Thanksgiving 2010
 

Hi,

I'm hopeful an early start on my planning will help make sure I get a better deal (and location) on a hotel this Thanksgiving and was wondering if there is any suggestions. Last year we stayed at the Penn and in the past the Edison but I think I can get a better deal for my budget this year.

Any suggestions of good hotels and sites would be appreciated.

Uh, what city?

Ironically starting early is not necessarily the best way to get a good deal. Hotels will try to sell rooms at the highest possible rate and will drop prices closer to the time if rooms aren't selling. I'd have a look on quikbook.com kayak.com hotels.com and register for emails for sales on travelzoo.com travel-ticker.com and with any hotels you'd particularly like. How much would you ideally like to pay? How long will you be here and how many are you?

Your best bet is to book something you can cancel (but live with) as early as possible. Then keep watching to see what special deals might turn up. Travelzoo.com often dosn't list specials until about 60 days in advance.

But you can certainly get something better than the Penn - a park bench would be better.

How many of you are there, what is your budget? (Sometimes you can get better deals away from midtown - either upper west side or downtown - esp for weekend nights).

In my experience, booking way ahead for what will be a busy holiday season will get you a better rate. There's no harm in booking something you can cancel. To my observation, rates go up as rooms fill and/or your dates approach. Sometimes you can catch good rates if the calendar hasn't yet been updated for holiday periods where you're booking.

Hi,

Thanks for your responses.

There are certainly two adults traveling and the possibility of another two of whom will need to stay in a separate room but there just a big maybe. As for budget I was looking at around $1,200 for each room for anything from 8-10 days (depends as long as I fit in the parade and maybe the tree lighting ceremony).

I'm afraid to say that $1200 just won't go that far in NYC over Thanksgiving, but good luck finding something clean and in your budget.

Your budget just isn;t realistic for that time of year. You could do very well in January or February - but around the holidays anything under $200 a night is close to a miracle - and that likely won;t be very pleasant.

Just checked some moderate/modest hotels on the upper west side for those dates and in several the less expensive rooms are already sold out. The Beacon has a double/double for about $250 per night if you prepay. The Newton (modest but reliable) has a double with shared bath for about $200 per night - again advance purchase.

So I would definitely reserve something now- but be sure you understand if you need to prepay and any penalty for cancellation.

Downtown might have some less expensive options.

That is, indeed, an unrealistically low budget, unless you'd consider staying in Jersey City (with convenient Path/subway into Manhattan), where you can often get a rate with Priceline for under $100.

It would be dangerous to wait in hopes that rates will come down for your dates, as they're more likely to go up.

Best bet is to shop like the dickens and book something ASAP that you can cancel, then keep shopping.

8-10 days is a very long visit. 4-5 would be plenty.

thanks again, I'm guessing I will have to rethink my budget then as shared baths is something I can't consider so I'll look at booking something i can cancel.

Thanks again for your advice.

I agree with mclaurie, i went to the parade last year and I used Quikbook because if the hotel drops their prices Quikbook lets you drop your prices too, as much as you want. I stayed at the Sheraton Manhattan (absolutely perfect location) and all we had to do is step outside to get to the parade route.

There are two new Sheraton hotels opening in NYC. One in Tribeca and the other in Brooklyn Heights. Maybe they will offer some specials that you can book in advance. Good luck.