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I'm looking for accommodation around downtown Manhattan in the first week of September. It should be around 50-60 USD per night. Any local recommendations would really help me. I need nothing fancy, but a clean and quiet bed (for two) ;)

I'm also fine with Airbnb and things like this.

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That's a really difficult - if not downright impossible - price point for Downtown Manhattan tbqh. Hell, you'll be lucky to find a price like that anywhere that's close to mass transit that isn't a Hostel. – LessPop_MoreFizz Jul 3 '12 at 23:16
Cabrini-Greene comes to mind... – Karlson Jul 4 '12 at 1:17
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Is it totally irrealistic for you to consider staying in New Jersey instead of Manhattan? When I go to New York with my students, we normally book into a hotel in North Bergen and use the shuttle bus to get into and out of town. – Paola Jul 4 '12 at 14:50
@Paola how long does that take? – RoflcoptrException♦ Jul 5 '12 at 8:02
@RoflcoptrException. Approximately half an hour. It runs through Lincoln Tunnel and reaches Manhattan in the Times Square area (intersection 42nd Street and Broadway). The tickets cost less than 10 dollars (I seem to remember 6 or 7). Hope this helps you make up your mind. – Paola Jul 5 '12 at 12:35
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up vote 7 down vote accepted

Some of the cheapest rooms in Manhattan you're going to get are at the YMCA and those are about $90-$130/night. I don't think you're going to have much luck with finding $50-$60/night rooms unless you have a friend, are okay with a hostel. You might be able to catch a lucky break on Airbnb if you're okay with being in someone's house.

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Yes, I should have added that I'm also fine with Airbnb and things like this. – RoflcoptrException♦ Jul 6 '12 at 13:55
up vote 5 down vote

Hostelling International USA - New York City on the Upper West Side @ Amsterdam Ave & 103rd St, 1/2 block from the #1-train which is a 10-minute ride to Midtown, or 12-14 min to lower Manhattan.

You would have your choice of a bed in an economy dormitory room which has 8-12 beds in it for 39 - 49 USD per night and includes linen and terry, or a premium dorm which has 4 - 6 beds and includes linen, terry, shower flipflops and B-fast- for 49 - 59 USD per night. Or, a "Private" room, which is basically a hotel room without a phone & is fully-equipped with a queen bed, a "Houston" bunk (single on top, double on the bottom), coffee maker with coffee and supplies, iron and ironing board, refridgerator, linen, terry, bath amenities, hair dryer, 32" LED TV and allot of space to include your own private bartroom. Those start at 139 USD per night and it is exclusive to you and your Guest(s). BOOK EARLY - AS THIS HOSTEL IS SUPER BUSY YEAR-ROUND! You can only get the private room by calling the hostel directly at 212.932.2300 ext 155. Good luck and welcome to NYC!

Disclosure: I'm the General Manager at Hostelling International USA, NYC.

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up vote 3 down vote

I did some quick searching on Hostelworld.com (which despite the name lists also B&B's and cheap hotels)...

Cheapest private rooms in Manhattan I could find were around USD 78 (39 per person). This would be somewhere such as La Sienna, which is nowhere near downtown Manhattan, but far up in Harlem.

So, if $50-60 (for two) is a hard limit, a hostel dorm is what you have to go with, and even then it won't be downtown. $35 per person will get you a bare-bones bunk in 6-bed dorm at Jazz on Amsterdam Avenue in Upper West Side, for example. For a dorm in a better hostel closer to downtown, you'd have to pay upward of $49 per person.

So, like others said, what you want (decent room for two downtown for $50-60) doesn't seem possible.

As for other options, besides getting lucky with Airbnb or such, you can of course try e.g. Couchsurfing or GlobalFreeloaders and stay at someone's home for free, but there's no guarantee you'd find a host (especially if you are a new user with no references).

Btw, I stumbled upon a place called Urban Oasis (in Midtown) where a basic double private room costs $110; looks nice & has great reviews. In your shoes I'd probably go with something like this.

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Uh, a caveat about the $110 Urban Oasis option: "Basic double: this room is dark (interior window, no view) that is why it is so cheap! [...] Good choice if you don't plan to stay too much in your room, want to save a lot on accommodation but want a clean and nice space." Their nicer rooms cost at least $140. – Jonik Jul 4 '12 at 10:04
I should have added that I'm also fine with Airbnb and things like this. – RoflcoptrException♦ Jul 6 '12 at 13:55

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