TIS, You're right about so many things. NYC IS great. However, it can also expensive. And hotel rooms seem to be on the rise BIG time. Downtown is much less expensive, but doesn't offer the restaurants, shopping and other attractions of midtown. It does, however, offer Little Italy, Chinatown, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Ground Zero, of course. Then there's Century 21, one of THE best shopping experiences in NYC, IMHO.

So, it really depends on what we want to do and what we want to see. And, as far as dates, I think those would absolutely be flexible.