"Am I expecting the impossible? "

Yes.

Legitimate hotels in NYC (and frankly most big cites) are never less than $100 per night. There are some places close to that (but add tax and maybe food and wifi costs) as a special only for for January,the least busy time of the year. March is average busy time and midweek rates are higher since many people travel on business then.

Airport hotels are somewhat cheaper than in Manhattan but they won't be equally accessible to both and won't be convenient to Manhattan.

I'm afraid your budget is very low - even for March.

And while both JFK and LGA are in Queens - they're at opposite ends of the county. And each one is the best part of an hour from central Manhattan - where most of the sights are.

You definitely do NOT want to stay near an airport - those hotels do not have easy access to the city (more than an hour each way) and are typically next to major highways without any access to services unless yuo have a car.

You really want to stay in Manhattan.

If you can share one double bed (the standard in most NYC hotel rooms) you can bid on Priceline and might get something in your range - but don;t bid lower than 3* - since some places they list just are not where you would want to stay. If you do this - you really need to research how this works.

If you want a room with 2 beds this is typically a larger, more expensive room. You might find something if you check out the various discount websites - but the deals may not be listed for your dates yet.

Typically very inexpensive are the Jane (but I think shared baths) and the Pod Hotel has some rooms with bunk beds.

One alternative is to get a hotel in Long Island City. As long s it is near the subway you can be in Manhattan in about 15 minutes. But these are often mixed use areas (auto body shops and small warehouses among some residences and budget motels) and services can be limited. I believe Town and Country Inns is in a decent location.

Pretty much so.
There are a few options on Hotwire at under $125 (that aren't airport locations) but they are 2star hotels and only a 70% approval rating. But if you really want to go, they would be doable.

When you look at the web sites check the addresses carefully.

They sometime list hotels in Jersey as being only a couple of miles from Times Square - but they neglect to say that 2 of the miles are the Hudson River - and it can take an hour or more to travel those few miles.

Long Island City will offer the least expensive options, but even there,under $100/night will be impossible atbthat time, especially if you need 2 beds. The Country Inn &Suites, the Quality Inn, the Comfort Inn are all near the subway and include breakfast and wifi. I dont know what you'd define as child friendly.

If you asking about the best area for a kid that age I would stay on the upper west side - near Central Park, Museum of Nat'l Hist/Planetarium and tons of kid friendly restaurants (of every ethnicity and often modest prices).

However I don;t think there's a chance of getting anyplace decent (do NOT book Riverside Towers - it's a dump) for less than $200 per night.

If you can pay $200 you can stay at the Hotel Newton on the UWS. You're in between Riverside Park and Central Park, which is great for kids. There's a nice children's playground at Riverside Park, about 3 blocks away. That would be a good option - if $200 is doable for you.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/riverside-park-hippo-playground-new-york

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d112039-Reviews-Hotel_Newton-New_York_City_New_York.html

I'm sorry. I just realized I mis-read. Your child is 11 years old, not 1 year old. My apologies.
It's still a good location but forget the info about the hippo garden.

Wow, thanks for all the replies.

I didn't realise NY was so expensive compared to cities in the UK. I'll try looking in LI City.

NYC is about as expensive as London (in fact I find hotels in London more expensive than NYC for anything decent - the last time I saw a room there for $100 was about 20 years ago.)

I agree. 22 years ago I booked something in the $100 range in London and it was nasty. I can't believe we slept there. We did cancel the other nights and moved on

Try Country Inn and Suites Long Island City. That's typically the cheapest hotel there and is definitely the most convenient for subway access. A room for your dates is $119 per night (before tax, which will add about $20). Breakfast and Wi-Fi are included.

Just be aware, however, that Long Island City is not really that convenient to JFK. If you want to save money, take the Air Train ($5 per person) to the subway station in Jamaica; then hop on the E train ($2.50 for one ride, or you can buy a Metrocard for a cheaper package of rides). Then get off the E Queen's Plaza subway station.

To or from LGA on a budget, take the N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd. and then transfer to the M60 bus (follow the signs). The subway to bus transfer is free with a Metrocard.

Of course, the subway is difficult if you have a lot of luggage. A taxi to Long Island City from JFK will cost at least $60. A taxi to LGA from there, however, is less than $20.

What does everyone think to the Comfort Inn?
Hotel seems okay, but what about the area?
It seems everwhere I look people say the areas in Long Island City aren't very good.
I also looked at the Ravel, but comments are made on that area too.

So $120 is a more realistic budget figure then?

"So $120 is a more realistic budget figure then?"

Not really as the rate is 120 plus about another 30 in taxes. And that's one hotel that may or may not be available or have the rate or room type you want for the exact days

Think $150 -$175 for absolute minumum. $200 might get you something more centrally located, but still a budget hotel(and that would be a bargain price in London!)

For a good basic hotel that is clean, offers free breakfasts and convenient to the subway I like the LaQuinta in Manhattan. It's $171/night for your stay.

There are two other LQ options -
$72 in Queens/Long Island City
$103.50 in Brooklyn

Read the reviews on tripadvisor.com. The other two options are about a 15 minute subway ride into the city. I'd prefer to pay the $171 and stay in Manhattan.

There's nothing wrong with Long Isand City. It's a fairly unattractive area but safe. Lots of traffic onto the Queensborough Bridge. No restaurants, though some delis and fast food by the subway. The reason I recommend the Country Inn and Suites is because its just a block from the subway and next to an upscale apartment building. There's nothing wrong with the Comfort Inn or the area, but its a block further from the subway and by a arage if I recall. Taxes are also very easy by the Country Inn, which is across the street from a taxi garage.

Thanks for all your help, having never been before I find it all very confusing.
I'll let you know what I find or where I end up booking, I've got a few more days hunting yet.

You could try looking at Tingo.com for hotel listings. Its owned by trip advisor.

Do not stay at the airport hotels in NYC. Too much time will be spent traveling to and from the sites in Manhattan on a daily basis.

Long Island City is OK, and there quite a few newer hotels right near the subway. Cheaper than Manhattan if you cannot find a decent hotel at the price you want to pay. But as others have said if you are paying $100 a night you are in a dump. You want a safe place for yourself and your child.

Check out the Affinia hotels.. they have a 3 day sale right now for stays through march 31 .. starting at $129 a night ..in Manhattan

Hi Maxima,
Thanks for the pointer but I don't seem to be able to see the Affinia offer?

Just put in your dates and see what privy cels come up. It's possible that thus sale is already over.

Looks like these rates are already sold out. You might try emailing the affinia group - to see if they have any special deals - but for prices this outrageously low you need to jump on them immediately.

Managed to book a hotel for the last night at LaGuardia for less than $90 I think it was at the Comfort Inn. Reviews seem okay.
Two more nights to sort out.

Not what I would recommend, Do look into how you would have to get to this hotel via public transit (may be a trekand not easy in the evening).

Check out hopstop.com to find out how to get there via public transit. And make sure it has a free shuttle to LGA - or getting to the airport can be a tedious, lengthy process,

Ah, they do a free transfer to and from the airport. If we have any issues its only a few minutes in a taxi.
The trip from the centre to the airport appears to be subway then linking bus to the airport.

zak1976, it's certainly your decision, but I think it's going to prove a very annoying one for you. You're going to have to check out of your previous hotel around 11am and will not be able to check into your new hotel until 3. So you have to go all the way out to LGA, drop off luggage (or store it at your old hotel). There's really no easy and direct subway/bus service to the Comfort Inn at LGA. You can get there, but it is a log slog and a difficult one. I've actually been there, and it took me over an hour to get there from Manhattan.

It's actually not that difficult to get to LGA from Manhattan if you don't mind taking your luggage on a crowded city bus. You take the N/Q train to Astoria Blvd., walk downstairs and hop on the M60 bus that takes you to the airport in about 15 minutes. I can do that trip to or from my office in 30 to 40 minutes (my office is at 55th/Broadway) and have several times. It is considerably easier and faster to do this trip than to get to the Comfort Inn by subway and bus. It's even difficult to find the bus once you exit the train in Jackson Heights.

I hope you will reconsider, but I understand if you will not.

Oh ... and by the way, you will NOT be able to get a taxi easily from the Comfort Inn LGA to the airport. Yellow taxis simply don't visit outer borough hotels. You have to call for a car service, which is more expensive and might take 15 or 20 minutes to arrive. Just FYI.

Unfortunately the LaGuardia hotel is booked so I'm just going to have to worry about that one now.
Anyway, main choice seems to be between the Edison and Comfort Inn Long Island. Price is nearly identical at £150 for either, the Comfort Inn offers breakfast though.
The comfort Inn seems to offer the easier travel options to the airports though.

Scrub that, up to 200 now for the Edison.

NYC gets more than 50 million visitors per year - and good hotel deals are rare. the longer you wait the higher the prices will be as those who move quickly take the best deals.

I really don;t think you have time to keep dithering - but should reserve now something that can be cancelled if you find something better.

Zak ... Book something ... Anything ASAP. Prices are only going up the closer to your time of travel. You can always change later if you find something better.