How to Get Really Cheap Rates on Hotels in NYC

Be flexible with your dates. If planning an affordable trip is critical, be willing to travel during the week. Hotels sometimes charge higher rates on weekends and holidays. Try to avoid holidays, particularly the Christmas season when New York is overwhelmed with tourists. Compare dates and hotel rates on various websites, including Expedia, Kayak and Travelocity.

Stay within your budget. You may want to stay in Times Square but can only afford a small hotel downtown where you share a bathroom with other guests. New York City is expensive and you will need considerable cash for public transportation or parking, meals, entertainment, sightseeing and shopping. Staying at the Marriott Marquis, which can cost more than $350 a night, is not worth the expense if it means you are going to eat every meal at McDonald's or Sbarro and people watch in Central Park because that is all you can afford. Budget wisely.

Research online and use travel guides. Have an idea which part of the city you plan to spend the most time (Midtown, Downtown, Upper West Side or the boroughs, as an example) and try to find a hotel in that part of town, which will keep travel costs lower. New York Magazine -- www.nymag.com -- has a list of affordable accommodations throughout the city. Pick up travel guides at your local AAA office or order them in advance through NY travel and tourism websites. Use AAA or another discount program to save money on hotel rooms.

Consider hostels if you are looking for deep discounts. If you are on a tight travel budget, hostels offer affordable accommodations while providing the opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world. In exchange for rates sometimes as low as $20 a night) you may be giving up the comforts of not only a private bathroom, but a private room. Many hostels have dormitory accommodations while others boast private or semiprivate rooms. Hostels are ideal for younger, single travelers and less ideal for families.

Don't rule out staying outside New York City if the rates are still too high. If you cannot find a hotel within your budget in the city, consider staying in a hotel or motel in the boroughs, near the airports or in New Jersey. If you opt to stay outside Manhattan, plan for travel expenses back and forth into the city.