Hi, Aaron, thanks for asking.... I actually can afford whatever the hotel costs (and it's a business trip, so it's tax-deductible), but it's the PRINCIPLE, you know? :) It shouldn't cost that much. As for alternatives: in order: 1. I'm flying in and out of JFK, so something in Brooklyn along the A line might work (although those aren't cheap either); 2. Long Island City (I've never stayed there, but I'm travelling light and I can handle the effort) 3. Stay with my college-aged son in the apartment I'm paying for in Brooklyn (but which he shares with several others and doesn't want his Pop hanging around, y'know)? I really ENJOY the PRICELINE / HOTWIRE thing. I'm optimistic I'll score something ...