Recommend me a hotel in Manhattan?

[tdn]

I'm maybe looking for a room in New York for a couple of nights in a few weeks. I don't really want to spend more than about $110/night, and I want something decent and clean.

Any good experiences at a place like that?

[Green Bean]

I'm maybe looking for a room in New York for a couple of nights in a few weeks. I don't really want to spend more than about $110/night, and I want something decent and clean.

Any good experiences at a place like that?Aren't we supposed to put joke threads in MPSIMS?

[tdn]

Hey, I managed it in San Francisco! It wasn't exactly the Ritz, but it was at least clean.

[Nzinga, Seated]

I'm maybe looking for a room in New York for a couple of nights in a few weeks. I don't really want to spend more than about $110/night, and I want something decent and clean.

Any good experiences at a place like that?

I know a lot of people are going to come into this thread to say it can't be done. That makes me think that my standards are way lower than others, because I think it can be done.

The Gem Hotel Chelsea is my favorite. Very nice and clean (small rooms though) right on 300 W. 22nd St. Matta fact, I have the number on my phone, here. 212-675-1911. There are others, but that one is my fave.

[Green Bean]

Okay, that was snarky of me. Sorry.

[stpauler]

There's the New York Inn (http://www.tripadvisor.com/HotelCheckRates-d93356?cpn=ExpediaHotelsUS_HotelsComUS_VenereHotelsLOWUS&Action=QC_Inline&storedUserData=inMonth%3D03%25202010%26inDay%3D28%26outMonth%3D03%25202010%26outDay%3D31%26adults%3D 1%26pid%3D1642&crReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tripadvisor.com%2FHotel_Review-g60763-d93356-Reviews-New_York_Inn-New_York_City_New_York.html&crServlet=Hotel_Review&otpwn=1) that's $112 a night, but the reviews say things like:

“Dirty Prostitute Den”

"I joked to my roomate that this place is a crackhouse, sure enough when looking to plug in tv (it wasnt working) there was paraphenalia laying underneath the bed."

And my favorite:

"hmm...how to desribe this hotel? the only good point is the excellent location, situated one minute away from times square. this can be only reason why this hotel has been allowed to stay open. we were greeted on our arival by a cleaner sitting on our bed smoking and watching tv. the door to our room did not lock properly and could easily be opened by anyone applying force. every morning our bathroom was soaked as the bathroom from the room above us leaked into ours. on one of the days of our trip my boyfriend was offered heroin while we entered the hotel!!!!!!! also we were awoken one night by sex orgy going on which probably involved the prositutes that line up outside the hotel (in front of the xxx rated porn shops located next to the hotel) if all this does not convince you to not stay here then maybe the fact that we had mice/rats in our room will help change your decision!!!!!!"


That said, why not Brooklyn or upping your price tag to at least $150 a night? (Of course, WHEN you're going is a factor too. Weekends or weekdays and what time of the year).

[Nzinga, Seated]

Okay, that was snarky of me. Sorry.

I thought your original answer was pretty funny.

But I want to make sure the OP gets a serious answer because I notice people always say that NYC is IMPOSSIBLY expensive, but I haven't found that to be true (But I have never lived there, so my opinion is not worth much to many.)

My good friend's brownstone in Harlem is great, IMO, and he pays 975 a month. Of course, the neighborhood may not be good enough for some people's tastes, but I think it is just awesome! But I hear people saying all the time, "You won't find a closet in NYC for less than 2000!" and I'm always like, huh?

[Bijou Drains]

Are there decent hotels in Brooklyn for around $100 a night? If so what are their names?

[Hello Again]

The Gem Hotel Chelsea is my favorite. Very nice and clean (small rooms though) right on 300 W. 22nd St. Matta fact, I have the number on my phone, here. 212-675-1911. There are others, but that one is my fave.
In what alternate universe did you get the GEM Chelsea** for $110? I just checked their website and rooms start at $209.

I asked in at the Inn on 23rd St (http://www.innon23rd.com/rates.html) and I vaguely recall rates went as low as $125 depending on the time of year. You would have to call them and find out about rates though, as that was a couple of years ago. That does include breakfast. The Inn itself is *very* nice and well located, but it is immediately next door to a homeless shelter.


**Important - NOT the same as the Chelsea Hotel - the place where Sid Vicious killed Nancy Spungen, and in an unrelated yet also disgusting incident, Leonard Cohen got a blow job from Janis Joplin. That's on 23rd st. and has cleaned up considerably.

[stpauler]

Are there decent hotels in Brooklyn for around $100 a night? If so what are their names?

Last year I was in NY and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express (http://www.expressbrooklyn.com/) for $105 a night. (The one on Butler).

[Nzinga, Seated]

In what alternate universe did you get the GEM Chelsea** for $110? I just checked their website and rooms start at $209.



Well, I have never checked their website, but I have waltzed right in and gotten a double for 120. Granted, that room was teeny-tiny, but, even when we get a decent room, it is usually not more than 150. Every summer, we go.


I actually find 209 to be a very good price for a hotel of that calliber. But so far, I haven't had to pay anywhere near that. Never called ahead, either.

If I am not able to get a room at the Gem, I will happily stay in one of the other burroughs. It doesn't matter which one, since I hit every burrough save Staten Island anytime I go to the city. On Broadway in the Bronx there is a motel that while very seedy, is actually kinda clean and seems safe enough. It is 80 bucks a night, and I have had to go for that in a pinch, more than once.

[BrotherCadfael]

The Salisbury Hotel, near Carnegie Hall, is operated by the Calvary Baptist Church next door. It is old, but clean and well-run. (It's not "churchy", if that would be a concern to you.) Their web site is currently offering special rates of $109 per night.

I doubt you'll find anything better in Manhattan without tripping over used needles.

[Nzinga, Seated]

Hmm. Hello Again, I just called the Gem and got a quote of 189, which makes me think that I AM in an alternate universe. I could have sworn! I'm so certain. Well, that takes some of the smug out of my sails. My best friend also remembers being all proud of our great find! We both wonder how we could have gotten it wrong??? The man said it varies, but I can't imagine it varying that much. Sorry about that, tdn. I was trying to help, and was certain I was right!

[Ann Hedonia]

I would recommend finding a hotel in Long Island City ---- the area just across the East River from Midtown Manhattan and 1 subway stop away from 59th Street and Lexington Ave.

This area was recently rezoned for hotels and they have been springing up like weeds ever since, the best part is 90% of them are in brand new buildings which greatly decreases the likelyhood of dumpiness. The Country Inn and Suites has always looked particularly nice from the outside and according to hotels.com there average rate is under $70 a night. There are a lot of other major chain hotels in brand new buildings in the area so there's a lot of choice, and most of them are in that price range ( except the Holiday Inn, which is a great modern place with big windows but it costs a little more)

You won't find much in the way of restaurants and nightlife in the immmediate area, it's still pretty industrial in some respects but you'll be in Manhattan for that stuff and all these places are near the subway so you can use mass transit.

Just run a search on any hotel site for hotels in Long Island City, NY............the area is a great find if you need a hotel

[The Shroud]

My coworker booked The Hudson Hotel on W 58th Street for $130; said it was small but nice. Honestly I haven't heard of anything decent in Manhattan much lower than that without a shared bathroom.

But then again, although I've never personally done the shared bathroom thing, it may be a good tradeoff. There's a place near me called The Amsterdam Inn (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d260396-Reviews-The_Amsterdam_Inn-New_York_City_New_York.html) that has some good reviews. I'd stay there in a heartbeat over vermin-infested places like the New York Inn.

[xash]

Try www.priceline.com and name your own price.

[Richard Parker]

Try www.priceline.com and name your own price.

That's the (only) way to do it. I regularly get 3+ star rooms in good locations for around $110.

[xash]

That's the (only) way to do it. I regularly get 3+ star rooms in good locations for around $110.My last two visits to NYC, I ended up with the Millennium Hilton and the Grand Hyatt for $150 (including taxes, my bid was around $125 and I chose 4-star deluxe) a night.

ETA: Select areas 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (just don't select 1 or 6, they're farther away from downtown Manhattan)

[JRDelirious]

Depending on the season and specific date, the properties from www.applecorehotels.com give excellent rates for perfectly good Midtown properties (example: 32d St between 5th and 6th, 24-26 March upcoming, as of tonight starting @ $120, I've stayed at that location and it's fine), but otherwise to make $110 rate I would have to go the Priceline-bid option too.

[beowulff]

We stayed at the Hampton Inn -
108 West 24th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 414-1000

When we were in NYC in September. More expensive than you specified (around $200), but perfect location and very nice and clean.

[Neptunian Slug]

Try www.priceline.com and name your own price.

Agreed. Check betterbidding.com to see what others are getting. I have always done well in NYC on Priceline.

[Tapioca Dextrin]

How about staying a little out of town? A few years ago I stayed at the Sheraton Lincoln Harbour (http://www.hotels.com/hotel/details.html?pointName&reviewOrder=date_newest_first&lon=0.0&roomno=1&departureDate=03-01-10&destinationId=1425948&rooms[0].numberOfAdults=1&tab=photos&arrivalDate=02-28-10&hotelId=127113&lat=0.0&destination=Weehawken%2C+New+Jersey%2C+United+States#photos). There's a ferry less than 100 yards from the hotel which drops right off in the meat packing district. $99 a night according to the link. The ferry is around $10 day IIRC.

[Count Blucher]

"The Milford Plaza is the Lulla-by of All-Broad-Way....!"

*d&r*

[steronz]

I've been to NYC once, and after looking at hotel prices and picking my jaw up off the floor, we stayed in Staten Island:

http://www.nyharborhouse.com/

Now, say what you will about Staten Island, and I'll probably say worse. But the B&B was clean and well run, although they served Tang instead of juice. They're 2.5 miles from the Staten Island Ferry station, which is a half hour trip to lower Manhattan that runs constantly. We drove there and paid a couple bucks for parking at the ferry station, and I think one day we took a bus and decided not to do that again. The owners helped us figure out how to get around. I think we even walked it one day.

The sucky thing is that you have to wake up an hour early to account for travel time, but the nice thing is that as soon as you step off the Ferry you're right downtown.

[tdn]

As far as when I'll be going, it will be the 12th and 13th of March. That's a Friday and Saturday.

[Green Bean]

"The Milford Plaza is the Lulla-by of All-Broad-Way....!"

*d&r*
Damn you! Damn you straight to heck!

[Omar Little]

Try the Club Quarters Midtown. It's right next to Rockefeller Center. You can get rooms there for around $150 a night. The rooms are small and clean, but you basically get a bed and bathroom with shower, no tub. But it's safe and in a good part of town.

[pbbth]

Try the Americana Inn on 38th and 6th. I stayed there several times before I moved here and it runs at about $90-$100 per night (or at least it did at that time) and it was clean and comfy. You have communal bathrooms but there are about 5 or 6 per floor and I never once had to wait in line to shower or pee.

[black rabbit]

My last time there, I landed a deal at the Shoreham (http://www.shorehamhotel.com/) for $130/night over a weekend. It was on a last minute package deal from Travelocity, booked a week in advance.

[JRDelirious]

As far as when I'll be going, it will be the 12th and 13th of March. That's a Friday and Saturday.

applecorehotels gives me quotes starting at $120 pre-tax for those dates


And people, please, the recently-shutdown Milford Plaza was the Lulla-buy of Broadway, let's get it straight.

[abbeytxs]

I haven't been back to NYC for about five years, but the last time I was there we stayed at The Time Hotel www.thetimeny.com. It was an ok hotel. Probably was really nice when it was first built. It was a little shopworn, but essentially clean. Rooms were starting at $134 for the nights you were looking at.

[Sitnam]

Union Square Inn (http://www.unionsquareinn.com/); cannot say enough good things about the place. It's smack in the middle of downtown, it's cheap, clean and the employees are incredibly friendly.

I think my wife and I stayed there 6 months ago for $60 or so.

[Jackmannii]

"hmm...how to desribe this hotel? the only good point is the excellent location, situated one minute away from times square.-Hmm...my high school was located across from a Manhattan hotel, only a minute from Times Square (faster if you were sprinting, which was occasionally necessary).

It was called the Luxor Baths Hotel (on W. 46th St.) and may still be open (last I heard, someone was trying to convert it into a deluxe massage and prostitution establishment).

It's on this list (http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/34/8/913.pdf) of New York hotels. The room rates for all these places seem very reasonable.

[joebuck20]

Well, there's always the Carter Hotel, which has a somewhat seedy reputation. I stayed there a few years ago and paid about 100 bucks including taxes and fees. The location can't be beat - right in the middle of Times Square. But the bathroom in my room had no door (just as well since I was traveling alone), and the place reeked of mildew. But what can I say. I was 25 years old and not picky about accommodations. Still better than the hostel near Central Park I had stayed at before with the guy across the hall banging on the door all night after his roommates had locked him out.

[ShadowFacts]

My wife and I stayed at The Pod Hotel (http://www.thepodhotel.com) last summer. Clean, nice location, good service, great rates. Rooms are definitely small :cool: I would stay there again on my next trip.

[sparky!]

Back in November I stayed in a Holiday Inn on 26th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues. It was myself and a friend, so 2 beds and it was 2 nights. It came to about $125 a night each (total bill was ~$500).

It was clean, though small.

[tdn]

Union Square Inn (http://www.unionsquareinn.com/); cannot say enough good things about the place. It's smack in the middle of downtown, it's cheap, clean and the employees are incredibly friendly.

I think my wife and I stayed there 6 months ago for $60 or so.

That looked like it was going to be my choice, not only because of your recommendation, but because of the name. The last time I made a trip like this, I stayed in Union Square. Just in a completely different city!

But it's WAY more than $60. It was more like $278 for 2 nights. I might just have to suck it up and pay that.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

Well, there's always the Carter Hotel, which has a somewhat seedy reputation. I stayed there a few years ago and paid about 100 bucks including taxes and fees. The location can't be beat - right in the middle of Times Square. But the bathroom in my room had no door (just as well since I was traveling alone), and the place reeked of mildew. But what can I say. I was 25 years old and not picky about accommodations. Still better than the hostel near Central Park I had stayed at before with the guy across the hall banging on the door all night after his roommates had locked him out.

No, no, no. Whatever you do, do not stay at the Carter. Everyone I know who has stayed there has uniformly said how terrible it was. It's infamous for bedbugs, prostitution, crime & general uncleanliness. There are hundreds of pictures from many people at one of those hotel review websites that are really nasty looking.

Ah, here it is: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93421-Reviews-Hotel_Carter-New_York_City_New_York.html

A friend of mine usually stays at the Portland Square Hotel on W. 47th St. The cheaper rooms have a shared bathroom, but for a few dollars more you can get a room with it's own bathroom. She says the prices are usually between $100-$150 per night.

[Maeglin]

Huh. I will probably be traveling then. I'll rent you my apartment for $100 per night, but you have to feed my cats. :)

[Jackknifed Juggernaut]

I highly recommend the Hotel 41, which is about 100 yards from Times Square, right on 41st St. b'twn 7th and 8th. It's a nice hotel. I would recommend calling them and asking for the manager Steve. Just tell him that a friend recommended the hotel and that you'd like to know if he can give you a good deal. The other benefit is that the happy hour bar specials are great and it's the after-work watering hole for Ernst & Young, Reuters and The New York Times. You might even see me there. If so, first drink's on me. But only until 7PM, when happy hour ends. :D Just kidding. Any time.

Edit: You should be able to get the nightly price down to $110 if you play it right. I would love to help you, but Steve and I aren't on the best of terms now. However, I know that he gives out deals like this.

[Jackmannii]

No, no, no. Whatever you do, do not stay at the Carter. Everyone I know who has stayed there has uniformly said how terrible it was. It's infamous for bedbugs, prostitution, crime & general uncleanliness.A typical review on tripadvisor says "Schmutzig, ungepflegt, aber günstig und zentral” (along the lines of "Dirty, unkempt but cheap and centrally located).

[LurkerInNJ]

Use the Riverside Hotel at W 80th and Riverside Dr.

My good friend's brownstone in Harlem is great, IMO, and he pays 975 a month. Of course, the neighborhood may not be good enough for some people's tastes, but I think it is just awesome! But I hear people saying all the time, "You won't find a closet in NYC for less than 2000!" and I'm always like, huh?

Your friends experience is not the norm.

99.99% of the people who have a good deal on an apartment are a holdover from the good old rent control days, or are a long term resident of a rent stabilized apartment. The other .01% are people who happened to luck into a good deal for one reason or another.

There was an article a while back in the New Yorker (I think) that took a sample building, interviewed all the tenants and listed their rents and rental situation (length of time in apartment, rent at beginning of tenancy, controlled, deregulated, etc) along with the registration records for the building. The rent variance for identical apartments was quite a bit (as in thousands per month).

[pbbth]

Huh. I will probably be traveling then. I'll rent you my apartment for $100 per night, but you have to feed my cats. :)

Wait, if that is the way we are doing it I will let you stay on my pull out couch for the low, low price of $75 per night. I will even throw in a free off broadway show. ;)

[tdn]

I'm secretly hoping to get you guys down to $1, and you'll throw in a massage.

[Nzinga, Seated]

Use the Riverside Hotel at W 80th and Riverside Dr.



Your friends experience is not the norm.

99.99% of the people who have a good deal on an apartment are a holdover from the good old rent control days, or are a long term resident of a rent stabilized apartment. The other .01% are people who happened to luck into a good deal for one reason or another.

There was an article a while back in the New Yorker (I think) that took a sample building, interviewed all the tenants and listed their rents and rental situation (length of time in apartment, rent at beginning of tenancy, controlled, deregulated, etc) along with the registration records for the building. The rent variance for identical apartments was quite a bit (as in thousands per month).

You know, I have always been in love with NYC. I go there all the time, and I never really feel the financial weight that people talk about in the city (except for parking at the nightclubs. Nightclub fee is the same as upstate, but upstate, parking is free or five bucks; NYC parking is 30 bucks).

Everyone that I personally know there seem to be able to get by just fine. But on this board, I often hear people saying it is impossible to live comfortably there. You know what I am beginning to think? I think I just WANT to believe NYC isn't as expensive as it seems, because that feeds my fantasy of dropping everything and moving there one day. As a visitor, one is much more likely to come across some lucky deals that could mislead one into thinking things aren't as pricey as they seem, I guess.

[LurkerInNJ]

Everyone that I personally know there seem to be able to get by just fine. But on this board, I often hear people saying it is impossible to live comfortably there. You know what I am beginning to think? I think I just WANT to believe NYC isn't as expensive as it seems, because that feeds my fantasy of dropping everything and moving there one day. As a visitor, one is much more likely to come across some lucky deals that could mislead one into thinking things aren't as pricey as they seem, I guess.


I get by here just fine too, and I don't make 200k a year. It can be done. Locals take advantage of everything they can get, like HPD housing lotteries, the dept. of parks and recreation, etc. You would be amazed at what this city gives away. I'm not going to pay to sweat it out in a class somewhere when I can get free waterfront yoga with a city instructor.

People here don't brag about how much they paid (unless they are on a reality show), they brag about what a deal they got. Native NYC'ers are into deals. You know how much I pay to see Broadway shows? $3.00. I'm on a list to do what is called "dress the house". Show up extra early, look good, laugh, cry, make nice with the tourists seated next to me, and applaud in all the right places. I see everything. Concerts too. I'm not afraid or embarrased to negotiate almost anything. I split cabs with strangers all the time. I go to Jack's 99 cent store (the best in the city) once a week. I buy all my jewelry wholesale.

[Hello Again]

99.99% of the people who have a good deal on an apartment are a holdover from the good old rent control days, or are a long term resident of a rent stabilized apartment. The other .01% are people who happened to luck into a good deal for one reason or another.
99% of the people who say things like this think "New York City" means the same thing as "Manhattan." There are plenty of nice places to live at reasonable cost in the Boroughs.

[put down the sabre]

www.hotwire.com gives you a bit more control than priceline, though for a few dollars more. You can see what amenities your hotel has etc.

I have used it in Dublin, San Francisco and Rome and been very happy with it.

pdts

[Serenata67]

When I was there about a month ago for my honeymoon, my husband and I stayed at the Park Central Hotel. It's on the corner of 56th and 7th. It's only a few blocks south of Central Park, within a short walk of Times Square and surrounded by decent eateries. Carnegie Deli is amazing and it's just across 55th St from it. Go there for bagels and lox for breakfast. It was, quite possibly, the best meal I had when we were there. We got it for about $100 per night, which isn't bad for its location.

[LurkerInNJ]

99% of the people who say things like this think "New York City" means the same thing as "Manhattan."

That is what it commonly refers to, so yes. When someone is in Queens and says they are "going into the city", they mean Manhattan. If they are going to Brooklyn, they say "I'm going to Brooklyn". Same with all the other outer boros.


There are plenty of nice places to live at reasonable cost in the Boroughs.

Yeah, but it's not the city.

[Hello Again]

Yes but Nzinga said
people always say that NYC is IMPOSSIBLY expensive
I think I just WANT to believe NYC isn't as expensive as it seems.
NYC = New York City = All Five Boroughs.

[pbbth]

Everyone that I personally know there seem to be able to get by just fine. But on this board, I often hear people saying it is impossible to live comfortably there. You know what I am beginning to think? I think I just WANT to believe NYC isn't as expensive as it seems, because that feeds my fantasy of dropping everything and moving there one day. As a visitor, one is much more likely to come across some lucky deals that could mislead one into thinking things aren't as pricey as they seem, I guess.

I live in Manhattan and I get along just fine. :) Lots of people like to talk about how expensive it is here but in my experience the higher cost of rent is more than offset by the lower cost of transportation and higher wages that generally come with living in the city.

[Nzinga, Seated]

Yes but Nzinga said

.
NYC = New York City = All Five Boroughs.

Yeah, I realize that.

But when I say I want to move to NYC, I always mean Manhattan/Harlem!

I love Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens (not Staten Island, though. Don't like it. Feels like upstate to me) and I go there a lot. But I always mean Manhattan/Harlem when I say NYC.

ETA: pbbth, everyone I know that lives there says the same thing. That does keep me dreaming of one day explaining to my mom that she is going to have to accept it...I'm out of this podunk town!

[Hello Again]

Yeah, I realize that.

But when I say I want to move to NYC, I always mean Manhattan/Harlem!

I love Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens (not Staten Island, though. Don't like it. Feels like upstate to me) and I go there a lot. But I always mean Manhattan/Harlem when I say NYC.

Well, damn, then I take it all back.

[Sitnam]

That looked like it was going to be my choice, not only because of your recommendation, but because of the name. The last time I made a trip like this, I stayed in Union Square. Just in a completely different city!

But it's WAY more than $60. It was more like $278 for 2 nights. I might just have to suck it up and pay that.
Yeah, I asked my wife and she remembers $120. Sorry.

[tdn]

I might just take the train there on Saturday morning and back on Saturday night instead of staying over, but that would make for a long day.

My biggest concern was getting from Penn Station to where I have to be, and how I would navigate the subway, or how much a cab would cost. So I looked it up on Google Maps. Directions from Penn Station: Walk 0.1 miles south on 7th Ave.

Doesn't get much easier than that.

[cmosdes]

That is what it commonly refers to, so yes. When someone is in Queens and says they are "going into the city", they mean Manhattan. If they are going to Brooklyn, they say "I'm going to Brooklyn". Same with all the other outer boros. A bit of a hijack.. I grew up just north of NYC, so I was familiar with the area. My Dad grew up in Queens and on occasion he'd be talking about when he was growing up when he would "go out to the Island" or "go to Long Island" or how there wasn't any mass transit "between the city and the Island". Growing up I always figured that meant Queens wasn't on Long Island so I was stunned to learn it is. He basically considered Queens to be part of the city and you weren't on Long Island until you left Queens (other then going to Brooklyn, of course).

[Voyager]

I might just take the train there on Saturday morning and back on Saturday night instead of staying over, but that would make for a long day.

My biggest concern was getting from Penn Station to where I have to be, and how I would navigate the subway, or how much a cab would cost. So I looked it up on Google Maps. Directions from Penn Station: Walk 0.1 miles south on 7th Ave.

Doesn't get much easier than that.

Where are you coming from? I used to go from Trenton to Baltimore and DC and back in one day. Trains are so much more relaxing than flying or driving that I never was very exhausted from doing it. You'd also have the benefit of not having to shlep baggage around.

I don't know how well you know New York, but people are being a bit loose about the definition of downtown. Union Square hasn't been downtown for 100 years or so. Everything in lower Manhattan is fairly close, but there are neighborhoods.

The last time I stayed, which was about 5 years ago, we were in the Holiday Inn on 57th Street, and it was only $150 a night. The reviews were mixed, but the room we got was just redone and was great, and the location was perfect.
We got a good deal on some travel site or other, not priceline.

[Voyager]

A bit of a hijack.. I grew up just north of NYC, so I was familiar with the area. My Dad grew up in Queens and on occasion he'd be talking about when he was growing up when he would "go out to the Island" or "go to Long Island" or how there wasn't any mass transit "between the city and the Island". Growing up I always figured that meant Queens wasn't on Long Island so I was stunned to learn it is. He basically considered Queens to be part of the city and you weren't on Long Island until you left Queens (other then going to Brooklyn, of course).

I grew up in Queens, and the Island started at the Nassau County border, and the City was Manhattan. Queens was Queens, or more specifically, your part of Queens as appeared in your address. My address said Bayside, NY. not NY, NY or Queens, NY. There was a recent GQ thread on this.

[tdn]

I'm coming from Boston. The thing is, the event I'm going to runs from 11:30 to 6:00 or later. The only trains or buses that accomodate that leave at something like 5:30am and come back at midnight. That's a hugely long day and doesn't leave me much time to eat.

[Zhen'ka]

The Murray Hill Comfort Inn is in your range. At least it was when we stayed there in December.

Stayed there twice, small rooms...but clean, they have a good restaurant downstairs and a good continental breakfast.
Also, close to the subway.

42 W. 35th Street
212-564-3139

[Hari Seldon]

Last year I was in NY and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express (http://www.expressbrooklyn.com/) for $105 a night. (The one on Butler).

You won't find their rates online (at least I couldn't) but when I tried to book there for three weeks in August last summer, they gave me a rate well over $200 for the first two weeks and over $300 for the third. As far as I could tell, these rates were non-negotiable. Finally, I was able to sublet a nice apartment for about $1700 for the three weeks.

[Hari Seldon]

Try www.priceline.com and name your own price.

Sorry, but I would book almost anything else on priceline, but not a hotel. You put up your money and should the hotel turn out to be a flophouse, there is no recourse.