The other thread on hostels was >90 days old.

Anyways, I am considering this over fall break because my best friend has never been and we want to go. We'd probably go Thursday-Monday and I did some research on a few. They're all pretty much the same price, I just wanted to know if anyone liked any specifically they have been to. We found round trip plane tickets for $178 with tax and everything. There's one near Central Park called Jazz On The Park that seems decent and centrally located to midtown, but the Jazz on the something branch near the lower east side/village is more of where i'd like to be, and a little cheaper (these prices included taxes, but the other did not).

Do these places usually have some sort of communal kitchen, or a microwave or anything? I would much rather bring some easy mac and nuke it than pay $8+ for lunch somewhere. Someone on here had recommended a Ramada Inn near Times Sqaure before - unfortunately, it was $225/night the weekend we were going to go. I searched Expedia and the next cheapest hotel actually IN the city was $111/night plus tax.

9/12/2006 10:18:35 PM

call and ask

cell phone = free call

hostels vary

9/12/2006 10:27:26 PM

wow easy mac in nyc? stay home and save up

9/12/2006 10:29:52 PM

it's more my friend not wanting to spend too much...i'm going to les halles and carmine's whether she's going or not. besides, i'm sure there are pretty decent hole-in-the-wall ethnic places to stay at.

9/12/2006 11:02:58 PM

traditional places i know to look when going abroad were hostels.com and a number of variations that can be found once you start to google it. if you already knew this... well i tried....

9/12/2006 11:08:43 PM

OK I've stayed there and u don't want to do it. I cried the first night and was about to go stay at the Sheraton. What is the point of this trip other than just wanting to go because if between the two of you, you can't share a decent hotel and u want to nuke some easy mac, I don't think ur gonna find much to do besides being in Union or Washington Square or Central Park ppl watching. BUT DO NOT and I emphasize DO NOT stay at Jazz on the Park...

9/12/2006 11:09:47 PM

^ what was the problem with it?

If my friends at NYU had more room on their dorm room floors, we'd be staying there for free.

9/12/2006 11:11:14 PM

dont know about that particular place but look at it this way.. you will meet other like-minded people, which in IMO is half the fun

9/12/2006 11:13:37 PM

It was nasty, small, and cramped. I was glad I brought a blanket bc I was scared to use theirs. They did not have enough towels (glad I brought my own) and they were dirty. The whole hall bathroom with German boy thing was not favorable. Location next to Central Park which is NOT a good thing at night if you are not right on the edge of the park where the mall is with the Armani Exchange and Coach store...

9/12/2006 11:14:03 PM

eh, that sounds gross. maybe i'll just go to wilmington for fall break instead and make my best friend sleep on his couch and i'll sleep in his bed.
the last time i was there, my friends stole a loveseat from their study lounge and we threw a sleeping bag over it, and that was my bed. for 5 nights. not the greatest. when they left to go to class, i'd go sleep in one of their beds. they are crazy insane about security there - even if you're another NYU student, you can't get past the dorm "lobby" unless someone living in that dorm comes down to let you in, and they have a hand scanner you put your hand on and then type in a PIN number of sorts. crazy.

there's still so many things i haven't seen there, like condomania, the met, basically a lot of the touristy/important stuff. i didn't leave the village much when i was there.

9/12/2006 11:34:23 PM

yeah I lived in an NYU apartment for a summer so I know all about security and logging ppl in, but what is ur aversion to a hotel?

9/12/2006 11:37:19 PM

once i stayed @ YMCA ..E.47th, Btw 2nd & 3rd /~ $70/night . Bunk Bed room w/ TV . you can access the fitness area with clean & big bathroom. The location is rather safe. you can find more info about hostel review on http://www.tripadvisor.com .

[Edited on September 12, 2006 at 11:40 PM. Reason : ]

9/12/2006 11:37:29 PM

http://www.hiusa.org/

http://www.hihostels.com/affiliates/hiusa60003.php?country=US&city=a60003&AffiliateID=97060

Is the NYC location.

I've stayed in hostels all over the US (now about 20 and counting), both HI and others, the HIUSA hostels have ALL been extremely clean, great staff and very good people.

Stay there, pay the 2-5 bucks more a night, and enjoy the time in NYC.

9/13/2006 2:41:37 AM

I stayed at the Jazz one by the park on 103rd, I agree that it's small and cramped, but I didn't mind. I was with friends and we had a good time. It was clean enough, though I think the bathrooms could have used some serious scrubbing. They're no worse that dorm rooms and bathrooms, IMO.

Just remember to bring a sleeping bag and shower shoes. I don't trust the linens in any hostel, and I don't trust the shower floor to be clean, either.

I never once felt unsafe, though. Of course, I am a guy, but still.

Quote :

"I cried the first night and was about to go stay at the Sheraton."

I cannot stand people like this on group trips I take. Have a sense of adventure and grow some balls, for the sake of your group! Everyone hates the whiney bitch who is too pampered and too good for what the rest of the group has agreed to. It never fails, no matter where I go, if the accomodations are less than four star, they're fuckin' DYING.

[Edited on September 13, 2006 at 9:32 AM. Reason : ]

9/13/2006 9:22:02 AM

so staying in shitty rooms all over the country is the "in" thing to do now


I'll pass


I'd rather stay in a hotel or camp

9/13/2006 9:30:01 AM

not spending loads of money on hotel rooms has been "in" ever since people realized that blowing cash on stupid shit is dumb.

9/13/2006 11:16:55 AM

you trendy kids are so cultured


I SPENT 30 DAYS WITH SOME SMELLY KIDS FROM ANOTHER STATE WHILE I WAS OUT BEING CULTURED

*notice I also said camping*

9/13/2006 11:18:43 AM

if saving money is being cultured then im one cultured son of a bitch.

and im sure you camp in a RV.

9/13/2006 11:20:39 AM

haha yeah... I'm sure thats why so many people do it

to save money

I've never camped in an RV, I wouldn't mind having one when I'm older

but nah, I do it with tents, fire etc etc

9/13/2006 11:22:56 AM

if any of your posts can be used to tell what kind of person you are, you will not do well at a youth hostel

9/13/2006 11:41:51 AM

actually someone who camps would be more cultured than someone who uses hostels.

so get off ur fuckin high horse.

9/13/2006 11:46:27 AM

me?

I don't want to go to a youth hostel


and i don't know why anyone else would either

9/13/2006 11:46:43 AM

the original poster

9/13/2006 11:47:34 AM

^^

I know....

so how are you bitching on people who use hostels when people who camps smell worse and are more pretentious.

so as I said, get off your high horse

9/13/2006 11:50:40 AM

Quote :

"and im sure you camp in a RV"

haha, you dont know Greg at all
we country boys son

9/13/2006 12:01:05 PM

BECAUSE THERE ARE CAMP SITES IN MANHATTEN

9/13/2006 12:14:38 PM

^x5 for one thing, you can't camp in new york city, and for some, hotels are prohibitively expensive. it's reallynot that complicated.

[Edited on September 13, 2006 at 12:15 PM. Reason : .]

9/13/2006 12:15:36 PM

i've stayed in a private hostel room several times in nyc

why?

because it was cheaper and i'm in nyc...why would i go there to stay in a hotel room all day?

9/13/2006 12:21:11 PM

Quote :

"Sports & Arts Center Island Lake 136 E 57th St, New York, NY (212) 753-7777 - 0.6 mi E KOA Campgrounds 62 W 47th St, New York, NY (212) 869-8293 - 0.1 mi S "

oh look, campsites in MANHATTAN

9/13/2006 12:30:44 PM

you don't do NY without $texas saved up.

that's the only way to do it.

9/13/2006 1:14:48 PM

^^would you want to camp in manhattan?

i would imagine my shit would get stolen with a quickness.

9/13/2006 1:23:16 PM

^^for the most part very true!

Quote :

"I would much rather bring some easy mac and nuke it than pay $8+ for lunch somewhere"

Hot dog from a street vendor is $2-3.

Unless you have $300-400 to blow excluding lodging I wouldn't really consider it.

[Edited on September 13, 2006 at 1:23 PM. Reason : ^]

9/13/2006 1:23:44 PM

i've never understood vacationing, or experiencing something like that, on a limited budget. I never want to be somewhere that I never will be again, or won't return for a very long time, and say "man, i wish i could afford to do THAT."

i bring enough money to do it all.

9/13/2006 1:30:52 PM

I wouldn't go somewhere if I didn't have the money to do it

but thats just me

9/13/2006 1:33:01 PM

Quote :

"would you want to camp in manhattan? i would imagine my shit would get stolen with a quickness"

never said i did
i was just proving you two wrong about being able to camp in manhattan

9/13/2006 1:36:44 PM

you can camp damn near anywhere

shit, bums do it everywhere up there



and btw, when i camp I carry soap and deodorant

have fun in your cultured little dorm room I mean hostel with strangers

9/13/2006 1:38:22 PM

guys, this is Roma, Tucker, and Manuel (said in a very awful fake latino accent)... they are our roommates here. Who wants to go get free water and side salads at a trendy restaurant?

9/13/2006 1:41:36 PM

^lol


I've been too afraid to stay in a Hostel ever since that movie came out

9/13/2006 1:45:26 PM

^^ hahahaha

>.<

9/13/2006 1:52:09 PM

i stayed in jazz on the park over spring break last year. rooms reminded me of summer camp from when i was younger, they were small and packed with bunk beds but i didnt have a problem with it. i thought it was a good place.

9/13/2006 2:08:54 PM

Quote :

"I cannot stand people like this on group trips I take. Have a sense of adventure and grow some balls, for the sake of your group! Everyone hates the whiney bitch who is too pampered and too good for what the rest of the group has agreed to. It never fails, no matter where I go, if the accomodations are less than four star, they're fuckin' DYING. "

Well Erik, it was the Caldwell trip, and if they had told me that's where we would be, I NEVER would have gone. My mom understood that and that's why she was prepared to make me a reservation at the Sheraton down the street. Some ppl are willing to adapt to shitty conditions, I chose to that one time "for the sake of the group", but NEVER and I repeat NEVER will I do that shit again.

9/13/2006 2:33:36 PM

just do a bunch of acid and wander around central park all night.

9/13/2006 2:37:13 PM

^^I wasn't even aware of that whole situation, but ok.

My point was, there's always someone no matter where I go who can't adjust to less-than-ideal lodging. I've taken at least a dozen in-country group trips and five international group trips and in nearly every case there is at least one person who can't hack it. Then they end up missing out on all the fun and adventure the rest of the group has while they're off either sulking or booking seperate accomodations for themselves. While they're off doing whatever, the rest of the group starts to resent that person because they have the means to stay somewhere nicer and the others don't...the group dynamics get all f'ed up...it never ends up pretty. It's to the point where, on group trips, I now try to figure out which person will be the one to break.

[Edited on September 13, 2006 at 2:52 PM. Reason : ]

9/13/2006 2:51:57 PM

i mean, it's really only going to be a place to sleep and a place to take a shower...in my flip flops, i suppose. it's still between this, camping and going to wilmington.

9/13/2006 3:15:33 PM

i will be camping in the mountains the middle of october
cant wait

9/13/2006 3:19:06 PM

I'd go to wilmington if money was an issue

I'd rather be in wilmington anyways

9/13/2006 6:11:25 PM

i just bought a round trip ticket to NY for $158 for fall break at delta.com. you just gotta keep looking (assuming you haven't bought it yet). it's only a $20 difference but hey it works.

9/13/2006 6:18:34 PM

Quote :

""Sports & Arts Center Island Lake 136 E 57th St, New York, NY (212) 753-7777 - 0.6 mi E KOA Campgrounds 62 W 47th St, New York, NY (212) 869-8293 - 0.1 mi S " oh look, campsites in MANHATTAN"

Hate to burst your bubble, but those are not campgrounds in manhattan. I live on W 47th St and know for a fact that there is not a campground on it. Just google earth that shit and you will realize that there is nothing but buildings and sidewalk in those locations... or check websites. Those addresses are for offices of the companies.

9/13/2006 9:22:09 PM

Like Suede said .... stay at the YMCA ...My wife and I stayed there. Don't laugh. It was cheap and in a good, and convienient, neighborhood. We also do it internationally when we want a cheap good place to stay. The Hong Kong YMCA was right on the water (next to the cultural center), and just like a hotel. ...

9/13/2006 10:31:18 PM

^^^holy crap thats a good price. Tell me you're flying into JFK. I got a flight for Oct 19th to RDU for $178 roundtrip and I thought I did well! But i'm flying outta LGA (much better thank JFK)

9/14/2006 1:08:52 AM