NYC travel advice needed

[hbelkins]

My wife is considering attending a book signing in New York City in mid-October.
It will be held on a weekday at 12:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble at the Citigroup
Center at 160 East 54th Street in Manhattan.

Obviously, driving directly to the venue in the city is not an option, so I'm
looking at other travel alternatives for her.

Several years ago, she attended a concert in Manhattan and opted to park her car
at the Metropark facility in Iselin, N.J., and rode the NJ Transit train to Penn
Station. Her hotel and the concert venue were not far from Penn Station, so this
was a reasonable option. So that's something I'm looking at for her for this
trip to get her into the city.

Her route would likely be I-79 to I-68 to I-70 to I-81 to I-78 to I-287 to the
Iselin/Metuchen area.

So, my questions are:

1.) Are there decent motel/hotel options near the Metropark facility? She
prefers Choice Hotel brands; specifically Comfort Suites, Comfort Inn, Quality
Inn or Sleep Inn.

2.) Would riding NJ Transit into Penn Station be a viable option to get her into
the city with enough time to get to the Barnes & Noble well in advance of the
event? Or is there something else I should look at to get her from New Jersey
into Manhattan?

3.) What's the best option to get from Penn Station to 160 East 54th Street? Is
there a particular subway line she should use. (I would need to give her very
specific instructions on which line to use).

Also, she is interested in doing some sightseeing while she is in the area. Can
anyone recommend tours of the city that leave from the west side of the Hudson
(especially anything near where she would be staying)? Also, what would be the
best way for her to get to visit the Statue of Liberty from the New Jersey side?

Advice and opinions appreciated.

[dfilpus]

We've looked at doing just this sort of thing.

1) I've been able to get deals on nice hotels in Somerset, Exit 10 on I-287. It takes about half an hour, depending on traffic, to get from Somerset to Iselin.
2) The train takes about an hour from NJ to Penn Station.
3) The E line goes from Penn Station to Lexington/54th, around the block from the venue.

There is the Edison State Park, a mile south of the Metropark on NJ 27.

As for the Statue of Liberty, the ferry runs from Liberty State Park to Ellis Island to Liberty Island. There are parking lots on the dock next to the park. There is also a water taxi to New York City near the World Trade Center from that dock.

[SSOWorld]

There is a Comfort Suites (Confort Suites at Woodbridge) which I stayed at for one night on the way back from Providence in 2010 as the next morning I did a brief drive-around in NYC.  Its a couple miles north and on US 1-9.  Problem is you need to approach it from the north as that is the only way you will be able to access it.  Cheapest room is 115 (approx incl taxes) directly from the website.  Way in from Metropark - http://goo.gl/maps/z1jGR



Getting out is easier - just need to get yourself on the GSP WB by following US9  - Way out from hotel - http://goo.gl/maps/i5KWo

There are 2 comfort inns and and a Rodeway Inn south or southwest, but they look a little farther and may be crazier to get to.

Does the parking fill fast at Edison?

[Jim]

There is a Comfort Suites (Confort Suites at Woodbridge) which I stayed at for one night on the way back from Providence in 2010 as the next morning I did a brief drive-around in NYC.  Its a couple miles north and on US 1-9.  Problem is you need to approach it from the north as that is the only way you will be able to access it.  Cheapest room is 115 (approx incl taxes) directly from the website.  Way in from Metropark - http://goo.gl/maps/z1jGR

I've stayed at that Comfort Suites at least 3 times, maybe 4.   I'll echo the warning about approaching from the north being the only way in.  Fortunately, if you want to head back north on your way out, you only have to proceed a short distance south on 1-9 before there's a turnaround (exit right, go under 1-9, reenter NB) probably a mile or so south.

But my destination for most of those trips was on Staten Island.  One possibility is to stay in Woodbridge then drive onto Staten Island to the ferry terminal, take the Staten Island Ferry across to lower Manhattan, then the subway from there.  Probably not perfect in the OP situation, but it does have the advantage of the scenic (and free!) ferry ride if that's appealing.  A big downside is the need to use surface streets on Staten Island, as the expressways do not go to St. George.

Usually when I've wanted to go into Manhattan, I've just done the drive.  But I enjoy driving around there once in a while - many people are not willing to do so.  Yes, you probably have to pay a premium to park but I do like being able to go to the car and just drive on out when it's time to leave.

[Alps]

Does the parking fill fast at Edison?

I don't think it ever completely fills. If there's any concern, get there by 8 on a weekday and you should be fine. I'll also recommend trying Indian cuisine if your wife is open to ethnic foods - Edison has one of the highest concentrations of Indians in the nation. Then there's Harold's Deli if she's into top-quality sandwiches.

[Roadgeek Adam]

Does the parking fill fast at Edison?

I don't think it ever completely fills. If there's any concern, get there by 8 on a weekday and you should be fine. I'll also recommend trying Indian cuisine if your wife is open to ethnic foods - Edison has one of the highest concentrations of Indians in the nation. Then there's Harold's Deli if she's into top-quality sandwiches.

Depending on the hour, that place is nuts. Thankfully they opened the new lot to relieve some of this.

[Duke87]

The E train actually stops at 53rd St, not 54th. But if she gets to the front of the train (the opposite end of the train from where the entrance from Penn Station is), she can exit at 53rd St and 3rd Ave. The Barnes & Noble she's looking for is on the Southwest corner of 3rd Ave & 54th St. I know it well, it's right around the corner from my office!

As far as sightseeing is concerned, if she wants to take one of those bus tours, they have them on Lexington Avenue just a few blocks south of there. And they have guys on the street selling tickets.

The only way to get to the Statue of Liberty is via ferry - this she wants to do from New Jersey, it's easier and less crowded than the ferry from Manhattan. It leaves from Liberty State Park (here). She'll want to drive to the ferry.

[relaxok]

Obviously, driving directly to the venue in the city is not an option

Just curious, why is that?

I almost always drove to the city from CT for events like this and ended up having less headaches than using other transit.

[mc78andrew]

I know things are tough out there, but you can probably get her a decent room in NYC with some competitive shopping for about 300 bucks a night. It's much more than you'll pay in nj I know, but the experience of staying in manhattan is definitely worth it.  If you can you should join her!

The hotels in times square are nice now a days, but be careful going to far to the west side in midtown.  It starts to look like the times square of the 1980s on 8th ave.  There are also some hotels over by grand central that are nice too but probably pricier. 

Either way if she is staying in midtown or commuting into penn station, I would recommend walking unless it is raining.  The street level experience is much better than the subway and it will not take too long.  I could make that walk in 20 minutes, but I'd leave your wife more time.  Head east on 33rd street to 5th ave then turn north for 20 blocks until you get to 54th, then turn right and it's 3 blocks to lex.  That'll be a walk she remembers as 5th avenue is a destination in itself. 

[empirestate]

Obviously, driving directly to the venue in the city is not an option

Just curious, why is that?

For one thing, parking will cost a fortune, particularly by rural Kentucky standards, or will require some dedicated and knowledgeable searching to find free on-street spaces, which isn't guaranteed within a few blocks of that destination. And it will be midday on a weekday, so parking discounts will be hard to come by.

For another, driving in Manhattan is a special challenge, one that I personally enjoy, but which requires a certain constitution of the driver, otherwise it just becomes a daunting ordeal. Truth be told, I prefer driving in Manhattan versus the outer boroughs (where I live); it's aggressive and tough, but traffic is usually much more orderly and predictable once you get beyond the sheer congestion of it. Also, at certain times of day, parking is much easier in town than in the boroughs, as huge swaths of Manhattan streets become available for general parking at 7pm, whereas they're reserved for commercial traffic during the day. And on Sunday, there are neither these restrictions nor any meter fees, and with constant turnover, Sunday is actually a great time to park in Manhattan.

Of course, none of that helps for Mrs. Elkins' itinerary...

The hotels in times square are nice now a days, but be careful going to far to the west side in midtown.  It starts to look like the times square of the 1980s on 8th ave.  There are also some hotels over by grand central that are nice too but probably pricier. 

There's really nothing so bad about western Midtown (about from 10th Ave. to the Hudson); it's just that it's not as built up and the landuse there is more given over to things like railyards, tunnel approaches, gas stations and large municipal operations, so it's not as convenient or welcoming as the heart of town. Still, that area is being pretty aggressively developed now with new luxury apartment high-rises and boutique hotels.

Either way if she is staying in midtown or commuting into penn station, I would recommend walking unless it is raining.  The street level experience is much better than the subway and it will not take too long.  I could make that walk in 20 minutes, but I'd leave your wife more time.  Head east on 33rd street to 5th ave then turn north for 20 blocks until you get to 54th, then turn right and it's 3 blocks to lex.  That'll be a walk she remembers as 5th avenue is a destination in itself. 

I'd have no problem walking it myself, especially if it saves me a subway fare, but it's quite a hike if you're not used to the distance and the urban environment. Of course, you could argue that that environment is the whole point of visiting a place like NYC, but then again, a trip in the subway is just as quintessential as walking through the streets of Manhattan.

When it comes to that, of course, a cab ride wouldn't be a bad option. The yellow cabs (the only ones to consider) are not frightfully expensive; at that time of day the trip should cost well under $20, and they all now accept credit cards by law.

The yellow cabs you can hail are the ones with just the number illuminated on top of the cab. Off-duty cabs will have those words lit up along with the number (which annoys me, as it seems misleading), so you can't theoretically get one of those. The ones with nothing lit up already have a passenger. It's not hard to get a cab in that neighborhood, in fact they'll probably be lined up at the station. If you don't see a taxi stand, just step off the curb and raise your hand high; you'll have one in no time. Hop in and say "54th and third, please" and you're on your way!

Depending on the hour, though, I'd still suggest a subway back to Penn Station, as cabs will be slowed up by rush-hour traffic later in the afternoon. In that case, it's obviously simpler to do the subway both ways; in fact, in any case the subway will be the cheapest and fastest option.

[hbelkins]

Thanks to all for the advice, and keep it coming. It's not certain that she will do this trip.

She spent several nights in Manhattan a few years ago, so she's already had the city experience. The Comfort Inn in Edison is reasonably priced and generally gets good reviews on TripAdvisor, so that's probably what we will opt for if she goes.

Reasons for her not driving in the city are congestion and parking, along with her tendency to get lost.

Staying in a $300-a-night hotel is not an option unless we hit the Powerball in the next few weeks. 

[hbelkins]

Her plans have changed just a little.

She will now be attending a book signing at Bookends at Ridgewood, NJ on Thursday night, 10/18. So it would probably be more convenient for her to spend the night there that evening instead of driving back down to Edison. TripAdvisor gives no hotels/motels for Ridgewood and the nearest Choice Hotels property is a Comfort Inn at Paramus, at the intersection of NJ 17 and the GSP.

Can anyone recommend other decent lodging options near Ridgewood? Doesn't have to be a Choice Hotels brand.

Right now her plans are arrival in NJ on Monday night, 10/15; attending a book signing in NYC on Tuesday, 10/16 (traveling from the Edison area via NJ Transit and the subway); sightseeing in the city on Wednesday; shopping in NNJ and the book signing on 10/18, and ??? on 10/19.

Edited to say she will NOW be attending...

[swbrotha100]

Paramus will probably be your best option, since it borders Ridgewood. Look for hotels/motels off of or near Route 17 or Route 4.

[MrDisco99]

We usually stay at the Hilton Newark Penn Station.  It's a clean and comfortable, friendly staffed hotel with good deals on rates offered fairly often.  It's also connected through an indoor corridor to Penn Station with direct access to $2.00 PATH trains into the city.  Parking is a bit steep at $21 per night, but to me it's worth having ridiculously easy access to the city without the price or stress of actually being in it.

I would advise, however, to stay within the confines of the hotel and the station, which are pretty safe, as opposed to the rest of downtown Newark.

[hbelkins]

Her trip went well. She stayed in Edison and took the train from Metropark into the city, then opted for a cab to the bookstore since she went in a lot earlier than anticipated due to crowds lining up early for the book signing.

She is not a fan, however, of Jersey jughandles and U-turns. If she ever sees another "All Turns From Right Lane" sign, she may kill someone. 

She also was on the phone with me as she passed a Parsippany sign, and she sent a greeting to our resident Parsippany member although he was out of town at the time.

[Alps]

Her trip went well. She stayed in Edison and took the train from Metropark into the city, then opted for a cab to the bookstore since she went in a lot earlier than anticipated due to crowds lining up early for the book signing.

She is not a fan, however, of Jersey jughandles and U-turns. If she ever sees another "All Turns From Right Lane" sign, she may kill someone. 

She also was on the phone with me as she passed a Parsippany sign, and she sent a greeting to our resident Parsippany member although he was out of town at the time.

Aw, shucks (:

[SSOWorld]

Her trip went well. She stayed in Edison and took the train from Metropark into the city, then opted for a cab to the bookstore since she went in a lot earlier than anticipated due to crowds lining up early for the book signing.

She is not a fan, however, of Jersey jughandles and U-turns. If she ever sees another "All Turns From Right Lane" sign, she may kill someone. 

She also was on the phone with me as she passed a Parsippany sign, and she sent a greeting to our resident Parsippany member although he was out of town at the time.

Aw, shucks (:

Did it involve full hand wave or just one middle finger?

[Alps]

Her trip went well. She stayed in Edison and took the train from Metropark into the city, then opted for a cab to the bookstore since she went in a lot earlier than anticipated due to crowds lining up early for the book signing.

She is not a fan, however, of Jersey jughandles and U-turns. If she ever sees another "All Turns From Right Lane" sign, she may kill someone. 

She also was on the phone with me as she passed a Parsippany sign, and she sent a greeting to our resident Parsippany member although he was out of town at the time.

Aw, shucks (:

Did it involve full hand wave or just one middle finger?

Trust me, when I drive by you, there will be no question.