NY for seniors on a budget

Driving and on a budget. My husband and I-senior citizens- have to be in NY City for a luncheon on Nov 14 at a restaurant on 42nd St. near Park Ave. We are driving a distance and my husband really doesn%26#39;t like fancy hotels. I don%26#39;t like the prices either. I keep thinking of what else I could be buying with that money. We have traveled all over the world, so we are not neophytes, but need more comfort than a low down budget place. The first question is the car. Would you recommend having a valet park it or would leaving it on a surface lot or parking garage be advisable? Second, I see reviews for Herald Square. Seems that price is within our budget, but some reviews say bathroom down the hall and others say great bathroom in room. Are they about the same place? Any advice? Also, i have read the q%26amp;a by the lady from England making a last minute trip w/ her daughter. Does she have any feedback

NY for seniors on a budget

You might want to split these two questions into two posts and title them:

';Parking near 42nd and Park';

';Herald Square Hotel Questions';

That way people who know about parking and Herald Square can help.

See what you get for responses, but if you aren%26#39;t getting what you want split them up.

Good luck.

NY for seniors on a budget

Parking-

Don%26#39;t pay for valet parking if you want to save $$$. Once you%26#39;ve decided where you%26#39;re going to stay, go to iconparking.com and see what parking lots that company has near your hotel. One of you drop the other at hotel door with bag and then park the car and walk back.

For a hotel, the Herald Square is an ok budget option. Some of their rooms (the cheapest) have shared baths while others (and there are some newly renovated ones with photos on their website) have private baths.

But I think in your position and assuming you%26#39;re staying only 1 or 2 nights, I%26#39;d maybe book something cancellable (like the herald square) and try bidding on Priceline. If you bid a 4* hotel in midtown east, you could very likely get the Grand Hyatt which sounds like the venue for your luncheon or very close. If you don%26#39;t know about Priceline and how to bid, you should anyway. Go to betterbidding.com and/or biddingfortravel.com where they explain it all. I wouldn%26#39;t bid for anything except 4* in NYC.

I don%26#39;t know about the last minute trip you mention, but if you want some other options for a good budget hotel and you%26#39;d like to be nearer your luncheon, have a look at Murray Hill East Suites. The Radio City Suites has a room for 1 night (Nov 13) for $185/night plus tax. Wouldn%26#39;t be too far either.

While your%26#39;e here, take a tour of Grand Central Terminal. It%26#39;s free! Or simpy walk around the place and enjoy!

grandcentralterminal.com/pages/default.aspx

Also be aware that there are no ';surface lots'; anywhere near Grand Central Terminal (i.e., 42nd and Park), and indeed surface lots with self-parking are extremely scarce anywhere in Manhattan altogether.

Oh, and by the way -- most restaurants and hotels here do NOT have valet parking. The assumption in NYC is that you are not going to drive to the restaurant or hotel anyway, and so if you do you it is almost always necessary for you to figure out on your own what you are going to do with your car.

Thank you all. I%26#39;ll look into the bidding thing - have never done that before - are there any cautions about this?

Also will go to iconparking. thanks for the suggestion