Can anybody recommend a 4 star hotel in or near to Times Square preferably with a balcony to see New Years Eve. or close walking distance.

For what year? And for how many thousands of dollars?

Sorry, but I'm really kind of serious here. Several years ago we stayed at the Marriott Marquis between Christmas and New Year's, but left New Year's Eve Day when the rates were going to about $800 that night. But all the rooms were booked for NYE when we booked in the early fall.

I don't think the hotel has balconies, those are fire escapes. And I'm not at all sure you would be allowed to go out on them (and it might well mean crawling though a window). As for rates - the link doesn;t provide those - and I would expect any hotel in Times Square to be very expensive.

A couple of years ago rooms with a "ball drop" view at the Marriott were going for more than $1200 for the night.

If yo are serious about this contact the hotels now - and confirm that the room you are reserving has a guaranteed view - many in the Marriott don;t face in the right direction.

As for walking - Times Square is closed starting around 4 in the afternoon. People who arrive then are herded into one-block pens y the police department - and while you can leave you can't return. There are no seats and no facilities - so it means standing in whatever the weather is until well after midnight.

Rooms will be a fortune but there's information here:

http://www.timessquarenyc.org/nye/nye.html

You can also just go to dinner at one of the recommended restaurants to watch the ball drop (check that link) and stay at a less expensive hotel out of Times Square.

There are fireworks in Central Park too on NYE, but you can't see the ball drop.

You can also just go to dinner at one of the recommended restaurants to watch the ball drop (check that link) and stay at a less expensive hotel out of Times Square.

From what I read, since I have never done it, it could be just a few hundred dollars less than the room.

Restauants with views will be very expensive. A couple of years ago Applebee's (APPLEBEE'S !!!) was offering a New year's Eve dinner for about $300 per person (yes, including kids).

Was a budget mentioned? It's an expensive night in the city. If you add on the cost of Applebee's (or whatever awful Times Square restaurant you choose) to the $1500.00 nightly rate for the Marriott it's at least a $2,100.00 evening. In any case, one must have a hotel room and one must eat if planning on staying in the city for NYE. There's good information in that link.

There are no rooms with balconies. The Marriott Marquis, Millennium Times Square, and (possibly) Renaissance hotels might have rooms from which you can see the festivities.

Applebee's, Bubba Gump, and a few other restaurants overlooking Times Square usually have New Year parties, but some of the parties are private affairs, so there are relatively few options for the public other than to stand out in the square. Those would probably be a better choice than trying to get a hotel room. They would certainly be cheaper.

I also think there are a few rooms at the Mandarin Oriental or Trump World Tower that would have direct views of the ball drop, but those hotels are kind of far away.

As Patrick said, though, most of the rooms with views of Times Square were booked a year ago. But it's worth checking.

A friend lives right in the midst of the Times Square area. He has a dinner party and the guests head down to the corner about 20 minutes before the ball drop and then back up for cocktails - and to wait for the crowds to clear.

If you are staying there, you have access. You can get away from the crowds, go to the restroom, etc. A mutual friend went up last year and had a blast. Absolutely no hassle IF you "belong" there.

If I were doing it, I'd recreate something in the hotel room. Get a nice room, enjoy a romantic dinner in the room via room service, head down a few minutes before and watch the ball drop with the crowds. I think I'd prefer that from watching from behind the window in the room. I was at a skybox once and they had all the windows closed - and although it was sweet to be in a suite, I missed the noise and the vibe of the crowd (football fans). The next time they opened the transom windows and you could HEAR the game - not just watch it. If I were there (in Times Square) I'd like to be IN the crowd - but only for a few minutes