sugarcult2

We are planning an overnight trip to NYC in December. Usually, we take Megabus but my wife and I are bringing 2 kids now and I'd like to save some money. Thinking about driving but not very comfortable driving in the city and don't want to pay high parking fees. Wondering if there is some place outside of/close to the city where we could park overnight and take a shuttle or train into the city. Any ideas? Thanks

PaulRabe

One idea:
http://www.njtransit.com/rg/rg_servl...&selStation=83

Others may have better ideas.

TDudette

My DH and I met an ex-Manhattanite (in the Baltimore Megabus parking lot!) and she said she parked in a hospital parking lot. Unfortunately, I can't help you with a specific hospital name but maybe you can figure it out or someone here can help.

When I took the train recently, right before NYC, we stopped at a place in NJ that has been mentioned here before. Again, calling Fodorites for specifics.

How about staying at a hotel with free parking? Do they exist in NYC? NJ?

Good luck and I'm sorry not to be more help.

NeoPatrick

What days of the week and what time? I think people get too worked up about driving in the city in most cases. It really is not that bad unless you've never driven in a city before. And there are decent prices for garages (and some coupons) -- depending on where you're staying in the city. For a single night? You're likely not to save enough money to make a difference by parking outside the city and taking public transportation in. (although it's getting harder to ignore the bridge or tunnel tolls).

Otherwise where are you coming from? Parking between Trenton and Newark at Hamilton or Princeton and taking the NJ Transit train is an easy alternative.

sf7307

Where you're starting from is key to the answer (for ex., if you're coming from Western Massachusetts, parking in New Jersey wouldn't make sense, likewise, if you're coming from Virginia, parking in Stamford, CT wouldn't make sense).

NeoPatrick

Ah yes. I only knew of Megabus from DC and Philly and areas between. Didn't realize Megabus operates from other directions as well.

nytraveler

Yes, there are places outside the city where you can park your car for less than in the city (a lot for some safety) or out in the open for free( but no guarantee of safety).

But then you will have to pay 4 bus or train fares to and fro the city and I'm not sure this would be less than the $40 it would cost you to park the car in a city garage for one night.

If you are doing this for several nights it might make sense - since train or bus would cost less than $160 for 4 nights garage - but for one night I think it's just a nonsense.

nytraveler

Sorry - there are NO hotels in NYC with free parking. And staying in Jersey might give free parking but then you have to pay train or bus fare back and forth for 4 people. Do you really think that would be less than $40?

doug_stallings

While it's one thing to want to avoid driving in Manhattan and paying high parking fees, I don't think you'll save much money (if any) with your new plan. If you book tickets now, you might be able to get into the city by Megabus for the same cost as driving and parking. I'd look into that in all honesty.

But for one night, if you are willing to drive through the Lincoln Tunnel and park in the Port Authority garage (you really just detour right off the tunnel exit into the garage and hardly have to drive on city streets ... and it's just as easy to get back out), then you can park for one night for about the same price as four train tickets. You do have to pay the huge toll for the tunnel is $14 if you pay cash, but as little as $9.75 if you use EZ Pass and come in the off-hours. Parking costs $45 for 24 hours. You can certainly park at other garages cheaper, but you'd have to drive in Manhattan.

clarkgriswold

You can park at the Port Imperial Weehawken Ferry Garage which is about $15 per day. The Ferry is $9 and kids under 5 travel free.

http://www.nywaterway.com/IndoorParkingGarage.aspx

http://www.nywaterway.com/PortImperi...wkenRoute.aspx

NeoPatrick

I keep forgetting about the ferry. Good idea. And also there is a free bus service at the Manhattan side that is likely to get you to your hotel -- or close to it -- depending on where you are staying.

nytraveler

So assuming the kids are 5 or over the ferry would cost them $72 to get to and fro. So it would avoid driving in the city (but note parking info above) but the cost would be quite a bit higher.

clarkgriswold

But kids do love a boat ride.

NeoPatrick

"So assuming the kids are 5 or over the ferry would cost them $72 to get to and fro. So it would avoid driving in the city (but note parking info above) but the cost would be quite a bit higher."

Funny how people can try to make figures prove their point.
First of all, you are assuming the kids are over 12 to get that price as there is a $6 price for those 6 to 12.

But since we're "assuming", let's assume one kid is 5 and the other is 11 -- then their total fares would be $48. Deduct from that the cost of the tunnel and we're down to $34. And "assuming" their overnight means arrival say late morning and departure mid afternoon the next day -- the cost of the parking at Port Authority becomes something like $86 as opposed to less than $32 for up to two days at the ferry garage. OOOPS, nytraveler, the OP DID just save money by using the ferry. Even if the kids are both over 12, there is still some savings with the ferry, assuming they might be parking more than 24 hours. And parking is less there on weekends -- something else we don't know.

nytraveler

Don't use this ferry - so just took the numbers provided. But since we don;t know the ages of the kids - or their arrival or departure times - so we can't really calculate exactly. Just pointing out that it ay well not save them any money.

NeoPatrick

Yes, my point exactly -- we don't know -- that's a lot different than your assumptions that "the cost WOULD be quite a bit higher."

Any more questions and specifics, sugarcult2?