This is what we have come up with so far:

Waldorf Astoria (not the towers) $333
The Plaza $463
Inn at Irving Place $325
InterContinental Park View $345
Le Parker Meridien Park View $375

Any advice? Looking for romance, luxury, but without hitting the $500/night mark. Location doesn't really matter to us. Is the Plaza worth it? What about the park view rooms at the IC or LPM?

In a word, no, the Plaza is not worth it (most of the time).
The Plaza has some nice rooms, but the sizes and configurations vary a lot in the same price range and many are very small. Location is great. I would never splurge there, though.
Have you checked for webpage deals at Plaza Athenee, Peninsula, anything like that?

We just did the Waldorf=Astoria for our anniversary. We paid less than two hundred for a executive level room and access to the executive level continental breakfast. If I were you, play the anniversary card. Call directly to the hotels (or e-mail) and tell 'em up front about celebrating the anniversary. It works! Not only was our room upgraded, but there was champagne and chocolate covered strawberries waiting in the room!
Basically, you may be able to get that $500 room for $250 if you do a little phone work!! Have fun.

Kim: Of the list you presented, I would go with the Park View at the Intercontinential. Great location, great view, high quality hotel chain, and the property used to be a Ritz Carlton. Check out the Intercontinential on Lexington and 48th Street, they are in the final stages of a major renovation.

The only problem with the Waldorf is that some of its rooms are also very small and older (I wouldn't say "rundown", just old). Therefore, I'm not sure if the price is worth it since you may end up in a small, older room, facing another building (that's what mine looked like). Just a thought.

Mark: The Peninsula was coming in at over $500 a night, but I will check the Plaza Athenee.

Steve: Good advice, I was wondering if we might be able to get an upgrade or something special for our anniversary, but I think it is a busy time of year, so they may not have a lot of flexibility. What is an executive level room?

Everyone: Based on everything I have heard, the Plaza just isn't worth it, which only leaves the Waldorf as my "classic NYC experience" choice. Trying to decide if it is either better to just get a park view room at another nice, but not classic, hotel, or go in another direction entirely with the Inn at Irving. Has anyone had any experience with them?

Thanks everyone!
Kim

Kim, if you are traveling on a weekend, you should be able to get a better rate.You didn't mention when you're coming, but I recently booked a room at the Plaza for relatives for a special birthday, and I ended up getting a much better rate than initially quoted. Let the reservationist know it's a special anniversary and ask specifically if there are any special rates. The rooms at the Plaza are nice as long as it isn't their cheapest basic rooms. Those can be like a shoebox, and are NOT worth the stay. I stayed there for a special birthday and got a room with a fireplace [okay, not real!] and king bed, and when I booked my daughter there for her first anniversary, I got the cheapest room available and they upgraded her to a large room with a windowseat facing Central Park!

Kim,
The executive level was a larger, nicer room. I guess it's for businesspeople during the week, but very available during weekends. Again, call them (check your prices at hilton website first) and ask; the W=A has so many different level rooms that they should be able to accomodate any special requests you may have.

Kim:
The Plaza Athenee website states they have summer packages at $340, $370 and $475 for their non-suite rooms.
This includes breakfast, parking, courtesy car, fitness center access, newpaper, etc.
This is a really nice boutique hotel, and better than anything you've noted above if ambience (anniversary) is important.

A big, romantic vote for the Inn at Irving Place. The location is great (and quiet) and I can't imagine one of the big box hotels affording you the same, intimate experience you'd get at the Inn.

If it helps, I also agree that the Plaza is not the greatest hotel. I also stayed at the Intercontinental on Park which had horrible rooms. On the other hand, the Rigya Royal (sp?)was really wonderful. One of the better rooms I have stayed in while in NYC.

Actually, the interncontinental was the one Frank was referring to. Glad to hear they are renovating. However, even the room size was soo tiny.

Might want to check into www.biddingfortravel.com . It gives a lot of information about how to bid on Priceline for hotel rooms, among other things. And there's an awful lot of information about using Priceline for NYC hotel rooms.

You can't bid for hotels directly. However, you can bid for quality level and location. As far as savings go, folks are regularly scoring 4-star NYC rooms for under a hundred a night.

I live near the Inn at Irving and it looks very beautiful, I've looked insdie on the lobby floor. It's near downtown attractions & restaurants as you probablay know, including some plays.

Otherwise to make your life more complicated--go to luxurylink.com and see if there are any New York auctions, you might get something spectacular at your price.

Kim, I had thought about the Rhiga Royal [I may have misspelled it] after I sent my first message, and I see that someone else has already suggested it. All rooms are suites,very spacious, and the bathrooms are really impressive. The location is also good. When we stayed there, it was an easy walk to the theater district and also to Central Park. If you want information, go to the Marriott website.

Kim,
I checked the Marriott website and first of all, the correct spelling is Rihga Royal JW Marriott, and the rates are below $300 on weekends [at least, the dates I checked]. We stayed there when we celebrated my husband's retirement and there was plenty of room for the friends who came in to celebrate with us to be comfortable while having horderves in the living room part of the suite. If I recall correctly, it's on 55th, just off 7th Ave.

I guess I should have said that the weekend we are going will be the first weekend in December. I guess this is a busy time and is driving up the room rates.

The Rihga sounds nice as well, I have looked into it for other trips but hadn't thought about it fo this one. Will check the price for December!

Thanks all!

The Waldorf was NOT worth it. We went for our honeymoon and were very disapointed.

The Mercer Hotel in SOHO is wonderful! You will feel very pampered and it is in a great area to walk, window-shop and eat.

dont stay at the plaza