New York Hotel Advice Please!

[LastChanceDiner]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice and recommendations from you helpful people!

I'm currently trying to determine whether a family holiday to Washington DC and New York next autumn is within the realms of affordability. I have no budget at the moment- I'm gauging costs- but I'm not planning anything luxurious, though at the same time we want to be comfortable.

In particular, I'd like to hear any advice/ recommendations regarding hotel accommodation in New York. Can anyone advise on hotels outside Manhattan, e.g. Brooklyn/ Queens? Preferably with good, safe transport links? I'd also be interested in recommendations where there are kitchenette facilities. I have zero knowledge of New York, but would like to hear about the practicalities of staying outside Manhattan and how you determine whether the neighbourhood any hotel is in is safe. Also, if anyone wants to recommend a hotel in Manhattan which is reasonably priced for the vicinity, please go ahead!

Access to a small supermarket/ food shops/ reasonably priced restaurants or take aways would also be of interest.

For context, we would be hoping to be in New York on Halloween, so if there is a safe neighbourhood nearby where my 8 year old could Trick or Treat, it would be the icing on the cake.

I'm not sure how long we'd plan to stay in New York at this stage in the planning. Sorry if this is all a bit vague, our main focus so far has been Washington DC and I'm not familiar with New York.

Hope you can help!

We've twice stayed at the Doubletree in Jersey City - it was better for us as they did 2 room suites, and there were 5 of us. It was very quick and easy to get the PATH train over to Manhattan, and we found it cheaper to eat out in the evening near to the hotel rather than on Manhattan. There was a microwave and fridge, kettle etc, so we could do some very basic food in the room. There was also a big supermarket in easy walking distance. It felt safe walking from the hotel to the main restaurant area, as long as you stayed to main roads and well lit areas.

@budgiegirl Thanks for this recommendation. It's really useful and I'll look the Doubletree up. The detail here is really helpful!

I know you say outside but have you looked at the financial district for costings? Cheaper than midtown with the benefit of being close still.

Are you flying home after NYC?

It may be a consideration to stay somewhere with the easier travel links to your departure airport.

There isn’t really a cheap way to do NY if you eat out. Tax and tipping adds 30% to bills. I would definitely get an appartment style hotel. I certainly would not trick or treat anyone in a city I didn’t know. You are worried about safety and want to knock on doors when you have no idea who is behind them.

I would buy a guide book to NY and start reading to familiarize yourself with areas and what you might want to see. My DD has been very recently and found the Subway intimidating after around 7 pm. They got Ubers. We’ve been to Chicago and had similar issues on their train lines. We then resorted to Ubers. If you stay further out you really might need to factor in transport costs.

Look on Hotwire for deals. The “secret” hotels aren’t so secret with the amount of info they give you.

Lots of hotels have annoying resort fees as well as tax.

Totally ignorant at the moment. Tip noted - I will look at the financial district. Thanks.

Yes, we plan to fly home from New York. Any advice on considerations when choosing which airport to fly from? (Aside from cost of flight of course).

Thanks.

I was only really thinking that my daughter would be trick or treating if there were loads of other kids doing on the one street or something.

With regards to the subway, I have been a bit puzzled recently as I always had this vague understanding that the subway was a no go in New York, yet I have seen lots of more recent threads where people talk about using it. Not quite sure what to make of it. But anyway, we would certainly be expecting to be back to the hotel quite early.

Thanks!

@LastChanceDiner Subway isn't a no go, I don't know why people say that. And there will be neighbourhoods to trick or treat, I bet Dyker Heights would be awesome but it's a bit of a trek from Manhattan, good if you end up in Brooklyn.

@LastChanceDiner As DD and her female friend have just returned I do believe her. She said the subway was not where they felt safe after office workers had gone. They are both savvy young women working as barristers in London and living there. They do know what’s iffy and what isn’t. Daytime was no issue. If you stay out later for meals, just be careful and keep your wits about you.

I was there only a few months ago with my mum and that wasn't my experience at all, it was busy and we felt safe in the evening, I want to say around 10.30pm was the latest we were on it. I'm not a barrister though so maybe I just don't recognise iffy

I've recently spent a week in NY and used the subway a lot and felt perfectly safe. We stayed in Lower East side so quite an 'edgy' neighbourhood but had no issues whatsoever on the subway. With Google maps it's so easy to use the subway, and it's also cheap and fast. In fact we only got one Uber the whole time as the subway is so accessible with Google maps telling you what to do. At the weekends there were great buskers on the platforms - that was around 11 to midnight. I do live in London and commute on the tube and found the subway experience similar. I can see that young women may find it a bit intimidating but I didn't see any dodgy behaviour personally.

I stayed in Hell's Kitchen which was more of a proper living neighbourhood, lots of apartment buildings, not fancy, plus food outlets and bars with locals in. Several supermarkets in the area too. Not sure my hotel is suitable as very small rooms but that area is worth checking out

Just looked at pictures of Dyker Heights at Christmas - looks amazing!

Thanks for this tip.

@LastChanceDiner yes it's wonderful, many of them hire people to professionally decorate their houses, I'd be surprised if they didn't go all out for Halloween too!