Need Hotel location ideas

Hi,

I will be visiting New York City during the labor day weekend and need a few pointers regarding best areas/hotels to stay.

I am travelling with aged parents and hence prefer a location whch minimzes the need to travel. My budget is between $100-$150 per night. Not much of a Broadway or Museum person. Will be visiting places like

Statue of Liberty

Times Square

Empire State Building

WTC (Ground Zero)

Fifth Ave

Areas to stay and or specific hotel suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in Advance

Need Hotel location ideas

I just don%26#39;t see how you%26#39;re going to do it on that budget. September is an expensive time to travel to New York, and it%26#39;s a holiday weekend on top of that. You need at least two beds and most moderately priced, decent (emphasis on ';decent';) hotels in New York are around $200/night nowadays. Since you%26#39;re traveling with elderly people, things like sharing a bathroom or staying in a place without an elevator--features of many low-budget hotels--are not an option for you. Neither is Priceline, which can only guarantee one bed.

You really do have to increase your budget. Or perhaps consider staying in New Jersey or Queens, though, again, with elderly parents, the extra traveling time could be a problem.

Need Hotel location ideas

Unfortunately Devan is right. $150 doesn%26#39;t buy much in the way of a hotel these days in Manhattan BUT there may be some specials for Labor Day weekend for close to that amount. The problem may be if you want to be 3 to a room. Many of the rooms in NYC are small and you may not get a 2 bedded room on a special. Look on travelzoo.com though. There%26#39;s currently a special for $159 (plus tax) at the Mansfield which is a very nice hotel in a good location. It%26#39;s here

hotels.travelzoo.com/new-york-hotels/243763

I%26#39;ll also warn, the places you list (all typical tourist places) are all over Manhattan. BUT you can take them on a bus tour that will cover them. The hop on/off Grayline tour is most popular, but not good if they have trouble climbing stairs. Best views are upstairs in a double decker bus. I think the best idea would be to take either the ny party shuttle tour

nypartyshuttle.com

or the Marvelous Manhattan

kingofnyc.com

Look on quikbook.com for other hotel ideas if the travelzoo one doesn%26#39;t work. If you are 3 in a room, one of the suite hotels with apt. style rooms would be great. Radio City apartments is very popular but gets booked quickly. (radiocityapartments.com)

the Salisbury hotel is another (nycsalisbury.com)

Please read reviews here of any hotel you%26#39;re considering before booking. There are some really bad ones with great looking prices.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your ideas. So finally I have decided to stay with family in Jersey. So I guess I am saving money at the expense of more travel time.

I am planning 2 full days for New York. Can you make any recommendations regarding guided tours?

Edison Hotel

Either one of the two nywhiz gave you -- the NY Party Shuttle or a Marvelous Manhattan tours -- would be excellent for you %26amp; your parents. Not only do they get rave reviews here, but they use mini-buses, so it%26#39;s a more ';intimate';, pleasant experience all the way around.

With aged parents, you are better off skipping the ESB (unless there is NO line at all) and going to the observation deck at Top of the Rock.

How are you planning on getting to and from NJ? PATH train? NJ Transit train? Bus?

Actually, I willbe in Princeton NJ. Since I have never been that side... would welcome any commuting ideas....

New Jersey transit to Penn Station NEW YORK. (Be careful there is a Penn Station Newark first) New Jersey Transit web site will give you times and costs.

I think you should SERIOUSLY consider 1 night in a hotel in Manhattan. Princeton is really not a close commute. I think it%26#39;s actually closer to Philadelphia than NYC. If you%26#39;re planning 2 days in Manhattan, stay in NYC that night. Send them to a Broadway show. (YOU may not be much of a show person, but maybe they would like it).

Another option is staying in a hotel outside Manhattan but closer than Princeton. There%26#39;s a Hyatt Regency in Jersey City that%26#39;s very good and just a PATH train (like a subway) or ferry ride away. OR, there%26#39;s a hotel in Queens (near JFK and LGA) called the Pan American that%26#39;s around $139/night. Nothing fancy but clean and decent. There%26#39;s subway and bus service to Manhattan from there (the bus evidently leaves from right in front of the hotel). And they have free shuttle service from JFK and LGA.

panamhotel.com

If you don%26#39;t do that, you should also consider how you%26#39;ll get from whatever airport you use to Princeton.

I live in Princeton. It%26#39;s about halfway between NYC %26amp; Philadelphia. I know there are shuttle services between Princeton and Philadelphia, Newark and JFK airports (though the latter is quite a long ride -- the bus stops at Newark on the way, and you might even have to change buses). The train is also an option from Newark Airport to Princeton Junction, but I don%26#39;t recommend it if you%26#39;re bringing lots of luggage.

The trip from Princeton Junction to NYC by NJ Transit train can take as little as 55 minutes or as much as 1 hour, 15 minutes, depending on time of day and number of stops. Add some extra time if you%26#39;re starting at the Princeton station (a shuttle train connects the Princeton %26amp; Princeton Junction stations). Amtrak also serves Princeton Junction, but the cost is much higher and service is much less frequent.

I agree with those who suggest trying to stay in or at least closer to Manhattan if possible. I like living here, and I love being able to take the train to NYC, but you%26#39;ll spend a big part of your day making the trip to %26amp; from NYC if you stay out here.