What's your favorite place to stay in New York City?

[mahina]

Reasonable would be great but I realize that is a relative concept, looking at the hotels now...holy smoke$!

[Lawlbringer]

1. My apartment here in Brooklyn =oP

Really, though, what's your criteria? You looking to stay in Manhattan? Or would an outer borough (cheaper hotels in Brooklyn, where you can get to any place in the city by subway in less than an hour)

[mahina]

7. Honestly

I don't have the first clue.

Ask me about Kaimuki, Kapahulu, Mo'ili'ili, Ulupalakua, Keanae... Everything East of Portland is a big unknown. We went to Boston for a while once but I was a kid.

Lots to learn about, it's kind of overwhelming actually. I appreciate your taking the time to respond already.

[Lawlbringer]

11. There are quite a few inexpensive hotels in Brooklyn

that are literally just as easy to get to Manhattan as from within Manhattan itself lol

Try looking here, it's a tiny fraction of the cost and will give you a bit more of the cultural aspect. I'm happy to help answer (along with any others around here) any questions you have!

Do you know what you want to do while here? Broadway show? Go get a piercing at St Mark's? Take in a Yankee game?

[mahina]

18. Thank you!

I was thinking I'd cruise some of the museums and just nose around! No idea!

[Egalitarian Thug]

21. Sounds stupid, but if you've never been, take the Circle Line tour.

Fascinating.

[badtoworse]

26. What's stupid about that? I've done and recommend it highly

The American Museum of Natural History is also worth doing.

[Egalitarian Thug]

45. Just that lots of people are "too cool" for something like that, and it's a shame to miss out

on something that good just so you don't look like a tourist.

[mahina]

43. Putting it on the list of must dos, thank you!

[cbayer]

22. Manhattan is one of the great walkable cities of the world.

When I lived there, I use to take visitors on an all day walk.

Take the subway all the way down to Wall Street and start walking. Hit the village, china town, little italy. Just walk north until you are tired of walking north. The next day you can start where you stopped and keep walking again.

And if you can get tickets to The Book of Mormon, do it. It's the best broadway show I have ever seen.

Lots of inexpensive ethnic food. Eat dim sum in china town. Street vendors are great. Delis in the theater district are hit or miss, so do some research first.

I *heart* NY!

[Dorian Gray]

28. My favorite Dim Sum place in Chinatown

is non-traditional in that you order off a menu and they don't stroll by with carts, but the food is great. It's called Dim Sum Go Go.

(I live in Brooklyn, so I spend a lot of time in Chinatown as it's just over the Manhattan Bridge from me!)

If it's a lot cheaper than Midtown hotels, I'd look into the Marriot Hotel in Brooklyn. It's right near the Brooklyn bridge, and you can walk over it easily (one of my favorite NYC things to do!) and end up in Chinatown to get dim sum!

Also, the museums are world class. My favorite in Manhattan is MoMA and The GUggenheim (the latter depending on what the expeditions are). But the Met is a must see. And the Natural History Museum. They're all great.

Theater and a show is a fantastic suggestion, too. I liked Book of Mormon, but it's difficult to get tickets to it now. I've only seen dramas recently, so don't know what traditional musicals to suggest. But TKTS is a cheap alternative to getting tickets same day. There's a crowded kiosk in Times Square, and I'd consider going there for tix.

I have tons of suggestions for restaurants, if you can give me a price point. Expensive and cheap. (And mid priced, too!) I love my food, and there is almost no better place to eat than NYC. (Except Hong Kong!)


Sorry! I jumped in after CBayer's post and responded to her. But she had some great suggestions!

[mahina]

44. Sounds good

thanks!

[FarLeftFist]

2. You won't find an inexpensive hotel in NYC.

Trust me, I'm a NYer. You may be able to rent out a room in someones apartment though. They do that here in NYC. Also, Try Brooklyn right over the Brooklyn Bridge, 15 minutes from the city. My favorite place to stay is the quirky St.Marks Hotel, but it'll cost you.

[mahina]

14. Wow, St. Marks looks super, and it's really affordable.

Mahalo!

So that is Manhattan. I feel like such a goofball. Now I know what these guys feel like here. [IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Livluvgrow]

3. I stayed

at one called the Milburn on the upper West side and it was fairly reasonable and a great location

[mahina]

8. Thanks man,

I'll check that out now. Mahalo.

[CTyankee]

4. If you are coming from Hawaii, have you tried a flight plus hotel with expedia, orbitz or

travelocity? You might get a better deal combining the two. I'm trying to do that with a trip from JFK to Brussels for an 7 night stay. Brussels is a pretty expensive place.

[mahina]

9. Yes, and I have no idea what is what.

I probably won't be going back so I'd like this to be fun and avoid any bummers. Coming from here, NYC looks like Ton City

[CTyankee]

31. It is hard to deal with but you can do OK on them.

New York City can be a bear. I know because I moved there when I was 20 years old and fresh out of Dallas, TX, so I wasn't used to the big city!

If I were you, I'd read up on the subway system and get a basic map of where in NYC you'll be. It's not that complicated, really. The city is on a grid so even with a few anomalies you'll be OK.

New Yorkers are great but they are fast movers. If you are in a subway with them you have to move FAST. Just follow their lead, but if you don't have to (or want to) rush, wait for the next train to come thru the tunnel, and so what?

So many wonders await you! Please try to go to one museum while you are there! The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is terrific, full of modern art masterpieces, the Metropolitan Museum as well with their huge collection, and many others (I personally recommend the Frick).

I do hope this helps and all is well with your visit. Don't worry: New Yorkers are basically a good group of folks...you'll be fine. They'll feel free to tell you what to do... (they did the
same to me as a kid from TX...don't be upset).

[dogknob]

5. Indoors... hopefully

[anti-alec]

6. My in-laws house

Only caveat: Bad Internet and having to observe the Jewish Sabbath.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. If you are looking to stay in the city,

and can't find a deal through whoever you are booking your flight, try googling "manhattan boutique hotels".

Lots of small, one-off unique locations that can be found 'relatively' inexpensively. Relative being a relative term, of course.

I hope you have a great trip!

[roody]

12. Hostelling International---I can afford it.

[PufPuf23]

35. 1972, I was 19 and got an International Youth Hostel membership for $5

and bought a 3 month unlimited Greyhound pass for $169 in February 1972.

Went to baseball spring training, Mardi Gras, Key West, 6 weeks at the Manhatten YMCA, DC (best Hostel by far), Philidelphia, New England, grand old opry at Ryman, Denver, Cheyenne (where my Dad did WWII Basic), Seattle, Portland/Corvallis (where I was later to work/live in the the 80s and 90s) and places in between, mostly urban because of the hostel card and bus pass.

The Hostel pass guaranteed $2-$5 max and where there was not a hostel, YMCA accepted the Hostel pass at same terms..

Got home by thumb to northern California back for spring work in the woods.

[cbayer]

13. Try VRBO and Homeaway.

I recently rented a studio apartment for less than a regular hotel room. It was in Harlem and was great. Near major subway lines, wonderful owners, really interesting neighborhood.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p274001

[AsahinaKimi]

15. My parents house

on Long Island. Can take the train into the city if need be. Personally, I'd rather them visit me in San Francisco, as they always stay at a nice hotel like the Hotel Kabuki.
http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/kabuki/

[mahina]

20. Oh wow.

Adding that to my list for the next trip to San Francisco, mahalo sister!

[AsahinaKimi]

25. Its right next to Japantown

or rather, a part of it!


The tall building next to the peace pagoda.

[mahina]

16. My favorite hotel in Hawaii, hands down, nowhere else is even close,

is the Manago Hotel, right near Kealakekua.

http://www.managohotel.com/index.htm

Ask for the Tatami room or at least a room on the third floor. You have endless views of the ocean, though it is down the mountain. You could stay here for a week for what one of the shitty marble and chrome palaces charge for a night.

The people are real. The hotel is spotless. It's a piece of old Hawaii nei.

When my son was little and we were checking out one day, he was making a noise. The old man said to him,
"Eh, keed, knock it off. Dass annoying." Then gave him a big grin. I had to smile. He treated him like an uncle.

Oh yeah, no phone or tv in the rooms. Get one shared pay phone in the hallway.

Going!

Edited to add- NOT fancy, obviously, but perfect and wonderful.

[AsahinaKimi]

29. If I ever get to Hawaii

I will check it out, ne! Do want to go some day. The best part is no passport required, like Tahiti!

[aikoaiko]

17. I like the Essex House or Empire Hotel by Central Park.

Reasonable, not too shabby.

[cherokeeprogressive]

32. I was kind of disappointed by the Empire Hotel. The room was so small we had to stack our small

suitcases on top of each other.

On top of that, we stayed on the third floor and our window looked down into the kitchen at the Chowder House. While I watched, one of the chefs or expediters was eating from a plate that was bound for a table in the restaurant and he kept licking his fingers.

I called the desk and they offered us a free meal in the Chowder House!

[MineralMan]

34. My wife and I have stayed in the Empire several times.

It's very convenient, near subway entrances, Lincoln Center, and Columbus Circle. Also near the park. I have no idea what rooms are going for these days, though. It's been 10 years since we stayed there.

[marmar]

19. The Hotel Newton on the Upper West Side is an affordable (NY relatively speaking) .....

....... in a great neighborhood. The rooms are basic but quite clean and comfortable, and there's a subway station right next to the hotel.

[stuntcat]

23. Hotel 17

We've stayed there a couple of times and liked it. http://www.hotel17ny.com/ I have an old friend who lives in Brooklyn so if we have time for the train rides and all then we stay with her.

For a couple of years I lived on East 7th street by Tompkins Square park! good times

[MrScorpio]

24. I've always stayed in New Jersey

Better prices

[LadyHawkAZ]

27. the HI hostel on Amsterdam Ave.

If you don't mind such things. It's dirt cheap, clean and has lots of activities scheduled if you're into that.

[Nye Bevan]

30. Marriott Marquis on Times Square.

Right in the theater district, and convenient for the Olive Garden. Not cheap though.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. We stayed at the Doubletree in the heart of Times Square. Loved it.

Not too $$ on Hotwire.

If you go there, see the night bartender James and tell him Chris said Hi.

[JHB]

36. New Jersey

Seriously, consider getting a room in Jersey City or Hoboken and taking the PATH train or ferry into Manhattan.

[MattBaggins]

41. I am going with this suggestion

You can get really cheap tickets for perfectly fine hotels in Secaucus and hop on a direct bus into Grand Central. If you have your heart set on staying in the city do that but if you want cheaper hotels look in Jersey.

I would recommend the Holiday Inn Express at the Meadowland Plaza. If you check Meadowlands Plaza on any of the hotel sites you will find there are at least a dozen more than reasonable hotels located there. They will all be within walking distance of the bus stops that are direct shuttles into the city. I tend to get lost in thought and have a bad sense of time but I don't think they are much more than 20 minute rides into the city unless you really hit rush hour. Maybe someone could correct me on the times.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. San Francisco.

Seriously. Y'all can keep manhattan. No thx.

[KharmaTrain]

38. Metropole In Times Square...

It's very reasonable...1/2 block from Times Square. We've stayed there several times...very good service and very quiet considering its location.

[CK_John]

39. Stay over in NJ or Staten Island and take the bus or path subway into the city. nt

[TBF]

40. I recommend the Lucerne on the upper west side -

close to the subway and neighborhood felt safe. I loved it! I worked in Manhattan for several weeks one summer in the mid-90s. The company I was with put us in different places (some much more expensive) but that was my favorite.

[mahina]

42. Thank you, I'll look at that one,

mahalo!

[mainer]

46. My favorite: the Michelangelo Hotel

it's a bit pricey, but it's right up the street from Times Square.

http://www.michelangelohotel.com/en/home.aspx

For something less pricey in the Times square area, but always reliable, there's a Hilton Garden Inn
http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=PVI3DNROY5FKYCSGBJN222Q?ctyhocn=NYCMWGI

But it's all expensive in midtown Manhattan.