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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 14:27:25 GMT
My DD (22) has the chance of spending 3 days in NY - alone, as it stands currently - in August. Her main concern at the moment is accommodation and my main concern is her safety  All the accommodation she's looked at (Manhattan area I believe) seems quite pricey (not surprisingly) so I wonder if she'd be better off travelling out a little further - is that realistic or perhaps you can suggest an alternative way of getting a bed for the nights without it costing her too much. And I would like to know what she should particularly be aware of. Are there areas she should avoid? What is the consensus on the trains/subway? All ideas gratefully received, thank you  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 14:34:42 GMT
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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 14:36:53 GMT
Thank you |
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Post by Merge on Jun 22, 2016 14:38:48 GMT
AirBnB! If you're going to pay $190/night for a Super 8 in Brooklyn, you might as well get a studio apartment in Manhattan for $200/night, which is about what we paid for the apartment we're staying in next week.
Last time we were there we felt very safe in all the touristy areas and on the subway. We stayed in Manhattan, mostly in mid-town. Personally I would discourage her from staying further out because it sucks time to have to travel in and out of the city each day, but YMMV.
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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 14:42:08 GMT
AirBnB! If you're going to pay $190/night for a Super 8 in Brooklyn, you might as well get a studio apartment in Manhattan for $200/night, which is about what we paid for the apartment we're staying in next week. Last time we were there we felt very safe in all the touristy areas and on the subway. We stayed in Manhattan, mostly in mid-town. Personally I would discourage her from staying further out because it sucks time to have to travel in and out of the city each day, but YMMV. Good call! I hadn't thought of air bnb. Will have her look into that |
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Jun 22, 2016 14:43:29 GMT
We stayed at the Row NYC this past spring. It is not fancy by any means. It was clean and safe. Nice location. Block from a subway station with an underground tunnel to the Times Square station as well.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jun 22, 2016 14:54:07 GMT
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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 14:57:36 GMT
That's more affordable for her, thank you |
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jun 22, 2016 15:00:15 GMT
gar it is a very safe very walkable part of New York. No worries for Mama or your girl.
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Post by Zee on Jun 22, 2016 15:05:43 GMT
I've only been a couple of times but I felt very safe. I think she'll be safer there than any other large city in the US.
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 22, 2016 15:06:07 GMT
On our last trip the kids & I rented an apartment through AirBnB on the Upper West Side and loved the location. We stayed on west coast time and felt very comfortable taking the subway late at night and walking around the neighborhood. Years ago I stayed at the Excelsior Hotel in the same neighborhood. I agree with Merge, I'd rather spend a little extra to stay in Manhattan than deal with the time and cost of commuting. |
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Post by cmpeter on Jun 22, 2016 15:08:28 GMT
I would read up on NYC and AirbnB on Trip Advisor first there are quite a few warnings about using them in the the city. You can also post your budget and get lots of recommendations on places to stay.
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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 15:08:52 GMT
I've only been a couple of times but I felt very safe. I think she'll be safer there than any other large city in the US. Thanks I'm not terribly worried, she's done some travelling, but not alone before and NY (and America in general) is unknown to us so far. |
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kate
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Post by kate on Jun 22, 2016 15:09:54 GMT
I would encourage her to stay in Manhattan if that's where she wants to do activities. I don't know what part of the week she'll be here, but there are often subway "service changes" on the weekends (due to construction/repairs), and she doesn't want to be stuck out somewhere where it will take an hour just to get into the city. In Manhattan, you're rarely more than a few blocks from some alternate bus/subway if the one you want is temporarily closed. During the week, public transportation is rarely disrupted. The subways and buses are really safe, unless you're way out in the boonies in the middle of the night. The middle of the night in most of Manhattan is fine - you wouldn't believe how many people are out, and it's not all crazy folks, either.  The only time I worry is when I'm all alone on the street. And honestly, that happens more often in the chichi neighborhoods (where there are only quiet residential buildings) than in my own raucous area where there are stores open and people on the street at all hours. |
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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 15:10:14 GMT
I would read up on NYC and AirbnB on Trip Advisor first there are quite a few warnings about using them in the the city. You can also post your budget and get lots of recommendations on places to stay. I assume she has been looking on TA generally but probably not for air bnb. Thanks for that. |
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joelise
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Post by joelise on Jun 22, 2016 19:09:26 GMT
gar I lived in NY for a year on Upper West Side and I felt much safer walking around Manhattan than I have ever felt walking around London. Funny story-I cycled around Central Park everyday on my own and felt totally safe. However, when my parents came for a visit and whilst we were walking through the park my dad was really on edge, he's watched too many old films, he thought everyone in the park was a mugger or from the mafia, he really didn't want to be there. By the end of their visit he loved the place and booked a flight back a month later.
With regard to the subway, I found them so much more confusing than the London Underground!
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Jun 22, 2016 19:27:47 GMT
I would read up on NYC and AirbnB on Trip Advisor first there are quite a few warnings about using them in the the city. You can also post your budget and get lots of recommendations on places to stay. This was our experience... I found lots of places I inquired about on Airbnb, VRBO, etc.... Every single time I would either not get an email back or get one back saying....that unit is not available, but this one is. If course the new one was nothing like the previous. It really worried me, so we ended up going with a hotel. About a week later I started getting tons of emails from the websites saying that properties I had sent inquiries on had been determined to be frauds. So glad I went with my gut. I am sure there are times it works out, but I am so glad we did not get taken. |
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Post by JoP on Jun 22, 2016 19:35:42 GMT
gar make sure she has her ESTA completed and authorised before she travels to the US she won't be able to enter without it. esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.htmlShe will also need to make sure her passport has a chip in it - there's a camera symbol on the front cover if she has
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pudgygroundhog
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 22, 2016 19:41:41 GMT
I would read up on NYC and AirbnB on Trip Advisor first there are quite a few warnings about using them in the the city. You can also post your budget and get lots of recommendations on places to stay. This is what I was going to post too. The NYC forum is very useful on Trip Advisor and if she posts specifics about her dates, budget, and desired locations she will get some good recommendations. Most short term rentals are technically illegal in NYC so if she goes that route, just be sure she researches the listing. If she can swing it, staying in Manhattan is preferable to cut down on travel time and also allows to return to the hotel during the day if desired. If it's too hard on the budget, one location I often see recommended for less expensive lodging is Long Island City. Contrary to what the name implies, it is not on Long Island but across the East River in Queens. It's a short commute by subway to Manhattan. For instance I just looked on hotels.com and the LIC hotel is $134 (random nights I choose in August). It's two blocks from a subway station that is one stop from Midtown. As long as she uses normal common sense, she should be fine safety wise. I've always felt safe in NYC (particularly in well populated areas). Hope she has a terrific visit! |
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Post by annabella on Jun 22, 2016 19:42:19 GMT
My friend had 6 AnB NYC cancellations in a row so she gave up on the service. I believe August is cheaper for hotels in NYC because of the heat. You should be able to find a hotel in Manhattan for $200 a night which is a steal. Research if the hotel is cheaper during the week or during the weekend, the price will be different.
There are some hostels with shared bathrooms but I've never stayed at them, read the yelp reviews on those. The city is safe. Just tell her to use common sense and not flash her iphone everywhere. I know it's a popular crime on the subway to grab one from someone who is standing by the door and run off.
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Post by gar on Jun 22, 2016 19:50:17 GMT
Thanks everyone for some great info  |
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Post by anniefb on Jun 22, 2016 20:57:35 GMT
@gar I always stay at the 414 Hotel W46th St - great location about 5 mins walk from Times Square and the subway, lots of restaurants nearby. For a central location, I've always found it pretty reasonably priced. It's more like a small inn/B & B and IMO preferable to staying in one of the hotel chains |
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Post by annabella on Jun 22, 2016 21:00:41 GMT
All the yelp reviews are really bad, saying wait for the tiny elevator is 30 min, there's a $30 "resort fee" for wifi and gym, no one opens the front door, and how the website pictures make it look better than it really was. These were reviews from this year. What was your experience? |
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Jun 22, 2016 21:48:48 GMT
My husband and I go to New York City several times a year. We always stay in Westchester. It takes us 20 minutes to get to the city and I don't find it to be at all cumbersome more time-consuming. Even in a hotel you're going to pay to park so the parking cost is really a nonissue
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Post by peabay on Jun 22, 2016 22:50:08 GMT
Try Homewood Suites. I got a very strong rate there in January (when we had 2 feet of snow) and the hotel is clean, safe and in a good neighborhood (near Macy's and MSG.) I want to say I paid 159 a night?
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jun 22, 2016 23:41:55 GMT
All the yelp reviews are really bad, saying wait for the tiny elevator is 30 min, there's a $30 "resort fee" for wifi and gym, no one opens the front door, and how the website pictures make it look better than it really was. These were reviews from this year. What was your experience? No! And I have stayed there three or four times, plus sent other people to stay there, no one has ever come back and complained. There is a wait for the elevator.. but never 30 minutes. The rooms were really nice and quite large by NYC standards. The bar area is nice. The breakfast is a bit of a joke, mealy apple and bad hotel coffee, but there is a Starbucks next door, so after a couple of tries we just went there. I am a certified hotel snob. I used to coordinate a mystery shopping program for the Cayman Islands. We trained our shoppers to be extremely picky. So I know the difference between a 3, ,4 or 5 star hotel. I have stayed in many other NYC hotels and this a hidden gem. |
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Post by jann0319 on Jun 23, 2016 0:32:22 GMT
Look into pod 51 that's where I stayed at it was great
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Jun 23, 2016 0:33:33 GMT
Try Homewood Suites. I got a very strong rate there in January (when we had 2 feet of snow) and the hotel is clean, safe and in a good neighborhood (near Macy's and MSG.) I want to say I paid 159 a night? That's a fantastic rate for mid-town. However, I'm sure the seasonal summer rates are much more than the mid-winter rates. |
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peabay
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Post by peabay on Jun 23, 2016 9:54:48 GMT
Try Homewood Suites. I got a very strong rate there in January (when we had 2 feet of snow) and the hotel is clean, safe and in a good neighborhood (near Macy's and MSG.) I want to say I paid 159 a night? That's a fantastic rate for mid-town. However, I'm sure the seasonal summer rates are much more than the mid-winter rates. Just looked for August - 183. Still quite good for NYC. |
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Jun 23, 2016 11:19:16 GMT
With regard to the subway, I found them so much more confusing than the London Underground! Having used both systems, I agree. Understanding the concept of "uptown" and "downtown" is key to transportation. In most Americans cities, the main business district is called "downtown." In Manhattan, the bottom/south section of the island is Downtown, the middle section (below Central Park) is Midtown, and the top/north section is Uptown. Midtown includes the theatre district, Times Square, and tons of hotels, so many people choose to stay there - but because they think of Midtown as the "downtown" of New York, they can get confused. With transportation, the words uptown and downtown are also used as synonyms for north and south -heading-north or heading-south. So at every subway station, you have to choose an uptown or downtown platform. If you're downtown at the tip of the island and you want to go to the Village, which is also downtown, you will get on an uptown train, even though your destination is in Downtown. Summary: Downtown, Midtown and Uptown are sections of the island; downtown and uptown are also directions of travel. (And some would argue, a state of mind.) -When in doubt, ask a fellow subway traveler. -The subways are safe and always busy. -Walking tip: the north/south blocks are short; the east/west blocks are long. So walking from 39th Street to 42nd Street takes just a few minutes, but walking from Fifth Avenue to Eighth Avenue takes longer. -I like to stay Downtown in the Village or Uptown on the Upper West Side. They're more residential than Midtown, so less touristy, but still very vibrant. If your daughter stays in Midtown (most of the recommendations you're getting), tell her to make sure she ventures out of Midtown. There's much, much more to New York City than Times Square (ugh), just like there's more to London than the Leicester/Piccadilly area. -The NYC forum on Trip Adviser is a great source of info. Use the search function before you ask. There are also several frequently-asked questions that are "stickied." -August will be hot. |
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