HELLLOOOO! Anybody t'home?

[Gogi]

Guess I'll just drink this pitcher of martinis myself, then. :evilgrin:

[SharonRB]

1. Wait, wait, I'm here

Make it a cosmo and I'll join you, Gogi

[Gogi]

2. A Cosmo it is!

Planning for the 'Keith Olbermann Appreciation Tour' to Manhattan has died down. Maybe it will pick up Monday.

[SharonRB]

5. Thanks, Gogi

I didn't stay on line very long after I posted.

[WolverineDG]

3. hi gogi!

:hi:

i think planning will pick back up once folks get back from thanksgiving weekend. from the poll, it looks like most of the folks voting chose president's day weekend, so now i guess we focus on where we are going to stay. :)

dg

[Gogi]

4. I've been checking and the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers has...

a pretty good deal on the American Airlines website for a two day stay. That's the kind of hotel I'd need though. Always have to call ahead and confirm a handicapped room is available way ahead of time so the earlier we decide which hotel the better. :hi:

[SharonRB]

6. What do you consider a good deal, Gogi?

And do you have to fly American to get the deal? There's a good chance I'd be flying NW, but I'll know better once I compare fares.

On edit:
I just checked Travelocity and AA actually was cheaper than NW for a Sunday return, but if I stay over Sunday with a Monday return I can get the same fare from NW. I just have to decide if I want to take two days off of work.

However, the AA package with the hotel you're talking about was over $800 and that's way too much for me. The cheapest flight alone was $201 total for a Sunday return on AA or a Monday return on NW. That's fine for airfare, but I can't spend $800. Of course, if we're doubling or tripling up, I suppose it would be less. Depending on how many of us there are, three or four people could book the hotel rooms and then we'd just split it.

I still think maybe we should also check NJ hotels, which will be a whole lot less than NYC.

[WolverineDG]

7. yoiks

$800? was that the entire price pp (hotel+air)? if that has to be scored through AA.com, then I'm out because I'm planning to use FF miles. But, we need to keep looking. I've seen some places that are around $200/night, but if we double or triple up, that won't be so bad.

dg

[SharonRB]

8. That was airfare and hotel, but was an AA deal

I think around $200 a night is reasonable if we split it three ways (even two wouldn't be terrible). However, if a few people book air + hotel and get the right kind of room, then we could double/triple up and split the room.

It would be nice if we could all get on the phone on a conference call and talk everything through at some point. This is so scattered doing it this way. I also think we might get better deals if we hold off until January or until after-holiday sales are announced, at least for airfares. Freestanding hotel reservations may not make a difference.

[Gogi]

15. The aa.com deal is just for the hotel...

the Sheraton is $267.00 per person for 2 nights and the Omni Berkshire is $236.00 per person for 2 nights. I like American Airlines and have some miles with them, so I'm using American. They have direct, round trip
flights from St. Louis to LaGuardia for $349.00. Now, you can get a room at the Comfort Inn Central Park West: $215.90 for 2 nights, but I am unable to determine how accessible that hotel is. I'm not being obstructionist but you have to realize that the further you go from Manhattan the harder it will be for me to get accessible transportation. I will be bringing my power chair and there is no way to transport it by cab. The busses work fine but are necessarily slower than taking a cab. Some subway stations have elevators but not all of them. Perhaps someone who lives in Jersey can tell me about the trains, etc.

[SharonRB]

9. There's a new Residence Inn opening next month in Times Square

They have lots of options for room configurations, including a two-bedroom, two-bath suite with a foldout in the living room -- We could get five people in one of those. Rates aren't bad. Here's the description. We'd have to find out if they have handicapped accessible rooms, though.

Welcome to the first and largest Residence Inn by Marriott in New York City! This completely non-smoking property is scheduled to open in December 2005.

*

At the Residence Inn Manhattan Times Square, we have perfected the extended stay experience by combining all the comforts of home with a passion for making every guest feel welcome! Our spacious suites offer separate living and sleeping areas, fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette and plenty of space for entertaining, relaxing or meeting with colleagues. Each suite features cable television with free HBO premium channel and pay movies, free high speed Internet access, hairdryer, in-room safe, iron and board, two-line dataport telephones with voicemail and a well-lit workstation. Wireless Internet access is available in meeting space and public areas of the hotel. Start your morning with a complimentary hot breakfast buffet including breads and pastries, cereals and hot oatmeal, eggs, fruits and juices, hot and cold beverages, waffles and yogurt. Join us for complimentary beverages and light appetizers at our evening hospitality hour Monday through Thursday. When you need to unwind at the end of the day, take advantage of the exercise room. Our excellent location at 38th Street and Sixth Avenue is within walking distance of corporate offices, financial institutions, major attractions, restaurants, shopping and theatres. We have a fun, fully stocked lounge overlooking Bryant Park providing you with an excellent opportunity to meet up with business associates, family and friends. Teo meeting rooms and three executive boardrooms are also available accommodating up to seventy-five people for a theatre style meeting.

*

Studios are large open rooms with either one king bed or one queen bed, full bath and furnished living area with sofa sleeper. One bedroom suites have a separate bedroom with one king bed, full bath and furnished living room with dining area and sofa sleeper. Two bedroom suites have two separate bedrooms with one king bed each, two full baths and furnished living room with dining area and sofa sleeper. Marriott's luxurious new bedding package is available at this Residence Inn property! Our comfortable, plush and stylish package addresses clean and fresh bedding concerns, is consistent with residential trends and is a key component of Thew New Look and Feel of Marriott Now. The package includes a bed skirt and bed scarf, comforter, feather and foam pillows, softer fitted bottom and flat top sheets and new foam mattress.

*

Indoor parking is USD 42 per night. Pets are allowed free of charge for stays of one through six nights. Stays of seven nights or more require a non-refundable fee of USD 75. Guests are advised to contact the hotel direct prior to arrival if traveling with a pet. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, our friendly and proficient staff takes pride in making your stay a memorable one for a day, a week, a month or more! Residence Inn: Room to work, room to relax, room to breathe!

[WolverineDG]

12. :)

ya want i should ask my cousin about this one? :evilgrin:


dg

[Gogi]

16. Is this your cousin's new employer?

It's definetely worth a shot! Now, if MSNBC would stop being coy, we would be hitting on all cylinders.

[WolverineDG]

25. nothing on the new job yet

:)

dg

[SharonRB]

18. If this is one he could get a deal on, that would be great.

[WolverineDG]

24. i shall ask

but i need to know how many are coming & who all needs a hotel room. are we set on president's day weekend? the more specific i can always cancel a reservation if we book an extra room. if no one's shy (ie, wanting their own bed) a 2 br can sleep 6. the more we can cram in a room, the cheaper, plus the more likely we'll be to get a good rate. :)

dg

[crispini]

29. I think that THAT is a killer idea.

Times Square is a great, centrally located area.

[Patsy Stone]

10. Well, just a little tipple, then back to work...

I noticed on Expedia that the Paramount (a three and a half star, very fancy hotel) has rooms for $145/night, which is insanely cheap for them. The rooms may be a bit small, however, I'm not sure.

It turned out to be the least expensive package for me (around $400 incl. airfare and the two nights).

Did you all do your searching through Expedia? If so, let me know what else you found.

See you kids later! Thanks for the drinky, Gogi.

[WolverineDG]

11. $145 for the paramount?

it's in a great location too.

dg

[Patsy Stone]

13. It's a fact.

I think it comes out even a little less if you book the flight and the room together.

Hi! See ya later, alligator.

[WolverineDG]

14. i found it

but it says it's for a "petite" room, 1 adult. :( i can't imagine trying to cram all the koeb into that one room, unless we want to sleep standing up. ;)

dg

[Gogi]

19. How about the Econolodge in Jersey City?

I have AAA and the AAA rate is $62.10 a night per room: 4 person/5 person occupancy with extra bed. This hotel is less than 4 miles from the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels. This rate is for a Senior Room with two double beds and a rollaway. Best airport to use would be Newark. Best of all it's near Secaucus! :loveya:

The address is: 750 Tonnelle Ave.

[SharonRB]

20. Gogi, as you said above, wouldn't you be better off in the city

if we can pull it off? I understand that transportation may be a problem from Jersey. 4 or 5 people crammed in a small room with 1 bath may be a bit tight. Pursuing that new Residence Inn sounds like the best spot to me so far -- good location, reasonable price, plenty of room for 4-5 of us in the larger suite, etc. Now, if DG can get us a deal there, we'd have it made.

I think I forgot to mention in my earlier post that it's a three-star -- how they know that before it even opens is beyond me, but that's what it was rated on Orbitz.

[WolverineDG]

26. have you ever seen a residence inn??????

:wow: that's why i was happy to get one in dc, until i found out how damn far it was from the metro...ended up at a courtyard...not bad, but not a residence inn....

dg

[SharonRB]

27. I know they're pretty nice and this one will be brand new.

I agree that the free breakfast is a plus and we'll have a fridge and microwave.

[SharonRB]

28. I may have spoken too soon

They must have booked all of their suites for that weekend, as only the studios come up and when I plug in 4 or 5 people to a room it says there are no rooms that can accommodate that many people.

With the studios, we'd need 3 rooms for nine of us, if that's how many are coming. They were $229/night (plus taxes), divided by three.

[Gogi]

21. Well, I googled the address and it's a dump in a seedy neighborhood...

I'm back to either the Omni Berkshire: two nights/per person= $236.00+taxes or the Comfort Inn Central Park: AAA rate two nights/per room= $215.90+taxes. And yes, the Comfort Inn has handicapped rooms. It would be nice to find a good hotel in Jersey but a good hotel there costs just as much as the average Manhattan hotel. I don't think we want to stay in a hotel that has condom dispensing machines in the lobby! We could try the Carter on Times Square, I hear the lobby is a show all to itself!

[SharonRB]

17. I used Travelocity and Orbitz

If the Paramount rooms are small, we'd be better off with this new Residence Inn -- brand new and we could get more of us in a 1 or 2 BR suite. The rooms I saw were $229/night, but if we could split it 4 or 5 ways, it would be great. Might be fun to get more of us in a room like the 2BR, 2B suite.

[Gogi]

22. I think that would be an excellent idea, Sharon!

Though I do think the Carter would be a hoot!

[SharonRB]

23. The Carter?

You lost me. What's the Carter?

On edit:
Nevermind -- I just saw your other post.

[Patsy Stone]

30. Ramada: The New Yorker

Ramada Plaza & Inn - New Yorker Hotel
481 8th Avenue
34th St. & 8th Ave
New York City , New York 10001
United States
212-971-0101

Handicapped room available.

$143/night single/double.

There are also suites available if people want to conserve funds. It seems a reasonable enough rate so everyone has a choice of whether to double up or book their own room.

If we need over ten rooms for whatever reason, there are group rates. :)

This was also a good deal through Expedia; including flight, for three nights, from Miami: $660.

http://www.ramada.com/Ramada/control/home

[WolverineDG]

31. ak! freep central!

well, at least the one i stayed at in waco was.... :scared: the channel guide even HIGHLIGHTED the faux news channel for easy reference.

they also had some "special" washcloth for women to use to take off their makeup...according to the card that came with it, this "special" washcloth could also be used to remove mud & dirt from shoes. oh yeah, i'm washing my face with that thing. not. the only thing "special" about this washcloth was that it was green & the others in the room were white.

dg

[Patsy Stone]

32. Isn't Waco itself Freep Central?

Can you really pin it on the Ramada? :)

[WolverineDG]

33. probably not

but that's my story & i'm stickin' to it. ;)

dg