NYC Hotels?

$45? Surely you jest.

Not even the wretched Penn.

Open your mind to the idea of a hostel if you are on that kind of budget. Seriously. They will be infinitely safer than anything that would be $45. Trust and believe.

I don't even think the wonderful Hotel Carter is that cheap.

Big Apple (I think it was called) hostel is where I know some friends of mine stayed when they were in the city. You just have to be very careful of bedbugs. I think hostels are actually being more on the ball right now than cheap hotels about them, so that's the way I'd go. Make sure you do a thorough bed check for them though. But if you are living on $45 a night, I'd save some more an go for more humane space later. Or just pull a 48-hour day and leave. I've done that many a time in Vegas.

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I stayed at the Big Apple hostel recently and didn't have any bedbugs. It's certainly not the most luxurious place, but the location is PERFECT.

I agree with everyone else pretty much - for $45 you would need to keep your expectations low. I am looking for somewhere to stay in May/June preferably under $200 per night (inclusive of taxes) and even that is proving challenging.

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Thanks so much rosscoe(au) - I will give this a go!!

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I just looked into the Pearl and the rates are like $190 a night which isn't terrible for NYC but is still out of my price range for this trip.

Roger Williams is over like $300 a night

Its like $109 a night
Good for NYC but not for my budget

As others have stated, for $45 a night you would be far safer in a reputable hostel or the YMCA than you would be going to an actual hotel that charges that. I used to stay at a hostel called Jazz on the Park. Last time I stayed there, in 2002, the largest occupancy rooms were $18 a night. They had a large variety of rooms, everything from a private room to the 12-14 dorm room. They are located at 106th and Central Park West, very close to the B/C lines. They also do not have a curfew, which some hostels do.

Honestly, my times at the hostels were always a whole lot of fun. You are surrounded by other people within your age range. Should you find yourself looking for something to do it is not hard to strike up a conversation (or hook up with) some curious foreigner. Last time I stayed there I was in the city for two weeks rehearsing a show and had far more fun there. Normal night would include getting back from rehearsal, grabbing a beer from the bodege (the Europeans seemed to love the forties) and some take out and just having a great time in the the lobby/lounge area.

At $45, the only type of hotel you're going to find will be hourly... if you get my drift.

Updated On: 1/5/11 at 12:45 PM

Have you looked up the Hotel Elk? I remember needing a quick place to stay after missing my bus back home. I ran in to the Hotel Elk and it was very cheap! Maybe $50 a night. It was a little run down Hotel, but I just needed it to rest my head for a few hours. It's one of those you get what you pay for type places... Good Luck!

Hostels are not bad at all. That's what I do when I stay in the city so I can spend money on doing actual things and stay longer. Some do have private rooms, if that is a concern for you and your parents. They will be a bit pricier, but usually worth the money.

I frequent the Chelsea Star Hotel. That's on 30th Street, right on the corner of 8th Ave. No idea when you are going, but a single room with a shared bathroom was $79 when I went last May.

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