My sister from UK islooking into a 40th Birthday celebration for 8 people this year and wanted to know the cheapest time of year to come to NY. We were thinking september. Also what is the best way of doing it renting furnished apartment, hotel, etc. Budget is key. They want to do a long weekend Thursday through Monday.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Sept. is expensive. The cheapest times for hotels are July/August and Jan-March.

Renting an apt. for just a long weekend is a really bad idea. Most buildings don't allow short vacation rentals and there are online scams galore. A suite hotel like Radio City apartments, the Salisbury, the Beacon or Eastgate Towers is a better option.

September is definitely NOT the cheapest - it's the start of high season. Cheapest is Jan - March (except Valentine's Day) - but then the weather is the worst.

And renting an apartment for so few days will be very difficult in a legitimate place.

If you tell us your budget per room - or if you're going to try for a couple of suites for 4 each - people can make recos.

Thanks for the responses. I will get back on a budget per room though I am sure they would be happy to share rooms or suites.

My friends paid $175 a night at the Hotel Belleclaire at Broadway and 55th in February (it looks very nice on the website and they loved it). When I looked at it for our trip in May it was $350.

Go in February.

I took a look at the radio city apartments and in July/Aug they have rooms for 4 at $255 so that looks like a really good option.

Trish if those rooms are available at RCA book them now! It's not a fancy hotel, but it has a nice staff, clean rooms, great location. It sells out, so if you think you want to stay there, book it!