I used to live in New York City, and I’ve visited there many times before and after, and I don’t remember a time when a well located Downtown hotel was under $160 on weekends like they are now. This deal I found on Travelzoo is for the Marriott in the Financial District, and rooms from Thursdays through Sunday nights are $159 through July 26.

I guess it’s because so many of those financial people are now out of work, and the rest go to the Hamptons during the summer, but still, this is a great deal, and Downtown is actually a nicer area than Times Square for most first-time visitors. Seriously, most NYC hotels are in Times Square, and that area can be a nightmare if you aren’t prepared for it.

If you don’t want to stay all the way Downtown, you might consider Greenwich Village or Chelsea. There are plenty of hotels near Union Square, and that whole area is wonderful and easy to deal with. If your budget is low you might check out Upper West Side hotels, which can surprisingly be almost as cheap as Times Square hostels.