Yes, of course I was referring to promotional rates. NYC is an expensive city and I honestly do not know anyone who pays rack rate. And yes, you have to check every discount site you can find, and then double check with the hotel to see if they can beat an advertised rate--unless it's a flash sale, in which case you jump on it and don't look back. No single site will always provide the best rate.

But nyt, it is simply untrue that one must share a bathroom if one can't pay $325 or more in the second week of December.

janisj, I do not think specific dates are necessary to share. Giving a week range should suffice. What IS bizarro is demanding such specifics for no good reason.

Specific dates are relevant as far as whether the dates in question are weekdays vs. weekends. In some markets, there is a big difference between the 2.

NewbE

I never said $325 or more. I gave an option for $260 and someone else gave one for $245 I think.

But you haven't made any suggestions except to look for discounts. Where do you think they should stay for much less than $245 in Manhattan with a private bath?

No point in criticizing others if you don;t offer options.

My M.O. is usually to use hotwire when faced with low-availability/high priced lodging in a busy city. NYC leading up to Xmas is very high $ season. Even though you won't know the name of the hotel until you've purchased it, I've never been disappointed. Just carefully check the areas you are comfortable with, select the minimum star rating you want and look at the customer satisfaction percentage. The prices shown do not include tax/fees so click-through as if purchasing to see the total final price. The full price is charged instantly when purchased. I've found hotwire prices to be lower than (or equal to) what I come up with after hours of slogging through other websites.

Newbe - reread my comment will ya before being so quick to jump on folks. (And you are the one who complained about the forums-Jeeze)

I specifically cited the OP's reluctance to tell us what he considers 'reasonable'. . . . As in rates. I didn't mention dates, specific or otherwise.

Hotwire does have a few hotels - 1 and 2* in Manhattan starting at about $150 per night with tax. I don't know what they are - so can't tell if they are decent or not. I have heard that if you check all of the amenities you can often figure out which hotel it is - but have never tried so not sure how well that works.

If you use this be sure to start with area first - so you eliminate all of the airport hotels that come up first.

Yeah, jeeze. When an effort to correct false information is actually criticized, you know the forum has died. Small wonder the OP is gone. Keep talking to each other, wrong people! Have fun.

If the OP returns, I just got a Travelzoo email today for the Doubletree Metropolitan (53rd & Lexington) for $179/night for fall dates (some date restrictions), book by October 30th.

Looking on Kayak there are still quite a few hotels in the $250-$260 range (plus tax) available for the second week of December. Mostly *2 and some *3. I was looking at Midtown as that's where I like to stay if I am going to see shows. Try to get away from Times Square if possible but still close to the theatre district. Looks like it's still a pretty pricey week for NYC. I got an email today about a promotion for one of the mid-price places I stay and their rates were still in the $300 range.

Just looked at Hotel Bellclaire on the Upper West Side for their rates this week. Generally considered a moderately priced hotel with good rates. Kind of shocked that they are at $329 for that week in December. I think there standard rooms might be sold out which would be a little less. I stayed there in September a year ago or $179. Definitely shows about variable room rates.

There are quite a few deals on Travelzoo but most of the don't apply to the second week of December. I think that is one of the biggest weeks for tourists to be in the city, seeing the Christmas lights, displays, etc.

1 or 2* in Manhattan? No way would I suggest that! Quikbook secret sale hotels has a deluxe Murray Hill hotel for $242.00, 4*. Keep checking back there; rates are likely to go down a little between now and then. Travelzoo.com will offer more discounts about a month out.

I wouldn;t do a 1 or 2* either - but the rates are much lower. And I think we still don;t know what the people traveling want to pay.

In a large city center, a 1* on hotwire is most likely a hostel. A 2* might be a hostel but could be a hotel with very small & sparse rooms w/toilet down the hall (shared). The star rating isn't necessarily an indication of the value/quality of the place -- the customer rating would be a better way to discern that.

Went back and looked at Kayak and most of the hotels I saw were 3*. There were a few 2* that are got decent reviews like Herald Square Hotel, the Da Vinci and the Comfort Inn Midtown West. Stars are a little confusing. On Kayak, the Comfort Inn is considered a 2*, on tripadvisor a 3*. Those all have rooms the second week of December that are under $300. But of course we don't know that budget the travelers have.