tenzin

Hi,

I am planning on going to NYC in a few weeks. I've been looking for bargain prices on hotels, and was wondering what people think of the Newton Hotel. I'm looking for very cheap, but safe neighbourhood and fairly clean.

Any help would be appreciated!

Owen_ONeill

It gets decent reviews on tripadviser.com but the general commentary is to the effect that the rooms are tiny (typical in NYC but these sound even smaller than most), the neighborhood is a bit on the gritty side (not surprising as it's up around Broadway and 96th Street) and i'ts not terribly convenient to the sites most tourists go to NYC to visit. It is a short walk to a subway station but the same could be said for many other hotels that are more conveniently located in or close to midtown. Others will suggest it but let me be the first to advise trying Priceline or Hotwire. Check www.betterbidding.com for bidding tips and info on both - check www.biddingfortravel.com for info on Priceline only.

I also noticed at least one person comment on shared bathroom at the Newton. Be forewarned that if a hotel is available for much under $100 per night (prior to taxes) in NYC, chances are good that it's shared bath. ON a budget I can deal with shared bath and never had a propblem with one. Hotels offering this in NYC might include the Habitat, Murray Hill Inn and a few others. You can probably get a 2.5* on Priceline for about $75 - $90 per night if you bid carefully.

Anonymous

Recently, people bidding on Priceline for a 2.5* hotel in Midtown East have been getting the Courtyard by Mariott Midtown East for $75. A lot better than Habitat!

hipster70

Tenzin!
I recommend staying at the REd Roof Inn in Midtown..its like on 32nd street..we stayed there in May..VERY NICE..and it was only $ 89.00 for a king size bed, private bath..free breakfast...GREAT location..our room overlooked the Empire State Building..

I believe you can get on www.redroofinn.com

janie

well, I can't imagine anyone still referring to the neighborhood as "gritty" (sorry, Owen --come up and look around some time at the building across the street with the $7000/per month apts!!), but this particular hotel is not very appealing looking. I think it's one of the few that is still partly residential as well as accepting regular guest. But, virtually around the corner, is the Quality Hotel, a MUCH nicer option--looks like a "real" hotel, many tour groups coming and going. It's a resintila neighborhood, and while it's not midtowen, you can be there by subway in 10 minutes.At one point this summer they had rooms as low as $75/night. But others here are correct that if you prefer midtown,and many tourist do, you're better off with Priceline (if that option appeals and is available to you) in terms of getting a better hotel for the money

Owen_ONeill

janie - no offense intended.... until recently I was spending much of my free time in NYC but rarely ventured above 42nd St except for doctor's appointments on UES. Please note that I mentioned I was only quoting what had been posted at tripadvisor.com (certainly not the authoritative source on anything). I'm sure the neighborhood is fine and safe enough (as are most neighborhoods in Manhattan) but your observation that it's a mixed residential and hotel operation is a clue. I stayed in such a place a few years back - the Hotel 31 on East 31st near Murray Hill. It was clean enough and safe and I never had to wait to use the shared bath (actually hardly ever saw anyone else coming and going at all) but it was dark and had a weird depressing vibe. You can spiff up an SRO hotel but it's a real challenge to change the characrter without gutting and rebuilding. Priceline is definitely the way to go.

uhoh_busted

We go up frequently to visit our daughter (and really, the sofabed isn't our first choice, though we love her dearly!) and travelzoo (I think you can google that and get their site) emails me frequent bargains for NYC hotels which we have used several times. The best were the Beekman Towers for a suite @$99/night and Millenium Hilton @$125/night. Both were extraordinary experience, well located and certainly worth those prices (a fraction of the "rack" rates).