Affordable and nice hotel in Manhattan

July 28, 2005 3:10 PM

Looking for a nice hotel in nyc for <=$200 a night. I usually stay with friends, but they're all out of town, and I'm hoping someone can recommend a nice place for me and my special lady to stay in Manhattan. We're on our way somewhere else, so it's just for one night. I'm thinking lower Manhattan but flexible. Also, is it best to make reservations directly with the hotel or is orbitz etc a good strategy for finding a room?
posted by puppy kuddles to travel & transportation (18 comments total)

Orbitz is good, as is hotels.com. Try looking for the Club Quarters hotel, which you can't book directly from their website (since it's members only), but you can book from hotels.com. They usually have rates under $200/night.

A quick look on Hilton's website has the Millenium (downtown, across from WTC site) at $199/night for this weekend, for example.
posted by bedhead at 3:24 PM on July 28, 2005

In February, my girlfriend and I had a very pleasant stay in the Library Hotel - http://www.libraryhotel.com. Free wifi, nice breakfast, but slightly small beds...
posted by ascullion at 3:27 PM on July 28, 2005

In retrospect, the Library Hotel is more expensive that I recalled. Did I really pay that..?
posted by ascullion at 3:29 PM on July 28, 2005

I stayed at the Metropolitan on Lexington at 51st - I reserved through the website and it was good value, surprisingly high quality fittings in the rooms despite the clear 1960s architecture of the building.
posted by skylar at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2005

Priceline using these instructions.
posted by grouse at 3:54 PM on July 28, 2005

I've always had good luck with Aer Lingus Hotels, in NYC and elsewhere. Right now they're advertising rooms from $65 pps which ain't bad if there's no small print!
posted by jamesonandwater at 3:58 PM on July 28, 2005

My parents just came back from NY last week and had lots of good things to say about the Ramada Inn Eastside. It was a spur of the moment trip, but they were able to get a double room for two nights for about $130 a night. It's about three blocks from the Empire State Building, and they said they'd definately stay there again.
posted by richmondparker at 4:05 PM on July 28, 2005

Best hotels in NY under $150

Good luck getting a reservation, though.
posted by Brian James at 4:10 PM on July 28, 2005

I've stayed at the Club Quarters and would second the recommendation if you're okay with Midtown.
posted by briank at 4:32 PM on July 28, 2005

Two sources that were recommended to me on another board (meaning I haven't tried either personally yet): Rooms to Let in the Village and the Bed and Breakfast Network.

I have stayed at the Hotel Metro in Midtown. Clean, comfortable rooms and breakfast is included.
posted by Sully6 at 4:56 PM on July 28, 2005

Depending on where you're planning to spend the most time, you might consider this place, which is down below Houston. Utterly charmless but very clean, safe, and pleasant. The lowest rate is $89/night and the most expensive is, iirc, a little over $200. Some rooms (and all suites) have kitchens, which helps cut back on the spendy-meal factor. No Chelsea-Hotel-squalor frisson -- my small-town-TX family loves the place. (They're both amused and baffled by the wacky hairy European youngsters who are OffSoho's major clientele. The feeling is, of course, mutual.)
posted by vetiver at 5:55 PM on July 28, 2005

This is a subject that has been covered quite a bit already here. A quick search of the archives yielded several pages of suggestions.
posted by saladin at 5:58 PM on July 28, 2005

Two weeks ago I stayed at the Millenium Hilton. Interesting to have a view of Ground Zero outside your window. Fancy plasma screens in the room - too bad they don't know how to adjust the picture aspect ratio so it's not all stretchy.

I got the bounceback rate that included breakfast - it was a very nice breakfast buffet (fresh fruit, blintzes).
posted by stevil at 8:08 PM on July 28, 2005

I like the Shearton Russell at 37th and Park. It was about $185 the last time I was there and I've known other people who also had a good experience.

Great hotel and close to the subway, Grand Central, Empire State Building, etc.
posted by aaronh at 8:23 PM on July 28, 2005

In mid-town I like the Wellington. It is clean, nice, and has good rates. Most of the hotel stock is in mid-town so they tend to have better rates.
posted by caddis at 8:29 PM on July 28, 2005

Or as an alternative to a hotel, if you're looking for something a little different and aren't averse to meeting new people you might want to consider CouchSurfing.

From their FAQ

What is Couch Surfing?
CouchSurfing.com helps you make connections worldwide. You can use the network to meet people and then go and surf other members' couches! When you surf a couch, you are a guest at someone's house. They will provide you with some sort of accommodation, a penthouse apartment or maybe a back yard to pitch your tent in. As a member, you can communicate with other members all over the world and see if there is a person in the place that you'd like to go who is willing to host you. Stays can be as short as a cup of coffee, a night or two, or even a few months or more. The possibilities are endless and completely up to you.
posted by captnkurt at 5:25 AM on July 29, 2005

I 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Priceline. I got the Waldorf for $100/night for a week last summer. In addition, my family and I have easily saved well over $5000 on Priceline in the past five years.
posted by JPowers at 7:57 PM on July 29, 2005

Quikbook.com has prices comparable to Priceline, but without the randomness. See if you can get the Park South or Gerswhin Hotel that way, and you're set.
posted by anildash at 3:18 AM on August 1, 2005