Bladerunner

Try the Skyline on 10th. Last time I went, a few years ago, the rooms were a good size and they have a large heated pool on the top floor with a view of the NYC skyline. Affordable, if a little out of the way.

hobbes79

I've stayed here a couple of times:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ew_Jersey.html

It's on the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel and you need to take a bus to get in and out of NYC. Takes about 10-15 mins each way.

It's certainly cheap enough and you have a prayer of meeting that budget and has free parking (unknown in Manhattan, where it can often cost around $30/day) and you can throw in breakfast for about $6/each I think it was.

The bus ride can be a bit of pain but it runs all night and only costs a couple of bucks.

It's very clean and seemed very new. I'd definitely recommend it if on a budget.

tonrob

Here's another one outside Manhattan, but right by the last PATH train stop before the river:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ew_Jersey.html

tonrob

To my earlier point:

http://consumerist.com/5141324/behol...tel-in-america

Actually had two friends from the UK book this place online thinking they were getting a good deal. The photos they posted on Facebook afterwards were scarcely believable...

Steerpike

I just had a good experience with Hotels.com on a hotel in NYC. I booked Mon/Tue nights for about $180/night at a particular hotel. I then had to change it to Sun/Mon, and called them; not only was there no fee to change the reservation, but the rate was actually lower as the Sunday rate was lower. Then, due to yet another change, I looked into Saturday night and that was cheaper still. I'm not saying hotels.com is any better than any other, they just impressed me with this specific situation (they answered the phone within a few minutes, which was a pleasant surprise!). I think TripAdvisor search multiple hotel resale sites at once, with hotels.com being one of them.

Also - before booking through a reseller, I always call the hotel directly to see if they have any better deals. In the case above, they could not come close to matching the hotels.com rate, but in other cases, I've found they can meet or beat the rate, so it's always worth a try. I have a personal theory that the crappiest rooms are the ones sold cheaply through the resellers - on the ground floor, next to the elevator/ice machine, etc - but no hard proof ...

big_matt

Please remember that buying fake goods from Canal St is paying for serious crimes, and the drug trades that fund these stalls have been blamed for many deaths.

They have also been linked to human trafficking.

I personally wouldnt be able to live with myself knowing where my money is going but everyone is different.

Steerpike

I would think that buying a 'fake' handbag would be only marginally worse than buying a 'real' (name-brand) handbag - aren't the factories that make the name-brand ones every bit as bad as the ones making the fake ones? I'm guessing the only ones to lose out when you buy the fake ones are the marketing and 'design' types who get rich on some people's desire to own something with a stupid label on it.

big_matt

Not sure about that. I think there's a big difference between funding a mansion for a rich marketing type and funding child trafficking or prostitution.

If you read the articles on where your canal street money ends up it is extremely scary...

Like I say though its a personal choice, I'm just advocating awareness of why the 'louis vuitton' bag you buy on canal street is so cheap.

Jerseygirl

FWIW I agree with you. The last time I went to that area was about 3 yrs ago...it's dirty and smelly...but it's a magnet to tourists which in itself brings revenue to the city...that's why mostly the cops turn a blind eye. Just my opinion.

Steerpike

I've never bought anything from Canal St but my g/f buys (what I assume to be) the same fake stuff in Chinatown in San Francisco - from perfectly respectable stores. Maybe the issue is with Canal St., rather than the existence of 'knock-off' merchandise.

big_matt

Yea I cant speak for all fake merchandise places, as I have only read articles on Canal St. Some may be better/worse than others.

I have noticed though with Canal St that the police seem to be getting more lenient over time. 5 years ago the stalls would be shut every 5 minutes because someone had seen police - now police walk right past. Strange.

Steerpike

Speaking of NY, and of police being lenient ...

I flew into JFK recently and took a cab to downtown. The same taxi sharks are outside the airport offering 'taxi service' to unsuspecting tourists that I encountered (and was badly ripped off by) 20 years earlier. They ask you if you need a taxi, and if you say yes, they guide you to their unmarked car in the parking lot, or their off-duty limo, and then charge an arm-and-a-leg for the journey. I was approached by at least 3 such operators in the brief walk from baggage claim to the taxi rank. I overheard an Australian couple get taken in by them ... some things never change ...

Jerseygirl

Because that area brings tourists into the city.

We spent last Christmas and NY cruising the Caribbean...surprising how many shops in the ports of St Kitts, St Thomas, Barbados etc are passing this stuff off as the real thing. In fact we went into one shop selling 'Tiffany' jewellery...I asked the assistant outright if they were selling the real deal...I was told it was. I know for a fact it wasn't.