My wife and I and our two sons (20 and 16) are planning to go to NYC for the first time during next Christmas. We would appreciate any tips and advice on where to go and what to see (and where not to go and not to see):
1. We like museums, art, bookshops, photography...what location is best to stay at this first time?
2. Please recommend a midrange hotel that is clean, safe and reasonably priced.
3. How cold does it get in X.mas?
4. Special Christmas events.
Thanks for your help.

Orta, type Christmas AND NYC in the text search and dozens of previous threads will come up answering most of your questions. You should also do a websearch. wunderground.com will tell you about weather. There is no one best location. Will you want 1 or 2 rooms? Perhaps an apt style hotel with a kitchen? Is it this Dec. or next.?

If upi're coming this year you need to get a hotel ASAP! This is the busiest time of year - the city is packed with europens due to the pitiful state of the dollar - and hotel space will be scarce and expensive. Unless you're planning on doing a lot of theater (if so, you'll want to stay near Times Square) you can really stay in any area you can find a good deal on a hotel - since what you will want to see is scattred all over the city - and subways make geting around very convenient.

I really suggest you work on the hotel first - then read some of the other posts on NYC at christmas - then come back with specific queries.

Dear mclaurie
Hotel with a kitchen would be great.
I mean X.mas 2004 !!

Absolutely get that hotel NOW. I booked a couple months ago and the price is now $55 higher x 3 nights. Basic but excellent location is the HOJO, Days Inn on 8th and the Super8. I go with who is cheapest.

Hi Orta, if you would like a kitchen in your room try the Beekman Tower Hotel at 1st & 49th street. Here's the website: http://www.affinia.com/6_2_bee_overview.cfm but also check the usual discount sites for rates and availability. Once when I tried to book once and the hotel itself was sold out of my price level but another site had a block of rooms at a discount rate.

affiniahotels.com-- a group of all suite hotels with kitchens. The most reasonably priced of the group should be Plaza 50, Lyden Gardens, Shelburn Murray Hill, Beekman Towers.

The Salisbury hotel has 2 bedroom 2 bath apartments with kitchens.

Also look at the Carnegie Hotel, the Beacon and the Milburn.