My husband and I will be in New York for a week in May. This is our first time and we are trying to find a good hotel to stay in near Time Square that won't cost $300 + per night. Any suggestions?

My favorite hotel in the area is the Marriot Marquis, mainly due to its large comfortable rooms and great views from full glass walls looking right up Broadway (if you request a north side room). Although their prices can range all the way up to $500, I recently got a promotional flyer from there offering many dates in May from $179 to $219. Call them and ask about special promotional rates in May (apparently there are fewer conventions then). Although the rate may change from day to day, perhaps you can get a very good "average" based over a full week, especially if several of the days are $179.

Just checked Marriott's website and the lowest rates there are $265 on a weekend in May. Perhaps the promotional rates are unavailable through the website.

I have stayed at the Milennium Broadway which is right at Times Square. The rooms are great and were reasonable (depends when you will be there)There is also a Sunday brunch which I believe you can include as part of the package and is really nice.

You are right about the special Marquis rates not being on their website. You need to call the Marriot number 1-800-228-9290 and ask about them. The card I got had a special code to use. Unfortunately I threw it away, but it was an American Airlines Aadvantage promotion (and you wouldn't need to be a member to use it). You might try asking for that special promotion.

Just read a report on this board that the Empire Hotel was booked at $79 a night at the Empire Hotel in December. The thread is entitled "NYC Trip Report 12/00". The report mentioned how the hotel was booked. Suggest you check it out . The hotel is in an excellent location - just across from Lincoln Center. This place would be a good deal at $150 a night. It is exactly one mile due north of Times Square - a 20 minute or less walk.

When my husband and I went to NY in September, we made a reservation at the Muse, which is a new hotel. But then on this forum I learned about travelweb.com, which has last-minute deals for the very same weekend. I don't know if you can use it for entire weeks, but it's worth a shot. We got rooms at Le Parker Meridien, right across the street from Carnegie Hall, and just blocks from Times Square, for $189.

If you do make a reservation online, be sure to print out your confirmation and take it with you. The hotel desk staff often aren't clued in to Internet deals, particularly those through third parties. Even w/our printout, the desk clerk had to check with management to honor our rate, which was about $200 or more below the "rack rate."

Just keep shopping online. You can usually cancel reservations 24 hours ahead.

We had a wonderful time--hope you do, too.

Oddly enough today's mail brought me another Marriott Marquis flyer (this one from Playbill Theatre Club). They still show rooms at $139 for May 6,13,27, and 28 (ask for promotion code LLOQ) and rooms for $189 a night for May 10,11.12,14,15,24,25,26,29,30,and 31 (ask for promotion code LLOA). If they are out of the $139 rooms those dates should then also be good for the $189 rooms. There are also many dates from March 1 to September 30 at these same rates under the same codes; I have just listed the ones in May for Amanda.
Again you need to call the 800 number for these rates. This flyer also lists 1-800-843-4898 which may be a direct line to the New York Marquis rather than the national watts.

I often stay at the Mayfair Hotel on 49th Avenue at 7th, right in Times Square. Very clean, nice, moderately priced boutique hotel. They include a very nice continental breakfast. I usually book by calling the hotel directly at 1-800-556-2932, but I'd also look at what rate is being offered through www.hoteldiscount.com. Be warned, the rooms are small, but the price usually makes it a very good value.

Another good source of New York hotel room discounts is www.quickbook.com. I've used them before for reservations as well.

Thanks, Patrick! I just booked a room for $189 at the Marriott MArquis in May. She first quoted $269 but then I asked her to check the special fare using the code you gave from the Playbill Theatre. This is really terrific as we're going only for 2 nights so we can see our friend, Mylinda Hull, star in her first Broadway Play, "42nd Street"! It premieres May 2..go see her if you can! arlene

you can get a room at the Days Inn for about 119.00. Nice rooms nice hotel right in the middle of Times Square.Check out their Web Site.