I want to go to New York next winter, probably around the beginning to middle of December. I’ll be going on my own and I want to go for at least 2 weeks. The trouble is that NYC is notoriously expensive. A 2 week stay in the cheapest hotel on Trip Advisor would cost me about £2,000.00 (around $2,700.00). Then there’s the flights to and from London (cheapest $900.00 return, give or take), plus spending money, travel costs etc…
It’s going to cost an arm and a leg, basically, and I’m just trying to figure out how to cut costs. The one compromise I won’t make is staying in a dorm. If I get stuck with a snorer I might just kill him. Do any New Yorkers have any ideas on how I could have my holiday without breaking the bank? Cheers.
At the moment, Booking.com is showing me no fewer than seven hotels in Manhattan with prices of between $950-1,006 total for 14 nights between December 1-15. Most are in Chinatown or the Lower East Side. They would certainly be very basic.
If that’s not suitable, some chain hotels in the Bronx or Brooklyn are available for around $1,500. You could also look in New Jersey.
I’m not sure what you mean by a dorm; in the US, that generally refers to on-campus housing for a college or university and they’re probably going to have student still in residence at that time. I checked a website for booking hostels (is that what you mean?) and one place offers a single room (but with a shared bath) for $90 a night from December 1-15. Less if you’re willing to take a shared room.
You don’t say where you are going exactly or where you want to stay. As already mentioned, Airbnb is a good place to look, as is vrbo.com. The greater NYC area has excellent transportation - if the idea here is to visit Manhattan, there are plenty of places to look in the outlying areas that will cost less and it will be easy to commute in. People who live in that area do that every day, so can you.
Also, if your dates are somewhat flexible and you’re patient, keep an eye on craigslist. A lot of people who go out of town during that period will post their apartments up and they’ll generally be substantially cheaper since any amount of money is better than leaving it empty for no money. It’s a risky approach though since people largely don’t post their places until shortly before they leave.
We usually stay at the Hampton Inn Manhattan-Chelsea (24th st.).
It’s clean and in a very convenient location, and typically costs less than $250/night.
Try Booking.com, which will also show you places that aren’t traditional hotels. I’m seeing lots of options for that time period that are much cheaper and get decent reviews. Some are dormitory beds in hostels, but some hostels also have single rooms. You don’t mention how basic you’re willing to go, but it could save you an absolute ton of cash.
I don’t want to be Debbie Downer here, I love the concept of airbnb, but a lot of cities have really cracked down on it. The city wants their taxes and sometimes neighbors in an apartment building get tired of the revolving door of guests in their building. Heck, sometimes they’re just people with too much time on their hands. I’d really hate to arrive in a foreign country and find out there’s a problem with an airbnb reservation and then be in the awful position of trying to get last minute accommodations in city as expensive as New York.
Governor Cuomo evidently has not signed the law yet, and some Airbnb rentals will remain legal anyway. But unless you can verify that the rental will be legal under the new law it might be risky at this time.
Stay somewhere on the outskirts, near a subway line,and buy a subway pass. The only thing you really lose, for two weeks, is the ability to dodge in and out of your accommodations.
Oh, and waking up in Manhattan. At 3 am. To find it just as busy as it was at 4 pm.
My wife and I have stayed at various YMCA locations. The best was the one in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. We had our own room and a shared bath. I always shower before bed, so there was never anyone else showering while I was using the bathroom. We’ve also stayed at one near the UN, and years ago I would stay at the Sloan House Y which was the International Students Center and fascinating, but sadly that was taken over as student housing for some university.
Personally, as long as a place is clean and has a comfortable enough bed, I’m fine. Seriously, how much time are you going to spend in the room in NYC?
FWIW, the only Manhattan hotel room Booking.com is currently showing me below $1100 is something described as “Single Bed in Co-ed Dormitory Room” for $849.
Personally, I think that price range would be pushing one’s luck in Buffalo, let alone Manhattan, but I’m a little spoiled, and the co-ed dormitory might be a fun adventure. “Dear Penthouse Letters, I never thought it would happen to me, but…”
One suggestion is the Union Theological Seminary near Columbia. Stark housing but can’t beat the price! There are a couple of Hostels on the Upper West Side as well.
Guest Rooms at Union - Union Theological Seminary It looks like the deal only kicks in for multiple people or affiliated with the nearby campuses, but still not bad and it would be fairly private and quiet!
I don’t know how you’re searching, but I’m still seeing five (all unshared) for $1,006 or less, including a studio apartment on the Upper West Side for $968 for 14 nights.
Like I said these are mostly in Chinatown and undoubtedly cheesy, but you won’t get both quality and price. But there are dozens of places for much less than the OP mentions, and some of them don’t look half bad.
Post your exact dates and budget on the New York City forum on Trip Advisor and the hotel experts will help you. Don’t mention AirBnB though unless you want them to jump down your throat. They’re very anti airbnb there.
If you’re more comfortable with a traditional hotel, I stayed for a week at the Belnord Hotel on the Upper West Side (W87th between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway), and would heartily recommend it for a budget traveler. Cost was less than $150 per night for a double room. http://www.belnord.com/
Cons: Really, really small rooms. Few amenities–had to use my phone for a clock/alarm; no restaurant, bar, pool or fitness room.
Pros: Impeccably clean, updated (small but private) bathrooms, TV and free WIFI, pleasant and helpful staff, access to subway literally steps from the door, safe neighborhood 24/7 with many places to grab a morning coffee or casual meal, easy walk to Museum of Natural History/Central Park to the east or Riverside Park to the west.
I was attending an institute at Columbia which was a 10 minute subway ride north; Midtown/Columbus Circle/Times Square are +/- 10 minutes south on the 1, 2 or 3.
