New Jersey Safety

Hi all,

Never been to East Coast of USA, could be making a trip up there, just weighing options up.

Looking at prices of accommodation looks as though Jersey is a lot cheaper than NYC, plus we dont really want to stay in dorms so it looks as though Jerseys the go.

Having never been however and not knowing a lot about the place, is Jersey a safe place to stay/ walk around etc?? Obviously as with every city caution is to be taken when venturing out, but what level of caution is needed in as area such as this?? Looking at around the Union City/ Tonnele Ave area.

Whats it like during the day and after dark??

New Jersey Safety

IMO if you are visiting to tour NYC - staying in New Jersey is not the best option. There are hotels in the City that are having sales - you don%26#39;t have to stay at a NAME hotel, after all you are just going to sleep there.I would not even consider NJ.

Of course there are others who will disagree - well everyone has their own agenda - check out NYC hotel pricing.

Poppa

New Jersey Safety

At the top of this forum page click on FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions for NYC. Then scroll down and click on Lodging outside Manhattan - a collection of posts. That will give you a lot of information on staying outside the city.

The only places I%26#39;d recommend you stayed in NJ (keep in mind it%26#39;s a large state, so asking a general question of if Jersey is safe isn%26#39;t going to get a good answer) are Jersey City or Hoboken. Both are close to Manhattan and have good public transport into NYC.

However, at the moment hotel prices are the lowest they%26#39;ve been in around 3 years. What are your dates and what%26#39;s your nightly budget?

Generally, the week before Christmas is one of the most expensive of the year, then the first weekend in November (NY marathon), plus April and October because the weather%26#39;s so nice. It%26#39;s cheapest in February and August.

Our budgets really low. Like US$50 per person per night... For that its either a hostel share a room in NYC or stay a mile or two out and pay that for a low range hotel room... Hence the safety issue, dont wanna get mugged walkin to NYC in the morning, if its dark find another way back otherwise public transport

%26gt;%26gt;Hence the safety issue, dont wanna get mugged walkin to NYC in the morning, if its dark find another way back otherwise public transport%26gt;%26gt;

Just so you know, you can%26#39;t walk between NJ and NYC, and public transit is going to be your only option for getting back and forth. NYC taxis do not have to go to NJ and most would refuse the journey; car services (which you pre-book) will go to NJ but are expensive.

How many are you??

%26gt;%26gt;Our budgets really low. Like US$50 per person per night%26lt;%26lt;

When are you arriving?

Obviously you have done no research on your trip - hotels in NYC are mor expensive than other locations in the %26#39;States - geographically speaking you certainly do not have a handle on things....suggest you check some of the FAQ%26#39;s on this Forum or on the Internet in general. Have you looked at any guidebooks about NYC....

Please do some research-then perhaps you can be given some specific answers to your meaningful questions.

$50/person is not helpful information when you don%26#39;t tell us how many you are (or when you%26#39;re thinking of coming)! There are better places to stay than Union City imo. Secaucus/Meadowlands area of New Jersey has a lot of hotels. It%26#39;s not as close or as fast to get to and requires a bus trip, but it%26#39;s a more attractive area.

The other area to consider is Long Island City in Queens which would be included in the NYC subway system. There%26#39;s a brand new Holiday Inn that%26#39;s just opened there. This is another area that%26#39;s not gorgeous to look at but fine for a place to sleep. tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g48080-Long_Island_Ci鈥?/a>

Travelover101 - please read this:

Help US help YOU

BrooklynMel

Brooklyn, NY

Posted on: 6:05 pm, March 15, 2009 Trip Advisor is a wonderful thing. Where else can you get actual New Yorkers like Crans, NY Whiz, QB, and our own raconteur Lotus Path to answer your questions? But, as knowledgeable as the posters on this board may be, there are things that you can do to help us out. Here are some suggestions.

1. First and foremost, do the research. Did you check out the FAQ, review your guidebooks, and punch in any questions to the search engine on the site? We tend to respond better to questions that are specific in nature, as opposed to ';Where do I go and what do I do.';

2. What is your budget? First, this is something that you have to figure out. Are you a 24 YO art student on a budget, or a corporate mogul who needs a mint on the pillow. This applies to both where you stay and where you eat. Remember, there are great places in New York for all budgets. Let us know yours.

3. Tell us about yourself. Who are you? What do you like to do? If you want to know what your 15 YO would like to do, tell us about the young man or woman. Like sports, art, shopping, nature etc, let us know. One person%26#39;s ho-hum is another person%26#39;s WOW.

4. How long are you staying and is this your first time here? Usually, first timers are more interested in the general sites, and repeat visitors want to get off the beaten path. Also, the longer the visit, usually the more adventurous the visitor.

5. If you receive an answer on the board that you like, it%26#39;s always good form to thank the poster. If you%26#39;d like more specific info from a poster, drop the poster a personal message.

6. Now don%26#39;t get me wrong, itineraries are great. But, they should be an outline only, and never carved in stone. Make sure to allow some time to just explore a neighborhood or return to someplace that you liked. Make sure to build in time to simply relax and take it all in.

7. Before you leave, take care of whatever you can do at home. Did you call you bank to tell them you%26#39;re traveling? Did you apply for a Big Apple Greeter. Did you print out your boarding passes? Do you know how to get from the airport to your hotel?

8. Keep lurking on the site, even if you don%26#39;t post. There is a lot of information that passes through this site. I%26#39;ve lived here for years and still learn stuff on the board. Don%26#39;t be put off by the occasional snarky post. We%26#39;re New Yorkers and aren%26#39;t shy. Heaven help the next Brit poster who asks about a 16 year old in a bar?

9. Pay it back. Did you like the advice that you received. Does your city have a TA forum board? Well, what are you waiting for.

The posters on this forum are some of the most knowledgeable New Yorkers out there. We wouldn%26#39;t be here if we did not want to help show you the City that we love so much. If you abide by the above suggestions, you%26#39;d see us at our best.

Catch you in Brooklyn

MEL

Is the $100 a night plus tax or including tax?

The Ramada Ltd in Jersey City have rooms for $71.99 per night, they are only a short ride away from Manhattan using the PATH train system. I am staying in JC myself from tomorrow for 6 nights, we are at the Candlewood Suites, so i will post a review of the area when i get back.

Candlewood Suites is a very nice chain. It is rather new so everything is new and it%26#39;s very clean.

networking