Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've stayed in the Affinia chain in NYC and they have reasonable rates in midtown. Why go to NYC and stay in Jersey City. Part of the charm of the city is walking around at night. My advice is use Kayak and check your dates often. Also go directly to hotel chains' websites and check specials.

Why? Budget.

I agree that walking around NYC at night is amazing. I'm a pp that said we stayed in Jersey city. I have done other trips to NYC with just my spouse or just one child, and stayed in Manhattan. But when you have a large family and hotels in Manhattan are $200+/night and only accommodate 2 people (and your kids are young enough they can't be in a room alone) you don't have as many options. FWIW, we still walked around NYC at night--going to the "Top of the Rock" and walking around Times square, etc. We just had a slightly longer ride back to the hotel.

I totally understand. We only go when we can get the deals. We have 2 kids and only get suites with kitchenette. The deal above ^^^^ is one I wrote about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've stayed in the Affinia chain in NYC and they have reasonable rates in midtown. Why go to NYC and stay in Jersey City. Part of the charm of the city is walking around at night. My advice is use Kayak and check your dates often. Also go directly to hotel chains' websites and check specials.

This is a deal I just received: http://www.affinia.com/special-offers/offer/affinia-s-annual-perfect-rate-sale-1.15251?cid=PERFECT_PRS_EMAIL_CTA_LASTCALL_AHC_01232017

One bedroom suite with 2 beds and pull out couch. Kitchenette. sleeps 5. The Shelburne.

That looks like a great deal. Parking is $65/day--but still a great deal!

Anonymous wrote:We've stayed in the Affinia chain in NYC and they have reasonable rates in midtown. Why go to NYC and stay in Jersey City. Part of the charm of the city is walking around at night. My advice is use Kayak and check your dates often. Also go directly to hotel chains' websites and check specials.

Why? Budget.

I agree that walking around NYC at night is amazing. I'm a pp that said we stayed in Jersey city. I have done other trips to NYC with just my spouse or just one child, and stayed in Manhattan. But when you have a large family and hotels in Manhattan are $200+/night and only accommodate 2 people (and your kids are young enough they can't be in a room alone) you don't have as many options. FWIW, we still walked around NYC at night--going to the "Top of the Rock" and walking around Times square, etc. We just had a slightly longer ride back to the hotel.

We have driven up to Secaucus, NJ. There are four or five hotels near each other there that are right on a bus line to NYC. Parking is free and a round trip ticket to the city and back is $8.50.

Most of the hotels have free breakfasts and there are a number of reasonably priced places to eat near the hotels. It's a nice way to spend the weekend in New York City without breaking the bank.

Even as someone who's been to nyc numerous times pre and post kids, the options are overwhelming. I've just started planning a quick weekend trip and decided on a hotel in Chelsea but I plan to park in north jersey and train into penn station then take the subway around. Hotel is a 10min walk from there. There were some really good rates for 4+star hotels on hotwire. But beware hidden "resort fees" & ridiculous parking fees. If I were you and hellbent on driving into the city, I'd find a lot to park in and ditch it for the duration of the trip and just cab/uber.
As a first time you should certainly do Times square and central park. Beware costumed characters urging you to take a photo with them...they want $.

Anonymous wrote:What is your hotel budget?

We have several kids and a low budget. We drove and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Jersey city. They had a parking garage (with a fee, but it was about half of what most hotels in Manhattan were charging to park) and are right next to the PATH to take into the city.

Since you are driving, makes sure you account for the numerous tolls you will have to pay along I95.

We did the same. It's a very convenient location to public transit and we avoided driving and parking in the city. There is also a ferry to Statue of Liberty from the NJ side.

Anonymous wrote:We've stayed in the Affinia chain in NYC and they have reasonable rates in midtown. Why go to NYC and stay in Jersey City. Part of the charm of the city is walking around at night. My advice is use Kayak and check your dates often. Also go directly to hotel chains' websites and check specials.

This is a deal I just received: http://www.affinia.com/special-offers/offer/affinia-s-annual-perfect-rate-sale-1.15251?cid=PERFECT_PRS_EMAIL_CTA_LASTCALL_AHC_01232017

One bedroom suite with 2 beds and pull out couch. Kitchenette. sleeps 5. The Shelburne.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walk through Central Park and/or over Brooklyn Bridge
Walk the High Line
Little Italy
Chinatown
Tenement Museum
Museum of Natural History
Metropolitan Museum of Art
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Times Square
Alice's Tea Cup for the best scones and tea outside of Ireland and the UK
Buy pretzels from a street cart
Empire State Building or Top of the Rock

Yawn.

So impress us with your knowledge.

Anonymous wrote:Walk through Central Park and/or over Brooklyn Bridge
Walk the High Line
Little Italy
Chinatown
Tenement Museum
Museum of Natural History
Metropolitan Museum of Art
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Times Square
Alice's Tea Cup for the best scones and tea outside of Ireland and the UK
Buy pretzels from a street cart
Empire State Building or Top of the Rock

Yawn.

We've stayed in the Affinia chain in NYC and they have reasonable rates in midtown. Why go to NYC and stay in Jersey City. Part of the charm of the city is walking around at night. My advice is use Kayak and check your dates often. Also go directly to hotel chains' websites and check specials.

Do the Roosevelt Island Tram. Try to time sunset over & night on the way back. One of our favorite things.

With 3 kids check out Tryp by Wyndham. Our room had a king bed bunk beds and a pullout couch.

What is your hotel budget?

We have several kids and a low budget. We drove and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Jersey city. They had a parking garage (with a fee, but it was about half of what most hotels in Manhattan were charging to park) and are right next to the PATH to take into the city.

Since you are driving, makes sure you account for the numerous tolls you will have to pay along I95.

Walk through Central Park and/or over Brooklyn Bridge
Walk the High Line
Little Italy
Chinatown
Tenement Museum
Museum of Natural History
Metropolitan Museum of Art
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Times Square
Alice's Tea Cup for the best scones and tea outside of Ireland and the UK
Buy pretzels from a street cart
Empire State Building or Top of the Rock

Headed to NYC in Feb and I've never been. Traveling with 3 kids ages 7-13 and under. Any suggestions on where we should stay and what we should do? We're open! FYI: We're driving. TIA!