# Where to stay close to NYC? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909 "2012-10-16T18:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/1 "2012-10-16T18:06:56Z")
I’m looking to go to NYC in about a month. My preference is to drive and stay somewhere outside of Manhattan, maybe Queens? Since I’m driving, I’d like to stay somewhere with parking and hopefully not far from a subway station. I’ve been googling around, but not having much luck. I’ll be getting two rooms for two nights, so hopefully I can find something for $200 a night or less (so about $800 total for a max). Frankly, it’s a bit frustrating, hence this post. Maybe someone will have some ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/2 "2012-10-16T18:14:25Z")
Whenever we visit, we stay in Tarrytown and take a train to the city (about forty-five minutes). ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/3 "2012-10-16T18:23:50Z")
Where are you starting from? Now that I live south of NY Jersey City is a good “home base” for NYC visits. It’s a short ride on the PATH train to NY Penn Station. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/4 "2012-10-16T18:40:16Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Whenever we visit, we stay in Tarrytown and take a train to the city (about forty-five minutes). Second this. New York has a great public [transportation](http://www.mta.info/mnr/)system north of the city proper with trains that go straight into midtown Manhattan. If you find a good deal near any one of the nearby metro north stations, it’s pretty much the same as being in the outer boroughs, but with slightly cheaper hotels, and much cheaper parking. (I live in New Rochelle and take MNR to Grand Central every workday). ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/5 "2012-10-16T19:23:17Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Whenever we visit, we stay in Tarrytown and take a train to the city (about forty-five minutes). Wow! That’s not only closer to me, but the prices seem much better. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/6 "2012-10-16T20:17:49Z")
Glad I could help, have a good trip! ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/7 "2012-10-16T20:28:15Z")
So if I stay in Tarrytown, Google says to take the train from Hudson Station to Grand Central. Would the price for that be comparable to a typical subway ride? Or is it a whole nother can of worms? [Link to Google directions](https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&fb=1&gl=us&hq=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&hnear=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&cid=0,0,8103045066553197396&ei=1799UJLIG5G50QH_poD4Aw&ved=0CLEBEPwSMAU) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/8 "2012-10-16T20:48:17Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > So if I stay in Tarrytown, Google says to take the train from Hudson Station to Grand Central. Would the price for that be comparable to a typical subway ride? Or is it a whole nother can of worms? > > [Link to Google directions](https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&fb=1&gl=us&hq=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&hnear=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&cid=0,0,8103045066553197396&ei=1799UJLIG5G50QH_poD4Aw&ved=0CLEBEPwSMAU) It’s [Metro-North commuter rail](http://www.mta.info/mnr/), and a round trip ticket is $24 peak; $18 off peak when you buy it from the machine in the station. The Metro-North rail station (shared with Amtrak) is flush against the river though, and north of the Thruway. I’m not sure what I’m looking at in that map. Gorgeous ride, by the way. Look out for West Point on your right, when they announce the town of “Garrison.” ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/9 "2012-10-16T20:51:21Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > It’s [Metro-North commuter rail](http://www.mta.info/mnr/), and a round trip ticket is $24 peak; $18 off peak when you buy it from the machine in the station. > > The Metro-North rail station (shared with Amtrak) is flush against the river though. I’m not sure what I’m looking at in that map. > > Gorgeous ride, by the way. Look out for West Point on your right, when they announce the town of “Garrison.” Yikes! That’s $24 x 4 people and 4 rides = $384! ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/10 "2012-10-16T21:00:52Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Yikes! That’s $24 x 4 people and 4 rides = $384! Children 5-11 pay $1.50 when traveling with a parent; 10-trip cards can be shared (10-trip off peak is $76.50). But if you’re four adults or older teens, you’re right, it’s not economical. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/11 "2012-10-16T21:04:12Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > Children 5-11 pay $1.50 when traveling with a parent; 10-trip cards can be shared (10-trip off peak is $76.50). But if you’re four adults or older teens, you’re right, it’s not economical. 2 adults and two teens. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/12 "2012-10-16T22:54:54Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > So if I stay in Tarrytown, Google says to take the train from Hudson Station to Grand Central. Would the price for that be comparable to a typical subway ride? Or is it a whole nother can of worms? > > [Link to Google directions](https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&fb=1&gl=us&hq=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&hnear=sheraton+tarrytown+hotel&cid=0,0,8103045066553197396&ei=1799UJLIG5G50QH_poD4Aw&ved=0CLEBEPwSMAU) I think you misread that. I believe you need to take the Hudson Line train on Metro-North, boarding at the Tarrytown station. But twelve bucks each way for four of you adds up quick. At what point is it cheaper to stay in a hotel in the city? ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/13 "2012-10-16T23:10:56Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I think you misread that. I believe you need to take the Hudson Line train on Metro-North, boarding at the Tarrytown station. But twelve bucks each way for four of you adds up quick. At what point is it cheaper to stay in a hotel in the city? I think I’ll still make out, especially since I’m driving. My plan is to park at the train station, or do a cab from the hotel to the train. Hmmm, wonder if the hotel has a shuttle? ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/14 "2012-10-17T05:32:08Z")
Stay at Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, NJ. Used to be a Marriot Suites, I do not know what it is now. You can walk out of the the hotel and onto the Ferry that takes you across the river to Manhattan. The Ferry service then has shuttle buses that will take you all over town (included in price of the Ferry ticket). Parking is plentiful and free at the hotel. Ferry runs from 6 am. to midnite. There are 3 or 4 restaurants in Lincoln Harbor and 2-3 more at the Marina up the road. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/15 "2012-10-17T05:34:51Z")
There are few hotels in my Queens neighborhood. Long Island City. Close subways and very convenient to the city. How scardey cat are you about walking a few blocks at night? It’s not a bad area. It’s just not a good looking area. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/16 "2012-10-17T17:18:29Z")
The folks on the Trip Advisor forum recommend the Long Island City hotels (the Country Inn & Suites in particular) for the budget-minded a lot. I think I’ve read that hotel has some limited parking and people say there are garages available in the area. I stayed at Hotel Vetiver once when my return flight was cancelled and the airport hotels were all booked. It was a block to the N/Q subway. It probably would have taken me 10 minutes to get to Midtown if I hadn’t been going back to LGA the next morning. It was a pretty quiet neighborhood on a weeknight but I was perfectly fine going out to find something to snack on at midnight. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/17 "2012-10-18T13:42:19Z")
Definitely the hotels around Queensborough Plaza. You can take the N or Q one stop into Manhattan at 59th and Lex. My brother used to stay there when he would come down for business, though he now sucks it up and stays with us a few stops down in Astoria. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/18 "2012-10-18T23:02:53Z")
I think staying outside of Manhattan is a dumb idea, unless you are within walking distance to a subway. Even if you can save a substantial amount for the 2 nights ($200 tops) it’s not worth the hassle. You can get reasonable rooms in the city: [http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/7-manhattan-hotel-rooms-for-150-more-or-less/](http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/7-manhattan-hotel-rooms-for-150-more-or-less/) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/19 "2012-10-19T03:00:35Z")
BTW, for those reading who may be unfamiliar, “Long Island City” mentioned by **AllShookDown** is a part of Queens (includes Queensborough Plaza). The problem with reports of good deals and rates “intown” is that the price point is wildly seasonal even by matters of one week to the next. > [@phxjcc](#): > > Stay at Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, NJ. Used to be a Marriot Suites, I do not know what it is now. You can walk out of the the hotel and onto the Ferry that takes you across the river to Manhattan. The Ferry service then has shuttle buses that will take you all over town (included in price of the Ferry ticket). Parking is plentiful and free at the hotel. Ferry runs from 6 am. to midnite. There are 3 or 4 restaurants in Lincoln Harbor and 2-3 more at the Marina up the road. Now known as the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor. Attended a meeting there last December and am attending the same meeting there this year. Also as earlier mentioned, the Newport section of Jersey City has quite a few hotels at a walking distance from the PATH station ($2.25 each way to 34th St.). ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909/20 "2012-10-19T13:49:04Z")
Check out places like Residence Inn that offer suites. If the teenagers can sleep on a sofa bed, then it will double your budget because you’ll only need one room. Honestly, if I went to NYC (or any other large city) I’d stay in town and leave the car at home, if possible. Even if you find a great rate in the city, on-site parking can cost up to $50 per night. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-to-stay-close-to-nyc/637909.md?page=2)