We recently stayed at the Hyatt in Jersey City. Right on the waterfront, great views, and across the street from the PATH train. I think we paid 179/night. My teenager enjoyed it.

Anonymous wrote:You can look on Craigslist under vacation rental and I think you could find a 1 bedroom for $175. For example:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/vac/3722689878.html

There are lots of ads saying $60 to $100 for a 1 bedroom but they don't say for how long, not sure if they are for longer term rentals (perhaps weekly) as opposed to just a weekend.

I'd be wary of ads on Craigslist...

You can look on Craigslist under vacation rental and I think you could find a 1 bedroom for $175. For example:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/vac/3722689878.html

There are lots of ads saying $60 to $100 for a 1 bedroom but they don't say for how long, not sure if they are for longer term rentals (perhaps weekly) as opposed to just a weekend.

PP here, just realized I made the direction FROM the hotel, TO Penn station...but you get the idea...

Will the bus from Bethesda drop you off at Penn Station in NYC? I think most the bus companies do...but maybe not all...

If so, there is a Path station just a few blocks away (33rd street station), so you can take the PATH to Jersey city. The station near the Courtyard Marriott is the "newport station"

See if this link works for you?
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&dirflg=r&saddr=540+Washington+Boulevard+Jersey+City%2C+New+Jersey&daddr=Penn+station%2C+NYC&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=ha&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-gns-trs

Im the OP -I guess I should have said I'm taking the bus from bethesda, does that matter?

Re: Courtyard in Jersey city

yes, it looks like in mid-late June, July, and August you can get a room for $179 on Friday and Saturday nights...Sunday thru Thursday will be more expensive.

Don't forget, if you drive, you will also have to pay for the parking garage.

10:24 and 11:26 pp here

Yes, I agree with other pp about Jersey city. When we have gone as a whole family, we have stayed at the Courtyard in Jersey city. It was very easy to take the Path into the city. I don't remember what rate we paid, as we used some of our rewards points to pay for the room.

I found Jersey City, NJ to be quite reasonable and accessible. We stayed at the Marriott for about $175 a night at New Year's. It is right beside the Path train, which costs $4.50 round trip per person.

would you stay in Jersey? a number of the hotels in Secaucus are reasonable and there is a bus stop right by the hotels that goes directly into Manhattan in about 15 minutes, it's actually not bad at all and there is shopping, restaurants in that immediate area

jersey city is also an option with a quick PATH train ride into the city but some of those hotels tend to be a bit higher

There is also a Country Inn and Suites in Long Island City which I have seen recommended on trip advisor as a good spot for a decently priced hotel with a quick subway ride into Manhattan

mid june, and maybe $175 is too much of a reach, a friend just stayed at ground zero for $140. But I would rather pay more than stay near the airports.

Anonymous wrote:2 teen- boy and girl,so it has to have a double. I am hoping to have the place accessible and be under $175/night.

I think that will be very difficult. Just looking at Hotwire, and for 3 star hotels, anything under $284 was at Newark or Laguardia airports...They showed a 2 star for $181 in Soho...

What days were you planning to go, that might make a difference.

2 teen- boy and girl,so it has to have a double. I am hoping to have the place accessible and be under $175/night.

How many teenagers (how many rooms will you need?) A few months ago I stayed with my son at the Fairfield Inn Chelsea. It was a great location, IMO, because it was just a few blocks from Penn Station--we took the train in. We were able to walk to MoMA as well (though it was a long walk) and of course, the subway was right there for everything else that we couldn't walk to.
We paid under $100/night, but rates will vary depending on the time of year and what type of room you need (we chose to share a King size bed--the room cost would have been double for a room with 2 beds)

Oh, it also included free breakfast, which can be a HUGE money saver if your teenagers are boys!

I am hoping for lots of opinions so I can go on hotwire and check pricing.