JFKbuff: I heartily agree with emd regarding the St. Regis Club at the Essex House.

We are from a small country town in Northern California and our clothes are not fancy - no designer duds here! We dressed for breakfast at the hotel's beautiful Cafe Botanica (included in the room/suite price) every morning in clean, newish jeans, nice sweaters and what the British call "trainers" (running shoes). Each time we were given a prime table by the window overlooking Central Park and the staff could not have been nicer or more accomodating.

Having our own butler was a hoot and reminded of us of our stay several years back at Claridges in London. But at Claridges, they would not let us into tea or certain parts of the lobby after 4:00 p.m. in trainers - definitely not our experience at the Essex House where many of our fellow guests were also dressed very casually during the day.

We loved the St. Regis Club at the Essex House. It was my husband's first time in NYC and the location and everything about it was just perfect for a first-timer.

As far as the price, we had an Astor Suite (foyer, two marble bathrooms, living room and huge bedroom) which was expensive but much less than the usual price because I happened upon a promotion by calling the hotel (number is available in Hotel section here)directly.

Have a great anniversary and please keep us up-to-date on the trip!

It's not like the palace hotels in Europe - which can be very formal - except for traveling roack stars. I don't think there are any hotels in New York where designer duds are necessary - as long as your clothes are clean, neat and appropriate no one will look askance. It's the tourists with shredded knee-lengthh droopy drawers and dirty shrunken t-shirts that cause the eyeballs to roll. (I understand from a waiter friend that these are the ones who frequently undertip as well - perhaps they just don't know any better.)

For a splurge hotel near Central Park you many want to look into the Mandarian Oriental (it just opened and you may get a great deal since they don't have a customer base yet), the Plaza (be sure to get one of the larger rooms) or the Pierre.

I just bid for hotel in NY and I'm SO SORRY for that I feel that my journey will be a disaster.
I did it with Priceline and I got the Holiday inn Wall st - and it's awful because it's out of the tourist area and scary - I'm coming from Israel and I think it's not fair that Priceline work with business hotel. I really don't know what to do I wish I could cancel that.
Don't bid it doesn't worth it!

Wall St. area scary??? Surely you jest!

Granted, downtown is primarily a business area, and thus there is not much going on at night or on weekends, but it is a safe area to be, and by no means scary. You are close to South Street Seaport, Ground Zero, and the Staten Island Ferry. It's also a few train stops from a lot of action.

Also to clarify something: NYC Subway is now $2.00, not $1.50. Also, some of the routes on the subway have changed recently, and also trains will be once again running to Coney Island this spring. For details, check www.mta.info for details.

Micallah -
I'm sorry you're disappointed but Priceline doesn't just put you in locations at random - you must have selected downtown as an area you wanted to stay in - and the area isn't scary - but does tend to be very quiet at night/weekends. Did you consult biddingfortravel.com before bidding?

No, I didn't. I'm so stupid I didn't know about it.
I did put downtown but I was thinking about Tribeca etc'. I feel so bad about this issue

michalh, it was an honest mistake, but priceline does map out the areas, and downtown cover a big area. With biddingfortravel.com, you can see what hotels are frequently awarded at what prices for each of the areas. My guess is the hotel you were awarded, probably shows up frequently for down town. Wall St may not be a typical 'tourist' area and it is quiet at night (but safe), but it is walking distance to the brooklyn bridge, chinatown, battery park, sout st seaport, staten island ferry, world fin'l center, tribeca (with many good dining options) and more.

Michalh, as others have mentioned, you are only a short walk (or cab) to Tribeca! It certainly is not a scary area at all!! In fact, you're very close to the water and have lovely areas to walk around, including Battery Park and the Seaport. Have a great time!!!!

Thank you so much for writing those cheerful word to me I really appreciate that!

Try the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Ask for a corner room with a king size bed. If possible, get a room ending in the number 24. On my last trip my room was 2024. Great room with a view of Times Square.If you like museums, don't miss the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is truly gorgeous. We tend to have great weather here is September. So enjoy and
Happy Anniversary! I

micah, take a breather and relax! I think the Wall Street/Financial District is the most beautiful part of Manhattan Island! It is one of the oldest parts of NYC and the buildings are beautiful! Some of the best tourist spots in Manhattan are in the Financial District.

There is a ton of stuff to do in lower Manhattan and the Financial District.

South Street Seaport, St. Pauls Chapel, Trinity Church, Wall Street, Century 21, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, take the Staten Island Ferry for a great view of The Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, The Museum of American Financial History, Museum of Jewish Heritage, Museum of the American Indian, The Woolworth Building, The New York Stock Exchange, City Hall and City Hall Park, South Street Seaport Museum, New York City Police Museum, and the Fraunces Tavern Museum to name a few things to do.