My husband and I are moving back to the US and are planning to stay in NYC for one night on the way through. Our budget is about $550 a night. Where and what hotel do you suggest? Thanks!

You need to give us more info. There are many hotels one can recommend for you. Do you like old-world charm? Ultra-modern facility? Do you like a view and what view? Have you stayed at a NYC hotel before and which one?

When you're paying that much money, you can be a little choosy.

Also, what do you plan to do on your one night? Theater? Dinner? Nothing ?

And when are you coming? If it;s high season (Oct to Nov) that budget isn;t very much - if it's Jan or Feb you can get almost any hotel for that.

Also - are you coming in and out of JFK? Newark?

For a one-night stay with your budget, I would recommend the Sofitel near Times Square. Great central location, yet not in the middle of the total mayhem of TS.

Check out www.biddingfortravel.com and then bid on Priceline. You can get a 4 star hotel for anywhere from $100-200 and then spend the rest on a show, a great dinner, and a bit of shopping at Filene's basement.

Can you get the Mandarin at that price point?

Depends on the time of year. In Jan or Feb probably if you go direct to the hotel. The rest of the year very unlikely - and in high season it's more like $900.

We've never been to NYC before and know nothing about it. I don't know about the ambience -- old world, ultra-modern ... we're open to anything as long as the bed is big and comfy.

Our budget is only this much because we're both in the Air Force, and the AF is paying for the hotel. We get to double the amount they normally give to one person ($282) since we're both active duty. We do not get to keep what we don't use.

We'd like this to be a hotel we'd never be able to afford otherwise.

We are coming from London, so might be a little tired and really planned to just tool around NYC for the evening. Dinner, definitely, somewhere. We'll probably be back since we're just moving to Virginia, so doing/seeing it all isn't a priority.

We'll be there mid-week at the end of September, flying into JFK, taking the train the next day to Edison to pick up our car that's been shipped over.

Thanks for the help so far!
Cindy

The Sofitel would be a good choice - unfortunately with the 18% tax it will be about $625 at that time of year.

For what you want I would look at hotels in the Central Park South area in the 4* range. Check with Quikbook to see what they have available. (I know this sounds silly - but with that budget and the tax you'll need to be careful to get a nice 4* at that time of year).

A pleasant area to walk around (perhaps even stretch your legs a littl ein Central Park), busy but not with the madness of Times Square and several nice places to eat to choose from.

Here's my suggestion. Book a nice room or junior suite at the Michelangelo Hotel. You'll have a little money left over to walk across the street and put toward the fixed price seafood dinner of your life at LeBernadin, often touted as the best in New York (but of course you'll need to book in advance or have your hotel do it for you). You can take a brief stroll through the bright lights and signs of the theatre district, or go to the Top of the Rock at the close by Rockefeller Center. You'll know you're back in the US.

I'm not familiar with which hotels give the best govt./military deals. One of the nicest hotels in Manhattan is the Ritz Carlton. There are 2, one in midtown (near most of the tourist spots) just across from Central Park (Ritz Carlton Central Park) and the other is downtown in Battery Park with some views of the Statue of Liberty. I think if you can get a deal at one of those, it would be great. The Sofitel is also very nice but not quite as special as the RC's (imo).

I also agree the Michelangelo is very nice but I did understand you don't get to keep any savings.

I like quikbook.com for checking prices but they won't be as good (I'd guess) as govt. prices. Lots of good luck on your trip and your move.

Excellent suggestion Neopolitan!

I just booked the Mandarin for March for $607 a night. I know it's a little over your budget, but I hear it is fabulous.

Neopolitan and GoTravel - They can't do that. They could certainly book that hotel and follow the evening suggestions, but any money left over from the hotel doesn't go into their pockets.

Cindy - Do you know which night in late September yet? It's difficult to shop for exact prices without an exact date.

And I don't know exactly what feofeo is, but sesiri appears to have registered at fodors only to hawk that hotel site, since s/he has posted only about it, on at least 3 threads today.

Cindy, call the Mandarin Oriental and tell them your situation that you are active duty and your budget.

Since it is a midweek stay, I think they will probably work with you and they should upgrade you if they have the space.

Call them right now!

I was in the hotel business for years and loved to do things like this to help people out!

JLM, sorry, I didn't realize an exact date would help. We're arriving in the late afternoon on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

Thanks again SO much for your help.

I agree with Go T; call one of these nice hotels, tell them your budget and situation, and ask if they have a nice room with a military discount that fits your price. I'm guessing they'll find you one!

I don't know any of these hotels personally, but they'd be on my list of hotels to check out if I wanted a splurge and something a bit different. I picked 9/27 as the date (a random wednesday):

* 60 Thompson (in Soho) Queen Superior room $559.04 after taxes
* Hotel Gansevoort (unavailable 9/27, rates for 9/28) deluxe room $553.57 after taxes
* Library Hotel (9/28 also) deluxe room queen bed $508.02 after taxes
* Bryant Park Hotel superior queen $445 before taxes

You may also find government/military rates at some hotels, making even higher end hotels fall into your budget.

But make sure you talk to someone! Ignore the rates, find the hotel you want to stay in, and call them!!

The Mandarin Oriental would be my first choice.