NY: Hostels, Internet cafes and beer.

[pethie]

Hi

A friend and I will be travelling around the US for 3 months. We’ll start out in New York and I could use some advice regarding hostels, Internet cafes and such.

Our budget is 100$/night tops (private room, two beds - including taxes) and it seems like we can find something decent in Manhattan. Are there any neighborhoods we should stay away from? It’s pretty cheap in Harlem, but I could imagine that it’s no the safest place to live? Would u rather stay in Jersey, Queens or just somewhere in Manhattan besides Harlem? I’ve been using this site to find hostels: http://www.hostelbookers.com/

Is it possible to connect your own laptop to the Internet in most cyber cafes in NY, LA, Vegas etc? It would be a lot easier to get our pictures online, play online poker, get access to our bank accounts etc.

The most important thing: In Denmark it’s legal to drink from age of 15-16. Could two 20-year olds get some beers without showing ID? (I know it’s not legal, but in Europe it’s normal to enjoy some beers in public). We look 20-23ish. Is it standard procedure to show ID every time you buy alcohol or could we succeed? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Thank you in advance for your time.

[slickpoppa]

Oh boy.

First of all, you are not going to find a room for $100 a night in Manhattan. You do not want to stay in Harlem.

In general, US cities do not have plentiful and cheap hostels like in Europe, much less private rooms for $100 a night.

You will need to produce some kind of ID to drink in most places. There are places where you might not need ID, but you will have no way of finding them. If you want to drink go to Greenwhich village in New York and get a fake ID.

[Gildwulf]

Two people sharing a bed can definitely find a $200/day room in Manhattan

[Gildwulf]

here

here

here

and here

This took a approximately 45 seconds on google to find.

[4 High]

I think he said they needed 100 per night for both of them.

[turnipmonster]

regarding wireless internet, you should be able to pick up a signal and just hop on someone's network from almost anywhere. note that there is free wireless internet in many parks in manhattan.

regarding drinking, you should ask "Evan" on 2+2 how he looks like he's 8 years old and still manages to drink at every bar. he probably has some reality distortion field gun he can sell you.

[Pocketducks]

Have you ever been to the US before? If not here's a bit of a travel guide:

There are no true Hostels here. At least none where you won't get killed. Stay outside of Manhattan in a cheaper motel somewhere (Jersey maybe) and daytrip into the city.

Stay out of Harlem.

Most cafe's nowadays have free WIFI service. Panera is always good for this.

Drinking in public is not legal here (except Vegas and New Orleans I think, but there may be restrictions even there)

You will be able to find many places that won't ID you in NY.

$100 a night between 2 people is tight, but manageable. Buy a bottle of water one time, and then refill it at public water fountains to save some cash on drinks.

And realize that this is a very different place. As someone who has been to Europe a few times, I can honestly say that people here are meaner to strangers. I don't mean to say that all people are mean here. Just try not to take offense by anyone that seems bothered by you.

Welcome to America

[Hornacek]

Good luck finding a place for $100 a night. Honestly, Harlem isn't HORRIBLE. It's just much less safe than the rest of Manhattan. I'd estimate your chances of getting mugged or murdered are maybe 1%.

[KaneKungFu123]

Most hostels double as homeless shelters, or house alcoholics and drug addicts, or are rooms rented by prostitutes.

Enjoy!

[JordanIB]

What's with all the "stay out of Harlem" crap?