One of NYCs great struggles is hotel accomodations, especially as the holidays roll around. Call up in midtown and you will find $400 and $700 per night rates. Lately, there is a more value-oriented hotel boom in LIC. For example, this place:

The Comfort Inn near Queens Plaza. It ain't great. But it's fine. We had a chance to talk to someone who stayed there recently and they weren't thrilled. The TV didn't have cable, the room was pretty noisy with street noise, and well...it was a bargain at least! Only $120 or so per night. And just steps from the subway. A link