Not sure if EM2BE post came after the fare fiasco, but lol!
There is employee parking for $12 for 10 hours<per parking attendant> off Quarry road for visitors. Street parking is difficult unless you pick the right day and get there before 7am.
driving from Queens/brooklyn can easily go over 1 hour if there is an accident/traffic on the cross bronx. Commuting by subway from bronx/queens takes 1.5 hours in rush hour traffic unless you are taking the metra which I can't comment on but supposedly faster with a 10-15min walk from fordham plaza.
I recommend staying in bronx>>>manhattan>queens/LI>>>brooklyn.
I don't live in the Boogie Down Bx so I don't know any hotels, motels or Holiday Inns and can't comment on any other locations