Where to Stay in New York City
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Where to Stay in New York City
Sept 2009
Going to NYC with my 3 sisters. One is turning 40, the
other 50 and the others are 52 and 35. We will be spending
a week in NYC to celebrate. We plan to do lost of touristy
things like a show, Ellis Isle, museums, central park,
etc. Where in the City should we stay? There are so many
ways to get around that we are confused what part of the
city is best. We all love a good glass of wine. Are
weeklong house rentals/apt rentals an option? Cheaper than
a hotel? Neighborhoods with hotels you suggest? None of us
have ever been so it is all new to us. Coming from SF we
have no issues around cabs, trains, etc. Love to hear your
thoughts on where to stay and what to do!!! Thanks so much
Girls Hit the Big Apple
The Beacon Hotel at about 70th and Broadway was a fabulous
place for our family of 4 a few years ago.
We had a bedroom, living room w/ open up couch and a
kitchenette. We were there off season so the rates were
lower then usual...and this is off season, so maybe the
same.
It's in a great part of the city on the upper west side,
near Central Park, great shops, subway and a FABULOUS
FABULOUS market on the next street.
For cheap-0 Holiday Inn Express on W.57th and 9th ave, but
it's a hotel room, not a suite. I got that on Priceline
and it was $100.00 per night. I was only there for a few
nights taking my son to college.
I'd go w/ Beacon. Good luck and have a blast.
former NY-er
I have successfully rented several apartments in NYC through
www.vrbo.com. My husband and I prefer the Upper Westside
(approx the 70's-90's) as there are lots of great
restaurants and bars easy access to museums, subway, taxi's
etc. We like to be close to the park...but as you won't
have kids with you this may not be that important. The
Upper Eastside is good too (again 70's-90's). Be careful in
VRBO as some people list their apartments as ''Upper''
East/West but they are way up past 120 or even 150.
If you guys are feeling funky, then renting in the Village
or Chelsea could be fun. Mid-town is a bit boring; a place
to visit for a show...but not a great place to stay (lots of
big hotels and such).
Staying in an apartment has proven to be MUCH cheaper for us
and we get more space...cheaper both in ''housing'' fees as
well as the fact we don't have to eat out 3 meals a day as
you would in a hotel.
Have fun!!!
I am a little jealous!
Sounds really fun! I've researched the hotel v. apartment
issue and decided that renting an apartment is more cost
effective because you can cook some meals and the hotel tax
is really high in NYC. We stayed at the Millburn Hotel on
the Upper West Side 2 years ago and there's a kitchenette
with a microwave. I think they had hot plates if you asked
for one. It's was nice -- clean and quiet, but not posh! I
had not budgeted in the tax so the overall bill was more
than I had estimated. We have reservations for an apartment
I found on Craig's list, for next September. You should ask
a lot of questions if you're renting that way and ask for
references. The one I found is in the East Village, which
might not be right for you. There are several apartment
rental agencies that do the screening for you. If you stay
in the East or West Village you will be near amazing food
and bars, but when I lived there many years ago the night
life was pretty loud and crazy on some of the more major
streets. Be sure to ask if the apartment is quiet -- if it
faces the street it might not be. If you stay on the Upper
East or West sides you will be able to walk to Central Park
and many many museums, and it's a long walk to the theatres,
but you can do it. The Upper East and West Sides are very
safe and quiet, and are largely residential once you're off
the big streets. There's great grocery shopping on the
Upper West Side the 70's at Fairway Market and Zabars. Both
of those places have good take out, so you don't have to
cook at all. The good bars and restaurants will be downtown
but you can get around so easily via the subway or cabs.
You could stay in mid-town, near the theatres, where you
might get a good deal on a hotel (I have friends who found
good rate for a mid-town hotel on price line last year) but
it's more big city there, and you won't be as close to the
parks. We took the Circle Line boat tour all around
Manhattan. It's an amazing ride, especially if the weather
is nice. You really can't go wrong! Have a great time!
former New Yorker
I like the upper West Side. It's more of a ''neighborhood'' and less touristy than
the Times Square area, yet close to the park and theatres/club. Many nice
restaurants (local, not chains!) and bars. Just across the park from many nice
upper East Side attractions (Guggenheim, etc.) We have stayed at the Lucerne
Hotel, which is very nice and reasonably priced. You can also do a short term
apartment rental. Times Square is centrally located but super touristy - worth a
visit, but I wouldn't want to stay there.
Have Fun in NY
One of the few silver linings in this economy are good hotel
values in NYC. Just a few thoughts: do not believe anyone
who tells you that Queens, Jersey, Brooklyn, Westchester,
the Bronx, etc. are convenient places to stay for a
Manhattan visit. Yes, they are each wonderful in their own
right, but commuting stinks when a quick walk, cab or subway
ride will make you much happier. You can do vacation
rentals in NY. A quick google search will yield a bunch of
options. Don't rule out hotels, though for the reason
indicated above. The Hyatt by Grand Central and the
Ameritania by the Ed Sullivan Theater near Times Square (but
not IN TS) are good options. Neighborhoods that you may like
for walking include SOHO, Chelsea, the West Side, and areas
between Lex and Park, Morgan Hill, Gramercy Park, etc. on
the East Side are all very nice. Be aware that even though
Manhattan is an island, there are still some decent
distances and you should not expect to walk from Midtown to
SOHO without a decent sweat. The subway will get you there
quickly and conveniently.
Kiddie Koncierge
No idea what your tastes are, but I just had a wonderful
time at Hotel 17. It's in the Gramercy Park area, right off
of Union Square shopping and the famous Strand bookstore.
Right on the main train lines to everywhere. Not expensive,
lovely decor, etc. Have fun, wherever you choose.
Had Fun
I would recommend staying on The Upper West Side. I have
never stayed at The Lucerne or The Beacon, but I hear good
things about them (I stay with family when I go).
As far as what to do, I highly recommend The Tenement
Museum. It was one of the best tours I have ever done to
date. It left me with a real and lasting appreciation of
the hardships immigrants endure when they came/come here. I
also really loved going to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis
Island. Walk over The Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Heights
and back. Will you be there for Easter? You MUST walk
5th Ave from about 59th street to slightly south of St.
Patrick's Cathedral. Incredible display! Have Fun.
Sept 2009
Hi All,
My son just started college in NYC. I'm looking for resources for
apartments to rent when we go to visit, rather then hotels.
Any leads? There must be a B&B organization, or realtors that deal
w/ vacation rentals? Thanks in advance, junekamerling@earthlink.net,
June
We rent apartments for visits to NYC on VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) vrbo.com. It
has worked out fine, though I've heard scare stories of the lister taking the rent
money in advance and the renter showing up to find there is no such address. We
rented once near WTC/Ground Zero and once in the West Village (a fourth floor walkup).
Happy travels!
Rebecca
Try this website: http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/new-york/new-york-city/manhattan
I've used the site for condo rentals in Hawaii and they've always been pretty great,
as long as you do your research of the area, inquire of the owners/property managers,
etc. It looks like the rentals are pricey in NYC, but the good thing is that some
owners vary their rents by the season, so you may find something to your liking both
in price and location. Hope this helps!
Helen
Aug 2008
Family of four going to NYC in a few weeks to catch a game at Yankee
Stadium before it disappears. (Already have game tickets.) Looking
for suggestions of clean, reasonably-priced hotels near most direct
subway line to Yankee Stadium. Which is....?
Thanks!
As an alternative to the subway...when we went to see the Yankees, we took the ferry
from Pier 11/South Street Seaport. Our kids enjoyed the boat ride up the East River
almost as much as the game.
For more information contact NY Waterway at 1-800-53-FERRY. Reservations are
recommended. You can google ferry to Yankee stadium and get lots of information.
Enjoy!!
Sally
First, you do not want to stay anywhere near Yankee Stadium. You want to stay in
Manhattan. In NYC, you can get anywhere by using the subway system and
transferring through Grand Central. The #4 train, as well as the B (weekdays only)
and D trains all make stops at 161st St./Yankee Stadium, and all can be accessed
through Grand Central. You do not need to stay by any of these subway lines. You
can get there in a heartbeat through the Subway Transit System. Check the Yankee
Stadium website also. I am sure they have good info.
As far as where to stay, I have not stayed at this next recommendation, but I have
heard good things about it. Excelsior on the Upper West Side. Near Planetarium
and Central Park. Nice area.
http://www.excelsiorhotelny.com
As a reminder, an average sized hotel room in NYC will cost no less than $300/night
and will be big enough for your bed and your suitcase. You will have to go out into
the hallway to change your mind.
- Mets Fan (7 train)
You have a fun trip ahead of you. I can suggest staying in Manhattan, because of
all that is has to offer when your not at the game. As long as you are near a
subway you are good to go, even if it's not one of the lines that take you to Yankee
stadium you can do a quick transfer (the 4, B, D lines take you up to the Bronx and
have a stadium exit) I do not recommend staying in the Bronx near the stadium and
staying in outlying areas like Brooklyn, Queens or long island are a major hassle
for getting to the stadium (I know I grew up there!) I would stay in the upper east
side b/c it's a little cheaper than mid-town or the west side, in general I stay way
from mid-town (the hotels are $$$$ and it's very congested even for NYC) unless you
dig the whole times square scene, or want to see a B-way play. If you would like
suggestions on good eats or other attractions feel free to email me. Cheers!
Michelle
Feb 2007
My 2 friends and I are going for a girls trip to New York City.
We are looking for a place to stay from May 4 to May 8. Since
there are three of us and we don't have alot of money to spend
on two hotel rooms, we were hoping to find a place that can
sleep 3 (i.e. sofabed in the front room and a bed or two in the
back) like a suite. I know these are usually expensive. The
other option we were thinking of was renting an apartment, but
I have no idea where to start looking.
It needn't be fancy, just clean. A good location, and
reasonably priced are really our only other requirements.
If anyone out there has any recommendations, please let me know!
Thanks in advance!
Angelica
I traveled to NYC last year for a wedding. We ended up at the Courtyard Marriott MidTown East
- We were a large party - my elderly parents, 2 sisters and 4 grandkids (8-18). We got 2
adjoining (not connecting) double rooms thinking we'd split up, but the rooms were huge, esp
by NYC standards, one room had 2 queens and a pull out couch (both had refrigerators) so we
let my parents have a room alone and my sister and I managed with our kids in one room. We
spent alot of time looking for nice and affordable. Check out Tripadvisor.com for this and
other possibilities. Subway at the corner, 24hr drug store downstairs, a short walk to MOMA
and 10 block walk or cab to times square, St. Patricks, etc. Staff was great, even managed to
find us a nice restaurant on a Friday nite for 10 that my dad could walk to (ie: 2 blocks).
I've had several other friends stay there since and they were all happy. Take your walking
shoes!!!
been there
We liked the Milburn Hotel, on 76th near Broadway.
http://www.milburnhotel.com/
It's all suites (even a closet-size kitchenette), clean, and, for NY, affordable.
Clean, close to subway (express and local) and bus, and near Central Park, Natural History
Museum, etc.
R.K.
Try the Milburn, on the upper west side. They have suites and are reasonably priced, for NYC.
http://www.milburnhotel.com/
Have Fun!
abby
We recently stayed at the Beacon Hotel on 75th and Broadway.
We're a family of 4. We had a mini apartment there.
2 rooms...one with 2 double beds and one ''living room'' with a pull out couch. Also a
kitchenette.
Across the street is a FABULOUS all night market.
Bigger and better than Berkeley Bowl. It's a great and safe neighborhood. I think it cost
just under $300.00 per night which is reasonable in NYC.
They have a website...it might be called Hotel Beacon rather than BH. Check it out. I can't
wait to go back.
former NY-er
We went to NYC for our last couples trip before the recent birth of our daughter and couldn't
believe how expensive the hotels were for roach motel equivalents. A friend told us she goes
almost every year and looks at craigs list NYC for people renting their apartments there for
short term/weekends/etc. It was half the price and we had our own kitchen (and bathroom) to
ourselves within a couple blocks of the subway. We definitely plan to go this route in NYC
in the future. Good luck.
not willing to pay $200/night to share a bathroom in Manhattan
Feb 2007
Re: A summer visit to NYC with 11 year old
We stayed right next to Grand Central Terminal, which is always exciting (at
the Hyatt which has nice spacious rooms, by NY standards). The food market in
Grand Central is like Market Hall.
I was in NYC in April without kids, but where I stayed was the Brooklyn
Marriott. The subway station was right behind the hotel, literally, and I
loved the location so much, I'm planning another trip with my kids (11 & 9 when
we go) and we will stay at that same hotel. It was right by an outdoor mall
that was pretty convenient (Macy's, a drug store, etc) and across the street
from that was a small neighborhood store and a health food store, kind of a
smaller version of Berkeley Bowl. Also, I could walk to Barnes & Noble. So
this was the very best location for me to see everything I wanted to see and
also where we were it would be easy to get to Manhattan (huge Toys R Us) or the
Bronx Zoo.
lena
I'm not sure what your budget is for staying in NYC, but there are some nice
hotels on the Upper West Side (around West 80th) for about $200 or a little
less per night (check hotels.com) including the Excelsior & On the Ave. It's a
great location, because you are ON Central Park and all that has to offer, plus
the Natural History Museum with its incredible dinosaur, animals, etc.
collections, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, fantastic restaurants (of all
price ranges), and of course markets (Zabars & Fairway) and H&H Bagels (you
have to get these while you're in NY).
If you're looking for something much cheaper, you might be better able to find
that in Brooklyn or New Jersey - and you can certainly take the train into city
central. But, there is something about staying right in the city, in a nice,
safe - fun to walk around neighborhood with places like the Mozart Cafe (a
dessert menu of over 300 items) open (with a line) at midnight, fresh markets
every block, and the sounds, life, and feel of the city itself.
Have a fantastic time!
NYC native girl
We (me, DH, DD10 & DD 7) visited NYC in spring 2006. We had a fabulous time.
We stayed at the Westin Times Square.
the washington square hotel in the village is nice has decent
rooms for $145. it's at nyu and sees a lot of academic types
come in and out. subway is a block away, so is a pharmacy and
a health food store. central park is fun and the natural
history museum is supposed to be a gas. the harold square hotel
is midtown and cheap but not so nice.
anon
Feb 2006
I'm spending 4 nights in NYC in March and would love a
recommendation for a favorite hotel. I'm hoping for a
reasonable price (e.g., low 200's/night), clean, character,
convenient to the theater district and the park. I think
that's all possible from what I see on the internet but I don't
know the hotels. I would be willing to splurge for a really
special place.
Mary in Oakland
if you are willing to splurge... then I would go for the Four Seasons.
otherwise if you can get a deal on expedia.com or other discounter, The Alex Hotel
was quite spacious for NYC and came with a kitchenette.
for other recommendations/reviews, you can always check reviews on
tripadvisor.com
Sophia
I went on girls trip to NY last June and stayed at the Park
Central. It was great! We were right across the street from
Carnegie Hall, 3 blocks from Central Park, and about 7 blocks
from Times Square/Theatre district. The location was
perfect...and so was the weather. The hotel was very
reasonable, especially for its location. I highly recommend it!
I used to travel to NYC 3 to 4 times a year for business. To
this day my favorite place to stay is the Hotel Metro on W. 34th
(I think). It's a boutique type hotel, not a massive chain.
There is a great restaurant downstairs Metro Grill, where you
can get 10% off your meal if you are staying there. Also, it is
in a great location. It's in the garmet district, a stone's
throw from Macy's, from the top floor deck you can see the
Empire State Building and you are very close to Times Square.
It's a great location if you have to work at the Javitz Center.
The price is also very reasonable for NY - the rooms can be
small but they do have larger suites that are comfortable.
You can also try Craigslist, I have subleted flats from people
before, you can get a great deal and sometimes get a really
great place. Have fun! NY is such a great city!
Jen
We love the Algonquin right in the Theater District. This
hotel is pricier. But if you make reservations through this
site, you are likely to get a great deal. We have always been
able to get a room for substantially less. Just be sure to ask
for any deals they may be having.
http://www.smallandeleganthotels.com/nyc/Algonquin.htm
Here is the hotel's site for a better description:
http://www.algonquinhotel.com/index.asp
Have a great time!
Cathy
Last August my daughter and I stayed at the Park Central Hotel on
7th Avenue between 56/57. It was very easy to get to Central
Park and the Theater district. The prices were very
reasonable--like $150 a night. Look first at hotels.com and see
what rates they are offering for that hotel, then call the hotel
directly and see if they can match or do better. The rooms were
comfortable and, while not as clean as a room at the hilton,
clean enough (like there was some dust behind the bed.) I was
shocked at how nice it was, considering how inexpensive it was.
Have fun.
Barbara
August 2005
My family, including myself, my elderly parents, my 2 sisters,
our children (5 kids 9-18)are all going to a wedding in NYC at
the end of September. Any suggestions on reasonably priced
places to stay? The wedding is in Chelsea so we'd like to stay
as close as possible to make getting around with this group of
10 a bit easier.
Thanks
for all those kids, you might want to look into an apartment.
try
http://www.cyberrentals.com/USA/New-York/New-York-City/vacation-apartment-Manhattan/p125475.htm or some of the other offerings.
I also stayed at the Washington Square Hotel (before
renovation). It wasn't the prettyiest place, but it was the
cheapest place I could find and it was right off WSQ. My friend
lives in Chelsea so she was real close.
anon
We liked the Belvedere. It's in midtown, and was reasonable by
NYC standards.
carol
Check out the Larchmont Hotel. It's surprisingly reasonable and right near Chelsea. I
stayed there once and thought it was great for the price. It's not fancy--the bathrooms
are in the hall, ''pension style'', but the building is lovely, with a nice entrance and
lobby. You can't beat it for the price and location. check it out:
http://www.larchmonthotel.com/index.html
anne
Jan 2005
My 10 year old daughter and I are planning a trip to Manhattan
in April. Rather than stay with family in New Jersey, I'd
prefer accomodations in Manhattan. Can anyone recommend where
to stay that is relatively inexpensive or suggest a method to
obtain lodging like Priceline?
anon
I go to NYC 2x/year for work. Most recently we've been staying
at the Affinia Dumont in Murray Hill (34th & Lex), a quiet & non-
descript neighborhood. There are decent (and even a few stellar)
restaurants nearby and it is very close to the subway. The rooms
are HUGE and every one has a full kitchen. It isn't cheap, from
$200+. If you check Affinia online, you'll see a bunch of
different hotels, and others in their group may be less
expensive.
Lise
We've had great success with Priceline for NYC stays (except at Christmas, when we
had no luck at all).
-only accept 3 or 4-star hotels
-pick a 'top' price (we chose $120) and start lower; factor in Priceline fees and
taxes, so you know what you're getting
-bid $90, say, in ONE manhattan neighborhood (midtown, for example)
-then if your bid isn't accepted, you add a neighborhood each time you raise your
bid by $5-10
-call the hotel, once your bid is accepted, to confirm the room (smoking or not) and
how many beds you'll get
-once we got a great room with ONE bed (not good for 2 adults and 2 kids) ;you
have to negotiate with the hotel to get 2 beds, once
you get the room - and they charged us $20/night extra for 2 beds
We've stayed at The Roosevelt, On The Ave, and Times Square Marriott for $120/
nite or less.
When we've accepted a 2-star hotel, they put us in a dump. So we would never do
that again.
Priceline has fewer bargains today then when we started doing this 5 years ago.
Then we got airfare and hotel bargains every time. Now it's hit or miss.
Good luck!
merry
Try express-res.com. They have great deals on hotels in NYC.
I've used them for all my trips to NYC and every time they have
had better deals than my company's travel agency.
I just stayed at The Lucerne on the Upper West Side. It's a great, small hotel in a
super neighborhood (near the Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, Central
Park), with spacious rooms, reasonable rates, and a surprisingly good onsite
restaurant. It's a block from the 79th Street/Broadway subway line, so very
convenient. Actual location is 79th & Amsterdam. Lots of great kid-friendly
restaurants around, including EJ's on Amsterdam. I stayed in Dec and paid under
200 for a very large room. They also have ''junior-suites'' with an extra sitting area,
and I think rooms with efficiencies. You can book through quikbook.com for low
rates.
Amyp
November 2001
Greetings - Our family of two grown-ups and two kids plans to head to New
York City for a four - seven day stay early next year - we'd love to find
an apartment or condo that would provide a kitchen and other home-like
qualities. The archives do not have this type of info, so I'm wondering if
there is a seasoned traveler among us with either a specific recommendation
for a place to stay or the name of website (other than Expedia) that
provides access to this type of accommodation. Thanks very much.
Deborah
Try the Kimberly Suites Hotel. They're located very centraly at Lexinton and
50th St. The hotel was originally built as an apartment building and their 1
bedroom suitees are very large and have complete kitchens. If you do a web
search you will find many sites that discount them.
Barbara
We're trying CitySonnet.com. Since it's our first time
of using them, I can't give you a final answer. They
listed a lot of places of their web site, and we heard
they were ok. We found an apartment that met our needs
in the Village. Good luck. Please post if you find any
great info.
CDorf
My sister rents her apartment in Manhattan through an agency. The
description is below. If hers isn't available at the time you need, the
agency has other listings.
WEST 54th STREET off of Seventh Avenue
This apartment is in a pre-war doorman building in a wonderful location.
It is in the Theatre District close to Central Park, Carnegie Hall, The
Museum of Modern Art, Rockefeller Center, etc. The apartment is artfully
furnished, with hardwood floors, beautiful moldings, an elegant archway,
and a newly renovated kitchen. There is a queen- size bed in the bedroom
and a full-size sofabed futon in the living room. This is the home of two
writers, so the apartment is filled with books. Amenities include cable
TV/VCR, microwave, air conditioning, answering machine with separate inbox
for guests. There is a full bathroom with tub and shower. This is a
charming, comfortable apartment in a most convenient neighborhood.
Price: $160 a night for 1 or 2 persons, $185 a night for 3 or 4 persons
Contact Manhattan Lodgings, 212-677-7616
or rodson at manhattanlodgings.com
Lynn
I've had some luck finding vacation rental apartments
in Manhattan through B & B agencies. It's often
considerably less expensive and more comfortable to go
this route. It's been a couple of years since I've
called these agencies, but here are some names you
might try:
At Home in New York (212)956-3125
City Lights Bed & Breakfast Ltd. (212)737-7049 CityLightsBedandBreakfast.com [updated 12/03]
Abode Bed & Breakfast Inc. (212)472-2000
Bed & Breakfast Network of New York (212)645-8134
Have a great time!
alissa
We signed up with the web site tradinghomes.com and had an opportunity to
trade our Berkeley appartment for one in Manhattan. People all over the
world sign up, and you contact each other and make your own arrangements.
It might be something to look into if you're looking for nice but cheap
accomadations.
Clare
2001
We are going to New York City next Spring with our two young children, the
grandparents and my brother in law. I would like to find a three bedroom
apartment or condo that we could rent for a week to 10 days. I am not
having any luck with my travel agent. Any help on where to look would be
appreciated! Thanks! Lisa
We usually stay with family in Queens, but last year a friend of mine
stayed at the Off Soho Suites with her family of five. The suites have a
kitchen and are located near the Village. They aren't apartments, they
probably don't have weekly rentals, but I thought I throw it out there. The
URL is http://www.offsoho.com
Sonya
About 5 years ago, I stayed in Manhattan for 10 days. I was able to stay
in a furnished studio apartment in midtown. I went through a place called
"Off Park Bed & Breakfast." It cost $90/night and I was in a doorman
building on Madison Avenue, near the Empire State Building. The number
is 212-228-4645. I don't know if it still exists, but it might be worth a shot.
Ilana
try manhattanlodgings.com
I'm told that you can rent empty apts (eg airline pilot apts) for days or
weeks at a time.
Merr
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