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Original poster

NYC - astonished by price of accommodation

38 replies

mummery · 13/01/2011 11:53

Hi,

I'm currently pricing up 7 - 10 days in New York for myself and DS (7). There are some really cheap flights available and it was looking quite promising until I started investigating accommodation. Even 3 star hotels with mixed reviews are typically priced around $2000 for this period of time, and this seems pretty consistent, since I've checked a lot of dates (Feb, Apr & May). I'm surprised at this as I rather expected the NY hotel market to be a bit more competitive. Obviously I want to keep costs to a minimum but then again don't want to have to sleep with cockroaches or way out of Manhattan. Am I missing a trick here or has anyone got recommendations? Thanks in advance :)

OP posts:
kfitz · 13/01/2011 12:07

You could try renting an appartment instead. When I priced midtown Manhattan appartments recently you seemed able to rent a decent looking one for around $80 per day.

Original poster
mummery · 13/01/2011 12:13

Thanks, we usually do go self-catering/apartment holidays wherever we go. However on tripadvisor there was a long article warning that many if not most of the apartment rentals in NY are scams at worst (ie you get there and they don't exist) or at best illegal (owners contravening the many state laws which restrict holiday lets).
Have you booked an apartment in Manhattan?

OP posts:
kfitz · 13/01/2011 12:28

Not yet, after pricing flights and accommodation for five we've put idea on hold for a couple of years. I had no idea there were so many scams about though. It wouldnt work for us but if you live in a nice area you could maybe do a house swap?

Earlybird · 13/01/2011 12:33

IIRC, there is a huge tax put on hotel room prices by the city of New York. Think it is something like +30%, or possibly even more.

Perhaps the politicians think that business travellers and tourists are willing to 'cough up' the extra.

I think that exorbitant tax is the reason accommodation is so high there. No idea what, if anything, can be done to avoid or minimise it.

BecauseImWorthIt · 13/01/2011 12:38

Have a look here - a suite for 10 days comes in at just over $1700

I've stayed here - it's very 'shabby chic', but a decent hotel and very well situated.

BecauseImWorthIt · 13/01/2011 12:39

Whoops!

try again

BecauseImWorthIt · 13/01/2011 12:40

Sorry - I tried to link to a specific page, with a cost on it but it's not working.

I tried 1-10 February, in a one bedroomed suite, which has the advantage of having its own kitchen, and the price given was about $1762, if I remember rightly.

Original poster
mummery · 13/01/2011 12:58

Thanks for the link, for my ideal dates it comes out as $279 p/n, then there are local taxes to add...still too high. Having a look on VRBO but how do you know which 'owners' are inventing their own reviews Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
mummery · 13/01/2011 13:04

Confused even

OP posts:
stillbobbysgirl · 13/01/2011 13:09

it might not suit you, might my cousin and her dh went with thier kids (7 and 9) last spring and stayed in the ymca midtown.

they had a room to themselves and she said it was basic but spotlessly clean and full of families

am v v jealous of you and this trip Smile

Original poster
mummery · 13/01/2011 13:15

Thanks, will have a look at that, we are fine with basic...

OP posts:
catherinemedici · 13/01/2011 13:16

I have stayed in the Washington Square Hotel (guess where it is!) and have just looked for mid Feb, a double room was £118 per night. WOuld stay there again definitely

bluespix77 · 13/01/2011 16:49

can i just second that - the Washington sq hotel is really good and you even get a little breakfast to set you up for the day!

bibbitybobbityhat · 13/01/2011 17:02

Whatever you do, be wary of bed bugs. The city is absolutely awash with them, apparently, and you could accidentally bring them home with you and then you are in terrible trouble.

minibmw2010 · 14/01/2011 11:11

Yeah I heard that too, apparently NYC is having some kind of bed bug infestation and it's having a severe knock-on to the tourist trade (not that you'd know it by the prices you've been quoted).

here

Original poster
mummery · 14/01/2011 11:29

Oh that's foul

OP posts:
angel1976 · 14/01/2011 11:58

We stayed here a few years ago and it worked out to be about US$100/night but the rooms are very, very small but DH and I fitted in there fine and it was nicely furnished. Also, there's a very 'traditional' NY diner right outside its door and there's a subway station right outside. I would imagine it's a lot more expensive now but it may be in your budget?

Hotel Newtown

muriel76 · 15/01/2011 10:21

We are staying in New York for 3 nights in April in a kind of mini apartment within a hotel and it's around £750.

In contrast to our hotel in Orlando later in the holiday which is £230 for 5 nights!

Big difference but it's the holiday of a lifetime for us so we are doing it anyway.

Grossed out now by the bed bug comments!!

Alibobster · 16/01/2011 08:53

My friend recently stayed in the Comfort Inn near Times Square. Said it was lovely and reasonable in cost too.

notcitrus · 16/01/2011 16:06

I've stayed here www.bedandbreakfast.com/new-york-manhattan-theharlemflophouse.html

and it's $125/night and lovely and clean and excellently located, with the best diner ever for breakfast a short walk away. And there's a cat.

You do have to share a bathroom with 1 other room, though, and if you're with ds then you'd want to get a futon in the room which is a few extra dollars.

HattiFattner · 16/01/2011 16:19

consider staying in new jersey, and travelling over on the ferry - great view of Statue of liberty, and taxes are different in NJ.

Original poster
mummery · 16/01/2011 18:40

Thanks for all replies, I'm still looking, think I must have looked at every single hotel in the city by now.

Definitely don't want to share a bathroom though and NJ is a bit far, don't want to have to ferry it all the time. The problem is finding space, if it were just me I wouldn't be bothered but of course DS will need a bit of room to play before bed, somewhere to keep a few snack and drinks etc; the average hotel room (and especially the average NYC hotel room) is just too small.

Appreciate all advice and pointers, cheers :)

OP posts:
theladylovescupcakes · 20/01/2011 20:15

Affinia Manhattan does a weekly rate of $219 per night for a 2 bed studio suite with kitchen. Have stayed there 3 times, rooms huge,lovely irish bar and restaurant downstairs. Very central, opposite madison square garden. V. jealous!

TheCatInTheHairnet · 20/01/2011 20:22

Have you tried Hotwire.com? We always use it when we're heading into the city for the night and often end up with 4 or 5* hotels at a fraction of the normal price.

WotzNotNot · 20/01/2011 22:16

www.ownersdirect.co.uk/usa/f955.htm Time Square Studio with Companion Apartment
Sleeps 2/4 (1 Bedroom) . Extra charges, take note: $85 cleaning fees and security deposit. It says "Book Now 5 days or more and get one night free"?

I just did a quick search on owners direct website. Looks nice though rental from April onwards @ USD$200 so at average exchange rate recently approx (1.52 to 1.57) £130.00 per night full working studio - not more than a central London travelodge.