Wyatt said:
@Onyx
$100 for a bunk is actually a joke.
… anywhere else it would be.
It’s in Manhattan between Central Park and Times Square.
Try pricing out a proper hotel in that area.
@Onyx
I’m not denying that relatively speaking, it’s a good price.
I’m just saying that the fact that you have to spend $100 to get a BUNK is a complete joke.
Wyatt said:
@Onyx
I’m not denying that relatively speaking, it’s a good price.
I’m just saying that the fact that you have to spend $100 to get a BUNK is a complete joke.
We agree on that 
.
Westin said:
Hostels instead?
The Local NYC in LIC is pretty good. Around $60-$70 per night for a bunk, clean, trendy, etc.
Westin said:
Hostels instead?
The Local NYC in LIC is pretty good. Around $60-$70 per night for a bunk, clean, trendy, etc.
I second this. I stayed here a few nights recently and it was great. Good location and a nice vibe. I preferred it to HI Hostel on 103rd street, which was much bigger and seemed less friendly to me. Local NYC also was in a better location despite not being in Manhattan.
Westin said:
Hostels instead?
I would also recommend hostels. Assuming you’re able-bodied and down for adventure, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied late into the evening. I found it when I travel to big cities, I didn’t spend much time in my hotel rooms and a bunk wasn’t too unappealing so long as it had privacy curtains and female-only dorms.
@Wes
How many hours do you usually sleep per night when using hostels?
Check out the pod hotel in Williamsburg.
But also, going into debt for a trip isn’t a good idea.
I’ve stayed in Sonder One Platt in the Financial District, close to the World Trade Center, and it is not very expensive.
Try Weehawken.
Take the NY Waterway (Fares, Routes & Schedules) ferry from Lincoln Harbor to Manhattan each day.
What are your thoughts on bed bugs, hookers, and cocaine residue?
How far under 2k do you want to get? And what currency is that? US dollars?
Agreed with some of the other commenters—personally recommend the Marriott card (bc that’s what I have so I’m 100p biased lol). Or you can get a credit card like Chase Sapphire that lets you use your points towards anything (so flights, hotels, etc.)
A lot of cards will get really good sign-off offers around the holiday season (which is low-key predatory behavior but I digress), so if you are comfortable opening a credit card in our financial so, the points add up pretty quickly.
Check out the Bronx Opera House Hotel. Yes, I know…yikes the Bronx. However, it’s a really nice boutique hotel. I live in the Bronx but stayed there for 3 days when my apartment was being painted.
I stayed near Chinatown called Off Soho Suites, which looks like a typical old-style New York hotel. It’s close to Chinatown, the clubs, and two train lines. For big chain hotels, I notice that they are cheaper 3 months before (given they still had availability) and also Sunday morning. Give it a check at that time.
Stay in Weehawken, New Jersey. Take NY Waterways to NYC. They have free buses to Port Authority.
Are you military or a vet by any chance? There’s military lodging in Ft. Hamilton and Staten Island. Subway/bus and express bus are available.
There’s a pod hotel in Williamsburg Brooklyn. I always stay there.
POD hotels for the win!!! Can’t go wrong with those.
Upper Manhattan (Inwood), Bronx, Queens, outer Brooklyn (Red Hook). Close to fast transportation into Manhattan (check out the subway stops).