Tips For Saving On Your Hotel Room

Make deals with the budget chains. With a few exceptions, I have not listed budget chains in this guide. In my opinion, they tend to lack the character and local feel that most independently run hotels have. And it's that feel, I believe, that is so much a part of the travel experience. Still, when you're looking for a deal, they can be a good option. Most hotels -particularly such chains as Comfort Inn and Best Western - are market sensitive. Because they hate to see rooms sit empty, they'll often negotiate good rates at the last minute and in slow seasons.

You can also pull out all the stops for discounts at a budget chain, from auto-club membership to senior status. You might be able to take advantage of corporate rates or discounted weekend stays. Most chain hotels let the kids stay with parents for free. Ask for every kind of discount; if you find that you get an unhelpful reservation agent, call back. Of course, there's no guarantee.

Two chains with franchises in Manhattan include Best Western (tel. 800/780-7234; www.bestwestern.com), though their rack rates for New York hotels are higher than you'd expect, and Howard Johnson (tel. 800/446-4656; www.hojo.com). There's a Best Western at South Street Seaport and at two Midtown locations, and a Howard Johnson in Queens. Check their websites for all the details.

At these and other franchised hotels - such as the ones run by Apple Core Hotels (www.applecorehotels.com), a management company that handles the Comfort Inn Midtown, the Ramada Inn Eastside, Manhattan's first Red Roof, the Hotel Times Square, and La Quinta - doubles can go for as little as $109. Check with the franchiser if you're not quoted a good advance-booking rate or through the management company's online reservations system; their global 800 and online reservations systems will often garner you a better rate, which might include a promotion - or, at minimum, an "Internet user's rate" that's 10% lower than the standard.

A good source for deals is Choice Hotels (tel. 877/424-6423; www.hotelchoice.com), which oversees Comfort Inn, Quality Hotel, and Clarion Hotel chains, all of which have Manhattan branches.

Another hotel to try is the Hilton Garden Inn, 790 Eighth Ave., at 48th Street (tel. 212/581-7000; www.hiltongardeninn.com).

Investigate Reservations Services. These outfits usually work as consolidators, buying up or reserving rooms in bulk, and then dealing them out to customers at a profit. You can get 10% to 50% off; but remember, these discounts apply to rack rate - inflated prices that people rarely end up paying. You may get a decent rate, but always call the hotel directly to see if you can do better.

Quikbook (tel. 800/789-9887, or 212/779-7666 outside the U.S.; www.quikbook.com) is the best of the bunch. You might also try the Hotel Reservations Network, also known as HotelDiscount.com (tel. 800/715-7666; www.hoteldiscount.com).

Note: Never just rely on a reservations service or an online-booking site. Do a little homework; compare the rack rates to the discounted rates being offered to see what kind of deal they're actually offering. If you're being offered a stay in a hotel I haven't recommended, do more research on it, especially if it isn't a reliable chain name such as Holiday Inn or Hyatt. It's not a deal if you end up at a dump.

Consider B&B accommodations or an apartment. If Big Apple hotels seem too expensive, or you'd just like something a little more like home, consider renting a room in a genuine New York apartment - or even an entire apartment. These accommodations can range from spartan to splendid, from a hosted bedroom in a private home to an unhosted, fully equipped apartment with multiple bedrooms. No matter what, you can pretty much guarantee that you'll get more for your money than if you book into a regular hotel. However, you need to be rather independent-minded to enjoy this option.

The place to start with is Manhattan Getaways (tel. 212/956-2010; www.manhattangetaways.com) which maintains a beautifully kept and managed network of bed-and-breakfast rooms (from $110 nightly) and unhosted apartments (from $150) around the city. There's a 3-night minimum stay, and credit cards are accepted. Another decent bet is Metro Home (tel. 646/274-1505; www.elitecitystays.com), which owns and manages 300 apartments around Manhattan starting at $99 a night, or $850 weekly for a basic studio. These are rather sparsely furnished apartments, and the company offers little in the way of service (it took me 5 days to get my TV fixed when I was displaced from my home by renovation), but the apartments are clean and do the trick. There's no minimum stay, and credit cards are accepted. Cleaning services are available for longer stays.

Additional agencies that can book you into a B&B room or a private apartment, with prices starting at $90 nightly, include Abode Apartment Rentals (tel. 800/835-8880 or 212/472-2000; www.abodenyc.com); City Sonnet (tel. 212/614-3034; www.citysonnet.com); Manhattan Lodgings (tel. 212/677-7616; www.manhattanlodgings.com); and New York Habitat (tel. 212/255-8018; www.nyhabitat.com). Be sure to get all details in writing and an exact total upfront to avoid disappointments.