<p>So, seeing as I am someone who likes to plan things in advance, I was wondering if anyone could give me the lowdown on places to say in New York for the Unifieds weekend. I'm thinking about doing a thursday-sunday stay, but not completely positive. I live in South Jersey, so I plan on just taking the train up to NYC. I'm not looking for anything too fancy, and definitely not expensive, but I also want someplace clean and fairly easy access. There is a possibility that I might be going with three other friends of mine who are also doing the Unifieds too, but that is not a clear definite yet as not all of them have completely decided to do the Unifieds. I was actually also interested in staying at a youth hostel or something. Any advice!?</p>
<p>My D & I stayed at the New Yorker Hotel at 481 8th Ave & 34th St. It is one block from Pearl Studios where most of the Unifieds take place. Its old and small rooms but the location was perfect. It was clean and had a diner attached to it (I think we got breakfast too in our deal). It’s not the cheapest ~$150 per night but the ability to walk across the street for the auditions made up for the price to me.</p>
<p>We stayed at Hotel Pennsylvania. It was about $120 or so a night and it was right next to Macy’s across from Madison Square Garden. It was about a block from the auditions. The room wasn’t all that pretty but it was HUGE! Really HUGE!</p>
<p>I accompanied my S to Unifieds in NYC a few years ago. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Times Square North which is at 8th Avenue and 51st Street. I have stayed there a number of times over the years and find it very convenient. Also, you cant beat a place with a complimentary breakfast when traveling with a teenage guy! I recall that we were able to walk to practically all of his auditions - we trudged up and down 8th Avenue in bitterly cold weather! I dont think I was ever that cold the wind can really rip around those tall buildings. We kept running into the nearest Starbucks (seems like they are on every corner of 8th Avenue) to keep warm on our way to the next audition! The hotel is within walking distance of Lincoln Center - we took advantage of their discount ticket office that is in a building along Broadway and saw several productions at Lincoln Center during the evenings.</p>
<p>Consider the Hotel Wellington. We stayed there over the long Unified weekend (Emerson, DePaul, and BU held auditions on Thursday and Friday). Some schools do not participate in the Unified auditions, but hold their own auditions in NYC that weekend. Fordham conducts auditions on campus, as well. The Wellington is on Seventh Avenue and (I believe) 55th Street, so it is about a fifteen-minute walk to the Pearl and Ripley studios - nothing that a healthy teenager can’t manage. I think my son enjoyed walking on his own in midtown Manhattan. We had a suite, including a bedroom with queen-size bed, another full or queen bed, and a convertible sofa, for under $200 per night. We were able to rent a cot one night, when my son’s friend stayed with us. It could sleep up to six if kids are willing to share beds. The location is much more convenient for other attractions and activities in NYC. As I recall, BU held auditions on Eighth Avenue in the fifties, and Fordham-Lincoln Center is a few blocks away.</p>