Travel Deal of the Day (June 13, 2007)

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on sky-high New York City hotel prices, with some rates at average hotels starting at $500/night. You do not have to pay these rates, especially if you plan strategically for your stay.

The Deal:
New York City hotel rates have skyrocketed recently. Here are some tips to limit your financial hardship when booking a stay at a New York City hotel:

(1) Look at rates before you plan your trip, if at all possible. During major conventions, hotel rates jump. During less busy weeks, hotels offer more discounts. Plan your trip when hotel rates drop.

(2) Use Priceline and Hotwire. Though published hotel prices have risen, New York City hotels are still offering unused rooms via booking sites such as Hotwire and Priceline where the consumers do not know the hotel name until after binding themselves to purchase a room. Priceline and Hotwire can provide incredible discounts in New York City. Consumers often find four star hotels in central Manhattan for $150/night. Use sites such as www.biddingfortravel.com or www.betterbidding.com to find out what you should expect to pay using Priceline or Hotwire.

(3) Consider staying in New Jersey. Hotels such as the Hyatt Jersey City are often much less expensive than Manhattan hotels, and these hotels are accessible to Manhattan via public transportation in less than an hour. Lower priced hotels are also available on Long Island and in Westchester County. Often, these hotels in NJ, Long Island and Westchester County are available via Priceline and Hotwire.

(4) Search for rates using your membership discounts (AAA, Entertainment, AARP, ABA). Look for these rates using the web, by calling the toll free nationwide reservation number and by calling the hotel directly. Rates will likely vary among these three booking channels.

(5) Keep checking rates. Demand changes constantly, so the rates change constantly as well. Sometimes, within 48 hours of check-in, when a hotel realizes it cannot fill its rooms, it will drop rates dramatically.