Monday, September 28, 2009

Dollar-Wise Travel



The Miami Herald

Going to the Big Apple can be a really big deal

September 27, 2009

New York -- When you hear the term budget travel, we know what you think: cheap hotels, C-list attraction and meal portions that wouldn't satisfy your average toddler.

But what if we said you could save hundreds of dollars on a weekend trip to New York without missing any of the things that make the city great?

The Big Apple is ripe with freebies and good, solid deals. Here are our favorites:

Where to stay in New York

From now through 2011, more than 60 new hotels are being build in New York. Recent openings include The Smyth (in Tribeca), Cooper Square (in the Bowery), Stay (midtown), The Jane and The Standard (Meatpacking District). Due to open in next few months: Hyatt Andaz Wall Street and Hyatt Andaz Fifth Avenue, and W Downtown.

Hotel rates in New York City have dropped up to 30 percent from last year, but still remain the most expensive in the nation. Rates are highest October through December, when the average topped $300 a night in 2008.

Online booking engines such as hotels.com, Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz offer a wide range of properties and rates starting in the low $100s per night.

The Broadway Hotel and Hostel on the Upper West Side has dormitory-style rooms as low as $26 per person per night. Private rooms with private baths start at $159 a night. Guests who stay three nights or more in November get 10 percent off their entire stay. 212-865-7710, www.broadwayhotelnyc.com.

And across the Hudson River, Jersey City and Hoboken got new luxury hotels this year: The Westin Jersey City Newport (201-626-2900), opened in January, and the W Hoboken Hotel (201-253-2400) opened in March. Information on both: www.starwoodhotels.com

The hotels, two miles apart, are trying to lure business travelers and tourists away from New York with larger rooms, cheaper rates, view of the Manhattan skyline and access to the city via the convenient 24-hour, $1.75 PATH train.

~~JAY CLARKE, ASSOCIATED PRESS


(Pictures of The Broadway Hotel and Hotel)



5 comments:

  1. Hi!
    My name is Natalia.
    My family and I are going to spend a week next year (exactly since 28th march-4th april 2010) in New york.
    We need 3 double rooms with bathroom and one or two rooms for 7 more people (we can shared a bath).We are 13 in total.
    Can you help me? It will be great if you can offer us a good accomodattion for our holydays.
    We are very interested in your hotel.My email adress is natalia.ramirez.salas@gmail.com for if you want to keep in contact.

    Thanks and best wishes.

    Natàlia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Natalia,

    We will be contacting you by email very shortly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are some great tips! I always do that- save on the hotel room, and get straight to teh shopping, but the bunk beds look a bit scary! I book via LastMinute travel - and get cheap hotel room every time, with king sized beds every time hehe :) I recomend :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey. budget trip can also be great and awesome wothout putting lots of money in it. try LastMinute travel. you'd be surprise to hear their deals

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is a very cool hostel --- I from a hostel en rosario Argentina

    ReplyDelete