Posted: 7/7/17 at 10:41am
I'm looking at taking a trip to NYC July 21-25 (3 nights). I've never been before and I'm trying not to spend too much on hotels, as I'm mostly going to spend my time in the theatre district. Does anyone have any recommendations of cheap hotels or places to stay that are within walking distance to Times Square? TIA.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 10:48am
What is the maximum amount you're looking to pay per night?
Posted: 7/7/17 at 10:54am
Avoid the New York Inn. It should be condemned,quite frankly.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 10:55am
I am going the weekend before that, and we booked the Paramount. $200 a night, directly across from the Richard Rodgers and the Imperial. I did a lot of research, and am confident that it is the best value in terms of location and us having to keep the trip cheap. As we're staying for a weekend, and in the summer, that's one of the cheapest rates I was able to find. Going significantly farther out or sharing a bathroom would have saved us another $20-$30 a night, but that was a hassle I wasn't prepared to deal with.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:00am
Have you thought about airbnb? Last time I went down my mom and i got this gorgeous little apartment in walking distance of everything we wanted to do (including the theater district). Not sure on the pricepoint though.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:02am
AC126748 said: "What is the maximum amount you're looking to pay per night?
Around $150.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:07am
You really need to search for rates, they can vary greatly. It's also easier for us to tell you hotels to avoid.
Once you have 2 or 3 possibilities, let us chime in. (And it might be difficult to find something that low.)
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:09am
also try priceline or similar blind hotel sites, together with betterbidding or similar strategy sites. additionally, realize that (a) transit makes more remote locations easily accessible, and (b) unless you are mobility challenged, it is no big deal to walk from other relatively close neighborhoods to the theatre district. In particular, you may find better prices below 42nd or above 57th, or on the east side across from the theatre district. Finally the theatre district is not the greatest place to be during the extensive part of even a theatre-heavy trip that you have no need to be there.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:33am
Send me a private message if you want tips on Priceline or Hotwire.
ETA: 7/21-7/25 is more than three nights. Assuming it's 7/21 -7/24 there is a hotel on Hotwire for $112 a night, $443.32 with all taxes and fees. 3* hotel with a double bed, appears most likely to be Pod 39.
When calculating hotel costs, look at the bottomline with all taxes and fees included.
Updated On: 7/7/17 at 11:33 AM
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:39am
If you are willing to split your stay between two hotels, you may find great rates on the weekend nights at some of the large convention hotels if they do not have a big event on-site or ones that cater more to business travelers.
If you can go up a bit in price, Hyatt House Chelsea is a brand new hotel and is $180/night with breakfast (AAA rate) for the dates of your visit.
Updated On: 7/7/17 at 11:39 AM
Posted: 7/7/17 at 11:43am
It should be an memorable trip! There is nothing like setting foot in Manhattan for the first time and walking through the canyons and experiencing the excitement of finally being there.
Your housing cost will be the biggest outlay of money. Be sure when you are checking hotels to get a price with taxes added in because they are significant (about 15%) and should be a factor in your decision making. For example, you may think an extra $50/night is an acceptable upgrade, but with the tax it is more like an extra $58/night.
You say you want to stay cheap, but "cheap" in New York is what would be expensive most other places - and, trust me, you don't want to stay in a "cheap" hotel in NYC unless you have a good personal recommendation. I made that mistake as a young person and my first night in New York was similar to that of Josh in the movie Big.
That being said, I have had good experiences with AirBNB. Especially if you are willing to stay in a room in someone's apartment, that is a way to stay in town for a lower cost.
Other than that, your goal will be to get a good hotel for a discount price. I have done Priceline for that many times, but working what you want out of Priceline takes some practice.
I will add this last advice, but it comes with a big caveat. I worked in Jersey City for a while and found that while living there I was about 30 minutes from my door to the Theater District via the PATH train + subway. (There is also a great ferry service across the river.) You will definitely find typical business motels at more affordable prices there and in Hoboken. HOWEVER - your timing is not good because rapid transit in New York is getting throttled by renovation around Penn Station and the New Jersey tunnels that is having cascading effects on connecting train routes. The real bad stuff starts on Monday and continues through the summer. But for people planning a trip in the fall of 2017 or later, check on what the current status is.
Updated On: 7/7/17 at 11:43 AM
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:12pm
Watch out for Row and Paramount. They have cheap rates but they both charge exorbitant "facility fees" which can add a ton to your bill at checkout. Also, the lobby at the Row is ridiculous. You could easily wait close to an hour to check in, then wait ANOTHER hour to have your bag checked if you get there too early, then wait ANOTHER hour to get your bag back. I would always stay at the Row because of its location and then beds are comfortable but that fee and the lobby deter me. Cheapest place for me is the Mayfair on 49th street. Garish decor and closet size rooms but the rates are the best.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:18pm
I would also be wary of Row. I stayed there on a recent multi-day trip. I got a good rate, but other elements of the trip were frustrating. As Phantom4Ever noted, the lobby situation is ridiculous. I'm talking one receptionist for a line of check-ins 30 people deep. The rooms are very small and if you have a street-facing room, it can be quite noisy.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:19pm
I just did a search for the dates you listed and Amsterdam Court seems to be the winner. Right on 50th street in the theater district. You have to watch out for some of these hotels because they put "Times Square south" or "Times Square West" in the title of the hotel and you think that means it's on the west or south side of Times Square. No. It means that it is FAR west of Times Square, like 38th and 11th or something ridiculous like that. Also, watch out for Manhattan Broadway Budget. The one time I stayed there, we found random people in our room more than once when we returned, with no explanation from the front desk.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:27pm
Iberostar on park avenue
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:33pm
My sister and I stay at Hotel Edison. We had stayed at Milford Plaza before it was changed to Row NYC We find Hotel Edison very comfortable and reasonable and the best location in the Theater District in my opinion.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:40pm
http://applecorehotels.com
Seriously. I haven't used any other NYC hotels in years.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:44pm
We just had a great 5-nt stay at the ROW for about $175/nt all in. Agree that the lobby is a zoo, but if you get your reservation confirmed on an iPhone, you can skip the checkin line and use the electronic scanners yourself to check in. Adding an extra $15/nt got us a higher floor (floor 19) with great views of the Hudson river and zero noise. Room size was a well-designed 10' x 20' (3M x 6M) plus a small bath. No cheap hotel is better located.
Our other favorite is the YOTEL, 3 long avenue blocks west of Times Square on 42nd St. Super-witty design elements fill the small room including a comfy bed that slides up to settee size when you're not sleeping in it. I'd guess size is 10' x 15' (3M x 4.5M). Sliding glass wall separates bedroom from bath where the floor to ceiling window is. Prices sometimes get as low as $150/nt.
Have a great time.
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:58pm
I second Apple Core. I prefer their 2 hotels in Koreatown - La Quinta & NYMA. Just close enough to Times Square and Penn Station. If you wait and book with 10% off advance pay you can really save. I just booked for $117 a night. The Hotel at New York(formerly Ramada Eastside) was stupid cheap earlier but is a bit of a hike (30 & Lex).
Posted: 7/7/17 at 12:59pm
I apologize, looking back at my original message I realized I said 3 nights, 7/21-25; It should be 3 nights, 7/22-25.
I've been looking at Amsterdam Court Hotel, it seems to be the cheapest, albeit being pretty small. $470 for three nights total. Has anyone had any experience staying there?
Posted: 7/7/17 at 5:13pm
Our other favorite is the YOTEL, 3 long avenue blocks west of Times Square on 42nd St. Super-witty design elements fill the small room including a comfy bed that slides up to settee size when you're not sleeping in it. I'd guess size is 10' x 15' (3M x 4.5M). Sliding glass wall separates bedroom from bath where the floor to ceiling window is. Prices sometimes get as low as $150/nt.
Have a great time.
I went in April at stayed at the Yotel. I really liked it. Our rate was about $160/night and there were 3 of us in a room. I slept in the bunk and it was actually super comfortable and the room was bigger than I thought it would be after reading reviews on Trip Advisor. Seeing as how we didn't plan to spend much time in our room (and we didn't) the size was totally fine for us. You do need to be comfortable with the people you're with if you're traveling with others since there is no door separating the bathroom. There is a sliding glass door as mentioned but ours didn't shut all the way and I'm not sure if that was just a flaw in our room or if they're all that way but you could hear whenever anyone was using the bathroom. There was a curtain you could shut so you could at least not see the person on the toilet or in the shower. And I think it was about a 15 minute walk to Times Square. I would definitely stay there again.
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Posted: 7/7/17 at 6:48pm
Samara.tanner said: "I'm looking at taking a trip to NYC July 21-25 (3 nights). I've never been before and I'm trying not to spend too much on hotels, as I'm mostly going to spend my time in the theatre district. Does anyone have any recommendations of cheap hotels or places to stay that are within walking distance to Times Square? TIA.
"The cheapest and best you can get under $200 is the EDISON HOTEL! Worth the stay...clean, comfortable, ideally located right in the theater district and pretty cheap for Times Square!
http://www.edisonhotelnyc.com/
Posted: 7/7/17 at 6:50pm
Will3700 said: "My sister and I stay at Hotel Edison. We had stayed at Milford Plaza before it was changed to Row NYC We find Hotel Edison very comfortable and reasonable and the best location in the Theater District in my opinion.
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I second that but book now!
Updated On: 7/7/17 at 06:50 PM
