NYC Hotels

[sorano9162]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 7:55pm

I'm heading to NYC at the end of the month and although I usually stay with family, they won't be in town so I have to stay at a hotel. Does anyone have suggestions? Preferably around the theater district, $200 or less? Also, any hotels that I should just not even bother considering?

Thanks!

[StockardFan]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 8:00pm

I wouldn't stay at the Edison.

[Hank]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 8:32pm

I liked the Edison, my old home away from home, but they got a little pricey lately.
Last time I searched, the Best Western President, one block north seemed to have a pretty good deal.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 8:37pm

I used to stay at the Edison when we took the kids up there for field trips, and I just remember it being not so nice. But it is affordable.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 8:40pm

Stay away from the Carter!

I like to use Priceline. I got a corner room at the Westin in August of last year for $120 a night on Priceline. Just go in there, choose "name your own price," put in a 4* and Theatre District and choose a price. $100 is a good starting point.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 8:48pm

Oh yeah, I've heard bad things about the Carter too.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 9:02pm

People don't make it out alive.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 9:18pm

Make sure you check out the photos

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 3/4/10 at 11:10pm

I've stayed at The Belvedere Hotel several times and have always been satisfied. Great location, close to all Broadway theatres.

[sgv123]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 12:38am

I don't know how you feel about staying in a hostel, but The Big Apple Hostel is good. You can get your own room and a shared bathroom. Everything is clean (bathrooms have been redone). It is 1 block from Time Square and it is $125/a night.

http://www.bigapplehostel.com/
Updated On: 3/5/10 at 12:38 AM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 8:52am

I travel often to NYC and also help others get good deals. My sister is coming at the end of the month, and we got her the Intercontinental the Barclay, a 4* hotel, on hotwire.com for $139 a night.

If you think you might want to go that route, send me a PM and I can walk you through the steps.

At a minimum, go to kayak.com, plug in your dates. That site will show you the best deals (other than priceline/hotwire)on the net.

Avoid the Carter liker the plague, or you might get the plague.

[jessica0414]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 10:02am

My friend and I really like The Pod Hotel. It's a *teensy* bit far from Times Square, but a pretty good price. We walk everywhere at home also so the walk from there to most of the theaters didn't bother us.
The Pod Hotel

[hottieho13]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 12:39pm

ewww nasty!i will not be going to the carter!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 2:19pm

I'm interested in hearing about experiences with Priceline or Hotwire. Is there any down side to using them?

[Magdalene]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 2:42pm

I second the Big Apple Hostel---I stay there all the time (3-5 times a year, though I stay in a dorm room) and I've never had a problem! And the location is excellent!!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 2:54pm

Gotham,

Priceline and Hotwire are known as "opaque" sources because you are not told what hotel you are buying before you commit to buying it. (You have to input your credit card info before buying and it is charged immediately.)

Advantage: The prices from these sources are usually the lowest you can find.

Risk: Once you have bought your room, refunds are not an option (except very rare circumstances). You bught it you own it. Need to change your travel date? Too bad, you bought it you own it.

So it is not recommended for trips that could be cancelled or changed. But once your plans are firm, it can be a great way to go and save money.

There is a Web site called betterbidding.com which takes the "opaqueness" away somewhat and has lists of what hotels are most likely to be won. Plus there are chat boards on that site where people post their priceline/hotwire wins.

Again, I am more than glad to help with specifics, please feel free to message me.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 3:35pm

If you don't mind walking a few blocks, I've gotten good deals at the Skyline Motel - 50th and 10th Ave.

The Portland Square (47th bet. 6th & 7th Ave) is bare bones, but clean, with a great location.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 4:16pm

SDS, I live in NYC, but I have several friends tell me that they would like to visit NYC but it's too expensive. So of course I'm always looking for suggestions to help these people.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 6:29pm

There's a new Comfort Inn on W. 44th and 8th ave. that's a really good deal, it's a small operation and they've got nice, comfortable little rooms. It just opened in like, September. I stayed there for 3 nights late last year for a weekend getaway and I was super surprised.

5 years from now it will probably be gross but for now it's probably the best (and cleanest) budget friendly place in the area.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 7:12pm

From priceline and hotwire, I've stayed at the NY Hilton several times between $110 and $140 a night, the Grand Hyatt is one of my favorites because it is very convenient to Grand Central. Prices have varied between $110 and $160 depending on the season. I got the Doubletree in Times Square once for $149, the Crowne Plaza, which is also in Times Square for $150, and Le Parker Meridien I got once for $125...

Supply and demand is the name of the game, so at Christmastime or other busy times it will cost more regardless, and pickings will be slimmer.

The thing about opaque hotels is you are taking a slight gamble. But you get to pick the star level and the neighborhood, and betterbidding helps narrow down the choices an awful lot. I've always been treated well at the hotels.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 8:58pm

I generally stay @ Radio City Apts. Not as cheap as they once were(175.00) but the location 49th between 6th & 7th is perfect. What I like is that cooking facilities in each room are generally avail and i can cook bkfast and a few dinners in & save $$ for shows. It clean generally quiet a bit worn in some rooms but still a good deal.

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 9:43pm

Out here in California, I am infamous for my travel savy and getting bargains. The best thibg that ever happened to travel is the "Lowest Price Guaranteed" offered by the hotels themselves.

Right now you can find some great rates for NYC on TravelZoo.com. What you do is book with the hotel direct, there best rate. Then contact them and tell them you found the lower rate on another site. THey will usually meet that price, then give you an added discount. It saves them having to pay a commssion to the broker/agent.

I have already done this for my June trip for the Tonys. I am staying at a 4 star Hotel that I initially booked for $229 a night, some site had a 3 day sale on the hotel @ $160 a nite. I contacted the hotel they met the price, then gave me an additional 15% off that rate---dropping me down to $136 a nite for a hotel right off Time Square in June.

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 3/5/10 at 9:46pm

Also I Second the recommendation of Kayak.com. Booking site I never heard of with great deals at hotels!

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/6/10 at 7:28am

Kayak is great, it doesn't sell rooms, it simply directs you to best prices listed on the web. Saves me hours of searching.

I also like TravelZoo as mentioned above, it's not always the cheapest, but sometimes there are very good deals.

The hotels themselves sometimes will match internet deals, sometimes they won't. And also agree, before booking something on the net call the hotel first. You can sometimes get extra perks and upgrades.