New York hotels are suddenly more affordable

Some of the many hotel getaway packages include:

• Hotel Wales. 1295 Madison Avenue at 92nd Street. Amid a plethora of famous-designer dress shops and cozy neighborhood restaurants, the vintage Victorian hotel features single rooms at $199 (down from nearly $300) through Dec. 31, plus a $50 rebate on a return stay in 2002. 877-847-4444.

• The Mansfield. 16 West 44th Street. Located across from the Iroquois, the cozy Mansfield has a wood-burning fireplace in the lobby and is only two blocks from a number of Broadway theaters. Rates start at $189, and include a $50 rebate toward a stay in 2002. 877-847-4444.

• The Doral Park Avenue Hotel. Park Avenue at 38th Street. In Manhattan's historic Murray Hill district, with its clusters of fashionable brownstone houses, the Doral's "all-American package" (for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday stays) is $199 a night (double occupancy), and includes full breakfast for two and, later, American apple pie. 877-993-6725.

• Le Marquis. 12 East 31st Street. Also in the Murray Hill neighborhood and near some of the city's most beautiful churches, the 123-room Le Marquis has reduced rates to as little as $150 a night. Each room is appointed with Frette linens and bathrobes. (212) 889-6363.

• Swissotel, New York, also known as the Drake. 440 Park Avenue at 56th Street. The newly renovated 700-room Drake, which dates back to the 1920s, is several blocks from Rockefeller Center and Central Park. Rates now start at $199 (down from nearly $400) a night, including breakfast. (212) 421-0900.

• Millennium Hotel New York Broadway. 145 West 44th Street. A literal stone's throw from Broadway, the sleek ultramodern hotel has a Macy's shoppers' package good through Dec. 30, 2001. The rate of $179 per night (double occupancy) includes discount coupons redeemable at Macy's on Herald Square, and continental breakfast for two. (646) 866-8086.

• Habitat Hotel. Lexington Avenue and 57th Street. The 300-room Habitat, on fashionable 57th Street and just down the street from the ultraluxurious Four Seasons Hotel, is offering rooms from $135 a night and even has some cheaper rates for those willing to share a bathroom. 800-497-6028.

Hotels are increasing efforts to make visitors feel more welcome.

"Some of our top management people are sometimes in the lobby greeting guests and asking them if there's anything more that can be done for them," says Guenter Richter, general manager of the Drake.

"Value is obviously important to many people, and there's no better time than now to find it in New York. But just as there seems to be a new spirit in New York, with people taking time to be nicer to each other, we [at the Drake] are trying to literally say 'thank you' to guests. It's not an easy time for many hotels, with profits often nonexistent, but now there's a bit more heart in many [hotels]."

• New York City's convention and visitors bureau has introduced special "Paint the Town Red, White and Blue" travel packages, which are available from now until March 31, with savings and discounts at a broad selection of hotels, Broadway shows, and restaurants. Every package includes a small donation to the Twin Towers Fund. Call 800-NYC-GUIDE, log on to nycvisit.com, or stop by the Official Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue.

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