Finding a Room for the Right Price

· Check with the tourism bureau. NYC & Company (212-484-1200, http://www.nycvisit.com/ ) has an Internet link to a list of member properties. Look for the two promotions each year that feature up to 15 percent off rates at participating properties. The Summer Breaks special runs from July 1 to Labor Day; Paint the Town is available Jan. 2 to Feb. 28.

· Go directly to the hotels. Some individual properties or chains tempt travelers with frequent reductions or consistently affordable rates. The Gershwin Hotel (212-545-8000, http://www.gershwinhotel.com/ ; see Page 9 for details), on East 27th Street, is a fun place that often has rooms for around $100. The Bentley (954-252- 3416, http://www.bentleyhotelnewyork.com/ ), at 500 E. East 62nd St., is a welcoming property with rooms in the $200 range.

It can also pay to call hotels you're interested in or check their Web sites. In an attempt to reclaim clientele from Expedia and other third-party sites, some chain and independent properties have begun to offer Web deals not listed elsewhere. A number of chains have also introduced a lowest-price guarantee, saying they'll beat or match any rate for their hotel that appears on another site.

· Consider a bed-and-breakfast. Manhattan and the other boroughs of New York are home to a wide range of B&Bs that can be a pleasant, more affordable alternative to hotels. By definition, they offer a complimentary breakfast -- a nice perk in a pricey region. Three agencies that help visitors find and reserve B&B rooms, including some in private homes, are: Bed and Breakfast Network of New York (800-900-8134, http://www.bedandbreakfastnetny.com/ ), BedandBreakfast.com (512-322-2710, http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ ) and Manhattan Getaways (212-956-2010, http://www.manhattangetaways.com/ ).

The Gracie Inn (502 E. 81st St., 800-404-2252, http://www.thegracieinn.com/ ), a 12-room B&B on the trendy Upper East Side, is a good option for folks who want to focus on the nearby Metropolitan Museum or other art repositories. Rates start at $190.

· Get out of midtown Manhattan. Travelers who want to save money should consider looking at nearby enclaves. The Upper West Side, Harlem and the Financial District are likely places to start, particularly for weekend deals. Spots like Brooklyn, Jersey City and Weehawken, N.J., also have some great choices (see options, Page 10).

But bargain hunters have to be careful they don't end up in Coney Island, at the far end of Brooklyn, or other hard-to-reach neighborhoods. Before booking, check out the reviews on TripAdvisor ( http://www.tripadvisor.com/ ), which gives guests the chance to offer their takes on lodging. Although often contradictory, the reviews can help you spot trends at a property.

· Know when to go. As a rule, rates drop at most Manhattan properties -- sometimes by as much as half -- on weekends, when business travelers flee the city for home.

During the last quarter of every year, when conventioneers and holiday makers descend en masse on New York, it's almost impossible to find discounted rooms. By contrast, rates fall sharply (along with temperatures) in January, February and March. Discounts are frequent in August.

· Book early. Since the best bargains disappear fast -- and hotels sometimes sell out -- it's smart to book rooms as early as possible. But if you're going the last-minute route, start your search at Site59.com ( http://www.site59.com/ ), an online travel site specializing in 11th-hour package deals that include hotels.