[OT] Accomodation in New York

[Moon_Goddess]

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Also - we're thinking of renting a car for a few days so we can pop up to Boston to visit the resident feline buccaneer.
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Then, possibly, rent a car, drive out to GenCon for a couple of days, drive back to New York and, during the following week drive up to Boston.
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Also - how much of a drive is Chicago, city! ).

Dear God, don't let the danged fool on the roads. He'll be on the wrong side the whole time!!!!!!

 

[ruleslawyer]

Morrus: I live in NYC (downtown Manhattan to be precise). I'd offer the following pieces of advice:

As others have said, accomodation in New York, particularly in Manhattan, is criminally expensive. Unless you stay at a youth hostel or an extremely cheap hotel, you're talking a boatload of money for a week. IIRC, your planned trip is right in the middle of tourist season as well, so you're talking rather inflated prices.

The Chelsea Star and Off Soho actually aren't bad bets. Another good option for a (comparatively) inexpensive hotel is the Washington Square Hotel, on Waverly Place. You should be able to find it on http://washsqhotel.citysearch.com . Rooms there typically run around $120 a night, and the hotel is both nice and very central.

From the list posted by PA, I'd go with the Hostelling International Hostel, the Chelsea International Hostel, or the 92nd Street Y. The others are rather dismal, and some are in not-so-great locations.

Also, if you're willing to splash out a bit more, go to www.newyork.citysearch.com and check for daily-weekly hotel specials. You may find a good deal at a decent (three-star) hotel.

If you are only visiting New York and Boston, DO NOT RENT A CAR for that leg of your trip. It absolutely is not worth having a car in NYC, and the bus or train will do you fine to Boston. Renting a car to get out to Milwaukee might be fun, but you should do this either from Boston or rent through a company at Newark Airport (it'll be cheaper than renting in town, and you can take the AirTrain to the airport to pick up your car).

If you need anything while in town or are having problems securing accomodation, feel free to e-mail me at msubbarao@bdlaw.com . If accomodations fall through, I know someone who rents guest apartments and who might be able to cut you a deal.

Finally, if you're in need of a guidebook, I recommend the Time Out: New York guide and the American Institute of Architects' Guide to Buildings in New York. These are the only two you'll need. Also, pick up a copy of Time Out NY magazine the week before coming into town; there's always a HUGE amount of stuff going on and it's good to sort out a bit of your itinerary beforehand.

Cheers!

 

[fba827]

international driver ?

I live near DC, not NYC, so I can't give you specifics on NYC. Just thought I would mention something -- you mentioned renting a car? I hope you realize one of you has to have a US driver's liscense (or international one) ...

You probably already considered that, just felt I had to say it 'cause I'm anal retentive like that.

 

[The Traveler]

I've found that when being all touristy in NYC, it's a hell of a lot cheaper to stay just across the state line in NJ. Little bit of a drive to get back into the city for your daytime activities, but it certainly helps lessen the hit on your wallet. There's no end of stuff to spend money on in NYC, and food can get pretty pricey there, so you definitely want to free up some cash by lowering your lodging costs.

Soho and Greenwich are musts if you go there. First time I went to NYC, I did the typical 5th Avenue/Empire State Building/St. John's Cathedral/Statue of Liberty routine. This was when I was a little kid. Later on, though, I did it as part of a college trip, and we spent time in Soho and Greenwich. Completely different experience. You'd think I'd visited a different city. Very rewarding.

 

[V-2]

What do you study? And, is it at NYU?

Art History at Columbia. I think we're in a tiny minority: RPG fans in the humanities. I've always wondered why that is. Probably because it's too close to home--try defending Tolkien in a grad seminar. Or Brom.

 

[Pigeon]

Just to add my two pennys in...

I went to NY last month (to get married in central park zoo of all things). As it was my wedding/honeymoon we didn't worry too much about the cost, but the hotels in manhatten are very pricey indeed. The food however was not, at least not compaired to London prices.

As, like me, you've never been to the city then I recomend going on one of the circle line guided bus tours. Sure it's touristy, but let's face it you're a tourist! The guide we had was very amusing and informative, and we got to know about a lot of places that we otherwise wouldnt have a clue existed. We took the night tour, but I assume that the day ones are as good.

If you like zoos (which I do!) check out the bronx zoo, it's fantastic.

 

[PA]

Art History at Columbia. I think we're in a tiny minority: RPG fans in the humanities. I've always wondered why that is. Probably because it's too close to home--try defending Tolkien in a grad seminar. Or Brom.

There are two other RPGamers, at least, in NYU's French dept., but like me, they have no time to play anymore.

We don't feel like we have to "defend" our hobby, though.

 

[V-2]

Myself, I haven't had time to play for over a year now, what with the diss and teaching... at least *you* guys got yourselves a union--up here they're still trying to annul our vote.

Defending the hobby: I may not feel I have to, but I'd like to know how if I had to. But I'm surprised there's an RPG cell in the French dept., of all places. Interesting. I know a couple of humanities undergrads who are gaming but no grad students. I'm beginning to look again now--here's hoping for the summer break and a comfy fellowship next year...

 

[PA]

Myself, I haven't had time to play for over a year now, what with the diss and teaching... at least *you* guys got yourselves a union--up here they're still trying to annul our vote.

Complain. We've opened you the way.

Defending the hobby: I may not feel I have to, but I'd like to know how if I had to.

Guns are not a good idea, in most circumstances. After that, it does depend on the circumstance: should it be called a tool of the devil or a loser's pastime, the (effective) answer cannot be the same. Well, in New York, it would be "**** YOU!!" whatever the problem, but...

But I'm surprised there's an RPG cell in the French dept., of all places. Interesting. I know a couple of humanities undergrads who are gaming but no grad students. I'm beginning to look again now--here's hoping for the summer break and a comfy fellowship next year...

Yeah, well, I'll still have to teach, as many graduate students have to, which is how they kill the RPGamers in us.

 

[V-2]

Complain. We've opened you the way.

Done. We'll be on strike on Monday. We're pretty lame generally, but when aroused we can be as soixante-huitard-y as the next person. singing "Allons enfants de la patree-ee-uh..."

Defending DnD: Get Hollier to play in your group, and you have my respect. Work the Bataille angle--tell him it's about labyrinths and minotaurs.