Hotwire Hotel: What about staying in Secaucus

[LindaMP]

Hi:

Wondering about staying in a hotel in Secaucus and taking transportation to the Secaucus Junction Train station. Someone told us that the Port Authority bus can take up to an hour and the train is $5.75 for a round trip and it stops at Penn Station. We figured it would be cheaper to stay outside of New York in the Secaucus area and the hotels range on hotwire from $56-79. Holiday Inn is the only one that offers complimentary shuttle, but no guarantee which hotel if using hotwire. Or should we book directly through the holiday inn and get the shuttle included? I'll have to check the price, but I think it may be around $129. This is of course US$ and we are Canadian so it will be more either way for us.

Thanks for your help.

Looking forward to the "BIG CITY"

Smiles

LindaMP

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Secaucus is a distant second choice to the Jersey City Waterfront area.

What are the dates of your stay? How many rooms do you need? How many adults/children per room? What is your maximum budget? (per nite before taxes and fees)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[LindaMP]

Hi:

Thanks for your reply. We would like to stay from the July19-22, we need two rooms, and have 4 adults and 3 children. Budgetwise, looking for the cheapest price, and also decent hotel, 3 star I'm sure would be fine, not sure about going any lower than that and have noticed one hotel for $56.00 and of course not sure which one that is. It includes complimentary breakfast, but figured we would probably have our own food to eat in our room anyways, so that isn't a big deal. Next hotel was around $79.00 but it had a pool. Not sure how much time we will have to use it, but it is available if we want. One concern we have is how much it will cost to get to New York City, and length of time to do this. Also wondering cheapest and best way to get around the city? We are from Canada so there is the exchange as well that we have to consider.

Also wondering too, we are planning on using Hotwire for our hotel and the two that are listed on there right now, we are concerned about where they are as secaucus meadowlands is a big area, so would cost quite a bit more if we have to take a taxi to the bus station. On the otherhand, if the hotels are too far out I thought we could always take our vehicles to a mall alot closer and take a taxi from there.

Thanks for any suggestions you can give us.

Smiles

LindaMP

[thereuare]

As i stated above, the best area is the Jersey City Waterfront as this enables you to commute via PATH train ($1.40-$2.00 per ride depending how many tix you purchase but give the size of your group can probably arrange the $1.40 tickets) and no need to worry about traffic. However, a 4* hotel in this areaa is going for $119/nite for your dates and don't know if this is within your budget or not. It is likely that this same hotel (likely either the Westin or they Hyatt on the Hudson... both are excellent) can be won via PRICELINE for ~$85-90, but would only guarantee double occupancy as you may get a room with only one bed. How old (and mature??) are the kids... if they can behave themselves you might be able to get 3 rooms on PRICELINE for a similar cost of 2 rooms via HOTWIRE.

Location in the Secaucus, Meadowlands, and North Bergen areas is always an issue since not all hotels are walkable to a bus stop into the city. As well, be very careful in this area regarding parking your car in a mall lot and leaving it for the day as you could easily get towed.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to proceed and we'll advise accordingly.

[LindaMP]

Hi:

Thanks for the info. We are thinking of booking with hotwire. I don't know alot about the priceline and wondering if it is more of a gamble than hotwire. The hotel we are seriously considering is a 3* rating for $56 I believe, and the 3 1/2* is $79, but a friend of mine said that Meadowlands is a large area and goes up Northwest so we are looking at the cost of transportation and length of time to get to NYC by transit. We also have to consider exchange rate as well, us good old Canadians, lol. We are just concerned about where these hotels may be. The kid are 1- 14 and 2 -16 year olds. We will be at the hotel to basically sleep and plan to stay in the city most of the day.

Thanks again for your quick reply and help. Awesome site!!!!

Smiles

LindaMP

[thereuare]

Bus travel time from Secaucus is probably 'listed' at 20-25 minutes, but it can be significantly longer as Lincoln Tunnel traffic is highly unpredictable.

What are the amenities HOTWIRE associates with the two hotels you're considering?

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[LindaMP]

Hi:

The room for $56. has smoke free rooms, Business Centre, continental or full breakfast, fitness centre, highspeed internet, and the $76 hotel has no breakfast, a pool, restaurant on site, and golf nearby, but does not mention smoke free rooms as the $56 hotel does..

Thanks again.

Smiles

LindaMP

[dc3]

Staying in Secaucus is about as bad a choice as I can imagine if you want to be in Manhattan. It is an unattractive area and its merit is that the sports stadium is there. The NJ Turnpike creates a lot of noise and traffic. Why not simply find the best deal at whatever star level you can afford and assume two people can be in a room? The cost of commuting into NYC adds to your expenses for each person. If you insist on staying in NJ but not on the waterfront, then the Hilton in Newark is right at the train station for a 15 minute ride to Penn Station. Newark is another unattractive place but not as bad as Secaucus.

[thereuare]

Newark is another unattractive place but not as bad as Secaucus.

I think Newark would be going from bad to worse :) , but that's a discussion for another thread.

We do agree that Secaucus is a distant second choice in NJ (vs. the Jersey City waterfront), but if somebody has a limited or fixed budget, this area is do-able for getting to/from Manhattan. (and parking is free too)

LindaMP, this discussion also reminded me that if you do land a hotel that is not walkable to a bus stop, since you have a car you could drive to the Park N Ride (~1-2 miles up the road) where you can park and get a bus ticket to the city.

For the HOTWIRE hotels you're seeing, please just tell us what icons do show for each property as it makes it easier to see/research, then to read does have this, does not have this, etc, etc. Let us know what is associated with each and we'll take a look.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[LindaMP]

Hi:

I did state what the hotels had but maybe that wasn't' clear enough, one has a continental breakfast, business centre, highspeed internet, non smoking rooms, and fitness centres, that was for $56, the other one had the same except, it didn't state non smoking rooms, and does not have the breakfast, but it does have a pool, nearby golf.

Hope this helps. If not, I'll recheck again when I get back in a bit.

Thanks.

Smiles

LindaMP

[LindaMP]

Hi:

Well it looks like the $56 hotel is gone, but there is now one for $49, 3* and it includes continental breakfast or full, pool, restaurant, laundry facilities-coin operated, high speed interent. The $76 has a fitness centre, pool, restaurant, business centre, high speed internet and golf nearby.

Any thoughts on which hotel these are? Yes we are trying to do our accomodations as cheap as we can, as we won't be at the hotel much. If we stay in NYC it's not only the hotel, but the parking is expensive for the day and for the four of us to do shows, meals, travel around, etc. it will add up. We are planning to visit other places after as well on our way back.

Thanks again for any help.

Smiles

LindaMP

[dahammer]

For the HOTWIRE hotels you're seeing, please just tell us what icons do show for each property as it makes it easier to see/research, then to read does have this, does not have this, etc, etc. Let us know what is associated with each and we'll take a look.

please list each property with the amenities shown

I did state what the hotels had but maybe that wasn't' clear enough, one has a continental breakfast, business centre, highspeed internet, non smoking rooms, and fitness centres, that was for $56, the other one had the same except, it didn't state non smoking rooms, and does not have the breakfast, but it does have a pool, nearby golf.

listing amenities as follows makes it easier to read and render an opinion:

continental breakfast

business centre

highspeed internet

non smoking rooms

fitness centres

[thereuare]

July19-22

2rooms / 4adults / 3children

$49 3* Secaucus

continental breakfast, pool, restaurant, laundry, high speed interent

3.5* Secaucus

fitness centre, pool, restaurant, business centre, high speed internet and golf nearby

See how easy everything is to read above :)

The 3* property appears to be the La Quinta Inn and Suites Clifton, upgraded from the time it was last reported at the 2.5* level. This property is the further west in the zone, making it the further from Manhattan. I'm not sure of transporation options from there, but the hotel is on a highway so it would at least involved walking to some degree, and i think somebody once mentioned being able walk out behind the hotel to some side streets in order to catch the bus, but i''m not certain, and i'm not a huge fan of this property (at least from the outside the numerous times i've driven past it)

The 3.5* is a match for the Sheraton Meadowlands so that would be my best guess for this one. This hotel is NOT walkable to transporation, but the hotel used to (not sure if they still do) run a shuttle service to a nearby bus stop... but the shuttle was on a schedule and not 'on demand', as well as didn't run too late at nite.

PS- when you post, instread of clickng the " REPLY button, look down 2 inches and use the ADD REPLY button, as this will stop you from quoting the entire previous message :)

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[LindaMP]

Thanks so much for the helpful information. I wasn't totally sure about the reply and I now know how to use it thanks to you and how to post more easily. I'm a newbie, what can I say:)

Thanks again, so from what I gather these spots don't look great to stay in. Well I'm certainly glad I have done some investigation through this site. Now I will have to keep searching until we can find something:(

Thanks again for all of your help. This is an awesome site and great people helping out and looking after it:)

Smiles

LindaMP

[LindaMP]

Hi:

You had mentioned previously about staying in Jersey City waterfront. Does HOTWIRE offer hotels here and is it closer than meadowlands. Trying to look at all options.

Thanks for your help again.

Smiles

LindaMP

[thereuare]

You had mentioned previously about staying in Jersey City waterfront. Does HOTWIRE offer hotels here and is it closer than meadowlands.

Yes, HOTWIRE offers hotels in this area, and it is closer than the Meadowlands, but the zone is larger than the just the waterfront area, and most of the non-4* rated properties are not on the waterfront.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[LindaMP]

Hi:

Hotwire has one hotel listed as a 4star for $119 in Hoboken Jersey City. Reading in your previous posts earlier you mentioned it may be the Westin or Hyatt on Hudson? Do you know which one it may be? There aren't any others listed as for waterfront on hotwire. This hotel has:

fitness centre

pool

restaurant

business centre

highspeed internet

Thanks.

Smiles

LindaMP

[thereuare]

Looks to me like it's the Westin and that would be my best guess, but they're both great hotels.

Keep in mind n this area you'll also pay for parking (~$20-25/day)... defrayed somewhat by cheaper commuting costs.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[LindaMP]

Hi:

Oh geez, here I go again, lol. So I'm going to be paying for parking extra and what will the commute time/money be into NYC? Based on all of your experience what would be the most economical way to go hotel/commuting and then what would be the next best way to go. With staying right in NYC we will have to pay the extra for parking but way more, plus higher rates of hotel, but pretty much everyone is saying this is the way to go. I also looked at the option of staying one night or two in, but this may be a pain, and friends of ours really dont' want to drive into NYC.

Thanks for your help.

Smiles

LindaMP

[thereuare]

From Jersey City the commute time will differ depending upon which hotel you receive and day of the week... from the Westin the commute to midtown is ~17 mintues on weekdays (myabe 5 minutes longer on weekends and late nite weekdays (b/w 11pm-7am)). From the Hyatt you'll can be downtown Manhattan in 8 minutes. Fare is $1.30-$1.75 depending upon how many trips you purchase.

There is no "best economical hotel/commute" answer as everything is a trade-off... if you want convenience you stay in Jersey City and it costs you a little more; if you want budget you stay in the Secaucus/Meadowlands area and it's a little less convenient. As a "NYC alternative" these are the two best areas to stay, imo, so which you choose really comes down to budget vs. convenience.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.