V-Flyer

hi all
i am thinking of traveling to New York around september - november.
can anyone recommend a reasonable cheap hotel in new york for a 4-5 night stay??
also is it better to fly in to JFK or EWR??

many thanks

CH

Reasonably cheap and New York hotels, really don't go together very well in the same sentence. NYC hotel prices are very expensive for most of the year.

I would suggest a bit of a look through all the main sites like Expedia/Last Minute/Hotels.com etc to see what deals they have on if you don't have a specific hotel you want. Try to stay away from the main tourist areas, the subway is cheap and easy to use for getting around. Read trip advisor to get a feel for what hotels are like, and remember you won't probably spend much time in it anyway.

Neil

I must say although not cheap as hotels go but probably cheaper than all the main branded hotels, i found the Empire Hotel great and in a reaaly good position beside the Mandarin Oriental almost, it has a really cool feel to the hotel too.

cheers

Alex

CHill710 wrote:also is it better to fly in to JFK or EWR??

EWR is generally held to be less busy than JFK (on VS2 you're almost the only people in the airport), has a decent fixed price taxi service to Manhattan and there's the potential for a view of NYC as you fly in.

Paul

pjh wrote:

CHill710 wrote:also is it better to fly in to JFK or EWR??

EWR is generally held to be less busy than JFK (on VS2 you're almost the only people in the airport), has a decent fixed price taxi service to Manhattan and there's the potential for a view of NYC as you fly in.

Paul

Paul is quiet right in what he says but you also get the same fixed taxi cost from JFK too.

cheers

alex

I used travelsupermarket to compare hotel prices and last time I found a hotel going for £300 cheaper than Expedia and the likes.

I generally fly into JFK as I much prefer the much simpler AirTrain and subway and for $7.25 you are in Manhattan. Also I tend to stay in Midtown East which is easier and quicker to get to from JFK rather than EWR.

sky0000547 wrote:I generally fly into JFK as I much prefer the much simpler AirTrain and subway and for $7.25 you are in Manhattan.

Just as a comparison for CH, it cost me just under 10 times as much B) (including tip) to get the taxi service from EWR to Park Avenue.

For a cheap and cheerful hotel I've always stayed in the Ramada Long Island City. It's nothing amazing as such, but the rooms are more than adequate with king / queen size beds, 32" flat screen TV's , free wireless internet, cleaned daily, complimentary breakfast; always met my needs!

Although its not situated in Manhattan, it's a 10 minute maximum ride on the subway which gets you to Times Sq / 5 Av on the 7 line I believe? And the subway station (Queensborough Plaza) is only about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Although it's a bit further out than central Manhattan hotels, this is made up for by the really competitive prices they offer. See if you can book it through lastminute.com as that's where I seem to get the best deals?

And regarding EWR / JFK; the Ramada is only 25 minutes from JFK and cost around $35! If I had the choice I'd probably fly in to JFK as don't they get the A346's rather than the EWR A343 run? Correct me if im wrong!

Hope that helps!

Are you flying UC? If you are i would use JFK as the CH is so much nicer than the EWR dark room aswell.

cheers

alex

I always stay at Hotel Metro - centrally located, a few yards from Macy's; one block from ESB; 15mins walk to Times Square. Tripadvisor has great feedback too. Rooms are small but beds very comfy; hotel is very clean; staff are excellent; roof top bar and gym; buffet beakfast included (basic but a good start to any day) with complementary tea/coffee on tap 24/7 in the lobby. A very good resturant directly opposite - can't remember the name sorry - but frequented by locals (always a good sign!).

Hope this helps!

Jane

floridagirl wrote:I always stay at Hotel Metro

We used this hotel a few years back and thought it good.

MrSquare wrote:If I had the choice I'd probably fly in to JFK as don't they get the A346's rather than the EWR A343 run? Correct me if im wrong!

OK, here goes! We flew VS1/2 last October and definitely had an A346...

Alex V wrote:Are you flying UC? If you are i would use JFK as the CH is so much nicer than the EWR dark room aswell.

I didn't find anything wrong with the EWR CH, and quite enjoyed the clubby feel. Mind you, it was dark outside as well so there wasn't much lost in having no natural light

Paul

When I go away I book a hotel I like at a rate I can cancel. I then look on sites like Travelzoo nearer the time for deals, and book and then cancel my original one if I get a better deal. There's also Priceline if you want to try and save money.

Thanks for all the tips. I knew it wouldn't be cheap! Anyone stayed at the comfort inn manhattan? This was the cheapest from Virgin holidays last time I looked.

C H

First time I went I stayed there (before I discovered Hotel Metro!) - not bad, almost opposite Hotel Metro, but I prefer HM if I am honest. One plus point for CI is that a room at the rear has a phenomenal view of ESB!!!

J

MrSquare wrote:
If I had the choice I'd probably fly in to JFK as don't they get the A346's rather than the EWR A343 run? Correct me if im wrong!

Hope that helps!

Last year I flew out to EWR on a 747 and back on a A346

This is really useful info, I really want to go to new york but as with the op I need something on a budget!

CHill710 wrote:Thanks for all the tips. I knew it wouldn't be cheap! Anyone stayed at the comfort inn manhattan? This was the cheapest from Virgin holidays last time I looked.

C H

I stayed at the Comfort Inn about 5 years ago. Clean and comfortable and ideally located on W 35th St. Five mins walk from Macy's and about fifteen from Times Square.
I remember the continental breakfast was pretty good too. y)

Don't get too hooked on staying near Times Square. There are more likely to be bargains for hotels sligthly further out. Even if you stay down near Wall Street your still only 15-20 mins away on the subway.

As others have said try expedia, http://www.cityandshow.com etc. find a hotel you like there and then look on the hotels own website to see if there are better deals.

It really does pay to shop around and tbh the hotels on VS and VH are overpriced compared to other sites - they are relying on your intertia in not going elsewhere

Much prefer EWR to JFK for the lesser taxiing delays, quieter immigration etc. The clubhouse is much nicer from a comfort, food and service point of view.

If you're on a budget you can train into Penn Station otherwise I can recommend some good limo companies.

I cannot possibly recommend a cheap hotel, that's an oxymoron in New York, cheaper they may be ... but then if budget is your thing you should look out of town and somewhere with a train station into the city.

Once again thanks for all the replies. As usual some good tips from v-flyer. I will have a look at all recomended zites and hotels.
Thanks

Chris