Looking for SAFE, convenient, affordable hotel (New York, New Rochelle: rental car, rental, hotels)

[OneThriftyMom]

I've never been to NYC before but my daughter and I are coming to visit and attend a Broadway show for her 19th birthday at the end of June. I don't have a lot of money and would like to find a hotel around $100/night. I know that may seem laughable, but it's what I've got to work with.

I want something that is clean, convenient to subway or bus, and most of all in a SAFE area (a swimming pool wouldn't hurt!). The areas we'd be visiting are, of course, Broadway & 46th, Empire State building and other touristy things. We can fly into any NYC airport. We are not planning to rent a car, just walking or public transportation.

Any suggestions for hotels, modes of transportation, or safety things to be aware of would be greatly appreciated!

[jeffcon0]

That is a very tough prospect. I would be absolutely amazed if you found anything for that price in Manhattan. Summer is the high season of tourism and even cheap rooms run around $200 or more. Even something in a close-in neighborhood in a borough is highly unlikely.

Just to give you an idea:
There is a Comfort Inn in Maspeth, Queens. Obviously Comfort Inn is a bargain basement hotel and Maspeth, although a perfectly decent hood, is not very convenient to public transport nor does it have much going on nearby. I just did a rate search for a single room in the end of June and the rates start at $169/night.

I understand you *want* to get a room in a nice location for $100 but it just ain't gonna happen. I recently was looking at rates in New Rochelle for a wedding (about 45 mins north of the city) and they were all around $120 and up.

Frankly, unless you are willing to stay at a hostel, you would be lucky to find a room for $200/night in Manhattan. Double that and you might be able to get a pool.

[rlrl]

You may be able to get a room at the New York Inn on 8th Avenue near 47th street for that price but I have read reviews and all of them are terrible.

[Henna]

Try a service like Cheap Flights, Hotels, and Rental Cars -- Discount Airfare | Priceline.com and bid for a room. The problem is that I think you take what you get without knowing in advance where you are going to end up. So it's not for the risk-averse.

I do have a friend who is an expert at doing this sort of thing and the last two times she visited she stayed at pretty nice brand-name hotels - one in Jersey City and the other in midtown, and I know the second time she paid only about $100. This was the Crowne Plaza in midtown and I suspect the normal rate is around $300 at least.

However - she is really an expert at this kind of thing and knows how to make it work for herself. I don't know if a novice is going to end up with something quite so nice and so cheap.

[newtoli]

Safe, convenient and affordable is not happening on $100/night.

I would suggest staying in a suburb and taking the train in for trips to the city.

I used to also be able to get rooms @ the Crowne Plaza for around $125... but that was 5 years ago and I haven't been able to snag a room at that price recently.

[mead]

Definitely you won't find what you want in Manhattan.

The local motel in my neighborhood of the Bronx (looks like a typical Motel 6) which is 30 minutes north of the city by train charges $100 a night. They don't have a pool, but they do have a nice view of a parking lot. How's that for ammenities?

[OneThriftyMom]

I dont' mind staying in a suburb....I just don't which ones are safe and would be close to safe public transportation. I'm good at searching for things and usually can find good deals. My concern here is safety and proximity to transportation. Having never been to NYC and hearing "stories" I don't want to take my chances. If rates are much higher, it will mean we have to stay fewer days. I really want to give my daughter a memorable, fun time.

So what if we stay somewhere in NJ? Here are a few places I've found that look nice and fit my budget....

Holiday Inn in Carteret
Residence Inn in Elizabeth
Courtyard by Marriott in Elizabeth or Newark
Fairfield Inn in Newark
Hilton in Hilton Hasbrouck Heights
Hampton Inn in Ridgefield Park
Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus
Best Western Woodbury Inn, Woodbury, NY

Anyone know the areas? Are they safe? Would they be close to safe transportation?

Thanks for the help!

[newtoli]

Originally Posted by OneThriftyMom

I dont' mind staying in a suburb....I just don't which ones are safe and would be close to safe public transportation. I'm good at searching for things and usually can find good deals. My concern here is safety and proximity to transportation. Having never been to NYC and hearing "stories" I don't want to take my chances. If rates are much higher, it will mean we have to stay fewer days. I really want to give my daughter a memorable, fun time.

So what if we stay somewhere in NJ? Here are a few places I've found that look nice and fit my budget....

Holiday Inn in Carteret
Residence Inn in Elizabeth
Courtyard by Marriott in Elizabeth or Newark
Fairfield Inn in Newark
Hilton in Hilton Hasbrouck Heights
Hampton Inn in Ridgefield Park
Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus
Best Western Woodbury Inn, Woodbury, NY

Anyone know the areas? Are they safe? Would they be close to safe transportation?

Thanks for the help!

The Newark Airport hotels are ok - just don't venture into the actual city of Newark. Run a search on Marriotts and Hiltons at the Newark airport. I hold meetings there for work all the time and the airport is safe, and has a train station right there with frequent service to NYC.

[pz2415]

Planning a family vacation. Wanting to take in all the attractions and Yankees game. Hoping not to drive in city. I'm thinking I want to stay on New Jersey side.

[Henna]

I like to read Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor when I'm searching for hotel reviews.