New York Hotel Prices

[+ Lucky]

With the decline of the dollar, foreign tourists are flooding New York City for what is to them a cheap vacation, and cheap shopping to go with it. But, for us poor guys, hotel prices have gotten ridiculously high. In another thread, a New York escort is offering his extra room for rent to visiting escorts who don't want to pay the high hotel prices.

 

Well, I don't want to pay them either! For my November visit, I have learned to avoid the weekend when they hold the Marathon, but now, even the next week is expensive.

 

The Westin is $599 plus lots of taxes per night. The Embassy Suites downtown list at $439. The Hilton is $414, but, get this, the Hilton Garden Inn is $429.

 

The tacky Milford Plaza can be had for $235 if you can stomach it. The tiny rooms at the Paramount are $399, The even tinier ones at the Hudson are $489.

 

So, I went on craigslist with two different ads. One woman offered me a substandard studio. In one email, she asked $275 an night. At my other address, she wanted $300, for the same room.

 

One aspiring actress offered a good price for her one bedroom near Times Square, and when I bit, she let on that, well, she would be there too. I've had 3 other offers, all in neighborhoods far from where I want to be.

 

Maybe Rick and Derek will be out of town that week and I can stay at their place... for free, right Rick?

[ted]

You're absolutely correct.

I've been using the Millenium Hilton, but its still at $369 for that weekend. Its surprisingly convenient considering where it is, as the E subway stops practically at the front door. With regular E service you are litterally about 15min from 42nd st. Caveat-the reason its relatively cheap is the construction noice from the WTC site, but it really hasn't bothered me at night.

A lot less convenient, but also a lot cheaper is anything in NJ. The Newark Hilton is 149-right across from Newark Penn St- and the Newark Airport Hilton is 119. You can be in Penn Station in probably about a half hour from Newark, maybe 15min longer from the airport depending on how often the shuttle bus to the airport runs. Anything in NJ with convenient access to PATH or NJTransit will give you the same options. But it sure is nice to be able to run back to the room between shows and I'm not sure how visitors would react to crossing the Hudson if thats a consideration.

[+ Lucky]

I've bid up to $275 on Priceline without success, for 3* room.

[tealady]

I would recommend the skyline hotel on west 49th street, and if you are lucky, you will see the tealady walking on west 49th street. T lives in the neighborhood, and the location is just fine, and close to all the gay bars in hells kitchen...

 

T

 

http://www.skylinehotelny.com/

[+ Lucky]

The Skyline is soldout for the dates I will be in New York, but I may see the tealady after all as I think I have found an apartment a couple of blocks away. Waiting to hear back...

[dcguy20]

In the past I've had great luck with Priceline, but I noticed that their average price point has definitely increased two-fold since I last visited NYC (April of this year). I have two trips plans for next month, so I'm hoping it works out. I was accustomed to visiting at least once a month, but it would be a shame if this whole economy thing prevents me from making frequent trips in the near future.

[Guest verymarried]

Be extra cautious about apartment rentals in NYC. Tripadvisor.com forums are full of scam descriptions where deposits have been sent in upfront and there is no apartment upon arrival of the visitor. Though I know several people who have had great luck with apartments, others apparently have been scammed. One problem is that many of these rentals violate leases and some people who are sleeping with friends and subletting their apartment to visitors a few nights a month, have been caught and evicted. So visitors arrive from Italy or somewhere, having put down deposits, and the person they sent the money to doesn't even live there anymore.

[+ Lucky]

In that event, I had best get Rock Hard's address!

[+ Lucky]

Well, we found a place that we like on vrbo.com. We know the building as we had friends there, so that much is good. The price is good, all things considered. Now, as long as the renter is legit and there are no probs at the building, it will be a great place to stay.

 

I'll let you know after we stay there so you can have a recommendation when you go to New York.

[+ Lucky]

One of the persons responding to my craigslist ad was a woman with an Arabic sounding name. She told me all about the apartment, and then asked "What does GWM mean?"

 

I wrote her back and told her, but she has yet to respond after several days.

[TerryP]

The prices are astounding. As a resident of eastern Canada, I live relatively close to New York City, but still have yet to spend a vacation there. (Although I did get to spend a night on a lay-over to Thailand this past winter.)

 

Even with the Canadian dollar at close to par with the US$, it is less expensive (provided I am travelling for at least 7-10 days) for me to go to a city in eastern Europe than it is for me to go to NYC! I might spend an extra $800 or so on airfare but that is easily saved on hotel rooms.

 

I think NYC is missing out on some valuable tourist dollars because of this, but then again the free market economy is what it is.