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We are only visiting Manhattan for 3 days and two nights, but we want to get the most of our trip! We dont want to get a hotel in a "bad" neighborhood, but we are on a budget. can anyone help us with some ideas? thanks
At almost any hotel in Manhattan, you very likely won't end up in a "bad neighborhood". Just use the oft-cited "stay below 96th Street" rule and you will be fine.
However, there is a likelihood that you could end up in a "bad hotel". Small, outdated rooms, threadbare linens, old plumbing, etc. are some of the features of many of the "budget priced" places in NYC. Some names include the Hotel Pennsylvania, The Roosevelt, The Edison and the Milford Plaza. Mind you, we're not talking about disgusting fleabags here, but like many NYC apartments, these hotel rooms are smaller, older and a little more "lived in" than your typical modern hotel room.
Before I moved here, I used to stay at a reasonably priced Comfort Inn on 25th Street. It's small and nothing fancy, but I found it to be clean with a friendly and helpful staff. It just became a Comfort Inn a couple of years ago, so it was just renovated and everything is still pretty new. This hotel is on 25th St. between Broadway and 6th Avenue, so it straddles the Flatiron district and Chelsea, both areas where New Yorkers actually live, shop and eat. You are away from the maddening crowds of Times Square and Midtown. The hotel lacks amenities like an on-site restaurant, but you'll find a ton of eating and drinking establishments of every kind right in the neighborhood, and there is easy access to the subway half a block away on Broadway.
I've found, in general, that you can get the best hotel rates by calling the hotel directly, not booking online or via the 800 number. Look up the rates online and don't be afraid to haggle. Unless they expect to be full that night, you can almost usually get at least 10% off the published rate.
Thank you very much. You have helped us out alot....Good to know about the 96th rule, we were looking at one above 95th. Do you know of anything off hand that might be by Times Square and the maddening crowds? Do you have any recommendations on the hostels? Thanks again:-)
I'm a big fan of Reviews of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor for checking what other travelers are saying. I posted recently about how a friend of mine booked a "cheap" hotel - in Brooklyn, not Manhattan, at 170 a night. You could probably find the other thread but she called me wondering why there were 5 cops stationed outside and bulletproof glass inside.
She didn't read the tripadvisor reviews!! Or she might have had an inkling.
In your case, however, you most likely don't need to worry about bad neighborhoods because all of Manhattan (almost) is a playground these days.
What do you mean you were looking at one "above 95th"? What street and what side of town? The east side gets worse at lower numbers than the west side does.
I always stay at Marriott Marquis. And trust me this hotel is in times square. Actually as soon you walk out the lobby you are in times square.
Check it out... 1535 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 - Google Maps
My brother stayed at the Belvedere Hotel(319 W 48th street) in 2003 and the hotel was beautiful and I think he got some kind of discount where they paid only $99 per night
You may want to try the Hilton Garden Hotel on 790 8th Avenue. The area has improved a lot and i think it's relatively inexpensive and close to everything
Thank you very much. You have helped us out alot....Good to know about the 96th rule, we were looking at one above 95th. Do you know of anything off hand that might be by Times Square and the maddening crowds? Do you have any recommendations on the hostels? Thanks again:-)
A few weeks ago we were in Manhattan and stayed at the Hostelling International Hostel on 113th and Columbus Ave. It was great. $40 a bed per night. I am in my 40s and was unsure about the whole deal, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. Very clean, very lively place.
Yes, it is above 96th, but it was fine!! Lots of students, restuarants, bars.
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