The blast of cold weather and random snowflakes in the Northeast last week reminded those of us who live here that winter, indeed, is on the way, despite the fact that fall is in full swing. It's time to start making holiday travel plans. I have an extra special connection to New York during this time of year. I reunited with my now-husband in December, nearly ten years ago, in New York. We got engaged in New York City around the holidays, and we spend a long weekend there nearly every year. So whether your trip to New York is your first or your fiftieth, there is plenty to do between Thanksgiving and New Year's. You can certainly spend a lot of money on hotels if you like, but it is possible to stay in Manhattan for under $300 a night, even during peak holiday season.
Affinia used to be one of those best-kept hotel secrets in New York City. To celebrate the opening of the Affinia Shelburne in Murray Hill (tel. 866/246-2203; www.affinia.com), rooms will be available from $299 per night with a free upgrade to a suite (based on availability), two burgers and two martinis from Rare Bar & Grill and a neighborhood access pass that provides discounts to things such as the Observation Deck at 30 Rockefeller and the Morgan Library and Museum. It's available for stays through December 31.
For those who require flights and want to bundle the hotel cost in, too, or just want to see what Expedia (tel. 800/EXPEDIA; www.expedia.com) has to offer, you can save up to 30% on hotel stays now through March 31, 2010. The promotion has a November 2 booking deadline, however, and advertises rooms from $86 per night (that's for travel later) or $112 for travel now in the fall. The airfare-bundled price, which starts from $385, is based on midweek Chicago departures and a three-night stay. Granted, the lower end of the pricing spectrum represents budget-minded hotels, but even hotels that have a moderate amount of amenities, such as the Affinia Shelburne (which we've listed here under a separate promotion), is available from $224 for a queen room if you stay starting the last Tuesday of November and stay through the day after Thanksgiving. It's also important to note that as the promotion is not explicitly tied to the holidays per se, you can expect the rates to go up accordingly.
The Gem Hotels (www.thegemhotels.com/coolyule) are offering a "Cool Yule" nightly rate of just $139 for a room for stays November 20-29 and December 13-29. It's a savings of about $80 per night, and don't include tax. There are locations in Soho, Chelsea, and Midtown West.
Here's a quick way to check availability at a number of mid-range hotels in New York during the holidays: Get a Room (tel. 800/468-3578; www.getaroom.com). The site aggregates a range of hotels -- the Gershwin in Chelsea, Wellington in Midtown, along with Hiltons and Marriots. Rooms start at $179 for the Gershwin during the weekend before Thanksgiving and at $99 for the budget Jane Hotel near SoHo, for the second weekend (Friday and Saturday) in December.
If you can at all avoid a weekend trip, and you are interested in staying out of the way of tourist-clogged streets, the budget in price but boutique in design Marrakech Hotel (tel. 212/222-2954; www.marrakechhotelnyc.com) on the Upper West Side has a deal that is valid for Sunday through Thursday stays. If you stay three nights or longer you get 15 percent off the midweek rates, which start at $159, valid November 1-December 28. Ask for the HOL code. The colorful décor is bold and vibrant, which is what you would expect from a hotel whose bar area is called the Kazbar Lounge.
Perfect Escapes (tel. 877/589-7688; www.perfectescapes.com) offers discounts on luxury hotels, and a handful of hotels are part of this promotion. The trendy Hotel Gansevoort is available, during Thanksgiving, from $265 per night. If you book through this company you also receive an early check in, late check out, and a complimentary room upgrade -- all based on availability. Guests also receive breakfast for two every day in the hotel's restaurant. The stylish 6 Columbus, which is right near Columbus Circle and is a Thompson hotel, is priced from $180; stays, however, during the weekend before Christmas will start from $330.
Starwood Hotels (tel. 866/716-8114; www.spg.com) -- There's quite a handful of them scattered around Manhattan -- is offering special rates for travelers who book by October 25 for the holidays, with the exception of New Year's Eve. For example, the W New York -- The Tuscany, located in Murray Hill, is priced from $239 for select nights in November, from $209 for select nights in December, including the week before and several days after Christmas, and the first couple of weeks of January. The code you need to use is SET#387732. The W New York, which was renovated in 2008, is available from $179 for stays December 18-29 and most dates in January, and from $209 for select dates in November. Some of the hotels require an advance purchase of 21 days, such as the Four Points by Sheraton in Chelsea, which is available from $175 for January 1-31 and from $285 for November 1 through December 30. Bonus: Our sources tell us that if you stay at the Westin, you can request a box of decorations to dress up your room in a festive style and select from the hotel's library of holiday films.