1) yes
2) not really
3) Your COULD stay in midtown area to be between the two schools, but I would strongly suggest instead that you get two different hotels: each close to their respective schools to allow you more time to get a feel for the neighborhoods surrounding the schools.

I'm a native New Yorker and I think both areas are fine. You have to be vigilant wherever you are these days. Both campuses offer good security. Columbia is at Broadway at West 116th Street and it stretches back and across a few blocks. There are may shops and restaurants in the area that cater to the students. NYU is at the other end of the city in the village, which has many, mnay places to dine and shop. So, no they're not close to each other. Choose a hotel in midtown that will put you between the two and you will also have easy access to cabs, subway lines and bus routes not to mention the theater, museums and shopping.

1. Safety is subjective. You can find out for yourself whether either places is safe. If you're from a large city, you probably find it totally safe, but if you're from a small town where you don't lock your doors when going out, then you may feel otherwise.

2. Columbia is North of Central Park, way up there, while NYU is next to Greenwich Village, between the FInancial District (tip of Manhattan) and mid-town. So, they are not close to each other. But subway is very fast and convenient within Manhattan. Ir really doesn't matter if they are close to each other or not.

3. You want a hotel that's close to one of the subway lines that run closer to the West Side of Manhattan. Avoid those on the East Side. You'll find the most hotels in Mid-town (between 34-57 streets), and nothing near Columbia. No reason to stay up there.

NYU is in a better area but like the previous poster said, feeling safe is a relative matter. Go there for yourself and see how the area makes you feel.

No the colleges are not near each other.
NYU is downtown and Columbia is on the upper west side bordering on harlem. The former is in a perfectly safe area. The immediate area of the latter is safe - but some of the surrounding areas are less pleasant.

It might make sense geographically to go for a hotel in midtown - intermediate betwwen the two - but I would suggest you pick a hotel fairly close to one of the schools - to give your daughter a better feel of the area she will be living in. (Midwotn Manhattan is very convenient for tourists - but the atmosphere is very difrent from the more residential areas the schools are located in.)

Don't worry about getting to tourist sites - the subway is very fast and convenient throughout Manhattan.

Another benefit is that restaurants near the schools are likely to be just as good or better than in Midtown (except for 5* places) but the cost will generally be much more reasonable.

Hope you love New York.

Columbia is uptown - the neighborhood spreads from 110th street up to 120th or so on the West Side. NYU is downtown - the central campus surrounds Washington Square Park in Greeenwich Village. You should really just look at a map to orient yourself. The two neighborhoods are approximately 2.5 miles apart. Like most of Manhattan, these are safe neighborhoods as long as you use the same average precautions that you would use in any big city. I would suggest splitting the difference and staying in Midtown on the West Side and using the subway to get between the two colleges. The Broadway train (#1 or 9 - also known as the 7th Avenue train) stops at both 116th street (Columbia) and Christopher St./Sheridan Square (2 long blocks over to Washington Square). Post your budget range and preferences, and I'm sure you can solicit suggestions for hotels.

1. yes, but NYU I think is even better.
2. no, probably about 6 miles apart
3. Most hotels are in the midtown areas which have easy access to either college area. There are some hotels in the Union Sq/Greenwich VIllage/Soho areas that are near NYU. Central Park West hotels are closest to Columbia (but still a good walk, may be 1+ miles). Either area has quick subway access uptown and down. I am more familiar with NYU nieghborhood (I live there) and it's a great area just to wander around, people watch, and find a great restaurant. The COlumbia area has turned around tremendously over the past 20 year or so. It is also a good college neighborhood. If you stay midtown, go for midtown west or north, midtown east would be less convenient (not the best subway lines of Columbia). Central Park West is also a nice area to stay with easy access to just about everything.

Hello again,

Thank you everybody for your quick responses. Now that you have answered all my questions I have one more. I know that hotels in NYC are more expensive then other cities. I don't want to stay in a dump, but I don't need the Ritz. I was hoping to get something decent for around $200 a night. Does this seem reasonable? I will probably follow the advice of most and stay on the west side of midtown. Does anyone have any hotel suggestions?

Thanks again

I think you will not have trouble finding a nice room for < $200. You could do even better than that if you want to consider using priceline. Check out biddingfortravel.com.

To book hotel, without priceline, check a few booking sites (like expedia) but also call the hotels directly and check hotel websites. Sometimes they offer specials better than any of the other rates. When you call the hotels, also ask if there are any specials or discounts (like AAA or AARP), they rarely offer this info.

You don't need to spend $200 a night. Before there was internet, I've always stayed at the Herald Square Hotel on 31st street (between B'way and 5th Ave). They still have rates just under $100. Small, but safe and clean.

However, with all the travel websites avaiable these days, including Priceline, you usually don't need to spend more than $150 for a 3- to 4-star hotel, unless for special events/dates.