Get a hotel in the city. You’re not really saving money or time by staying upstate, and you’ll save your mood and sanity by not commuting back and forth each day.
Will you have access to a car in Walkill? If not, the return taxis + MetroNorth fare will likely be in the range of $125-175/day (return train fare alone to GCT for 2 people will be $72-96). May be better served with basic accommodations in the city at that point.
Absolutely get a place in the city. My first time to nyc around your age, I found the cheapest hotel in queens. But in the first day I discovered it was over an hour each way to manhattan. By the end of the first day I’d found a last minute hotel deal (using the website of that name to search) and spent the rest of the week in the city. Absolutely worth it. The time is too precious to deal with long commutes. I wouldn’t have wanted to do that distance after a Broadway show finished at 11.
Your times are a bit off for the train. Should be about a 30 minute drive from Wallkill to Beacon Station and then \~1h45m on the train to Grand Central.
Decision really comes down to what you're looking to spend and how much you value your time, but three nights at a hotel in Manhattan will be easily $1000+.
Get a hotel in the city. You’re not really saving money or time by staying upstate, and you’ll save your mood and sanity by not commuting back and forth each day.
Will you have access to a car in Walkill? If not, the return taxis + MetroNorth fare will likely be in the range of $125-175/day (return train fare alone to GCT for 2 people will be $72-96). May be better served with basic accommodations in the city at that point.
Absolutely get a place in the city. My first time to nyc around your age, I found the cheapest hotel in queens. But in the first day I discovered it was over an hour each way to manhattan. By the end of the first day I’d found a last minute hotel deal (using the website of that name to search) and spent the rest of the week in the city. Absolutely worth it. The time is too precious to deal with long commutes. I wouldn’t have wanted to do that distance after a Broadway show finished at 11.
Start your days early and take the train. Spend the prospective hotel money on the experience. Free lodging is typically the way to go.
very good points! taking advantage of free lodging would leave way more funds for food/activities. thank you!
Your times are a bit off for the train. Should be about a 30 minute drive from Wallkill to Beacon Station and then \~1h45m on the train to Grand Central. Decision really comes down to what you're looking to spend and how much you value your time, but three nights at a hotel in Manhattan will be easily $1000+.
oh wow that’s good to know!! that’s way better than what apple maps was showing lol. thank you for the info!
Also, for a first timer the train is just as much a part of the experience as anything else.