I’ve just booked a chain hotel for an outrageous price for a 4 night stay in NYC in early December. I’m not happy about my choice (spending so much for a chain), but I needed to book something-anything- soon before everything was full.

So may I ask a question of you New York fodorites that may seem obvious. Why, in December are the hotel prices so high? Is it the holiday shopping that creates the demand for these rooms? Is it the New York City ambiance in December? I would think that “autumn in New York” would be much more pleasant for strolling around or sight seeing. Are there other reasons that would account for the city’s supply/ demand issue in December?

I’ve never used Priceline, but am now considering it and studying the strategies. One question I have though is this: do you wait until the last possible date to bid, since the transaction is final once the enter key is pressed? Or do you wait and assume the leftover rooms will decrease in price as the date approaches?

In the last few years, more and more people are heading to NYC for the holidays and hotel rates have gone up accordingly. Due to dismal exchange rates, more Americans are traveling within the states and more foreign visitors are coming to take advantage of the exchange rates.

Even so, NYC hotels rates have always been highest between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. Sometimes, rates drop considerably from Christmas eve or day through the day before New Year's Eve (in which case that would be when we would visit).

If you're thinking of using Priceline, www.biddingfortravel.com is an excellent resource if you study the hotel FAQ's, do your homework, and peruse recent winning bids.

Priceline's inventory of hotel rooms changes all the time. There is no best guess as to whether you will do better earlier rather than later. When the city is busy, though, if you wait too long, many, most, or all hotels may be sold out for your dates and Priceline will have no rooms.

Since you can now bid on Priceline every 24 hours, rather than the previous every 72 hours, you have plenty of time to try low bids.

You may also want to have a look at Hotwire. www.betterbidding.com is an excellent resource for using Hotwire (and also Priceline).

Whenever we plan to visit NYC in the holiday season, I always book very early in the year, because I've observed that rates increase as hotels fill.

Another good resource is Kayak - so you can see more in terms of availability.

djk, Thanks for the reply. I looked through every site that I knew of, kayak included, to find the hotels and prices that were available. I guess I'm lucky to fine the one I did (which I got through their own website)

But still, early December in NYC? For me, business, but for most it must be early gift giving and receiving (tickets to opera performances, broadway shows, museums, etc) and not tourism in general.

If you haven't already, you might try playing around with your dates if you can be flexible.

Sometimes, a particular night (often Saturday, but not necessarily) will significantly impact the rates.

Unfortunately the travel dates are set, but I'm still searching all sites. You're right about Saturdays. Several times it was a Saturday night--right in the middle of the dates-- that was unavailable. Thanks again.

The prices are very high (I know, we're going for Thanksgiving and also have booked a chain hotel for a seemingly ridiculous price). But they're obviously getting the prices they're asking because a lot of hotels are sold out, which also means there is little inventory for Priceline and Hotwire. I think you'll find it difficult to get anything until last minute. I checked Hotwire last night for all of Manhattan for the dates November 20-25 and there were exactly 2 4* hotels (I usually don't go below that on Hotwire)and both were in the mid-$400s.

NYC hotel rates start to rise in September and continue to increase until the last day or two before Christmas.

Both US (suburban mero area as well as from a distance - remember NYC Metro area is 20 million people) - and foreign visitors come for the shopping, Christmas atmosphere and special activities (store window decorated, Radio City Spectacular, Nutcracker at Lincoln Center) - and the city is mobbed from Thanksgiving week on. (Think you have to walk in the street because there's not enough room on the sidewalks and both theater tickets and restaurant reservations harder to get.)

Separately, weather in Dec is usually not that bad. NYC is about a hundred miles south of the snow belt - and getting substantial snow (more than an inch or two) before Christmas is quite rare. So - it's not like heading for the north pole. Frankly, I find the weather then brisk, energizing and great for walking.

As for Priceline - there's no telling when rooms might open up. Sometimes tours book blocks of rooms and don;t fill them all - and so rooms may open up at any time. But - don;t expect budget prices even with Priceline - you may get an $800 room for $400 - but not for $150.

I go to NYC the first week of December every year as my annual treat. Yes, you just have to suck up the ridiculous prices! Last year i luxuriated for 5 nights in the Marriott Times Square South with a glorious dead-on view of the ESB--- I stayed for free using Marriott Rewards, booking this waaaaaaay in advance. This year it's back to biting the outrageous rates bullet, LOL.

Why are hotel prices so high? Supply and demand.

>Prices were very low for many years following 9/11
>The weak dollar has made the US (and NYC in particular) better value than many other places. It is probably cheaper for someone in the UK to come to NYC for a long weekend than to go to Paris.
>With the weak $, Xmas shopping here is a bonanza
>as NYC real estate spiralled out of control, many hotels have closed and been converted into condos and coops thus reducing supply while demand is increasing

If the city's high season draws so many people, enough to command the high hotel prices, and for so many different reasons, then the experience could or even should be worth the additional cost. I've never been there in December, having visited like so many tourists, throughout the summer months. I'll just not fuss over the cost. Thanks to everyone for the replies.

Kathleen,
I booked a trip online, to NYC, Dec.14th, 2006 through Travelocity.(sent me to America's Vacation Center)
I flew Delta out of Louisiana on Dec. 17th to La Guardia. I stayed at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers at 811 7th Ave. for 8 nights. I left La Guardia on the 25th of Dec.
Total $1,490.50
281.40 (Flight taxes/fees, Hotel taxes)
Total charged $1,771.90

YES Eight (8) nights!


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joli, You certainly got a good deal. Maybe waiting until the last minute was an excellent strategy. I'm a little more relaxed about the cost issue now. I have the chain hotel reserved, and a partial reserve at another, where I'm checking for cancellations every few days (so far the Saturday night is booked). One place will work, so I'm finished worrying about it. Thanks.

It's important to note that early Dec. is VERY different from late Dec. in terms of prices and availability. To add to that, Joli was willing to fly ON Xmas day when there are ALWAYS empty seats, so I wouldn't compare her experience to what kathleen is planning.

I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to accomplish, Kathleen, but I wish you good luck.