Driving to New York

[THDavis]

Posted: 1/16/11 at 9:46am

I just got a car and was planning a road trip that would ultimately bring me to New York City. I wanted to go into the city for 3-4 days, so I was hoping to get advice as to a hotel outside of the city that would let me park and stay for the evening and then shuttle me into the city for the duration of my stay while leaving my car behind or a place to park outside of the city where I could take the train or bus into Manhattan. Any advice?

[Hank]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 1:32pm

The La Quinta Inn in Clifton, NJ. Rates are cheap compared to NY. Part of the hotel serves as an overflow dorm for Montclair State Universiy. There's a DeCamp bus stop nearby on Rt 3 and and a NJ transit (Delawanna) train station a few blocks away (njtransit.com for time tables), gotta change trains in Secaucus. You can check their rates and info on hotels.com.
An alternate a bit further west is the Howard Johnson.
As long as you're in the area, you may want check out a couple of landmark local eaterys: Rut's Hut and the Tick Tock Diner. Go to roadfood.com for more.
If you really want to stay in Manhattan, figure on paying about $45 a day to park, and you can search further to find a resonably priced hostel. If you want to take a slight risk and save you can park on the streets near Delawanna station for a few days, just read the signs carefully.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 1:51pm

Or, you could just stay in Secaucus. There is a NJ Transit bus route with stops right in front of most of the hotels. The train station is also just down the road.

[WestVillage]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 2:15pm

Most convenient is Sheraton Suites in Weehawken ... (might be called Sheraton Lincoln Harbor now). Bus and ferry to NYC right outside hotel, and plenty of parking.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 6:00pm

I realize that you've got a new car and there's a certain amount of thrill in driving to NYC, but I live on Long Island and come into the city on a regular basis. I usually travel by train, even though a car would be a bit faster. The parking in the city is expensive and other drivers can be quite reckless (especially cab drivers).

Reconsider and travel by train or bus.

[DAME]

Posted: 1/17/11 at 6:58pm

Don't take a new car into the city.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 1:02am

I don't think the OP wants to take his new car into the city. If I read the post right he wants to drive the car to a hotel outside the city and take a bus or a train into the city while leaving the car at the hotel.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 5:08pm

You could also try looking in Brooklyn and Queens. I know the LaQuinta in Queens has at least a small amount of parking, and it's an easy ride in on the 7 right to Times Square.

[mikem]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 5:49pm

Is there parking at the Secaucus train station? Has anyone tried using it?

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 6:27pm

There is a parking thing right next to it. I don't know how much it costs, but I know it is a lot cheaper than in the city. I don't know if parking there overnight is allowed or not.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 7:07pm

I'll second the Sheraton at Lincoln Harbor in Weehaukin. VERY nice, big rooms and easy transport to NYC. Reasonably priced. If you take the ferry over (and it's right outside the door of the hotel) there are shuttle busses included in your price that take you all to many different sections of Manhattan.

You do need to STAY at the hotel to use their parking (I wasn't sure if that was your intent).