the hotel you want to look at is the portland square hotel, so which is one of those budget hotels, relative to the rest of the city. the caveat is you'll probably have a shared bathroom. it's about 2-3 blocks away. if you're not concerned about that price, or don't want to share a bathroom, check on the west side a few blocks over (go away from 5th avenue), and once upon a time the hotels down in the financial district were relatively cheap on weekends because the area was dead; it's changed a bit now, however.
newark?? hotel?? you'll pay a bunch for the "revitalized downtown" newark hotel, and your commute is as such:
public path train (like subway) - no problem with the ride itself - from newark to world trade center, then switching from WTC to the subway which is there, then a 5-10 minute walk when you get off the subway. a 60 minute commute each way. (or if you do newark ->JSQ -> 33 -> walk from there, it's about the same length of time).
secaucus or fort lee, unless you've got a car, is much less expensive but unless you've got a car, a bit of a pain as well. it's a holiday weekend, buses run a LOT less frequently. with no traffic (ie. sunday) and early you're talking about 25 minute drive, + finding a parking lot.
jersey city (near the path trains) would be your best budget alternative, i don't think the hoboken hotel is finished and it's likely expensive. i also think weehawken's hotel is expensive, though i can't remember, though they DO have the nj waterway ferry to 39th st, and you can take their local bus (or walk) to get closer to the expo.
but newark? i wouldn't reco that at all.
newark?? hotel?? you'll pay a bunch for the "revitalized downtown" newark hotel, and your commute is as such:
public path train (like subway) - no problem with the ride itself - from newark to world trade center, then switching from WTC to the subway which is there, then a 5-10 minute walk when you get off the subway. a 60 minute commute each way. (or if you do newark ->JSQ -> 33 -> walk from there, it's about the same length of time).
secaucus or fort lee, unless you've got a car, is much less expensive but unless you've got a car, a bit of a pain as well. it's a holiday weekend, buses run a LOT less frequently. with no traffic (ie. sunday) and early you're talking about 25 minute drive, + finding a parking lot.
jersey city (near the path trains) would be your best budget alternative, i don't think the hoboken hotel is finished and it's likely expensive. i also think weehawken's hotel is expensive, though i can't remember, though they DO have the nj waterway ferry to 39th st, and you can take their local bus (or walk) to get closer to the expo.
but newark? i wouldn't reco that at all.