Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Located in Merrick, an unincorporated community in Hempstead, Gateway Inn is on Long Island's south shore near Jones Beach and claims to be "a place where quality and hospitality still matter." A garden courtyard accentuates the AAA-approved, 60-room hotel, which is a few minutes away from Freeport's Nautical Mile, where you can enjoy daily fishing trips and dinner cruises. Other area attractions include Old Bethpage Village Restoration and Old Westbury Gardens. Guests can also head to the Merrick Train Station, just a quarter mile away, for a 40-minute ride to Midtown Manhattan. Nightly rates start at $99 as of 2010 and include continental breakfast. Rooms feature satellite TV and free wireless Internet access. The hotel does not allow pets.
Gateway Inn Long Island
1780 Sunrise Hwy.
Merrick, NY 11566
516-378-7100
gatewayinnlongisland.com
Located in the suburban area of Westbury, an incorporated village of Hempstead, Red Roof Inn is within walking distance of dining and night-life options and shopping centers. JFK airport is 25 minutes away and LaGuardia 30. The 163-room hotel outfits each room with a coffeemaker and safe; select rooms have a mini-refrigerator and microwave. Data port, free Internet access and premium cable TV with pay-per-view are also available. All rooms on four floors of the five-story hotel are non-smoking, and all rooms on the remaining floor are for smokers. Children 17 and younger stay for free, and portable cribs are available upon request. Enjoy complimentary coffee and USA Today in the hotel lobby, along with on-site laundry services and "coffeehouse-style" services. Red Roof Inn allows one pet, but you must notify the front desk upon arrival. Nightly rates start at $89 as of 2010.
Red Roof Inn Long Island
699 Dibblee Dr.
Westbury, NY 11590
westbury-longislandinn.com
Built in 2010, the Comfort Inn in Bellerose is nine miles from JFK airport, 12 miles from LaGuardia and one mile from Belmont Park Racetrack. The hotel is 100 percent non-smoking and offers rooms with plasma TVs and in-room movies, a hairdryer, coffee and tea, ironing facilities and air-conditioning. Comfort Inn is close to restaurants, bars and shopping centers and area attractions such as Citi Field Stadium, where the New York Mets play. High-speed Internet access, weekday newspapers, a meeting room for small groups and a fitness room are available. You may keep two pets in your room, up to 20 pounds each. Charges of $25 per pet, per night, apply, as of 2010. Nightly rates start at $89 and include continental breakfast with waffles and parking on the premises.
Comfort Inn Bellerose
249-05 Jericho Turnpike, Bellerose
Hempstead, NY
877-424-6423
comfortinn.com