovations" being shorthand for "Build a scaffold around the building, bulldoze it and build a brand new hotel in exactly the same place."

Enjoy Japan!

 

[Aggi]

Has Priceline - Name your own price changed its policy? As it only used to accept credit cards that had a North American address.

I used Priceline several months ago and didn't have a problem using Australian credit card and address, although i think you need to enter a 6 digit zipcode so just add a couple of zeros. Ended up getting Club Quarters Midtown for $US102 per night (plus taxes) which was a very nice hotel only a couple of blocks from Times Square.

 

[Skyring]

Very happy with Shinjuku Washington. Currently enjoying what I hope is free internet after a day exploring Shibuya and the Meiji shrine. Had a bento box and coffee jelly frappacino. Not to mention green Pepsi.

This is a whole other world.

Hotel looked after our luggage with tags until checkin at 1400. Room quite large for Japan. Indeed large by any standards. We're in one of the end rooms with an extra curved section, which is why. Very comfortable. Amazing buildings nearby and huge range of shops and places to eat. Had a squirt in the bidet, a new experience, and my first shower in three weeks.

Off to London tomorrow. Looking for a oneWorld First lounge in Narita before 1100 flight. Presumably the JAL flagship would be found there?

 

[PeteJ]

Hi Skyring, going by the oneworld website, there should be two first class lounges you could pick from at Narita before heading off to London:

Japan Airlines First Class Lounge, Terminal 2, airside, open daily 07:30-22:00 hours.
More info at http://www.jal.co.jp/en/narita-t2/info/lounge/

Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge, Terminal 2, Level 4, open daily 07:40-18:30 hours.

Have a safe trip.