Hotwire Hotel: NYC 9/21-9/23 best that $250/night can buy--help!

[travelergirl2001]

i'm going to be in NYC on business and need a hotel the night of 9/21 and 9/22. i can spend around $250/night before taxes/fees and want to stay in the most luxurious place i can afford (i realize $250 is not a ton in NYC at this time of year).

i have a meeting in what i've been told is MTE, but i think may actually be consider UE--68th and 3rd. given transportation options in NYC, i don't have to stay RIGHT there, but all else being equal, i certainly wouldn't mind staying nearby. (i'm going to be in times square at the westin the following two days, so that might be enough of tourist-central for me, and i wouldn't mind being in a slightly more residential neighborhood for the 21st-23rd--but i'm flexible. luxury is the number 1 priority!).

that said, the hotwire offers i've pulled up so far are not enticing. there is a 4* for 245 (grand hyatt, i think), or a 3.5* for $224 (the roosevelt, i believe). i prefer the hyatt over the roosevelt, but not crazy about either.

any suggestions about how to get a 4.5* within my budget? i tried a priceline bid for $260 for a 5star, and was rejected. not sure it makes sense to priceline for a 4 star (wish they had the 4.5 star category...)

should i just wait it out and check hotwire every day? keep trying priceline 5*bids?

thanks for your suggestions! :)

[thereuare]

I've been searching for a better deal in the $250 range and i think the Hyatt may be your best options so far. Given where you have to be (68th and 3rd) you could take the 6 train without walking outside the hotel and get out one block from your destination OR walk one block to Third Ave and take the bus straight up the avenue.

It's a shame that in many other cities getting a great hotel room in NYC for around $250 can be so difficult. In your other thread you mentioned that it doesn't seem like that great of a deal given the rate you got at the Westin... but in NYC you can't compare Mon-Thur nite rates with Fri-Sun nite rates... totally an apples to oranges comparison. In my recent searches just now i saw the Grand Hyatt at $450/nite!! :)

You could wait it out, but i wouldn't hold-out for a Priceline 5* as the Waldorf Towers is the only known one and it doesn't come up too often, and when it does, it's usually very close to check-in date.

Let us know what you decide to do or if we can assist further.

[char540]

Novotel is coming up for $195 on QUICKBOOK.com

[thereuare]

I don't think i would put the Novotel in the same league as the Grand Hyatt.

[flyme2]

For Sep 21-23, there seem to be a fair number of sold out properties. The hotels that you seem to be aiming for are at least $100 more than your budget allows, any future PL inventory not withstanding. Here are a few choices in the $250 range:

• 3* Affinia Dumont: gets rave reviews from Travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDetail.do?propertyId=18369&startIndex=15&showMap=0&sortOrder=ascPOSPicks&sortAlpha=-1&SEQ=1094652043062882004&hotelQKey=3171766079830241140"]Travelocity and Tripadvisor. Travelocity has it for $247.99. Hotels.com/process_search.jsp?paging=1&inout=&destination=usertyped&usertypedcity=NEW%20YORK%20CITY,%20NEW%20YORK&destination=null%7C1&property=&searchProperty&propertyName=AFFINIA%20DUMONT&searchPropertyName=AFFINIA%20DUMONT&CIMonth=9&CIDay=21&CIYear=2004&COMonth=9&CODay=23&COYear=2004&numrooms=1&numadults=1&numchildren=0&PSRC=TAZ&isRedirect=true&searchProperty=251708"]Hotels.com has it for $429.95 and Expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?flag=q&qscr=dspv&hwrq=EX012E82BC58JGDCzMfz%243F%248Dfz1%2170%214%24FF%21P01000%24E0%2480%24E9H%24E0%2480%24E9H0000%21O%24FF%21R010003%21901000200010110000JGDCzMfz%243F%248Dfz1%2170%214%24FF%21O01000%24E0%2480%24E9H%24E0%2480%24E9H0000%21O%24FF%21R010003%21901000200010110000&htid=16970&itid=&itty=new&itdx=&from=m&igrq=&pkdr1=0&pkdr2=0&pkdr3=0&down=0&subm=1&crti=3&pidx=&feng=0&pmde=0&favl=1&fgds=0&ihtl=&smgt=0&rfrr=-30455&date1=9%2F21%2F2004&date2=9%2F23%2F2004&crom=1&cadu1=1&ckdr1=0&cadu2=2&ckdr2=0&cadu3=2&ckdr3=0&ages1=-1&ages2=-1&ages3=-1&ages4=-1&ages5=-1&ages6=-1&ageb1=-1&ageb2=-1&ageb3=-1&ageb4=-1&ageb5=-1&ageb6=-1&agec1=-1&agec2=-1&agec3=-1&agec4=-1&agec5=-1&agec6=-1&infs=2"]Expedia has it for $351.
  
• 3* or 4* Lucerne: gets stellar reviews on Tripadvisor and average reviews on Travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDateLessListDetail.do?propertyId=25556"]Travelocity
  Travelocity offers a 2 room suite for $230.
  
• 4* Wales: gets rave reviews on Travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDetailExtended.do?propertyId=20649&startIndex=15&showMap=0&sortOrder=descRating&sortAlpha=-1&showAllRates=Y&SEQ=1094648990699882004&hotelQKey=2293695446673246686"]Travelocity and average reviews on Tripadvisor. Goes for $239 on Travelocity.
  
• 3* Warwick: gets great reviews on both Travelocity.com/hotel/HotelLanding.do;jsessionid=D355349641A17AE468166BEFBF0D92BC.p0217?Service=Travelocity&searchMode=propertyId&propertyId=26360&dateLeavingDay=21&dateLeavingMonth=9&dateReturningDay=23&dateReturningMonth=9&pax_cnt=1&SID=T0040002729161962208002510615951243881&SEQ=109465112982508409082004"]Travelocity and Tripadvisor. Travelocityhas it for $259
  

Naturally, PL or HW are going to be the best $$ deals. However, if there isn't any availability, these are attractive alternatives. When I see the 2* Howard Johnson's going for $243 during your time frame, the Affinia Dumont becomes especially appealing.

[char540]

Right now Hotwire has what looks to be the Intercontinental Barclay 4* for $246 for those dates.

Midtown East Midtown - See map

Selected amenities include: Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Business Center, Tennis Nearby. View complete amenity list and description

and 3.5* for $239

Upper East Side Central Park - See map

Selected amenities include: Restaurant(s), Fitness Center, Business Center, Spa Services. View complete amenity list and description

I am not sure which this is.

[char540]

Found a deal on the New York Helmsley for $235 for your dates.

http://www.eleisurelink.com/danay/SPECIALm...ilform_NYC3.asp

[char540]

Sorry about the Helmsley post...it gets pretty rough reviews.

[KatiesMom]

Sorry about the Helmsley post...it gets pretty rough reviews.

Not the same quality since Leona gave up being Queen of the castle...

[KatiesMom]

Forgot to add, The Grand Hyatt is very very nice and deserves its 4*. Stayed there recently. If you get it Travelergirl I do not think you will be dissappointed.

[travelergirl2001]

thanks, everyone! it's been a crazy busy few days, and i just got back to looking at this. thanks for the suggestions and the advice. it's helpful to hear that the hyatt is really nice and that it's a decent deal (i love a deal!). it's gone up in price (267?), but it's close enough to my $250 budget that i think it'll be fine. worse case scenario is that i pay the $17 difference. i'll probably go with that, but will also check out a couple of the other suggestions, and will let you know what i end up with. thanks again!