NewYork - where do I stay?

[petal2008]

We are going to New York in October for a week, me, DH and DS (16). I have been looking for a hotel on all the usual websites and feel totally bamboozled by the sheer number of them and the different areas. I look for half an hour then have to have a glass of wine to calm me down!

Has anyone stayed at a good centrally based hotel that they would recommend? We obviously want to be near some of the sites and not too far from others. Not too expensive but does not need to be bargain based. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

We stayed at Hotel metro - I think it was west 35th st. Literally dead opposite empire state building, 2 min walk from
Macy's, 5 mins from times square. Lovely big rooms, rooftop bar and breakfast provided in the mornings (only bagels, fruit, yoghurt & toast but perfect for filling up before sightseeing)

We stayed in Milford Plaza, on 8th Avenue. It's in the theatre district and just around the corner from Times Square. Very convenient for picking up the red tour buses which I thoroughly recommend.

DH & I took our two DS (teenagers) and all stayed in one big family room so it was great value for money.

Thanks both- I will check these out.

I stayed in The Pod Hotel. It's a cross between a youth hostel and a hotel, reflected in the price. You have to walk a little bit to get to the central attractions (IIRC 25 mins to Macy's, 10 mins to Central Park, if that) but the price is excellent for the accommodation. Very, very clean and modern. The rooms have a basin but you share bathrooms with other people on the corridor - they are huge, very clean and modern. They recommended a diner around the corner, which was great to experience a little US culture in the morning :)

We usually stay in the Hilton in midtown, v convenient without the madness of Times Square. Have also stayed at the Doubletree in Times Square one new year which was very handy! That one is a suite hotel so good for travelling with kids.

Can also recommend the Doubletree Suites at Times Square.

Has anyone booked through expedia? Usually book direct but looks like there's loads of choice without trawling from airline to airline and hotel to hotel.

Last time we stayed at the Crown Plaza Times square, which was perfect for sight seeing touristy stuff (DP got a discount through work) and with relatively large rooms. We then went to Sohotel - smaller rooms, but still nice and good location for more off beat-y trendy stuff. We've been advised that the Desmond Tutu Center on 24th (I think) street is very good - some of the best value for NYC as large rooms and great location (it's at the start of the High Line and within walking distance of Macys etc.)

Have stayed at a Sheraton but can't remember which one. Was ok but rooms were small and dark.

Stayed at Hotel Metro too and would stay there again. Liked the location. Was with a friend and we had a huge room. Great view of Empire State Building and close to Macy's as Clearlymisunderstood said.

We stayed in the Staybridge Suites near Hells Kitchen.
www.staytimessquare.com/times_square.html
It was fantastic and good value. Great staff, good recommendations for local restaurants and quite near to Gordon Ramsey's place where we had a good meal too.
Really easy to navigate the subway/or walk to all major attractions and on the whole I was overwhelmed by how friendly New Yorkers were. Much easier than a trip to London!!

Whoops sorry
this is it

Oh yes, much easier than London. It's much more compact and people are friendly (I live in London, I'm used to our surliness). People offered to help when we looked confused. It was amazing.

If you want to go to the Empire State Building, I recommend taking advantage of jetlag and getting there early (I think we got there around 8) - you practically have it to yourself, and when you finish and come down, you can smugly swan past all the poor people queueing up.

AbsofAwesomenes that's exactly what happened to us. Several times when we looked confused/lost got in people's way they smiled came over to ask if they could help/pointed out the right tube/ told us of someone they knew in Scotland. I would love to go back.
Hope you have a fab time petal

We've booked with expedia a couple of times but not since we were told (by the check in staff at Hilton) that if they need to 'bump' people to another hotel (because it is full) they will bump the ones who have booked through an agent first not the ones who book direct.

Thanks so much for all your advice. I am going to check out all the ones you have recommended and just go for it otherwise I will be be dithering for the next month. I am sure they are all fab,I just wanted to make sure I was in the right area and not chosing something akin to Bates Motel

We stayed at the Four Points Times Square and it was awesome! Not too expensive, lovely rooms with Starbucks coffee and walkable to everything.

another vote for Staybridge Suites Times Square - fabulous location, free breakfast and great rooms

We stayed here, I thought it was really nice and not too expensive if you book ahead.

www.70parkave.com/

We stayed in Hotel Chandler (loved the Friends reference although I'm sure it's just a coincidence!) - was just as you wanted, reasonable but not budget, comfortable, really central - just around the corner from the empire state building. We really liked it.