Thetownend.com

Looking to go for a week in Sept.

Any recommendations re best places to stay. I don't really want to spend loads so all reasonable suggestions welcome.

Seen one hotel by Newark Airport.  Is that to far out to travel to get to central NY on a daily basis?

Newark is about 45 mins by car, but is a very cheap option (done it once that way but it is a hassle). 

Depends on your budget for hotels, but Upper West side is pretty good usually for lower cost hotels but s still close enough to most places on the subway.  The prices vary considerably - I've stayed in places that were cheap on the deal I got but the next time they were twice as much for similar dates,

I've stayed in the New Yorker (which has gone super expensive now) and also Hotel Stanford, which was good for the price, both located next to Penn Station, recommend both if you can stretch to them!

Newark Airport is about an hour out of Manhattan. I would't advise staying there. There is plenty of choice much closer by.

What about Airbnb?

Always best to look Queens/Brooklyn, Hotels are way cheaper than Manhatten.

Anywhere towards the west side of either of those boroughs and its a very short subway trip into Manhattan.

recently stayed in Conrad hotel in the business district of lower manhatten, excellent. New York is stunning, enjoy!

Went to NY last October. Stayed in Hells Kitchen area just off Times Square at Staybridge Suites. Reasonable price, complimentary breakfast, excellent service, great location. Only issue was waiting times for the lifts. Thoroughly recommend.

Went in March and stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn a few streets off central park and times square. Great location. I wouldnt worry about getting a really nice hotel...you dont spend a lot of time in the rooms as you are out and about all the time. You can get some good deals if you stay a bit further away from Time Square as well. Its easy to travel to Manhatten from the other boroughs or New Jersey but consider that it takes time out of your day if you plan on doing a lot.

Never flown into Newark but flew to JFK both times ive been. If you check the nearest Subway station to your hotel you can get the airtrain from JFK then the Subway to Manhatten for around 8 dollars. So much cheaper than a taxi or shuttle service and just as quick (about 50 mins). September is a great time to go. Great city is NY.

Newark airport is a breeze to get in and out (from a landing and taking off point of view).  Much quieter and smaller than JFK for example which is a great example of badly designed airports.

I stayed there, take a right out of the hotel, and one or two blocks down is a diner which do breakfast that is out of this world. If i remember is had a slightly cosmic theme to it.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/new-york

if you love pizza, you MUST go here
http://www.joespizzanyc.com/index.php

I'll add to the chorus.  Don't stay in Newark, especially if it's your first trip to NY.  You would never get the same feel for the place and would probably regret it afterwards.

Staying there would be no different to an American coming to London for the first time and opting to stay in Slough or Croydon to save a few ££.

Last time we went, we got a brilliant deal for a tiny but lovely room at the usually completely inaccessible Hudson, just south-west of Central Park. A design jewel. Have a look just in case. https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/hudson/hudson-new-york

Newark it ain't.

I stayed at the Paramount Hotel not a kick in the arse off of Times Square. I can't remember how much it cost or anything but the room was tiny and the view from my window was of the next door building (which is standard in central NYC) I don't think it was too pricy from memory.

As others have said, its a great, great city.

Is it worth me doing the same ask for Turks and Caicos?

Stayed here (http://www.booking.com/hotel/us/americana-inn.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_GBIE_5226314545-RnYQj%2AqnIkYg15Re%2ASD5mgS85657670905%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap1t1%3Aneg;sid=f7d979b7bd182e6203cc5cb17ed76d2c;dcid=1;dest_id=20088325;dest_type=city;dist=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;srfid=df526897b15ff2ee4dbcefb77598f6303e4dab78X1;type=total;ucfs=1&) easter 2001. Very good access to all the sights and not a bank balance buster.

Maybe our resident accountants might be up to speed on a fine UK tax haven.

Stay in an Airbnb, but do it in Brooklyn. You'll get nothing decent if you don't want to spent hundreds for a shoebox room in a tiny apartment.

Or do what i did and stay in a hotel near times square for 3 nights, then a week in brooklyn. Eventually the masses gets to ya

Airbnb is illegal in New York isn't it (because of their subletting laws)?

Sure, you'd probably get away with it but it's probably risky enough for me to book a hotel instead.

Nor was a 4 bedroom detached house in Esher then...

Bumpity Bump Bump

Looking to go in August next year with wifey & 2 teenage boys. Flights sorted, just need somewhere to stay now

Any new recommendations ? Hotels in Manhattan seem really expensive, so its probably a choice of a tiny room close to the sights or somewhere a bit nicer further out. Also, it seems that New York hotels don't do twin rooms, only double rooms or 2 x double beds. Is that right ? Or maybe its just the ones I've looked at so far

Looking to go on to Washington & maybe Niagara/lakes after NY, any more tips there ?

Cheers

On the rooms - Twin means something completely different here, it's the same as a single!

The rooms do tend to be either two x Queen or 1 x King.

Prices vary, even for the same hotels, so a cheap one from a year ago may not be a cheap one anymore.  I've stayed at a few different ones - be careful of any really cheap ones, the standard can be very hit and miss, like London.  Hilton Garden Inn are usually reasonable price wise and good locations (stayed on one on the East side around 50th St.  Once got the Roosevelt for a good price, that was nice.  Consider staying away from the midtown area but near a subway line and you'll bring the price down - Around 80th St is quite nice and a bit out of the main hub.  Nice bars along Amsterdam Avenue in that area and it's easy to get down to Times Square.

Niagara - go to the Canadian side if you can, better views.  It's quite a sight, better trip than DC in my mind.

If you go to D.C. then the Washington Plaza is worth a look.  A walk away from the sights and has a pool - useful as it will be sticky in August.  Go for a breakfast included deal and pork out at the buffet which will set you up for the day.  In nyc everything is pretty pricey.  We’re staying at the westin grand central in feb which is fine but about $260 a night in August.

went to NY in January this year, as someone else mentioned we got a 2 bedroom apartment from Airbnb in Brooklyn, as we were taking the kids I didn't want to be crammed up in an hotel room when we had enough site seeing for the day, We payed $550 for 4 nights, the apartment was superb, proper oak floors, flat screen tv's in all the rooms, we got the underground into Manhattan everyday which cost around $15 return for a family of 4, the great thing about staying in Brooklyn was you can sample the proper USA way of life plus get away from the bustle of Manhattan

Stayed at that Hilton a few years ago. Would recommend.

Is Air BnB actually legal in NY these days ? I thought it was not, or maybe that is just in Manhattan ?

Why go to Washington when Durham is just up the road ?

yes, not sure about Manhattan tho, Harlem has some great apartments aswell

I've recently stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, its by far the best place I've stayed at in New York. Worth every penny.

Robert is right about Niagara being far better from the Canadian side.  It's quite an awesome sight close up.  Worth taking the trip under the falls on the Maid of the Mist boat as long as you don't mind getting a bit damp.

Niagara is very much a one trick pony.  Get in, see the falls, get out.  The rest of the town is shite.  If you need to stay overnight then much better places outside Niagara.  If the missus likes cute chinzy little towns in the New England style then Niagara By The Lake is good.  It's a short drive from Niagara.