McLaurie and all Fodorites:
Not surprisingly the Pearl Hotel Is not opening in time for my visit next week. They have offered me accomodations at the Belevedere. I have read reports about bedbugs there, which they have assured me they are no longer there. I also still have my Salisbury reservations, which has no reports of bedbugs. Please answer quickly.

ita-I am going to be in NYC next week and have a reservation at the Belvedere and I also have one at the Salisbury for the first 4 days of my trip. I changed my mind about my original hotel I had booked months ago and so those 2 hotels are what I came up with. I really want to stay at the Salisbury as I love the location and my DDs and I will get a suite which gives us more room. Unfortunately, they are sold out the last 2 days we are there (Oct 14-15) so I made the Belvedere reservation. I have stayed at the Belvedere before and it was fine. I didn't read anything about bedbugs at the Belvedere on tripadvisor but it is on bedbug registry. So if I was you, I would stay at the Salisbury and now I am re-thinking my choice for those last two days if we have to move hotels. If you cancel your Salisbury reservation, let me know. LOL

that's funny, Paula. I have phoned the Belvedere and they assured me they have no bedbugs at this time. I will let you know if I cancel.

What are your dates and your budget? Will they guarantee you a renovated room at the Belvedere? Will you get any money back for Belvedere vs. Salisbury?

Sorry, I meant will you get any discount vs. the Pearl that you'd booked?

ita-I didn't talk to the Belvedere about the bedbugs but it looks like the complaints on bedbug registry were in the summer. Still makes me nervous to stay there even for 2 nights.

mclaurie-Don't know if ita asked them about renovated rooms at the Belvedere but I called yesterday to confirm my reservation and they said they had no renovated rooms. The room I have is a double double not the executive double. So that makes me a little more worried. I was hesitating about whether to switch hotels the last two days and was thinking about staying at the Belvedere the whole time but now not so sure. I am looking forward to trying out the Salisbury and keep hoping they will get a cancellation for the two nights I need. Rooms next week (Oct 10-16) are so expensive so that's why I have been looking at the more reasonable hotels. Reasonable of course is anything under $350 a night!!

paula, I don't remember how many you are but I see some decent options under $350 on quikbook.com for Oct. 10-16. There are quite a few nice king rooms so if you're 3, you might be able to get a roll away bed in those king rooms. The Crowne Plaza, the Distrikt, Fashion 26...and some suites at both the Eastgate Tower and the Affinia Shelburne. $359/night at the Blakely is closer to the location I think you want.

McLaurie, at the Belvedere I am getting a deluxe renovated double double for the same price as I was paying at the Pearl. I have not paid for anything and can cancel my reservation at either place, penalty free. What do you thin I should choose?

ita-That's good you are getting a renovated room at the Belvedere. They are much nicer than the regular rooms. I am going to keep calling the Salisbury to see if they get an opening for those nights I need.

mclaurie-thanks for tips from quikbook. I have been looking on there regularly. Yes there are 3 of us and most hotels do say 2 people max. If you put in rooms for 3, you get a whole different list of hotels. I did see the Eastgate Tower and their prepaid suite is a great deal. I stayed there for a couple of days last Christmas as my friends were staying there. The hotel was fine but I really don't love the location. We are going to be doing lots of theater and my friend lives on the Upper West Side. I know it doesn't matter with subways, etc but I seem to be a West Side girl!!
However, looking at their price I may have to rethink that.
Originally I had booked the Radio City Apartments (months ago) but even though I have 2 double beds, they say only 2 people can be in the room. My daughters are going to be visiting friends and possibly even staying with them one or two nights so there might not even be 3 of us in the room all the time. I am just nervous about sneaking in an extra person even if it's for a night or two. I need to make my mind up soon.

I'd go for the renovated Belvedere rooms ita.

Paula, what about the Blakely or the Crowne Plaza?

ita-If you give up the Salisbury, let me know. What nights are you there? I am looking for the 14th and 15th and have no problem changing rooms. It would be nice to stay in the same hotel. You can email me at paulambrandt at yahoo dot com.

mclaurie-I know you recommend the Salisbury. Do you think the Belvedere is better, even the non-renovated rooms? We are getting the one bedroom suite at the Salisbury for about the same price as the double double at the Belvedere. I checked with the Blakely but for three people you have to do the suite and it's over $400 a night without tax. Crowne Plaza only had rooms for 2 people but I didn't call them about the rollaway. I can check tomorrow but am thinking it would be pretty crowded.

Paula, McLaurie does not recommend the Salisbury. If I am not guaranteed the renovated room at the Belvedere I am going to stick with the Salisbury

ita-Sorry I wasn't clear in my last post. What I meant was that I thought that McLaurie in the past had recommended the Salisbury to travelers who were looking for suites and were on a budget. Maybe it wasn't her but some of the other NYC posters. So that's why I was wondering about her recommendation of the Belvedere over the Salisbury. Anyway, I am going to continue to try to get a room at the Salisbury for the 2 days I need. It will be nice to have a suite for the 3 of us. Let me know if you cancel. I am a little reluctant to stay at the Belvedere in the non-renovated rooms.

The Beacon on upper west side has nice-looking suites. We have not stayed there yet, but have resies for the spring. It has very good reviews. I don't know if you are interested in that location.

it is booked

The Belvedere or the Salisbury?

Paula I cancelled the Salisbury-Oct.14-18

I called this morning but they said they had no cancellations for the 14-16. That room was probably snatched up quickly. We are going to stay at the Salisbury the 10-14 and hope something opens up. If not, we will probably move to the Belvedere for the last 2 nights. We really need those Fodor pins as we may be passing in the lobby!! Have a great trip.