where to stay in NYC (student budget)

[eatyourveg]

Have agreed to pay for a flight to NYC for ds1 upcoming 18th. He wants to spend 3-5 days there either in a hostel or cheap hotel somewhere in Manhattan. We've never gone anywhere further than Normandy so know nothing about which areas are no - go zones and which are back packer friendly - can anyone recommend where to look for accommodation and where to avoid?

google hotel st james.
Have stayed here and was great.
what kind of time of year are you thinking of going?

Manhattan is expensive - for cheap hostels look somewhere on the subway into Brooklyn.
Though if he's with someone, then the Harlem Flophouse is fantastic, may be affordable, and very handy for the express subway at 125th St.

We used this hostel and it was really cheap, very basic rooms but a great location. I seem to recall a fire or police station in the same street so there were sirens occasionally, but it didn't worry us too much.

st james would be way over budget though looks nice - not sure about dates might be half term in Oct if he gets his act together. If there are no january A2 units it might be xmas or else feb half term or next summer but he won't want to wait till then.

Will show him these replies - thanks everyone