<p>I am going to be visiting some schools in NYC and am looking for hotel recommendations. I don't want to stay at the very nicest hotel ($$), but don't want a dirty motel either. Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey I'm from Minnesota too. When I visited, we lived in Jersey (cheaper and better deals) and just drove to New York. That way, we were also in driving distance of Penn and Princeton. Not sure about your price range, maybe try the Sheraton? You can get really good deals online, probably like 80 a night for a 200 dollar room.</p>
<p>If you're just doing NYC schools (and don't need to get far out into jersey or long island), there's a hotel somewhere around 70&broadway. they have a deal with columbia for when parents weekend roles around and I hear it's pretty nice. call the admissions office, they will have some suggestions.</p>
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I don't want to stay at the very nicest hotel ($$), but don't want a dirty motel either.
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<p>The nicest hotels in NYC are more like $$$$$ than $$. And they're crappy, old and run down. Anything cheap in Manh. will still be relatively expensive, yet horrible.</p>
<p>There are a number of hotels directly across the Hudson River in New Jersey (Hyatt, Marriott and Candlewood Suites (my choice for price and amenities) in Jersey City) and a Sheraton in Weehawken, which are beside or within short walking distance to New York Waterway's (NYWaterway</a> > Home) Hudson River ferry and free bus service to up and downtown Manhattan. </p>
<p>The rates could be somewhat or a lot cheaper than Manhattan, depending on the hotel, the dates and the rate you finagle.</p>
<p>The Jersey City hotels are beside or within short walking distance to PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) train stations providing service to mid and downtown Manhattan, about a five or ten minute ride.</p>
<p>there are apartments that can be rented a few days at a time at a pretty reasonable rate...I my parents have done it for about $300 a night</p>
<p>The Excelsior over by the Museum of Natural History was pretty nice. Rather pricey though, unless you can find a deal...</p>
<p>At many times during the year, outside of high seasons, the Best Western on 48th bet bway & 8th ave can get you a room for $99-130. It's a nice hotel, not luxurious of course but very passable. It's my dad's go-to hotel when he's in the city on business on his own expense. And it's just north of times square. 25 mins to columbia (#1 from 50th st & bwy), the same to NYU (C train from 49th & 8th).</p>
<p>I would recommend the rooms at Union Theological Seminary (an affiliate of Columbia), which is located at 120 St. and Broadway. I have stayed there several times. Both singles and doubles are available and cost about $130/night. The rooms are pretty basic, but have everything you need--private bath, ac, tv--and are very clean and quiet. Best of all, they are so convenient to Columbia and you get the use of the interior courtyard, very peaceful, actually quite beautiful (once you have been there, you realize that you have seen this courtyard many times as "Hudson University" on Law and Order). I believe it is run by something called "Landmark Inn", but if anyone is interested, I can post the exact name and phone number here. It does require reservations well in advance since there aren't that many rooms</p>