Best Place to Stay in New York

It's not $150 a night, but the Millenium off Broadway ( I think it's around 53rd)is nice and so is the Hilton ( same area,about 2-3 blocks south). I've personally stayed at the Millenium for business and a lot of the people I work with that go to NYC frequently stay at either of those hotels. We're on a budget too, so I know they're not more than $250 or so a night. Also, when I used to travel to NYC on a monthly basis with my previous company, we stayed at either the Marriot Times Square or the Marriot on 3rd Ave. Both are nice and again, since we had a business budget, they weren't more than $250 or so a night.

Broadway shows are awesome!!! You should definitely catch one while you're there. Wear comfortable shoes too, b/c if the weather is nice, it's much better & cheaper to walk everywhere than take a cab.

Have fun! You'll have a blast!!

Culinary school in Manhattan? Or upstate? That makes a HUGE difference. My hometown is where the Culinary Institue of America is, so I can recommend some places if that is the one. If it is in Manhattan, I have no clue what would be under $150. Seriously. We stayed at the W on Park Ave once and it was $600 per night and our room was the size of a closet. We knew someone who worked there and got an enormous discount. You may want to consider staying off the island, or just across the river in NJ. You can take the ferry over to the city each morning. My sis lives in Hoboken and works in Manhattan so just let me know which school you mean and I can check with her about some places.

I know you mention price but just once........the Waldorf Astoria is amazing. It will be very difficult to find something within reason closeby to the sites for $150. We got a deal at the Waldorf for $700 + taxes but it was SO worth it.

My daughter and I went to NYC when she was 10 (3 yrs ago) for a mom/daughter trip just for 2 quick nights. We stayed at the Waldorf and OMG it is SO nice and a one of those things to do just once in your life.

Since we were there for such a short time, we hit the ground running when we landed......we saw Lion King, ate at Tavern on the Green, Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, carriage ride through Central Park, and MORE..... You kindof have to go through Battery Park area when getting to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty...a lot of the vendors are a little pushy trying to sell knock-offs, etc. You need to be firm and sometimes down right rude to make them leave you alone.

We bought tickets for the double decker buses and used that as our source for transportation if we were not in walking distance. They have lots of stops, you can get off and do your tourist thing and find another stop for them easily to ride back somewhere. We did a LOT of walking so take good shoes.

If you can't swing the Waldorf, at least go see it. As for other hotels, check out the hotel websites such as hilton, marriott. I work with those 2 directly a lot when booking hubby's travel arrangements and sometimes I see deals on their sites.

Whatever you do...........ENJOY!!!!

Try the Wellington, perfect location and they have deals often but book with a discounter, expedia or orbitz can save money. I would call them and see what they can do. My daughter and I went there last summer and for $150/night but I booked months earlier. If you wait--forget about it!

A girlfriend and I go to NYC every year and stay at the Belvedere in the theater district in Manhattan. It's within walking distance to Times Square, theaters, Rockefeller Center, etc. Nothing in Manhattan will be within walking distance to the Statue of Liberty; but, there are bus tours as well as cabs that can get you there. We usually pay around $200/night. You can check their website for specials -- there is currently a special for around $150/night. I generally use Travelocity when making our reservations; but, we go in May/June.

NYC is expensive, so under $150 will be tough, particularly if you want to stay in Manhattan. I'd watch Hotwire--I just tried a random 3-night stay in April, and the best I could find in Manhattan was $152 a night (everything lower was out by one of the airports, which is NOT what you want--they are very far away from everything you want to see--about an hour train ride each way). I'd recommend looking for places in Manhattan below 116 street (where Columbia is, and the northern limit of where I was allowed to go as a teenager), or in Brooklyn near the Brooklyn or Manhattan bridges (neighborhoods like Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Carrol Gardens). These will all be at least an easy subway ride to the things you'd like to see. If you see what looks like a really great deal, be sure to check the neighborhood with someone who knows NY well, to be sure you don't accidentally end up in a tough neighborhood--even if it's an okay hotel, you'll end up taking a cab everywhere to avoid walking through the neighborhood.

Okay, this all sounds like a downer, sorry. NYC is GREAT fun! Hopefully you know to get day-of half-price tickets for Bway shows at the booth on Times Square--these days, with the economy, you can get discount tickets to almost anything. Eat at an out-of-the way mom-and-pop restaurant in Little Italy and in Chinatown--side streets are best. Walk wherever you can, just to soak in the city. Have fun!

You might want to consider trying one of those discount travel programs (i.e. Priceline, Kayak, etc.), to see if you could package air and hotel. FYI - your really don't have to stay that close. NYC is very accessible. I would recommend that you read comments about any hotel you might consider. Sometimes the ad might be a little ... well... misleading.

Have a super time! Ride the subway, stroll through Central Park, enjoy the street venders on Columbus Avenue, and have fun! You are going during a great time of the year. Also, did you know the shows at NBC are free (and the other networks as well). You could write now, and see if you could get tickets. Saturday Night Live actually performs twice - the first show is a dress rehearsal (easier to get into), and often has some material that doesn't make it to the real show - which is done later. Both shows are done live.

Enjoy!
S.