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New York hotels are among the most expensive hotels in the world. Is it possible to stay in a great hotel in a great area and not spend an arm and a leg doing it?

It is possible, but it will also take some work on your part. Here are 5 ways to stay in a great hotel without spending your entire trip budget on your room.

1. Go in the off season. You might have daydreams about visiting New York City during the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade or when spring is in full bloom. However, these are also very busy times for the city. Instead, consider visiting during the off season. For the most part, hotel rates drop during the very hot parts of summer and the very cold parts of winter.

2. Go during the weekend. Unlike some cities, hotel rates in New York City can sometimes drop during the weekends. Why? Because most businessmen travel there during the week, therefore, the room rates increase in order to get the most money out of them. You might find that a Friday or Saturday night is significantly cheaper. When booking your hotel on Expedia or your booking site of choice, try starting your trip later in the week and then looking at the night rates on an individual basis, instead of the average that the site gives you. You can ordinarily figure out which night is costing you the most money this way and you might be able to plan your trip accordingly.

3. Try a boutique hotel. Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, sometimes the larger hotels in New York City have a slight disadvantage over the smaller ones-they are less personal. Instead, try one of the “boutique” hotels. Sure, you won’t have in-room dining for the most part or a swimming pool, but you’ll probably get more personalized service and the rooms typically cost less.

4. Use Hotwire. If you’re not picky about the exact hotel that you stay in, but you still want some choice about the location and the amenities that the hotel offers, then try using Hotwire. Like Priceline, you won’t know the hotel until you book it and pay for it. Unlike Priceline, you will be able to see the amenities that it has to offer. A recent look at hotels in New York City on Hotwire, in comparison to Expedia rates, showed nearly a $100 difference when it came to hotels in similar areas with similar amenities.

5. Travel with a friend. Splitting the cost of the room with a friend or two can definitely save you money-especially if you do this and combine it with some of the other tips that have already been mentioned. Most room prices are quoted for 2 people, but adding a 3rd person doesn’t always increase the price. Just make sure that you have more than one bed in the room unless you want to share one.

Some people make the mistake of staying out near the airport as a means of saving money on hotel rooms. You don’t need to do this! Although New York hotels can be expensive, the money that you save will most likely be spent in transportation costs getting to and from the city. You should also make sure that you figure in the time that you will be spending in transit, which could be significant. Unless you are getting a great deal on an airport hotel and saving literally hundreds of dollars, it is probably not worth the hassle.