My parents are coming to visit (from Oz) and they are searching for suite type accommodation in New York (on Manhattan) in early May. I normally stay in backpackers or the budget hotels when I visit New York, so I am at a loss as to what to suggest to them.

Has anyone had good experiences with suites on Manhattan? They will be traveling on Oz dollars, so they are looking at trying to get something for under US$150 a night (they will be staying for 10 days). Do you think this price range is possible for that time of the year? Or should they try searching for accommodation off Manhattan?

Thanks for you help.
IF

Under $150 for a suite may be tough. There is a group of hotels, called Affinia that specialized in suite hotels, although I doubt they'd have anything for < $150. I did book 1 bedroom suites (with kitchenette) at the Shelburne Murray Hill (part of the group) there for May at $178. They have what they call studio suites (I think 1 room, with an efficiecny kitchen) for $158. These rate can only be booked via the website (Affinia.com). On the website, click on special offers, then chose the Grandparent special (you don't need to be a grandparent, and it's the best deal i could find anywhere). You have up until the day before to cancel if need be. This is a good rate for a very nice hotel.

Your parents can try priceline where you can definitely get a decent room for < $150, but no guarantee of a suite.

Thanks MFNYC - I will look into it.

Quick question about how priceline works (I have never used it myself, but have heard good things about it). Once you put a request in, do you have to honor it .. ie. if you don't hear back from anyone and the dates you are planning to travel on are fast approaching, can you cancel your request?

IF

Hotel Olcott at 72nd street between Columbus and CPWest could offer some suites at good rate, but they plan to close(for renovation??) soon==>I don't know the exact schedule of closure but you can contact them.
Hotel Beacon on Broadway/high 70' have also good rates for suites and rooms are large...It's one of the only hotel with suites on UWSide(with Excelsior
hotel..) and so if you book on Priceline for a suite on UWside above the 70th street it could be fine...
Another good adress is the Lucerne
but I don't know if they have some suites.
Erik.

They could try http://www.citysonnet.com/ - rents apartments, B&b's short term/long term rentals in residential neighborhoods . . .

In Priceline, you bid, they may or may not award you a room based on your bid. If they DO award a room, it's a done deal (can not be cancelled or changed). For more info, check out biddingfortravel.com. I've used priceline twice for NYC (I live here, but do it for visitors). Once I actually got a very nice suite at the Avalon hotel. 3 adults stayed there and loved it. I think we were just very lucky, I haven't seen that hotel awarded in ages. This past summer, I was awarded a room at the Shelburne (a standard room with 1 queen bed and a little efficiency kitchen). I think I got the shelburne for something around $115. This May I booked Shelburne using that Grandparent special on the website (I called the hotel and their lowest price was about $220). We have a group of people coming in for a family event, and we wanted them all at the same hotel, and some wanted 1 bedroom suites, others took the studio room. In this situation priceline is too unpredictable.

Go to Hotwire and uncheck all of the zones except the Financial District (check that one) It will reveal a hotel that changes from a low of $140 to a high of $150. It has a red suite icon which as opposed to Priceline identifies it as a suite. I believe it to be Embassy Suites which is great because you free buffet breakfast, however it is not guaranteed it is Embassy Suites.

Heaps for me to look into - thank you very much everyone!

Thanks also MFNYC for the priceline lesson

IF

IF...I have a friend who got a wuite with Signature Suites in the Village for $160 per night plus tax.....it was very nice
www.signatureproperties.org
They have several properties and you can call them to inquire before filling out the reservation form...Good Luck!

Keep in mind that whatever price you get quoted that you must add on about 13-15% taxes.

When I lived in NYC and my parents came to visit, they always got an apartment through A Hospitality Company http://www.acompanies.com/

I just looked at the site and it may be ever so slightly above their budget. However, in the off season, my parents were able to negotiate a lower rate. I just realized this might have been easier for them most recently b/c they came very much post 9/11. But I digress. My parents always loved staying in an apartment because they felt like they lived in NY even if for a week!

Also, the presence of a kitchen means they can save money on food (if the price of the apt. is an issue)...

I'm off home now for the weekend, so I won't be logging back on to say thanks to anyone else who responds to this thread for a while. So thank you everyone for the info and thanks in advance (just in case) - it is much appreciated!

Have a great weekend. IF

Just a thought. Since you are from Australia, did you mean by "suite" simply ensuite? All regular hotel rooms in New York will be ensuite, with its own bath. Or did you mean suite in the American sense, a separate living room or area from the bedroom?

Another all suite hotel is the Doubletree in Times Square. Fodorites report the 2 rooms (bedroom & sitting room) are each small & probably added together = the square footage of a regular room elsewhere, but it does provide privacy if 1 wants a nap while the other wants TV. The real issue is whether they want a kitchen(ette). Most, if not all, the Affinia hotels have them. I think the suites at the Beacon may have them. There's also a hotel called On the Avenue (ontheavenuehotel.com) that has some suites but I think they're expensive. A good website to look at for good prices is quikbook.com I don't think using Priceline will yield them a guaranteed suite. And when you bid on Priceline, you find out almost immediately if your bid is accepted. DON'T BID PRICELINE without thoroughly reading & understanding Biddingfortravel.com!

The Beacon is a great place - I would also check out the Salisbury to see if their rates are what you're looking for. Great location and huge rooms.