zonelistener said:
Two events really would not make a dent in the NY Hotel market. We are talking about one of the biggest cities in the world.
exactly...
trust me... there are events as big as a u2 concert and/or yankee playoff game going on in new york city every single day.
there are still plenty of decent hotels available for that weekend... holiday inn, comfort inn type places... for between 150 and 300 bucks, which in reality is pretty much on par for a new york hotel on a holiday weekend.
if it wasn't columbus day weekend, you'd probably see prices about 50 bucks cheeper than what they are...
trust me... the holiday weekend has a much greater effect on the pricing and availability than u2 and/or the yankees.
if people are really worried about being able to afford a hotel in new york, i would suggest either hosteling it... which can be hit or miss as far as quality goes... or get a hotel outside of the city. the new york metro area has one of the best mass transit systems in the world, and there are trains heading out to long island, southern connecticut and new jersey at all hours of the night.
not the same as staying dead smack in the middle of manhattan, but if the cost is really an issue, a hotel in, say, nassau county, long island, + train ticket cost and/or potential cab fare from the train station to the hotel would be less expensive than a hotel room smack in the heart of manhattan.
example... let's say you got a room in hicksville, long island... about a half hour ride on the LIRR from Penn Station... probably cost you around 90 bucks for the room, $13 bucks for a round trip train ticket, and maybe $5 bucks for a taxi too and from the hicksville train station to, let's say, the econo lodge. that's $113 bucks for the night. add in taxes on the hotel room and it'll probably pump it up to approx. $135 bucks.
in comparison, the howard johnson on 34th street... within sight of madison square garden... is going for $183 bucks per night. with tax, that'll pump it up to approx. $210 bucks.
so the question is is the convenience of not having to get on a train for half an hour... not being confused as to what time the train is comming, etc. etc.... being able to simply walk across the street after the show (as opposed to walking down the stairs... penn station is right below madison square garden) worth $75 dollars?
if i was from out of town? i'd probably spring for the extra $75 bucks and stay right in midtown.
but if you're really tight as far as costs go, looking at hotels on long island, connecticut, jersey or one of hte airports might be a more affordable option.
