I’m off for a family do in New York in August.  The flights were extortionate and I may be staying with my family, but I’d like to find out if there are any reasonably priced hotels.  The cheapest I could find was £200 a night and if my parents stay in the hotel too then it gets very expensive.  Any ideas? Marion

Wow, yes prices do go up very steeply in August, especially for flights, I had a look after we spoke and was shocked they have gone up to £750 minimum for a direct flight!  When we stayed in New York in 2008 we managed to get a last minute deal for £500 each for 4 nights, including flight and sharing a double room at the Marcel (now called the Marcel at Gramercy) on Expedia.  Considering the costs of New York hotels, booking your flight and hotel together on Expedia can save you shedloads of cash.

I also like booking in the UK as they give you prices including sales tax and occupancy charges, which sometimes aren’t so clear on US websites.

Anyway, one option I did find (although please remember that I have not stayed here so this is not a personal recommendation) is the Doubletree Guest Suites in Times Square.  It’s very highly rated on Tripadvisor (no.12 out of 420 hotels in New York)  and the reason it would work out quite cheaply for you is that it is a two room suite with a sofa bed in the living room, so that your parents could stay in the bedroom and you could take the sofa bed if you were happy with that.  It rates very highly in terms of customer service and you get a cookie on arrival!  Despite being in the centre of Times Square it is also apparently very quiet as it is so high up - which means most of the rooms have excellent views as well.

The cheapest price I found on Expedia is £2,107.11 for a non-refundable King Suite for a week. 

I hate to say it - but going directly to their website http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/LGASFDT-Doubletree-Guest-Suites-Times-Square-New-York-City-New-York/index.do is actually a bit cheaper - for a non-refundable King the price is £1,963.54 - which is slightly cheaper than Expedia, which I am surprised at as they normally have such good deals - although this may be due to the exchange rates used.

On lastminute.com I found a real bargain - the Affinia Shelburne (rated 59 out of 420 http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93543-Reviews-Affinia_Shelburne-New_York_City_New_York.html ) for £1,996.52 for two rooms with double beds (down from £2,716.46.)  If you feel like booking this one then please click on the text link to the right (then I get commission and it doesn’t affect the price you pay!)

You might also be interested in the Ace Hotel (it’s rated 100 out of 420 by Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d1201072-Reviews-Ace_Hotel_NYC-New_York_City_New_York.html ), their double - 2 twins/bunk bed room is £881.93 for the week but your parents may want a small double, which at £1,286.25 probably makes the Affinia a better bet, especially for location.

Slightly higher rated (82 out of 420 http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93358-Reviews-The_Pod_Hotel-New_York_City_New_York.html ) and slightly cheaper is the Pod Hotel - with similar pricing to the Ace Hotel this is another funky hip hotel popular with younger travellers (my friend raved about one she stayed in elsewhere in the States) - the very cheapest rooms have shared baths - but the doubles and queens have their own bathrooms - a double is £1,039.85 on Expedia - so once again I would still go for the Affinia!

Have a great trip!

Thanks Pearl!  I did stay at the Affinia and it was even better than expected as some sites had it down as 3.5 stars, but it was new, clean, big rooms, nicely decorated, their burger restaurant did a good breakfast - nice rooftop area / bar!     Marion