I think NYC is definitely doable, if we tried. Might not be the fanciest rooms ever, but that's not the point anyway. I just found a bunch that might be workable, and I have no idea what a group rate might get us.

And also, we'd get to see Jessica AND Scrappadoodle.

A quick Kayak.com search of hotel July 8-11 shows lots of availability of 4 star hotels (boutiques, mostly) in the $130 range.

Not an impossible "if" though. And the money saved in transportation might make a 175-185 room worth it.

For example, the Hotel Pennsylvania is a biggie for the Improv Festivals. It's a great location, the rooms my friends had were large and it was easy to hang out with one another. Basic rooms (without any group rate discussion) starting at $174. [link] They have a "best deal in new manhattan" for $79. [link]

It has a hit-or-miss reputation, but if we were working with someone there on a group rate we'd obviously be in closer communication than just booking one room for a night or two.

The New Yorker Hotel (where Tesla died!) is basically the same location. They have a much more consistently good reputation. They run upwards of 200 a night but I'm seeing this [link] special for $109 a night. Expedia is currently giving as low as $149 a night - which has me thinking there is room to work with them.

Not necessarily impossible to do one in NYC. There are deals to be found.

Hotel Pennsylvania

Plus, their phone number is still PEnnsylvania 6-5000, probably the phone number in NYC that's been assigned to the same place for the longest.

I love being there, it feels like you're in a movie. The lobby is kind of wonderful.

The biggest if about NYC in July is the temp/humidity issues that would be rough for D.C. at the same time.

My fave hotel in NYC that's reasonably priced is The Lucerne on the UWS, but it's not really conducive for a group, I don't think. Love the hood though.

ETA: Just checked and they've got double/double rooms for 199.00/night in July and I can vouch that it's a GORGEOUS hotel, two blocks from Central Park and just a few blocks more from Museum of Natural History.

Are we wedded to summer? Would there be any interest in an early fall F2F? Temps are certainly nicer then. And while teachers might have to ask for a day or two off, it wouldn't be uncomfortably close to the beginning of the year.

the Hotel Pennsylvania. It's a great location, the rooms my friends had were large and it was easy to hang out with one another.

It's also a pigsty, and has a horrible bed bug reputation.

Early fall would mean having to plan around the Jewish holidays as well as school stuff.