NYC

[Guest Ruben]

Judging by the prices I see on the internet for hotels in New York City, NYC must be having a business/tourist boom that just keeps on going. $300 per night, tax included, for a 3* hotel in not unusual, regardless of the month of the year. I can afford these prices and higher ones as well, but I think I'll take my tourist business to some other place.

 

So, am I right? Is the city doing that well with business and tourists?

[Guest alanm]

I posted on this subject a few weeks ago. The hotel prices in New York

are much higher than I have ever seen them in over three decades of visiting the city. I am attending the Us Open Tennis Tournament on the weekend of September 9/10. Like you, I can afford the prices. But, since I live in Philadelphia, I have decided to just commute and sleep at home.

[ted]

You're correct-hotel business is back to before 9/11, at least as far as rates. I can remember being horrified with a rate of over $500 for a Sat night in November in 2000. I'm now looking at some places asking $700 a night, and I'm not talking the 4 Seasons or Ritz Carlton. But shop around, there still seems to some availability at more reasonable prices on some weekends

[SAdler]

I've actually noticed the same when I talk to friends out there. I hate being a burden when I visit and typically stay with my friends so I shop for a hotel ... that never ends up happening because it's just too damned obscene for me to get the location I want at a price I can justify paying.

 

Thank God for friends with apartments willed to them from their families

 

But on the subject of rates ... }( ... from my recent threeway hiring experiences there, has anyone else noticed that the going rate there seems to be increasing as well. My first trips out there people would laugh and say the going rate there was $150 - $225. Now they laugh at me and say it's $250 - $300.

 

Maybe by the time I'm there in October I won't be laughed at at all

[Cooper]

Recently, I heard a report on this topic. It appears that NYC has less available hotel room than in the past. Some hotels are now being converted into luxury apartments, ex. "The Plaza". With less available rooms, and more tourists visiting, the prices are going up. I understand you can still find a better price by using priceline.

[Guest Ruben]

alanm,

 

Commute between NYC and Philadelphia? This sounds like an interesting possibility because I was thinking of visiting Philadelphia again. I was there last September and enjoyed Independence Hall etc.

 

How long is the commute between NYC and Philadelphia, and what does it cost? Do you take the Acela train?

[JT Brooklyn]

The Tourists are Back and we Love'm...

 

Hotel's are Booming, BUT you can still find a Deal here and there!

 

 

"Visiting" Working Guy's probably not so much, there Overhead is High!

 

BUT the Local Working Guy's are doing just fine at $250 Rates..

 

Most of the Hunks in the "Major's" have had their Rate at $250 for quite awhile. So it's not just a NYC RATE! LOL :P

[Guest alanm]

Philadelphia is by far the cheapest large city in the east to live or visit. I rent a large, corner one bedroon apartment in a great center city neighborhood for $1,150 a month. Hotel prices are comparable to my rent. I discover interesting stuff just walking around the city, from the important (location of Ben Franklin's house just two day ago) to the mildly interesting (Napoleon's brother's house a few weeks ago).

 

It's 90 minutes to New York on Amtrak, ten or fifteen minutes less on the Acela or Metroliner. The Acela is great, comparable to the luxury trains in Europe, but nearly twice as expensive as the standard train.

[dfw2sfo]

I stayed at the Maritime Hotel at 9th Ave & 16th St. a few weeks ago. It was great - basic room $295 but free wireless, good location, friendly staff AND this REALLY HOT guy delivered a complimentary bottle of wine to me even though I was paying for a basic room. I thought that was a nice touch. Highly recommended.

[Guest Ruben]

alanm,

 

What is the cost of a round trip Am Trak ticket between NYC and Philadelphia?

[+ Lucky]

Cooper is right. Priceline is the way to go. Earlier this month I stayed at the Hilton for $120 a night. Yes, generally it is higher, but still better than you can get elsewhere. The weak dollar has made it possible for many Europeans to come over for short shopping trips. The Brits are big on this as well.

[+ Charlie]

Back in April I stayed at the Hayden, a perfectly decent hotel on W. 79th just behind the Museum of Natural History, for $93/night, by contacting them directly. The Amtrak and Acela trains to Philly are much more expensive than taking the slower NJ Transit commuter train to Trenton and changing to the SEPTA train to downtown Philly; last time I did it, the cost was under $30 roundtrip, while Amtrak was around $100; you can buy the ticket at the NJ Transit office in the lower level of Penn Station.

[+ Charlie]

Alan, I can't believe you plan to schlepp from Philly all the way out to Flushing Meadow on public transport every day--you'll be more exhausted than the players. Or are you planning to drive via the Verrazano?

[Cooper]

"I stayed at the Maritime Hotel at 9th Ave & 16th St. a few

weeks ago."

 

dfw2sfo: This hotel is getting a lot of publicity, how big of a hotel is it and what was the size of your room?... Also, did you get a chance to check out the hotel's club HIRO? It's becoming a very popular night club.

[edjames]

The damn city is overrun with tourists! You can't walk down the street without literally running into them. They always seems to be lost, looking at a map or gawking at something. Let's not forget the endless photo opportunities at each and every street corner. God I wish they'd go home. With the favorable foreign exchange rate, it makes NYC a good destination for them, and they do an incredible amount of shopping. They're all over Macy's and Bloomies!

 

I really don't think it's necessary to schelp from Philly to Flushing Meadow on Amtrak for the US Open every day. By the time you add you daily communtation to your hotel room price, plus tax and service charges, you'd be much better off seeking accomodation in NYC. Not to mention the four hour plus transportation time!

 

I'd check Hotels.com and other websites for specical offers in New York for some of the smaller and less expensive hotels. I heard that the newly renovated Gramercy Park Hotel, an Ian Schrager hotel, is offering a special rate but book a quiet room because I am sure the renovation will be in full swing and the construction on the residential tower will also be continuing.

 

There are a couple of gay guesthouses in Chelsea that might me a less expensive alternative. Try The Colonial House Inn, their website advertises deluxe rooms for $150 per night. It's on a beautiful residential street in Chelsea, walking distance to many bars and restaurants and convienent to public transportation to Flushing Meadow. Also, the Pines Inn on West 14th St advertises room rates from $99 to $189. If you're looking for just a comfortable place to sleep and won't be spending a lot of time in your room, these might be acceptable alternatives.

 

I am sure with a little due diligence you will find something that meets your requirements and your budget.

[+ Charlie]

I can't believe the Colonial House is actually charging $150/night for the same rooms that I used to stay in for about $30! If you stay at the Chelsea Pines, be prepared to walk up and down many flights of really long and steep stairs (no elevator).

[dfw2sfo]

The room was a good size, especially for NY. I didn't go to Hiro but did have dinner at the Italian place on the terrace - good and hopping. The hotel is maybe 14 stories tall with about 10-12 rooms per floor. It's a nice size. The restaurants were definitely hopping with a line to get in. They had to check when coming back into the hotel to ensure you were actually staying there.

[IceFireWizard]

>The damn city is overrun with tourists! ... God I wish they'd go home.

 

Keep hoping, sweety... la esperanza muere œltima ;-)

[Guest Jesse Dane]

>dfw2sfo: This hotel is getting a lot of publicity, how big of

>a hotel is it and what was the size of your room?... Also, did

>you get a chance to check out the hotel's club HIRO? It's

>becoming a very popular night club.

 

Their japanese restaurant downstairs, Matsuri, is fantastic as well!

[JT Brooklyn]

The Tourist's have MADE NYC!

 

Among of course other Groups, so they can keep coming and Spending!

 

They can however STOP moving to Brooklyn! It's getting to Dam crowded here by the Bridge! LOL :P

[Epigonos]

I don't much like the Times Square area of New York so I always stay at the Beacon Hotel on the Upper West Side. I can walk to Lincoln Center, the cross town bus is two blocks away and, the subway in only a block. The lobby is nothing but the rooms are large with two queen beds and a well stocked kitchenette. I always try to get a room overlooking Broadway. There is a Fairway market across the street where I buy items with which to stock my in room refrigerator. The rooms are immaculate and the staff very helpful. I love this hotel. Summer special rate is $210.00 a night.

 

Beacon Hotel

2130 Broadway at 75th Street

212-787-1100

http://www.beaconhotel.com

[Rick Munroe]

The Palace on Madison & 50th is definitely doing good business. Derek and I have been there so often in the past 2 weeks that the doormen must think we have a room there (if they start saying, "Good evening, Rick & Derek," then that'll be freaky). }(

[+ Hoover42]

I'll be staying at the Maritime soon.

 

However, I'm a bit worried about my choice now that I checked TripAdvisor for information on the hotel.

 

Numerous reviewers complained about the noise generated by the club downstairs; even folks who were on the tenth floor.

 

And there was one report of a giant roach on the ceiling of one guest room.

 

Hmmm.

 

...Hoover

[Guest alanm]

It's possible by train because the Mens' Final on Sunday, September 10 doesn't start until 4PM. The Billie Jean King Tennis Center is only a short trip on the LI Railroad from Penn Station. (You would be insane to try to drive both days from Philadelphia.)

 

However, the two Mens' Semi Finals and the Women's Finals on Saturday start at 1 PM and could run late into the evening.

 

After the initial sticker shock, I am prepared to pay whatever it costs to get a clean and simple room, even if that amount is close to $200.

The gay guest houses (Incentra Village) require more than a one night stay on weekends. It makes no sense to sit out in the sun all day Saturday and then do that train ride twice. Thanks everyone for the advice. I tried all the leads that were suggested, all the discounts seem to end on Labor Day Weekend.

[+ LIguy]

have you looked into hotels in queens?