I just did an 8 month assignment in NYC so I will give some of the deals I found plus you may be able to see some of the Thanksgiving stuff. The Holland Motor Lodge is an inexpensive place to stay with parking in Jersey City - 10 minute walk to the Path, two train stops and you are in Manhattan. Price can't be beat at $65 (in NYC - unheard of) a night, very clean, with continental breakfast (the guy also owns a bakery and has the best donuts ever) and the people that work there are really nice. Place is just outside the Holland Tunnel but I didn't think it was noisy at all. From the hotel to tha Path it is all upscale (really nice Newport Mall right there) but in the other direction it can be a bit sketchy. . Check this site for a cheap rate.
Lowest Hotel Rates & Online Hotel Reservations at HotelReservation.com
If you wanted sometihng a little bit closer try AirBnB.com (customers rate their stays on-line and not just New York try other places too) - Park Slope area in Brooklyn is pretty cool but you can get some good deals right downtown. I just prefer hotels over the B and B thing. Also some of the finer restaurants offer $25 lunch and $35 3 course specials but you have to ask.
Good luck and have fun no matter where you go - enjoy your time together and your week off!