As far as Manhattan goes, I'd agree.

But as I've said, I've stayed in Philly many weekends the past several years, and always paid around $100-125 a night.

I juust checked both Orbitz and Travelocity, and all of the hotels seem to have their regular rates listed.

I think the problem is that we are looking way too far in advance. Hotels don't start offering discounts until they have an idea of what their occupancy and availability is.

If a hotel can sell out all of its rooms at its regular rate, why should they offer any discounts? But by next June or July, when a hotel sees that they are only maybe half full for a weekend in August, they becoming willing to offer lower rates.

Our problem, though, is that we can't wait until June or July of next year to figure out where we are going.

Or can we?

I might also add that the town in which I live, Secaucus, NJ, has more hotel rooms than any other town in New Jersey except Atlantic City.

The reason is that I am located literally 10-12 minutes (if no traffic) from midtown Manhattan, and there is regular bus service to and from the city at all hours.

Almost every one of the mid-priced hotel chains has a property here, and the rates are well under $100 a night.

Since so many of us live in NY/NJ, there will be plenty of cars for transportation in and out of Manhattan, and even if you factor in the toll and parking in the city - which can run about $30 a day in a midtown garage - if three or four people go in one car and split the cost, it's not that much more than the round trip bus fare (about $5).

Once in the city, everyone could go their own way if they chose to, or stay together, or whatever, and we could all meet somewhere for dinner.

Not the same as staying in Manhattan, of course, but considerably less expensive.

And in terms of things to do, etc., you absolutely cannot compare Philadelphia to New York City.

Of course, I'm thinking more here of those members who are coming from afar. I can understand that for some of us Philadelphia would be a nice change of pace, and we could feel like tourist/vacationers too.

I also thought about Atlantic City, but there are a few problems with going there.

If you're not a regular gambler who can get free or discounted rooms, the rates on the weekends in the casino/hotels are ridiculous, and there is no "middle ground". The hotels/motels that don't have casinos are all relatively inexpensive, however they are also all total dumps unless you stay outside of town.

And while there are several very good restaurants in the major hotels, if you don't gamble, unlike Las Vegas, there is really nothing to do there.

Here's another idea, though:

I thought about the possibility of renting a house somewhere on the Jersey shore for a week.

Depending on how many people/couples we had coming, I know that you can rent, say, a 5-6 bedroom house for a week for maybe $2-3,000. Split 5 or 6 ways for a week, that's pretty inexpensive. You have the beach, the nicer shore towns have plenty of good restaurants, and there will be enough people with cars for day trips to Manhattan, Atlantic City, or even Philadelphia.

Of course, living in a house together for a week is a far cry from everyone going to their own hotel room at the end of the evening, but we would certainly get to know each other.