New Yorkers--travel advice, please

[spinbaby]

I'm in Pittsburgh. A friend and I are planning to go to New York in a couple of weeks with the goal of visiting the Mitsuwa Japanese store right across the river in New Jersey. When we checked into air fare and hotel prices, it took our breath away. So we're going to drive and try to stay someplace relatively cheap with good train access. Any suggestions for a couple of tourists from the boonies?

[GOPisEvil]

1. Stay across the river in Hoboken or Jersey City.

[DoYouEverWonder]

I just got back

and had a great time.

If you can afford it, stay in Manhattan and get a Metro Pass.

We had a great time and even managed to get tickets for Spamalot. It was great!

[sir_captain]

2. There are also plenty of hotels in NYC

for around $100 a night if you do your shopping. Days Inn type places.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Try the Landmark rooms at Union Seminary

http://www.uts.columbia.edu/index.php?id=54

Are you sure it's the Mitsuwa japanese store? has it recently changed its name? I used to go to one right across the river from Riverside Church that started with a K, and damned if I can think of the name. But they had a shuttle from Port Authority to the grocery store that was awesome.

[spinbaby]

5. They're in Edgewater

And they do have a shuttle. Don't know about the name, though. I don't really know anything about it, I'm going because my Japanese friend is a bit homesick and doesn't have the time to go back to Japan.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. What's your idea of expensive?

I know some hotels in Manhattan for less than $150.

The Herald Square Hotel is centrally located and I've stayed there for $100. Here's the website:

http://www.heraldsquarehotel.com

Also try the Pickwick Arms and Off-Soho Suites. There are also hotels where you have to share bathrooms for less than $100, but some aren't particularly nice.

[spinbaby]

6. Ooooh, I can afford that

The places I was finding were like $400.

Now to figure out how to get to the city cheap.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I just stayed at the Beekman

for a lot less then that. We had a one bedroom suite with a kitchen. It was very nice and is located right next door to the UN.