Tuesday 19 June 2007

I have a headache....



I'm going on holidays in October, so I've spent the past week looking up accommodation on the internet......AND IT'S DOING MY HEAD IN!!!

Who would've ever thought there were 3,243,124 websites dedicated to "helping" you find accommodation in New York City?? Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but you get my drift.

Sometimes, choice isn't the best thing in the world, especially for an indecisive Piscean like me, who also flips out at hotel (guest) reviews that mention words like "mice", "dirty" and "shared bathroom" when describing budget hotels.

Yes - budget hotels.

For those who know me, I'm not a huge fan.....wait a minute....who am I kidding here.....I'm not a fan at all of this type of lodging (give me the Four Seasons any day), but at $400 a night for a 2 - 3 star hotel in New York, I don't have much choice. (Four Seasons would be more like $800 a night at a minimum for those wondering).

And you know what, I still haven't booked anything!

So I called a travel agent to see if I could handball the hard work to her, and she couldn't find me a hotel for less than $500 a night :o(

ENTER LONELY PLANET GUIDE TO NYC.....which lists websites that can organise hosted/unhosted accommodation in studios, apartments etc, for less than/same as the cost of a 1 - 2 star hotel. So there's a separate kitchen, bathroom, bedroom ie room to move.....and no mice!

If you're visiting NYC, check out City Sonnet or Manhattan Lodgings

Now to make a decision between the 10 or so properties I've been sent.

Oh dear - now I have another headache :o(

9 comments:

Oh for the love of food! said...

Travel prep work is GOOD headache, Belinda! Don't you find it exciting? We're travelling in August and I'm doing some research as to places to go, places to eat, shop etc. I'ts great!

Anonymous said...

ewww mice! Wasn't the little green asylum enough for you? I can't believe how expensive it is for a nice hotel! maybe i shouldn't stop in new york on my trip after all! If your freaking out about the hotels I can only imagine how i will react!Eek!maybe you can be my guinea pig :P

Anonymous said...

Actually, there are lots of rooms available for less than $500 per night. Let us know a bit more and your New York blogging pals will try to help. What is your budget and where in the city do you want to stay?

Ming the Merciless said...

Bel, there are hotels OUTSIDE of Manhattan that are less than $200/night, assuming you are willing to venture to Queens or Brooklyn.

La Quinta Inn Queens in Long Island City is only 10 minutes via subway from Manhattan.

Try TripAdvisor.com. I use it all the time. In fact, I just booked my hotel room in Kuala Lumpur after reading the reviews there.

The Idea Of Progress said...

I'd stay in a borough, if I was you (and we can probably afford the same). You won't feel like you're in a Sex in the City hotel, but then again, you will be able to afford to eat, which is good.

Ella Gregory said...

i am not good when i have too many choices
i always think ive made the wrng choice
i hope yo have a good time in the end

Ming the Merciless said...

Thanks for the recommendation of "Vroom with a View" by Peter Moore. Am reading it now and am totally loving it.

Have only gotten past Chapter 2: Lake Como.

Oh for the love of food! said...

Hey Belinda! Where have you been? Haven't seen you around lately. Hope you are well, I know a lot of people either have a bug, a cold etc. Take care won't you? xo

Oh for the love of food! said...

Belinda, where are you, north or south of the river? I'm thinking 'Just Espresso' in South Perth sometime next week. My girls would like to say hi too. I'ts school holidays next week, so if you are north I can meet you half way in the city. E-mail me at carol-rode@hotmail.com Can't wait to finally meet you.