Hoping to spend a week, again, in Manhatten, in early September. Have stayed in the Milford Plaza before and would like a change in the same price bracket, etc? Any ideas?

September is a very expensive time in NYC. How much can you pay? How did you feel about the Milford Plaza?

Mike is right we need more info.

But for budget you might try either Priceline (assuming there are 2 of you) - but go for 4* only - since some 3* aren't that nice (but if you didn't object to the Milford?)

Or try the Applecore group of budget hotels which get generally good reviews.

The Milford is 'just OK' as we(2) only sleep in the room, but the location is great. we can afford just a bit more, we're from Scotland! We were in NYC 9/11 and have come back every year on the anniversary

Hello georgec

Give us a bit of help here - what is the rate at the Milford Plaza that you say you can afford a bit more than.

How many to a room?

Sandy

For 2 people definitely try Priceline. To get info go to biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com. Sitck with 4* places - and go for midtown west, midtwon east or central park south. (If it's going to be too busy they may not have much to offer - but it's worthwhile to get out of the Mildew Plaza.)

I agree Priceline is a great idea but it may not work for a week. People are usually more successful with shorter stays. If you wouldn't mind moving at some point, that's an option. I agree if you try that, bidding 4* is the way to go. Not only are 3*s not as nice, you don't get any free re-bids (a concept you must understand to really use PL well) and you don't pay that much less for them than for 4*s.

If you've been coming annually for the last 5 yrs. it may be time to try a new location Where have you stayed before? Maybe even a downtown location??? The Cosmopolitan is a good, newish budget hotel in Tribeca that would be a fun change.
http://cosmohotel.com/

Or if that's too dramatic a move, what about the upper westside? The Park 79, formerly known as the Hayden. It's been recently renovated. http://www.haydenhall.com/
Rooms are very small and not all have private bath so make sure you get what you want.

They also need to be aware of a significant price increase. The low rates of the past are long gone. This year especially has high rates all the time. A modest hotel now is running $200/night with taxes. I had good luck this year with Super8 and Econolodge midtown. About $180++ AAA rate.

For my wedding, my relatives stayed at 2 great small hotels: The Casablanca (on West 43rd) and Morgans (Madison between 37th & 38th). The Kitano and the Algonquin are both very nice, but pricier. For a decent lower budget place, try the Ramada at 30th and Lexington - The rooms are small, but clean. It is across the street from a great cafe (Penelope's). We have had several out-of-town guests stay there and they've all said it was fine.

The Holiday Inn Express Manhattan is newer and very clean; it's also right off 5th Ave. Rooms are running around $280 per night for a king bed.

I also checked www.Quikbook.com and this site is showing quite a few hotels in the $300-$350 per night range such as the UN Crown Plaza and the Affinia Dumont (highly recommend, btw!)It's worth checking out!

Best of luck!

Best

I am drawn to either the Comfort Inn Midtown,(incl. Comp Breakfast)£1558,Holiday Inn Express Manhatten,£1638, Belevedere£1652 these costs incl air fare which are the same

Any of those 3 are fine but the HI Express is new. I'd pick that.

So that would be $2,869.00 USD for the Comfort Inn w/ airfare, $3,016 for the Holiday Inn w/air, and $3,042.00 for the Belvedere w/air. Are you flying from LHR and how many nights in the hotel does this include?

Try the Hampton Inn, 51st @ 8th, a newly renovated hotel, kin to Hilton hotels,a complimentary hot breakfast w/your room, a coffee bar all day in the lobby-free, queen beds not doubles.
I negotiated a rate directly w/the hotel & skipped vendors fees. They have rates for seniors, etc.

So assuming $800 for airfare that's about $240 plus taxes per night for the Comfort Inn. A substantial difference if the Affinia Dumont is going for $350 per night.

A reasonable rate for September - since the web site shows many nights sold out and rates at least as high as that.

I'd suggest trying www.hotels.com and the Grand Union Hotel (www.hotelgrandunion.com) which is one East 32nd St.