Top tips for savings on your New York City stay

updated 12:24 p.m. ET May 1, 2006

In our listings, we've tried to give you an idea of the kind of deals that may be available at particular hotels: which ones have the best discounted packages, which ones offer AAA and other discounts, which ones allow kids to stay with Mom and Dad for free, and so on. But there's no way of knowing what the offers will be when you're booking, so also consider these general tips:

Ask about special rates or other discounts. Always ask whether a room less expensive than the first one quoted is available, or whether any special rates apply to you. You may qualify for corporate, student, military, senior, or other discounts. Mention membership in AAA, AARP, frequent-flier programs, or trade unions, which may entitle you to special deals as well. Find out the hotel policy on children -- do kids stay free in the room or is there a special rate?

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.

Go uptown or downtown. The advantages of a Midtown location are highly overrated, especially when saving money is your object. The subway can whisk you anywhere you want to go in minutes; even if you stay on the Upper West Side, you can be at the ferry launch for the Statue of Liberty in about a half-hour. You'll get the best value for your money by staying outside the Theater District, in the residential neighborhoods where real New Yorkers live, such as Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Murray Hill, or the Upper West Side. These are the neighborhoods where real New Yorkers hang out, too, so you won't want for good eats, nightlife, or Big Apple bustle.

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 especially prevalent in the Financial District, but they're often available in tourist-friendly Midtown, too. Look in the Travel section of the Sunday New York Times for some of the best weekend deals. They're also often advertised on the hotel's website. Or just ask when you call.

Shop online. Hotels often offer "Internet only" deals that can save you 10% to 20% 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. And consider joining the Playbill Online Theater Club (www.playbillclub.com), a free service that offers some excellent members-only rates at select city hotels, in addition to discounts on theater tickets. American Automobile Association members can often score the best discounts by booking at www.aaa.com. Travel search sites such as Orbitz (www.orbitz.com), Microsoft Expedia (www.expedia.com), Priceline (www.priceline.com), and Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) offer other discount options. Shop around. And if you have special needs -- a quiet room, a room with a view -- call the hotel directly and make your needs known after you've booked online.

Dial direct. When booking a room in a chain hotel, you'll often get a better deal by calling the individual hotel's reservation desk rather than the chain's main number.

Make deals with the budget chains. With a few exceptions, I have not listed budget chains. 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 chains like 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. And 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 possible kind of discount; if you find that you get an unhelpful reservation agent, call back and try again. Of course, there's no guarantee.

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