Not a bad time to go. Could do better on the price.

You may get a better deal by combining flight and hotel through Expedia.

Hotels in NYC can be expensive, even by booking hotel only direct.

Or wait till the January sale for BA etc.

Zoom have tickets from Gatwich to JFK at those times for £260pp

That'll be a lovely time to go but I think you should be able to get your flight a bit cheaper - we went in mid May and paid £330 Manchester to NY with Continental.

If you're booking independantly I'd recommend you book somewhere like Radio City Apartments (by booking well in advance we got a studio for $155 per night but I think it's gone up to $175 for 2008) as you don't pay a deposit and they have a fantastic cancellation policy. That way you've got a bed and then if see a last minute bargain on somewhere like travelzoo you can cancel with no problem. (that's what I'd planned to do but after reading the reviews for RCA on trip advisor we just stayed put and I ahve to say it was a great location for a first visit)

You can read PD's review HERE

Pippy