KatiesMom

Your post caught my interest because I've noticed that hotwire is really changing amenities lately. (It kinda looks like the hotwire 3* might be the Paramount, although it doesn't match its usual amenities. If so, I think the Beekman is the nicest of your 3 choices. Its only disadvantage is that is in midtown east, rather than right in Times Square, but to me that would be no big deal.)

If this suit is successful then Easy Click better seriously re-think some ratings on their opaque properties. In my opinion, they overrate also, at least some of the NYC ones. To me, as a consumer, I like to see credibility. If a company wants my money, I want to be able to believe I am giving it my hard earned dollars in good faith. We all know hotwire doesn't rate well. Don't know if this suit will make it though. Interesting.

I have a daily routine. Each day I wake up, do, you know...stuff, and then I race down to my computer and check out hotwire, travelzoo and Easy Click...trying to be first when the tide in prices turns and I can get that superawesome deal for my little one night trip to NYC in April. I've been doing this for a couple months. I want to get that $110 Hilton special priceline deal that a couple other posters got, but realistically I know I won't because my stay is for a solitary Saturday night. One is indeed the loneliest number, especially one Saturday night in the big apple. But I digress... My observation about Easy Click is that their star ratings (for NYC anyway) are inflated (not unlike hotwire). For example, the Radisson Lexington is listed as a 4*, at best it's a 3*. At least the opaque properties are easy to figure out, especially when the extra hint sometimes contains the actual name of the hotel in it..coff...coff..Surrey... And then there is that post, where the customer was walked before even getting there... Is ECT good and reliable? Have any of you used them and had good results, please let me know.

You got me Kathy. I type 120 words a minute, and I rarely proofread when I'm typing for pleasure. No 'scuse tho. My bad.

I'll keep the Jersey Hyatt in mind. In the meantime, I was checking on hotwire and saw a 3*, Downtown/Soho, Best Value, with amenities: fitness and laundry (self-service) for $107/night. Originally, I wasn't thinking about going for downtown/soho... but since we are having dinner at The River Cafe in Brooklyn, staying downtown or in Soho/Chelsea may be convenient coming back from the restaurant. Any ideas what the 3* might be? Also, I notice the board's Hotwire pinned listings say lower Manhattan rather than Downtown/Soho... one in the same?

Thereuare is the expert, so I can just put my thoughts in, for what they're worth. It seems like the price on the Murray Hill East Suites is pretty good at $130. Unlike a regular hotel, it's more like an apartment, and has a kitchenette. The Grand Hyatt is a very nice hotel, first rate. 10 days in NYC might be too much. Like eating ice cream, how much can you eat before you get sick of it? Sure you can do it, if you like, but there are other places in the northeast that might be fun for half your stay...like Boston, Cape Cod, Philly, Poconos, Washington, D.C. Just want to add one more thing. NYC is definitely bizarro when it comes to hotel rooms. You would think a world class city has world class hotel rooms... But sometimes things are almost beyond belief. Case in point--on travelzoo right now there is a special for The Roosevelt Hotel, I think it's about $139/night. Not bad for a 3.5* hotel, in fact it's an excellent sounding deal. But when you read the offer through, near the end it says that the rate is good for a room with ONE twin bed. A room with a double bed costs "just" $49 more. Not such a good deal now is it? Hard to believe that hotels rated 3* or greater have these tiny rooms, but they do. Any little closet will do sometime. That's the nasty little NYC quirk. 90% of a hotel's rooms might be just fine...but there could be a stinker in the bunch.

The Christo Gates display is super hot and this weekend is supposed to be jam packed. I'm even going to be in town.

Do you mean The Strip House steakhouse? They have good steak and the atmosphere is fun. Bordello-like.

If you want memorable, I truly can't think of a nicer spot than the River Cafe. You can take a taxi from midtown. Also, you can make a reservation at opentable.com, and in the special box on the reservation form, tell them it is a marriage proposal and they will treat you very well! This is a 100% reliable rec. For more thoughts on the River Cafe check out the New York board on tripadvisor.com.

Great bidding and results. For romantic, expensive, The River Cafe in Brooklyn has very good food and sweeping panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. For more info check out rivercafe.com. Some other lovely, romantic restaurants, located in midtown, are March, Danube, Fleur de Sel, Tocqueville and Mark's at The Mark Hotel. For more info about these (menues/prices/locations) check out menupages.com. Thereuare raises a good point about budget. The above are also a bit pricey. But they are some of New York's finest.

I have an upcoming visit to NYC on 4/9 (broadway show and dinner, already booked) . If I get a good bargain on a 4* we'll stay over one night (there are 2 couples so 2 rooms needed). The overnight is optional, because we can easily take the train back home. I've been following hotwire and easyclick for the past several weeks for my travel date and it isn't pretty. On hotwire, a 4* matching the description of the Millennium UN Plaza shows up around $182 (on easyclick it's $209). Ordinarily, I would take this hotel in a heartbeat, but not for that price under my circumstances. A 4.5* on hotwire, matching the W, is showing up around $195. The trend I see for my date is prices going up slightly over the past few weeks, certainly not down. This morning I decided to see if the priceline gods (via savingsbarn.com) would smile on me... Started at $95 for 4*, MTE, check in date 4/9, check out 4/10, 2 rooms. In $5 increments, I added MTW, UM-CPS, MTS, UES, UWS. Nothing at $120, which right now is about my max (I am paying for both rooms as a treat to the other couple). Prices are definitely higher than last year. I have time, I'm patient, and I will be checking around last minute, unless anyone knows of any other options.

I've stayed at the Crowne Plaza, in one room with 4 of us and I thought the room was small, but that is just my opinion, might be fine for you. Don't know about the Southgate. You might want to see what rates are for the Hilton NY & Towers. That's a nice place, good location, nice size rooms. The Affinia line (which includes Southgate) is known for good sized rooms.

You might want to check out the reviews of the Plaza on tripadvisor.com. Although a few recent reports are okay, the bulk of them will shock you. The Plaza was sold and is being converted into apartments. Construction is underway, some restaurants are already closed, and I believe the hotel itself may be closing soon for renovation.

I don't know the answer, but I have noticed similar UFO's (unidentifiable four/three.five* options) on hotwire lately. Looks like they are playing with the amenities.

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt last year and my review is on this website. The only thing left they were still renovating then was the ballroom... the rest was completed. The rooms look like their online pictures, simple asian lines. Personally, I liked it.

I highly recommend you go to hyatt.com and join the Hyatt's gold passport program (it's free). I won the Grand Hyatt on priceline last summer, and then joined the program. When I called the hotel to confirm my reservation, I gave them my gold passport number and my room preference (non-smoking, 2 double beds). At check-in they had it all set for me. I asked if I could be moved up to the Club Floor which they also did (unfortunately it was the weekend and the Club floor lounge was closed). My check in clerk was Michael, he was a peach. No guarantees of course, but having the passport thingie can't hurt.

The Ramada New Yorker is considered one of the worst hotels in New York, your other selections are better. There are a lot of reviews Here.

You are correct Travel Guy. When I got the Omni on pricleine last year, I signed up for the program (it's free), and they mailed me a certificate for a free room upgrade at any Omni. I did not need to use it on that trip because they gave me a good room to begin with. Also, when you give the front desk your member number at check-in, they give you a card to hang on your door each day to order beverages and the morning paper for free. Nice little perk.

Cailin, you may want to check your messages on this board. (At the top of the page, next to MY CONTROLS click on messages.)

Are you looking for one or two beds? Searched your dates on Easyclicktravel.com, for 2 adults, which may mean one bed, so if you want 2 beds may need to adjust search. The Beekman Tower is $119/night, The Shelburne Murray Hill is $119/night, and the 4* Millenium UN Plaza is $129/night, a good deal.

What are the customer comments? It may provide a hint.

Have you toured the neighborhoods? SoHo/Greenwich Village? You can also walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Museums--There's the Tenement Museum and MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) just re-opened. For entertainment, there's Slava's Snowshow, which is decidedly different. For wild restaurants... How about Lucky Cheng's which features transvestite waiters? At the new restaurant "Ono" you can have dinner in a cabana...or in bed.

My sister took a tour of the Edgewood Manor B&B which is walking distance to the church where she is getting married and the reception hall (The Casino in Roger Williams Park). She loved it. The B & B told her they would give everyone in the wedding who books with them10% off the regular rates. We decided to book a suite there for that weekend and as of now a majority of the rooms have been booked by others involved with the wedding. This B& B offers full breakfast daily plus wine, cheese and snacks each evening. I'll report back after the trip in July, 2005. I'm glad we didn't get the Westin because with the discount, the Edgewood B&B is actually less expensive than the rates we were looking at for the Westin.

AprilMay, I have made two trips to DC in the past few months. The second trip we drove all around and I got a good lay of the land. In my opinion, the best areas for tourists to stay are the DuPont Circle/Woodley Park areas. Why, you say? 1. Nice residential areas. Can walk around, lots of nice restaurants. 2. Convenient to metro stops, a necessity for tourists. Park your car and forget it. 3. Not as remote at night as Downtown DC. By the way, the 3* Marriott Wardman Park (in Woodley Park) and 3* Jurys (in DuPont Circle) look wonderful! We stayed at the Omni Shoreham, a 4*, also excellent. But I would be comfortable at either of those 3* places.

Chinese food in Chinatown-- Congee, NY Noodletown, and there's Jing Fong (for cart service dim sum). Pizza--- The top places for pizza in Manhattan are Lombardi's, John's and Patsy's. Lombardi's is the closest to Little Italy. Generally, Little Italy is considered far inferior to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, which is italian food heaven. Deli's--- For pastrami only--- there's Katz's on the lower east side. They seem to be a one trick pony, but their trick is delicious!! Other delis of note are Second Avenue Deli and Carnegie Deli... I prefer 2nd Avenue, old school in every way, great soups. Pubs and bars are everywhere would need to know more info from you such as location, ambiance, etc... For more info about the menus/locations/prices for the above places, go to menupages.com.