What if I can't afford to stay in Manhattan?

Oy vey...If you can't afford to stay in Manhattan, then you'd better make sure you can afford to even visit. It's not just the hotels that are expensive. No siree! I bet you didn't know that a friggin' pack of Marlboro reds will run you 13 or 14 simoleons! Don't smoke? Well goodie gumdrops for you. That ain't gonna make you immune to our crazy cost of living though. I assume you drink and eat?

Lucky for you, you've got options inside and outside Manhattan, in New York City's outer boroughs. What are the outer boroughs? These are the five boroughs, that along with Manhattan, make up New York City. Yup - Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and da Bronx are part of NYC. Ok, well that and a twenty will get me a pack of smokes and a coffee, so what's the point? The point, Nitz, is that you can save an assload of moola by staying in one of the outer boroughs and still be hella close to Manhattan. You know, the place with all the tall buildings that you see on Gossip Girl?

I usually recommend staying in Queens, for multiple reasons. First - it's closer to Midtown Manhattan than the others, and lets face it, you know you're gonna be wasting time in Times Square. Secondly, the subway system is vast and easier to use. It will also take more direct routes than say, south Brooklyn. Thirdly, it's safe and affordable. Now, remember, it's still New York City, so you're not gonna get off cheap, but it is cheaper. That being said, you should still be prepared to fork out a C-note or more per night (that's $100 bucks for you dummies out there) but that's a lot less than the Buck Fifty plus you'll shell out in Manhattan. And, if you're driving here, it's a no brainer. The money you'll save in parking alone should be enough to sway you. Besides, you're not going to actually drive the damn thing while you're here. 

So, where in Queens should I look? Queens is a big borough. The largest, actually, but as vast as the subway is, it gets anemic towards the eastern parts, which are also accessible to Manhattan via the LIRR (Long Island Rail Road), but it's a much longer and more expensive ride, so head west. Stick with major intersections like Northern Blvd. or Queens Blvd., in neighborhoods like Astoria, Jackson Heights, Woodside, Flushing or Long Island City. Most of those are just 15-20 minutes away via subway. Some hoods are close, but the subway lines aren't as direct, so keep your eyes out for the E, F, 7, N or R trains. You can view them here: >>>Hotels in Queens, NYC . 

Alright, but you did mention that I still had options in Manhattan, didn't you? Yes I did, liverlips! For one, you can stay in a bedbug ridden dump with the rest of the hookers or you can stay in a hostel. That's hostel with an "s", not hotel. Hostels can be had for about $35-$40 bucks a night if you don't mind sharing a room and a bathroom with a bunch of kids and International travelers. Hey, I didn't say it was a great option, but it is an option. Interested? Try: Hostelworld.com, search over 15,000 Properties Worldwide Book Now!