Does anyone know if something big is going on in NYC the weekend of Oct 18? I am having an unusually difficult time booking flights and finding hotels under $500.00/night. This has not happened post 9/11 for us. Trying to decide if I should keep looking or switch destinations.

Well, it IS my birthday

The 18th is a Thursday, which means you are competing with business people and conventions. It's a beautiful time to be in NYC and things are more expensive. Nothing really all that unusual.

"Post 9/11" effect seems to be OVER. Weak dollar bringing everyone here. Gourmet Magazine has an event that weekend, but I think it's just busy. If you want to come before the holidays, try the week before Thanksgiving.

I had the same trouble booking a 10/16-10/18 trip. Priceline was flopping majorly. From what I hear, early and mid October are wildly popular in the city. I ended up using FF miles into LGA and using Holiday Inn points to book the HI Midtown Manhattan. Not cheap, though at 25,000 points per night. That's a rather mediocre Holiday Inn in a good location if you're not too picky. It's less than 300 a night.

It's parents weekend at NYU! Seriously, I doubt that is the olny reason -- but we too, can't find a reasonable hotel. I was going to Priceline, that week. We're in Phila so we can always just make ita day trip.....

Every thing from mid September until the day or two before Christmas is high season in NYC - and the 9/11 effects are long gone. And due to the pitiful state of the dollar the city is packd with europeans buying bargains and US travelers not going to europe becasue of the costs.

Separately, several large hotels have been converted to condos - which are much more profitable.

So - the city runs well over 95% full all this time of year. There are few - if any - bargains to be had. Assume prices will be similar to other world capitols.

You can check the various discounters (travelzoo, kayak, etc) and look at Priceline (but some people are reporting Priceline has little inventory and prices are not a bargain.

For moderate hotels $500 is the going rate (affinia group has a couple things available in tis range). If you check the applecore group of budget hotels they have some availability from $350 up - depending on exact dates - but do check - since some get better reviews than others.

And - don;t wait - since the cheaper rooms will be gone soonest.

In 2006 there were 44 millions visitors to NYC, so it hard to keep track of everyone.

For some reason, I was able to get rooms for the first weekend in Oct. just under $300/night, despite this being a long weekend for many people (Columbus Day).

We will also be in town that weekend but only in NYC for Thursday/Friday - headed to Long Island for a wedding on Sat. - I made my reservations a long time ago and used points for the Marriott.