HELP – New York City vacation?

My friend and I are eager to visit New York City this coming new year. I checked in the airline and hotel prices for New York and they are terribly high! So, we think of flying in a nearby town, there stay and then only to travel to New York during the day. Now for the questions! Where is the best place to stay that shuttle between the city New York? We do not want to go too far from New York, but we keep an open mind. We were maybe thinking about Philadelphia, PA or somewhere in the south CT? Is there a shuttle between these places? If yes, how much $ $? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Stay in Hoboken or Jersey City and commute by PATH. Or stay in the city limits of New York, but outside of Manhattan. The two Long Island City and Downtown Brooklyn are just a subway stop away and offer prices lower Manhattan hotel. If you live close enough to travel to the ground in New York practice, there are "Chinatown bus companies" flights from Philadelphia to Washington or Boston or at the most conservative Greyhound or try Megabus. Remember too sure Amtrak If you reward points you can redeem against travel. If you have a bit of dough, keep looking at Expedia.com. Philadelphia is two hours away. Forget the daily commute, you want to four hours a day – even TB, like time travel and is ignoring all the nuts drunk. Here's a nice article about Christmas in New York: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2218405/visiting_new_york_city_at_christmas.html?cat=16

do not cross tracks