Long Island City - good place to stay?

I want to take a trip to NYC in March 09, but due to other travel plans for end of 09, i want to keep the costs at a minimum! So i%26#39;ve been looking at alternative locations to stay in. I%26#39;ve come across the Verve hotel in Long Island City, it seems to get favorable reviews here, and it is 1 block away from the subway station, which is a plus.

What i want to know is, would a street-wise female be okay in this area on her own? I%26#39;m was born and bred in a not so posh area of north London, so i am pretty street smart. Do you think this would be an okay hotel to book?

Long Island City - good place to stay?

Yes.

For those of you wondering--as I was--what the Verve is, it%26#39;s the new name of the Clarion in LIC.

Long Island City - good place to stay?

The area immediately around the hotel is a bit business/industrial, but quite safe. As you go further north into Astoria, you will find a perfectly decent, respectable neighborhood with (especially along 31st Street, under the elevated)many, many good and reasonably-priced restauants.

Thanks!

When i look on the subway map it doesn%26#39;t look too many stops into Manhattan. Roughly how long would it take? It seems as if the closest subway stop to the hotel is Queens Plaza, which, if i%26#39;m correct, i would take either the V or E line into Manhattan.

LIC is a good option for proximity to Manhattan. This hotel is relatively new and reasonably close to a few subway stops. We all have different priorities. If I were traveling alone, I would prefer to be in Manhattan in a location that had some places I could walk to for meals/snacks, even if it weren%26#39;t as nice a hotel. What price are you getting for this hotel and when are you coming?

hopstop.com

will give you estimated travel time and subway line options. I think E,V and R all go into Manhattan from Queens Plaza. On a map, the 39th st. station for the N,W lines looks closer but only runs M-Fri.

It will take you no more than 8 minutes (briskly walking) to get to the nearest train, which is the Queens Plaza Stop (R train, E and V). The R train will take you, in two stops, to 59th and Lexington which is right by Bloomingdale%26#39;s and a short walk to the Park and 5th Avenue.

The area is totally safe, very desolate at night, not much in the way of restaurants and services. Just walk with confidence; no one will bother you.

As an aside, this area was recently rezoned for hotels, and they are building a hotel in every possible space. Thus, lots of tourists, more police presence, etc.

Long Island City is very safe.

The closest subway station is 39th Avenue on the N and W trains. The N train runs 24/7, the W train provides additional service on weekdays. The hotels are right by the 39th Avenue station (again, the station is served 24/7 and is only ten minutes from Bloomingdales).

Queens Plaza is nearby and you have lots more options. If you don%26#39;t feel comfortable walking to / from Queens Plaza at Midnight you always have 39th Avenue. During the day you%26#39;ll be part of the herd stomping toward the train at Queens Plaza.

Service is frequent, the trip is less than ten minutes. The trains will be crowded / very safe.

There are some great restaurants up the street in Astoria and you%26#39;ll not only get some good meals, you%26#39;ll save money.

Many tourist hotel in Manhattan have lowered their rates for early 2009 - I would check the Wellington, Edison, Hotel Stanford to name 3 I have received offers from.

On is on 55th off 7th, another 32 off 5th and one on 47th near 6th....

Why not give them a look, nothing like staying right in the City, IMO.

Poppa

ukdiva- there is a brand new Holiday Inn in LIC that is very reasonable! Make sure you read reviews before you book! Good Luck:)

Some other places to consider:

park79.com

on the upper west side has rooms as low as $99/night with shared bath or $149 for private bath. Maybe even cheaper on quikbook.

The Shelburne where you%26#39;ve stayed before has a rate of $139 for a studio on travelzoo

hotels.travelzoo.com/new-york-hotels/506177