SonOfGoG the Elder wants to go to NYC solo...

He was a little shocked to find that louse-free hotels cost well over $100 per night.
I suggested that he ask his friend if she could let him sleep on her couch, but he seemed averse to the idea.
He needs something pretty cheap, in a relatively safe neighborhood in Bay Ridge/Brooklyn or convenient to a subway that can get him there.

Any suggestions, DUers?

It's over twenty years ago since I went to Columbia University(upper, upper west side) and I know that some non-regular students used to rent out rooms there in the summer. I don't remember whether they had to have some connection to the university or not.

I pressed send before I wrote the body of my email. Please see it.

a number of years ago...

Any idea how to find these places?

But let's if we can figure it out between us. You know, two heads are ...

My ideas:
1) google Columbia University and if there's a search button, enter "housing" or "dorms" and see what comes up. My recollection from over 20 years ago was that non-regular students were in the International House. If the first search doesn't do it, enter International House, Columbia University.

2) do the same for New York University.

If it turns out both have dorm rooms to rent, go with NYU because it'll be a lot closer to Brooklyn.

I'll give it a whirl. Thanks for thinking about it! :YOUROCK:

I grew up in NY but left 20 years ago so I don't have current info. If he ends up in Queens, it can be a long train ride to Brooklyn. Yes, Brooklyn is just west and south of Queens but some of the subway lines go from Queens to Manhattan, then down and back to Brooklyn. It might be an hours ride.
Also, Queens is really different. It has lots of little ethnic enclaves, like Korean, Indian, Dominican, and they overlap. If he's open to this, he'll have a great time,have lots of different restaurants to choose from, and marvel at how well people from different parts of the world get along. If he's not very experienced in the world, he may find all of this very disconcerting and scary.

Try Astoria in Queens--very safe and friendly, lots of cheap food, and its close to the N/W line. The downside is that it's probably a good 40 minute subway ride from Brooklyn.

I'll suggest that to him. If his friend has a car, maybe she wouldn't mind meeting him part way. It's an option, at least. Thanks! :D

It's usually very cheap, and it is very safe.

on edit: YMCAs are also an option, but not as nice....

It would take longer to drive...:-)

in the summer. Might be worth looking into.

I'm not sure which ones are in the area, but it shouldn't be hard to figure out. :hi:

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:nwRy61c7uBoJ:www.cromwell-intl.com/travel/travel-north-america.html+Where+to+rent+a+dorm+room+in+NYC+for+the+night&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=7

I'll look thru my bookmarks to see if I saved anything 'just in case'. I'm a bookmark packrat.:D

It's worth checking out! :hi:

:evilgrin:

He loves Olive Garden. ANd Mr GoG gets gift cards for the place every Christmas, which we never use.

http://www.hostels.com/en/us.ny.ny.html

Though if he won't sleep on his friend's couch, he might not be into the hostel thing.

I heard some of them are pretty decent. They'll probably fill up quick though and some only take furriners. I used hostels in Europe though and it's a good way to travel.