Watch out for hidden charges
Make sure you don�t fall at the final hurdle of your hotel booking! Some sites
will charge you for extras such as city taxes and credit card fees after they�ve
quoted the hotel price.
Visit over a weekend
If your trip includes a weekend, you might be able to save big. Business hotels
tend to empty out, and rooms that go for $300 or more Monday through Thursday
can drop dramatically, as low as $150 or less, once the execs have headed home.
These deals are prevalent in the Financial District, but they're often available
in tourist-friendly Midtown, too. Also, you'll find that Sunday nights are the
least expensive. Check the hotel's website for weekend specials. Or just ask
when you call.
Shop online
Hotels often offer "Internet only" deals that can save you 10% to 20% or more
over what you'd pay if you booked over the telephone. Also, hotels often
advertise all of their available deals on their websites, so you don't have to
rely on a reservation agent to fill you in. What's more, some of the discount
reservations agencies have sites that allow you to book online.
Arrive on or include a Sunday
(Friday) in your stay
Many hotels have extra availability on Sundays and offer special discounts if
your stay includes a Sunday or if you begin your stay on a Sunday. If you can be
more flexible with your dates, you can certainly save some money and take
advantage of more special offers.
Choose your season carefully
Room rates can vary dramatically -- by hundreds of dollars in some cases --
depending on what time of year you visit. Winter, from January through March, is
best for bargains, with summer (especially July-Aug) second best. Fall is the
busiest and most expensive season after Christmas, but November tends to be
quiet and rather affordable, as long as you're not booking a parade-route hotel
on Thanksgiving weekend. All bets are off at Christmastime -- expect to pay top
dollar for everything.