I really reco May over April. NYC is a lot colder than most of the UK in winter and we don't get trees in leaf or most of the flowers until late April. (Central Park won't look like anything.) And April can still be quite cold at night - especially out on the water.

As for hotels, they are being used only temporarily for those made homeless by Sandy. I heard it will be ending in the next couple of weeks, it's really supposed to be enough time for people to et back into houses requiring fairly minor repairs. Sadly, quite a few houses will have to be either razed or completely rebuilt - and it's expected the residents will have their insurance money and have time to find apartments for the six months or more it will take their houses to be rebuilt. And some will need to find completely different sites - since the shoreline has been changed in some places and their home sites no longer exist.

There are many great and some free (tip only) walking tours of NYC on weekends and they are wonderful. Pick up one for the lower eastside. A unique area and you can get there by bus to people watch or subway for very little money. NYC is a great walking area and you can eat ethnic very cheaply. Send for free tickets to the David Letterman show. Free & fun. Staten Island ferry is also free as is the 9/11 memorial. Both must sees.

Have a look at Radio City Apartments too, close to Time Square, Rockerfeller Centre. However you normally have to book many months in advance to get a reasonable rate.

We are staying in Astoria Queens at the moment, only a short ride away on the Subway. We have made a lot of use of our 7 day unilimited Metro card.

I completely agree with october_fun, that The Beacon is a jewel.

Stayed there three nights in early June, and LOVED it. Newly-renovated, very clean and good front desk service, suite-style rooms, perfect location on a pretty parkway in the quieter Upper West Side with lots of shops, cafes, restaurants and directly across the street from a wonderful market. Less than a block from a subway station.

I don't think you can find a better place for the money.

UWS is quieter only in comparison to Times Square. It is busy, but not frantic. The Beacon is a good deal and besides easy access to the subway - although walking back to the hotel after seeing a show will give you a good and relaxing way to stretch your legs.

It is also only 3 blocks from Central Park along with the wonderful Museum of Natural History and the the New York Historica Society(brillant exhibits). And you can walk across the Park - or take the 79th St crosstown bus - to Fifth Ave - with the Met and all of the other great places on Museum Mile.

Any amount of time in NYC is a great time!

My hubby and I were able to spend just ONE day in the city. Took a bus in from Rhode Island, arrived early. Rode the Ferry to the island and didn't get off so got to take a quick look at the sites in the Harbor. Then got to see Battery Park, WTC site, went into the little church across from WTC, then had lunch in Little Italy.. Then subway to Central Park, quick carriage ride. Empire State building and then coffee in Trump Tower. Saw Rockefeller Center, then to Times square for dinner and caught the last bus back to Rhode Island!

While I hope you and the Mrs. get a longer trip, its such a magnificently large city any amount of time you can get there will be a wonderful time!

As of right now, the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Tribeca, which next door to the subway line that runs north-south and in a convenient area full of restaurants and shopping, is in your budget for the 1st week of June. I have not checked for May dates.

I've stayed there many times, very nice, clean, decent, good people at front desk and bellmen, room service, internet included, very good value.

If you book a reservation now, keep checking back as rates could go down between now and May or June, and you will want to rebook at the lower rate and then cancel your current reservation. I have had that happen at Cosmopolitan when I book far out from my date of stay.

As your dates get closer, check Travelzoo.com for hotel deals also.

Thanks everyone.
Trip has had to be delayed.
Various reasons, mainly mrs muck has made some plans around this time.
And casually mentioned after seeing NYC on Tv " I would love to go to NYC around Christmas time"
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
;-)


So ideas are all being saved for use later.

Thanks
Muck

The week right before Christmas (excluding Christmas Eve) offers very affordable hotel rates, historically. NYC is great any time of year. Happy travels!

The few days right before Christmas have moderate rates. The couple of weeks before that - and New Year's - are the most expensive rates of the year (think double and more what you would pay in Jan).

Agree that NYC is magical at Christams - and if you're paying with pounds versus dollars may not seem so exepensive.

As I said, we stayed in Manhattan for under $130.00 a night before Christmas this year, Dec 15-20th.

Dec 18-26 or 27 are usually quite affordable.;)

EmilyPost, what hotel?

Hampton Inn on 35th. Friends stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn on 35th for less the week before. Hope this helps.

I have been looking at the Hampton Inn in Chelsea for about $229.00 a night. It looks nice and has good reviews. Is there something that I don't know about this place? Horrible location? Miles from a subway stop?

You can see how far it is from a subway stop on a map and the info is most likely on the hotel's website also. Google the name of the hotel and a Google map should show up as one of the results.

marlib1951 , if you do as vjpblovesitaly suggests and put the name of the hotel in Google , you'll get a map showing the hotel is one block (in each direction) from 2 or 3 subway lines. Nothing in Manhattan is "Miles from a subway stop"! There's easy access by train, bus , walking to many sites, but probably nothing you'd want to see in the immediate few blocks.

It's a safe neighborhood that's part trendy and part semi-industrial. The hotel is on a side street with old office buildings and wholesale shops. The area is fine, but the street itself will be pretty empty in the evening.

nyer, thanks for the information. We, too, are trying to go on a budget. We have also looked at the Comfort Inn near the convention center. Sorry, if I am hijacking this post, but since we are all looking for a budget place to stay NYC...

Personally I prefer the Hampton Inn location. The Comfort Inn is a couple avenues further west and (I think) near entrance/exit to the Lincoln Tunnel. I have a friend who lives a couple blocks away and I don't think it's an attractive area.

Hotel prices in NYC seem to go up as time passes, so you may want to book something cancellable while you keep looking.

The Convention Center is NOT a good location - very far west and not near the subway. Also - you don;t want to be near the entrance to the Tunnel - very heavy traffic - including a lot of trucks - at all hours.