It's always busy then. I know the NY Marathon is coming up, but I don't know exactly when. I'd check Hotels.com and also Priceline if you are just two people. But this is when rates start really getting high. I think you're seeing that.

Our planning was really poor;-( I'll keep looking a little bit more before postponing our trip.

What is your budget per night?

www.hotwire.com may have some interesting prices for you. Help determine the hotel offered at www.betterbidding.com, also to see recent bids on Priceline for your area.

www.biddingfortravel.com also for comparative Priceline bid reports.

What do you consider 'affordable'?

It's Halloween with ther big parade, so that may attract a more than normal tourist crowd.

Did you plug your dates into Kayak or Bing to see what's available?

We were hoping to find something under $200 per night but that doesn't seem realistic with NY unfortunately. I'll check Kayak and Hotwire too

The marathon is Sunday 11/1 so finding an affordable hotel will be impossible. Uner $200, is tought any time, but on a weekend like this, you'd be lucky to find something < $300.

Check out the Pod hotel. I just saw rates of $179. Hotel Pennsylvania also shows availability and similar rate, but it's an awful place.

The Pod Hotel, ok thanks!!

I'd try the Comfort Inn Midtown on W. 44th. Great location and breakfast is included.

The Comfort Inn is $300+ for the specified weekend. Marathon weekend is always a pricey hotel weekend and much books up well in advance.

Many of the rooms at the Pod have shared bathroom, fyi. I personally wouldn't stay at the Pennsylvania. Because it's last minute and the Marathon, $200 is not going to do it in Manhattan. If you're willing to be just outside Manhattan a train ride away, you can probably find things either in Long Island City (the Quality Inn or the new Country Inn & Suites are very near the subway) or in Jersey City/Hoboken near a PATH train. How are you getting here? If flying which airport?

Shared bathroom?! I think we better hold of going that weekend maybe. But it seems to me that there's always something going on in NY so the rates won't change that much. Will there be a huge difference on going another weekend you think?

Not between the end of October and the end of the year. It will be quite a bit less expensive in January and February, though.

If you wati until Jan or Feb it will be much cheaper. But the prices start to ris in Sept and just keep going up through the holidays. Late winter and early spring prices will be somewhat lower - and you can often get deal sin August (since business travel is down).

And, yes, there is something happenng every wweekend.

YOu can answer your own question by looking at prices on that weekend vs. another weekend in Nov. Thanksgiving weekend often has some good prices. Look at the deals on travelzoo.com and you'll see the dates. The Park South is a good hotel on special for $139/night. http://hotels.travelzoo.com/new-york-hotels/

Look at the Hilton in Newark, at Penn Station. This connects direct to the PATH train. I stayed here in June and it was a bargain with the prepay option. I did have my car, was another $21/day to park. Still well worth it.

It is showing $128+++ Oct. 31

Try the Park Savoy (it's online). It's a block north of Carnegie Hall. It's very very basic but it's inexpensive. 158 East 58th St.

In May 2009, my daughter and I stayed at The Gem Hotel in Chelsea for $150 per night. It had only one queen bed in a small room, but it was a chic, modern boutique hotel in a trendy neighborhood with excellent restaurants. It was clean, had a young attentive staff and nicely appointed.We stayed 2 nights and would do it again.

You may want to look at Eastgate Tower hotel . Huge room with kitchenette. Short walk to grand central station.

Also try nyinns.com which is the home site for 3 budget hotels, all of which are located in Manhattan. They are VERY basic, but great locations, clean, and your own bathroom. I've stayed in all 3 because each is in a totally different part of the city. They are all under $200 a night

The last few posters have some good suggestions for budget hotels, but on Marathon weekend, they are probably already booked, and charging much more than their normal rates.

Another weekend does make the most sense and if you can wait until after new year's holiday than the cost will be substantially cheaper. Plug in different weekend dates in Kayak or Bing, to get an idea.

You guys are great! Thanks for all your help. We haven't decided what to do but like you said, if it's still expensive we might just postpone our trip

You're right about one thing--changing your weekend. I've been to NYC for the marathon more than once. But you're wrong about rates not changing. Sign up for travelocity's travelzoo notices. I see incredible deals there all year, but you're getting near the holiday season, so ???.

You might also look at hotels in Hoboken or Jersey City in New Jersey -- they'll be cheaper and it's an easy PATH train ride across to Manhattan (Hoboken also has great dining and nightlife options).

If you go to the "calendar view" at www.betterbidding.com, you can see what hotels have been won for what price the weekends you are considering.

No one has suggested an apt? Many won't rent for only 2 nights, but some will. I rented in early December last year for $175/night (3 nights). Agencies are easy but more expensive -- I found mine on Craigslist, but you do need to be careful.