New York: Puttin’ on the Ritz (and the Plaza, the St. Regis, and ...) with a third night free

New York City’s top hotels will give guests a break on luxury with a third night free this winter. Room rates aren’t cheap, but this offer could be a good excuse to indulge and visit the city during its quiet time. The package also comes with a personal shopping excursion at Saks Fifth Avenue -- even if you just want to window shop.

The deal: For the past decade, NYCgo.com, the city’s tourism office, has put together a Signature Collection of Manhattan hotels to promote the free night with a two-night stay. Hotels participating in 2011 include the Carlyle, the Chatwal (new this year), Loews Regency Hotel, the London NYC, Mandarin Oriental, the Peninsula, the Pierre, the Plaza Hotel, the Ritz-Carlton (two locations, Battery Park and Central Park), Setai Fifth Avenue, the Sherry-Netherland, St. Regis, Trump International Hotel & Tower, Trump SoHo and Waldorf Towers. Along with the free night, guests also get the VIP shopping excursion plus coffee and dessert at Saks Fifth Avenue.

When: The offer is good for stays through March 7.

Tested: To get this deal, scan the list of hotels at NYCgo.com and use the promotion codes listed for each hotel. I checked online and found the third-night free available March 3-6 at the Mandarin Oriental for $870 plus tax a night and the St. Regis at $845 plus tax a night.

Contact: The Signature Collection Third Night or call individual hotels.