meant to write express BUS into the city from secaucus hotels

definitely do not drive into the city - if you are going to drive up and stay in jersey, consider Secaucus, some hotels right near express busy into the city - probably the cheapest way to do things - many of these hotels will include breakfast and free parking (embassy suites, hyatt place, etc...)

jersey city is a good option too with path train into city, but those hotels are a bit more expensive, don't have free parking usually, and likely won't include a breakfast

while I agree train would be more relaxing, if you are really trying to save $$$, driving your own car up would be cheapest - leave really early to avoid traffic

We recently stayed at the doubletree suites in times square with our four kids (infant thru 9 year old). Drove up, valet parked the car, and never needed it. Walked all over times square, and cabbed it elsewhere. Can't wait to go back. Fwiw, the musical Annie is playing in the theatre by the doubletree suites. If you want to find a cheap hotel, Priceline it at the last minute.

I agree with 13:50. The train offers so much scheduling flexibility, and is so easy. Even if it is a few dollars more, totally worth it.

Unless you know your way around and affirmatively enjoy driving in the city, don't try it. The aggravation will wash out the enjoyment of the trip. Especially if you run into highway traffic jams, which are common on summer weekends. (4 hours on the NJT, moving 10 mph, is not the way you want to spend a Saturday.)

With kids, to do tourist stuff, Times Square is the easiest place to stay. Once you're there, you just walk everywhere, or figure out the subway. So much simpler than driving or figuring out ways in and out of the city.

If you DO enjoy city driving (hey--some people do), then you could try it. The cost would be about a wash--you'd save money going up and back, (yes gas and tolls are expensive, but not that expensive, since you're all in one car), but hotels charge around $40/day to park. And don't even try street parking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 train tickets will add up quickly. If your kids are ok on long rides, then I would consider the Bolt or Vamoose Bus (pick up at Union Station, Bethesda, or VA depending on which one you use). Then with the money you save on the train, you can stay at a hotel in Times Square. As for sightseeing, do so some searches on this forum, and you can get tons of ideas. Obviously you can spend a few hours at Times Square and a trip to FAO Schwartz, plus going to the top of either the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center (the latter has timed tickets which is nice). Unless it is raining, I might skip the bus tour and just walk around and take the subway.

I'm the PP who recommended the train. Like I said, all 3 tickets, round trip, is as little as $196. I checked out Bolt for the same days/approx. times, and it was $114 for 3 tickets round trip.
However, the Bolt bus has far fewer options for times than Amtrak, each way was approximately an hour longer, and just in general I think a train would be more comfortable than a bus. There is even a cafe car if you need to buy snacks.

OP, when do you think you will go on this trip? Just to let you know, the Statue of Liberty should be open again on July 4th. If you will want tickets to the crown, you will need to buy them WAY in advance.

PP (recommending the train) again...Wow, just checked out Vamoose--and the total for 3 seats round trip from Arlington is $180!

Anonymous wrote:3 train tickets will add up quickly. If your kids are ok on long rides, then I would consider the Bolt or Vamoose Bus (pick up at Union Station, Bethesda, or VA depending on which one you use). Then with the money you save on the train, you can stay at a hotel in Times Square. As for sightseeing, do so some searches on this forum, and you can get tons of ideas. Obviously you can spend a few hours at Times Square and a trip to FAO Schwartz, plus going to the top of either the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center (the latter has timed tickets which is nice). Unless it is raining, I might skip the bus tour and just walk around and take the subway.

I'm the PP who recommended the train. Like I said, all 3 tickets, round trip, is as little as $196. I checked out Bolt for the same days/approx. times, and it was $114 for 3 tickets round trip.
However, the Bolt bus has far fewer options for times than Amtrak, each way was approximately an hour longer, and just in general I think a train would be more comfortable than a bus. There is even a cafe car if you need to buy snacks.

OP, when do you think you will go on this trip? Just to let you know, the Statue of Liberty should be open again on July 4th. If you will want tickets to the crown, you will need to buy them WAY in advance.

3 train tickets will add up quickly. If your kids are ok on long rides, then I would consider the Bolt or Vamoose Bus (pick up at Union Station, Bethesda, or VA depending on which one you use). Then with the money you save on the train, you can stay at a hotel in Times Square. As for sightseeing, do so some searches on this forum, and you can get tons of ideas. Obviously you can spend a few hours at Times Square and a trip to FAO Schwartz, plus going to the top of either the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center (the latter has timed tickets which is nice). Unless it is raining, I might skip the bus tour and just walk around and take the subway.

If you're staying in Jersey City, you can take the path train into NYC for $4.50 round trip per person.

Take the train up. If you are willing to go at very early times in the morning, you can get good deals on the regular trains (not Acela)

As an example, I plugged in for 1 adult, 2 kids leaving on Sunday June 9 and returning Monday June 10 from Union Station (if you are in Maryland, and can access some of the Baltimore stations just as easy, it might be worth looking into).

Anyway, if you left Union Station at 5:25 am, arrive 8:45 am in NYC

Then leave NYC the next day at 6:45 pm and arrive back at Union Station at 10 pm

Total for the 3 of you would be $196. There were a few earlier departures from NYC, for the same price, if you think 10 pm is too late to return.


I've done this a couple times with my kids. We stayed at hotels in Manhattan very close to Penn station, and just walked.


With a smaller party like yours, taking the train should be easier and cheaper than driving up. Make sure you figure in gas, tolls, the cost to park the car at your hotel (many of the closer in hotels, like in Jersey city, still charge a hefty parking fee to park) and then the cost to get to Manhattan (such as Path tickets).

Since you are only planning to go for a day or two, your time will be valuable and you won't want to waste a lot on the PATH, or getting stuck in traffic on I-95, etc.

Bolt bus and them stay near Times Square.

Do you want the easiest way, or the cheapest way? Also, is this a trip with kids? Ages?

Cheap (and preferrably easy).. 2 kids: 9 and 5.

I'd take the train and stay in the city.

Thinking to go up for a day or two.

Our thinking was to stay outside the city (maybe NJ hotel), drive-in, park, and join one of those day tours to see the highlights.

Good plan? Or is there a better way?