Are we crazy to think we can put together a trip to NYC at the last minute? Just found out that we can get away Thursday, 10/2 - Tuesday 10/7..its my husband's 50th and we'd love to see the highlights of NYC, plus a Broadway musical. Having never been there I need suggestions for hotels, restaurants, etc. My budget is about $2,500.00 and we are from California, are casual travelers. I've got tons of United Airline's miles, but I would assume its too late to book a trip using them?
I know there are tons of posts about NYC, I've read them all...but its so much info to digest. Help me out here fellow fodorites...you never let me down!

How willing are you to fly on a relatively inconvenient (1-stop, change planes in Minneapolis), but cheap, flight? We just made plans for a weekend mid-October and got just such a flight (from SFO to LaGuardia) for $290 (all-in, including taxes) round-trip on Northwest. There are non-stop flights on Virgin America for around $400 (to everyone who's wondering why we wouldn't pay the additional amount to fly non-stop, there are two reasons: first, my husband was going alone, for his high school reunion, so the hotel was already covered, and I decided to go only if it would be "really cheap"; and second, the non-stop schedule didn't work for us since he has to work in NY on Monday).

Well you can always get a hotel if you're willing to spend enough. The key questions are:

What kind of airfare can you get at such short notice?

Will that leave you enough to pay for high season hotels and activities?

Realistically, yuo need to figure at least $300 per night for hotels (even basic hotels) - so $1500 total for hotels. That leves just $100 for air, food, sights etc.

Is there any chance of getting a really good airfare? That's what I woud start working on first.

A) See my post re airfare

B) Hotel prices are insane. No decent hotel was less than $380 or so on the regular sites. We got a hotel on Priceline for $310 a night. (W on Lexington Avenue -- I know the rooms are very small, but hopefully its true that the rooms have been renovated -- the price on the Starwood website for the same nights is $469).

So with a Priceline hotel and the airfare I told you about, you can do it!

thanks...I'm working on the air fare right now. Looks like we might get a good deal on a red eye and stay at Millineum Hotel in the Time Square district.

I usually plan our vacations months in advance with lots of research, so I appreciate your advice!

I believe the last minute can be one of the BEST times to plan a trip to NY. Hotels often have last minute discounts that aren't available in advance. Try Travelocity, Quikbook or Expedia. For instance, Quikbook has the Best Western President for $245, the Bently (Upper East Side) for $255, the Times (great theater district location) for $309 and the Radisson Lexington (East Side) for $283 during your time frame. Keep in mind to add about 20% for tax.

Don't be so sure that you won't be able to use your miles for an air ticket either. Again, seats that aren't filled by the final week, often are released for frequent fliers. Give a call to the UA agent late some night to ask for help. They have more time then to assist in looking for open routings.

Theater tickets will run as little as $45 or as much as $110. Look for discounts on Broadwaybox.com or Playbill.com. Lots of info on this sight about getting discount theater tickets at the last minute.

Buy a 7 day unlimited ride subway pass for $25. Its the best deal for getting around NY - both time and price wise.

Taxi to the city from LGA will cost about $40 each way.

We save on meals by eating breakfast in one of the walk up places like Au bon paine. We have a big late lunch while touring or shopping, nibble over cocktails in a good people watching spot pre-theater and then have a late, light dinner post-theater on Restaurant Row. We usually have one big splurge night out.

Have fun and Happy Birthday to your hubby.

TC and everyone else...you are so wonderful! Thanks for the great suggestions....re: transportation, tickets, etc. I was so hesitant because this is such a last minute idea, but I think we can do it thanks to your encouragement.

UA has lots of options if I use the" standard award" (more miles, but that doesn't matter, I have plenty).

The Travel Zoo site just came out with a special at the Millenium Hotel/Broadway...about 1,100.00 for the four nights. Has anyone stayed there? I'll try the other hotels you suggestions, also.

I'm going to sit down with hubby tonight and book it!

I always have luck at the 1/2 price ticket booth in Time Square (cash only) go with several options and at least one will be on the board.
I have never used this service but you might check this link for a "reasonable Hotel". http://www.applecorehotels.com/apple-core-hotels/
Enjoy!

tennis - I like to use kayak.com for flight info and finding the cheapest flights. It's a search engine that checks MOST airlines. You can set many parameters (# stops, dep time, airports, etc.) on the left side of the screen. Then you can click on a direct link to the airline, expedia, etc. to make the purchase. It's easy to use and saves a lot of time. I did find that the prices change frequently, usually increasing. So, strike while the iron is hot.

It's a great time of year to visit NYC and if you're lucky enough to grab airfare using your miles, then the next hurdle is finding a hotel.

My boss has stayed at Park Central Hotel on business trips; his first choices are either the Flatotel or Dream Hotel (all located in mid-town area of Manhattan). I checked and Park Central does have availability for your dates .... also, check on Trip Advisor for feedback on Millenium Hotel.

And another suggestion .... if you're willing to pay $525 per night, The Blakeley has availability --- http://www.blakelynewyork.com

Since you've never been to NYC, a general rule of thumb is the "numbered streets", i.e. 42nd, 43rd, etc. are very close to each other. I think it's 10 streets equals a mile. So, if you're staying in the 50's, it's an easy walk down to 42nd Street (Times Square area).

The "avenues" (5th Avenue, 6th Avenue (a/k/a Avenue of the Americas) are a bit further apart. I'm not sure distance between them.

You'll certainly be fine staying at the Millenium; I've suggested hotels in the 50's, as that gives you an easy stroll up to Central Park, as well as down to the theatre district.

10 streets equals a mile

Its 20 blocks to a mile. The distance between avenues is not consistent.

Just to clarify it's 20 north/south streets to a mile - that is 35th St to 55th St is a mile. The east/west blocks between Avenues (main streets), as in Fifth Ave to 6th Ave run from 2 to 3 times as long as the N/S blocks.

For a New Yorker you figure a good walking pace is 1 minute per N/S block. If you're looking around, figure twice as long.

Thanks for straightening out the distance issues.

Hope the OP has pulled together their trip on such short notice.