One thing you need to consider is the advertised hotel prices online are only the basic. You need to add other fees such as resort fee, multiple taxes, and your parking fee as well if you drive. Say if you book a room for $150/night, you will more likely end up with around $250(if you need a parking in New York).
Tip one: find airbnb in Flushing if you don't mind staying in the 3rd world country(sorry Flushing people)
Tip two: if you only stay one or two nights, book the same day online. Usually it is much cheaper(1/3 if you are lucky with free parking in Manhattan) due to the cancellation.
I don't recommend to stay in New Jersy due to time waste in transportation.
Only my two cents.
