Look at the Hampton Inn Times Square North.

Check out the Element Hotel - Times Square. I got a great deal (definitely less than $200/night) through priceline.com. 311 West 39th street. The room has a fridge, sink, stove. Pots and pans. I had no idea when I booked it. Very cool. Free drinks/snacks in the afternoon. It's some kind of Westin/Starwood hotel if you have points for that co.

We like Priceline for getting bargain prices on NYC hotels. Read betterbidding and biddingfortravel to learn how to use Priceline.

Rates tend to drop in August, so you may be able to find a hotel for $200 (before tax). Check on Hotels.com to see regular discount rates, or bid on Priceline if you know what you're bidding on. But I can't think of a single legitimate hotel in NYC that does not have a/c.

If you are really tight on your budget, then considering staying at a hotel in Long Island City Queens (1 or 2 subway stops from Manhattan), where you can usually stay for under $150 (before tax). One of the more convenient hotels is the Country INn and Suites Long Island City. But there are others near the same area, though some are farther from the subway. THis particular hotel is a block from the subway entrance.

FYI: Times Square really isn't walking distance to the Metropolitan Museum, and there are few hotels on the Upper East Side, so look for a hotel near Midtown if you want to stay in Manhattan.

Check the offers for NYC hotels on travelzoo.com; there are several posted now that run through the summer. Refer to tripadvisor.com for comments and ratings; come back here for additional advice on specific properties.

(I was going to comment that NYC can be very h-o-t in August, but, since you are coming from south Texas...)

Check the Doubletree in Times Square. You may be able to get $200/night. If not, consider Hampton Inns, Hilton Garden Inns and Courtyard by Marriott. August should be an off season, so the room rates should be a bit lower.

Most hotels in NYC DO have air conditioning, What did you find that says it doesn't? They may be real budget properties or B&Bs that wouldn't be recommended anyway.

Every hotel in NYC has AC (unless it's not really a "hotel" but a place that rents by the hour. Or some sort of illegla B&B or apartment rental. Do NOT toucj any place without AC. Assuming it is just the two of you I would explore the options with Priceline - and also check other discount sights.

And sorry, but NYC is much bigger than you think. You're not going to find a place where you can easily walk to Times Square, the Met and the ferry to Ellis Island.

Assuming you stay near Times Square - the walk to the Met is the best part of 2 miles and South Ferry - where you would hae the get the ferry to Ellis Island (and do get advance tickets or the waiting line can take forever)is almost 5 miles. The subway is your friend.

No air conditioning? Where is that?

quikbook.com is advertising Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park for select summer dates for $209.00 before taxes. That's pretty darn good for a 4+ star hotel near the Park.

quikbook.com also has great Secret Sale hotel discounts that are meant for 2 travelers sharing one bed. I've used them a few times and gotten Marriotts and Hilton's for deeply discounted rates.

Sorry, nytraveler. Didn't 'see' you there. Ditto what nytraveler says about air conditioned rooms.

Well, it sounds like I need to look more closely at a map for locations.

And, kind ones, I guess Priceline will be my friend. I will
also check tripadvisor.

Ok--I'm off....

Thanks, all.

Have you used Priceline before? You should peruse biddingfortravel or better bidding to see what hotels usually come in in which areas of the city. If there are any hotels that would make you unhappy if you got them, you should not bid that area. Also, it's best to stick to 3* and 4* hotels (I only do 4* - I'll stay in a lesser-starred hotel if I know what it is, but won't take that chance on a blind bid).

Check quikbook and travelzoo, too!!

Ditto what you have already heard, but I can add a couple of suggestions, The Grand Union Hotel on E. 32nd would be central, probably in your budget and close to the subway.

August will be HOT< HOT> HOT!!!, so plan on staying in Manhattan, so you can go back to the hotel, cool down and relax.

Also check The Travel Inn, there is a pool there for guests, and welcome at the end of a hot day of touring. It's also close to Times Square.

Manhattan is 21 miles long, and a little over a mile wide, so it' bigger than you might have realized.

The subway will get you anywhere you need to go, so pick up a Metro card, so you can get on and off the subway and bus whenever needed.

Sorry travelbuff, but you have misrepresented Manhattan. Perhaps you were thinking in square miles.

Manhattan, total area in square miles: 23.7
Manhattan, length: 13.4 miles (21.5 km) long
Manhattan, widest point: 2.3 miles (3.7 km)
Manhattan, narrowest point: 0.8 miles (1.3 km) at narrowest point