<p>The Mayflower IS a dump! We like the Gorham - which just changed its name to The Blakely. (They closed for a year to remodel.) It is a small “boutique” hotel (not a huge lobby or anything). Also, try the Fordors travel forum for GREAT hotel suggestions (and any general travel question). It’s at <a href=“United States - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums”>United States - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums;
<p>PS - The Empire Hotel closed quite awhile ago and is now being refurbished into condos. 
The Blakely is the closest decent hotel to Lincoln Center (IMO).</p>
<p>Great responses, thank you all so much. I realize that for this trip we’ll need someplace that has suites, since we will be three, but that will not always be the case.</p>
<p>I do insist on being right there <em>in</em> Manhattan. I want to roll out of bed and into a NYC coffee shop for breakfast, preferably Cosmo’s at 58th and Broadway, just down from NEWSWEEK. It’s our regular place. (Note: we’ve been there once, for five days.)</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about the Empire… I was there with a group of dancers in May of 2001. Fond memories – not because of the hotel, but because it was a fun trip. Most of us were in shared rooms - 2 moms & 2 dancers to a room - and of course the kids were all having a blast. When you’re traveling with a group of kids you don’t really care too much about the amenities – it’s better that the hotel NOT be too fancy, so that no one gets too upset over running & whooping in the halls past midnight.</p>
<p>TD, you have to go to the Stage Deli, my wife’s family founded it many years ago – although it is no longer in the familiy, there are still plenty of pictures of her “Uncle” Max in the store.</p>
<p>Cosmos! Another reason why we kept ending up at the Mayflower. Plus they have kitchenettes so you can store your Zabar’s purchases and leftover sandwiches from the Stage Deli. Having lived in Manhattan for 10 years, I really find it hard going back and not staying in a neighborhood. The best priced hotels are in mid-town and Times Square, but being near the Park and the museums, restaurants and shops of the upper East or West side is really a draw for us.</p>
<p>Somebody else who knows/appreciates Cosmos? <glyph of=“” bogglement=“”></glyph></p>
<p>Okay, where is the Stage Deli? I will add it to our itinerary. (Along with going back to the Met, catching an NYCB performance (they were dark last time), etc.)</p>
<p>TD: 834 Seventh Ave., a block down from the Carniege Deli.</p>
<p>Actually Cosmos clones (i.e. Greek coffee shops with those paper cups decorated with the Greek motifs) are a Manhattan standby. I sure hate to see them edged out by the ubiquitous Starbucks. If you like Cosmos, The Stage, The Carnegie, Zabar’s then you should check out Barney Greengrass (the Sturgeon King!) on West 87 and Amsterdam. Another Upper West Side institution. I’m not even Jewish but I couldn’t imagine a trip to New York without a visit to Barney’s (not the store!) or Zabars.</p>
<p>And you can go to the new MoMA. . . Have you ever been to the Frick? Our favorite small museum. You’d better stay a month.</p>
<p>Stage Deli is where, every year or two, I commit a great gastronomic sin (well, just to my health – it’s really a great gift of God) – I order up an enormous chopped liver sandwich, and then consume every little bit of it, along with every pickle in sight.</p>
<p>Yes, if you love all kinds of smoked fish, Barney’s has it all. Also, since we are speaking of Deli’s and such, I would not bother going to Katz’s on lower esat side, but Dotters & Daughters Appetitte shop is a marrvel of take home delights – a block down from Katz’s on Huston.</p>
<p>The last time I was in NYC on business, I stayed at the Edison Hotel <a href=“http://www.edisonhotelnyc.com/index.asp[/url]”>http://www.edisonhotelnyc.com/index.asp</a>. Great location–just down the block from Times Square, cool art deco murals in the lobby, and a very affordable cafe adjoining the hotel. It’s showing its age a bit, but it was quiet (request a high floor) and clean.</p>
<p>My favorite is the Time Hotel, a small hotel also near Times Square, that is very chic <a href=“http://timehotelnewyork.com/[/url]”>http://timehotelnewyork.com/</a> and room decor is done in one of the primary colors. Sometimes you can find good deal at its website. Rudy is the head porter.</p>
<p>Other hotels in which I haven’t stayed but about which I’ve heard good things are the Doubletree Times Square Guest Suites and the Travel Inn. There’s also a hotel near the Time Hotel that’s supposed to be quite affordable and comes with free parking. Check <a href=“http://www.frommers.com/[/url]”>http://www.frommers.com/</a> for more info.</p>
<p>As for the subway system, with only two exceptions, I’ve used the subways exclusively to get around Manhattan for business. I even used the train system to get to an appointment on Long Island. Although you might have to wait a little bit, at least you get to where you’re headed without having to sit in traffic and watch the meter tick (unless it’s very late at night).</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>Blakely has a few good suites. Call them. Also the Doubletree is quite good - if you don’t mind being in Times Square.</p>
<p>TheDad - The Williams Club has rooms at very reasonable rates and I believe it is available to non-Williams folks (and Smith has some kind of affiliation with the club too). It is located at 24 East 39th street – a classic NYC brownstone. I stayed there many times years ago when I was interviewing for jobs in NYC and occasionally still use it for lunch etc. Not a luxury hotel but a reasonably priced option.</p>
<p>This talk about Barney’s, Stage, etc. now makes me understand the musical. You know…“Hello, Deli.”</p>
<p>Thanks again, everyone. I’m going to print out this thread in a couple of days and start making reservations this week. Aiyeee!</p>
<p>And, TD, if you find it in your heart to help a transplanted NYer out, please send a REAL pizza out this way!!</p>
<p>You might book one thing and then, two weeks before the trip, check out what’s available on wotif.com. Wotif is an australian service selling last minute discount hotel rooms. They’ve only recently started listing US hotel rooms. I’ve used wotif dozens of times and been very pleased.</p>
<p>We usually stay at the Travel Inn on W. 42nd Street. It’s small with no amenities, but it’s clean and comfortable, and cheap (last April we stayed for $125/night). Since I don’t intend to spend much time in the hotel anyway, it’s worked for us. And since we drive to NY, the best part is that parking in their garage is free! Unlimited in & out. That saves at least $40 per day.</p>
<p>TheDad:</p>
<p>We just spent the weekend in NY. I finally dragged sokkerdad (and sokkerdaughter) to see Mamma Mia on Broadway!</p>
<p>We stayed at the Edison Hotel right in the heart of broadway near Times Square. (47th) It was a great location. The room was fine, nothing spectacular. ($175/night) Valet parking was $29/day. That is a good thing, as we drove down and didn’t have to touch the car all weekend. We would stay there again. You can check out their website.</p>
<p>The Warwick and the Carlton are well located and are reasonably priced. They are very European in style.</p>