We have 2 Hotel Options this year:

The New Yorker in Manhattan (20-35 minutes drive from Randall's Island)

The Laguardia Marriott in Queens (10-15 minutes drive from Randall's Island)

Plus, here are some other alternatives

New Yorker Hotel (a Ramada property):
481 Eighth Avenue (@ 34th Street)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 971-0101
http://www.newyorkerhotel.com/

Reservations Phone #: (212) 971-0101
Group Name: NY Rugby 08
Reservation Code: CGNYR8
Room rate: $259/night (plus applicable tax and fees - rate applies for up to 4 people per room)
Room Block Dates: 11/26/2008 - 12/2/2008
Cut-off date: 11/12/2008
Online Reservation Link coming soon - but for now you can call the number above.

Please note, the New Yorker recently underwent significant renovations, which means while it is an even nicer place to stay than in years past, it's also a lot more expensive. However, we still have a room block there for those whose budgets allow....

PARKING AT THE NEW YORKER: (copied from the New Yorker website) "We have made valet parking arrangements with local parking garages. If you'd like to use this service, just tell the bell-staff upon your arrival. They'll advise you of the cost and arrange for your car to be picked up and brought back to you upon request. There are several parking garages and lots within a block or two of The New Yorker Hotel, parking generally costs about $25.00 for a 24-hour period ($30 for the valet parking service)."

Translation:

1. The hotel does not have its own parking garage (not unusual in NYC).
2. They have arrangements with garages nearby, but the garages set the rates, not the hotel, and those rates are not included in your room rate.
3. You can pay around $30/day for valet service, or slightly less to park it yourself in a nearby garage and walk to the hotel.
4. While on-street parking does exist in New York City, it is not in any way plentiful, and in midtown (where the New Yorker is located) it is practically non-existent.
5. If you do use a parking garage, whether valet or otherwise, ALLOW MORE THAN AMPLE TIME TO GET YOUR CAR ON THE MORNING OF THE TOURNAMENT. You will not be the only ones who are getting your car at that time (remember - nearly 100 teams come to this tournament, and a large number of them stay at the same hotel using the same garages).
6. We recommend to all teams to give the garage notice at the time you drop off the car when you will need to pick it up in the morning. If you are using valet service then please notify the hotel as well at least several days in advance.
7. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (subways, buses, taxis) IS A GREAT OPTION FOR GETTING AROUND WHILE YOU ARE IN TOWN, and may cost less then renting, parking, and paying bridge tolls for a car.

LaGuardia Marriott
102-05 Ditmars Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11369
(718) 565-8900
http://www.laguardiamarriott.com/

Reservations Phone #: (800) 882-1043
Group Name: New York Sevens Room Block
Reservation Code: NYSNYSA
Room rate: $139/night (plus applicable tax and fees - rate applies for up to 4 people per room)
Room Block Dates: 11/26/2008 - 12/3/2008
Cut-off date: 11/5/2008
A $20 breakfast coupon (inclusive of tax & gratuity) per overnight guest can be purchased at the hotel.
Parking fee of $10.00 per vehicle/day. Please note: Guest must notify front office agent if vehicle will be parked.
To make reservations online go to www.laguardiamarriott.com, input dates that are in our block, and where it asks for the group code input the following 7 letters: NYSNYSA

More lodging alternatives:

1) ONLINE SEARCH - Try hotwire.com or priceline.com to search for hotels in the city....generally anything through either service will be a name brand hotel, so you should not have to worry about ending up at the no-tell motel. You'll probably find better deals in Queens or Brooklyn, but that's to be expected.
2) HOSTELS - There are several good hostels in Manhattan - Jazz Hostels have a good reputation and appear to have some availability - http://www.jazzhostels.com/