Priceline Hotel: Need help with hotel near JFK airport and transportation to Midtown...

[Sunshine Girl]

My family is heading to NYC for the first time (there will 2 adults and 3 small kids). Our travel dates are 10/14/09 to 10/20/09. Our flight is due to arrive around midnight at the JFK airport. We are thinking of booking a 3* hotel near the airport just to sleep and then head to midtown Manhattan later that morning. Would it be possible to get a 3* hotel on for 10/14 - 10/15 below $75?

Also, if you can offer suggestions on the best and cheapest way to commute to Midtown/Times Square for a family of 5...

Do you know if NYC cabs will accomodate families of 5 in one cab?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

You know your family/kids better than i do, as well as how much experience you have traveling with them, but as i've done a fair amount of traveling with <only> two small kids, i'd recommend heading right to the city... yes, it will be more expensive, but with kids (who can't typically help with carrying any luggage) it can be a BIG hassle getting from place to place.

If you choose JFK, you need to take a taxi to the hotel, unpack some thing, spend the nite, re-pack whatever you took out of bags, get the kids organized, load everything into a taxi the next morning, then first check-in (if you're able to in the morning) at your NYC hotel.

It will be a whole lot easier to take one taxi direct to Manhattan, unpack once, let the kids get a good nite's sleep, and wake up the next morning to immediately start your day; if you wake by JFK i can almost guarantee you don't get to the city much before noon, and by the time you check-in to the hotel and get 'settled', you'll have already killed three quarters of your first day of vacation.

To answer your original question, 'standard' taxis can only legally accomodate 4 passengers, but at the airport there will likely be a handful of 'mini-van type' taxis which an accomodate more (no extra charge for them, but you'll likely need to wait your turn in line and then wait for the next mini-van-type taxi)... which also adds another 'element' to first staying at a JFK airport hotel, since there will be far fewer minivan taxis showing up at that property which can accomodate your family (although you will sometimes get a taxi that will take more than four in a standard car)

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[Sunshine Girl]

We've already booked airline flights for these dates and have been doing research on hotel rates for these dates. Anyone know why the rates are so high for these dates? It's our first trip to NYC and there will be 2 adults and 2 small children traveling and I'm wondering if we will be able to get a 4* hotel for $180 or less. We won't be renting a car so would TS or Midtown Central be okay as far as location and for walking to most of the tourist spots.

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

Rates are likely higher than you suspect because you've been rently looking at summer rates, which is low season, and you're stay is in October, which is a much busier season. As well, you're searching for more than double occupancy, which can often greatly reduce the number of options since many hotels in NYC can only accomodate double occupancy.

How old are you kids? Are there two or three children? (conflicting info in your two posts)

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