My husband and I with our 16 yr old daughter plan to visit New York for the first time. We want to make this a special trip for our daughter since we haven't been on a vacation as a family in 9 yrs. We are going in March, can someone suggest a great Hotel to stay for 4 to 5 days. Location is important and great atmosphere. Planning on lots of sightseeing and theatre.
Mid to high price, not too over the top.........

Please explain, pricewise, what you mean by "mid to high price, not too over the top."

Try one of the suite hotels - www.affinia.com has several. Your daughter will get the feeling of what it might be like to live in an apartment in NYC. (Warning, I did this with my daughter when she was 17 and guess where she moved after graduating from college?!!) This summer (when visiting her) we stayed at the Beekman Towers one weekend and really enjoyed it. Very art-deco, spacious, and well located. I'd expect their other properties are equally nice.

The Michelangelo is in a great location and you can get a larger than normal room for NY at a pretty good price. They always have special seasonal rates. We were impressed with the ambience, staff and price. Their website is www.michelangelohotel.com Have fun!

When we go to NYC, it's for a theater weekend, so we like to stay in Times Square for the convenience.

Our favorite hotel is the Doubltreee Suites, at 47th and 7th. A suite feels so extravagant. We've gotten this hotel for under $200 per night.

I love the Michaelangelo, too--you can check out their website to get a feel for the atmosphere. Midtown is great for a first visit, as you can walk to theater, Times Square, St. Patrick's, Rockefeller Plaza, 5th Ave shops, Radio City, etc., although in a city that size, of course you can't be close to everything. Le Parker Meridien is another hotel you might like...

I guess price range would not to be over $200?

re: affinia.com
we like the Benjamin Hotel, wonderfully located, nicely furnished.

At around $200 per night, price will be the deciding factor. You should start by looking at Orbitz or Expedia to see what kind of hotels are in your price range.
Places like the Benjamin (which is a good value in NYC) start at around $290.
Not many luxury hotels can be found under $300 in prime areas of Manhattan.
I've not stayed there but have read some people who have like the Le Parker Meridien, which can be had for close to $200. It's kind of post-modern minimalist, not luxury, but location is good and price is right.

I guess I better change my price range.
Price around $300.00 a night might be better??

Since you'll be in town for 4-5 days, I would recommend the Hotel Washington Square - http://www.wshotel.com/english/ws_toc.htm
This is a very pretty hotel in a nice location (especially for a 16 yr old)in Greenwich Village. You'll be convenient to subway lines, shopping, restaurants, theater (off-broadway)and many sights. It's also a better area for walking and exploring than the crush of Times Square. Anything not within a quick walk is a very short subway or taxi ride. A Times Square hotel is really more appropriate for those in town for a 1 night stay with a broadway show being the main event. Have fun!

Yes, vittoria, I'd suggest upping your price if you were thinking of under $300 for something as nice as you seem to want. When I first read your post and saw "mid to high price" I guessed you meant $300 to $500" for New York. Expensive certainly means well over $500 a night in New York.

We stayed at The Gorham and loved it! Great location, amenities, and most importantly, the beds (all queen or king) were SO comfy! www.gorhamhotel.com

Vittoria, you don't want OUR favorite hotel but a hotel that will be best for your family & likes. Can you tell us >do you intend going to theater more than 1x
>what kind of place YOU like (big/small,modern/traditional etc.)
>Do you need a suite (2 rooms)
>Do you want a touristy (not bad) area or a more residential area that still has some life at night?

Patrick and Mclaurie make a lot sense, Vittoria. My initial thoughts, pricewise, were the same as Patrick's. $200 (remember taxes will be about $30 for that price room) is midprice at best in NY. As mclaurie says, first determine exactly what you want.

Ok I guess I should tell you more:
1)plan to go to theatre 1 or 2 times
2)husband loves sighseeing: Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Empire State building.......
3)daughter wants theatre and of course some shopping
4) Hotel: big and traditional,1 room
5) Dollars: ? since I've never been before I didn't know what to except. I guess the $300.00 or over might be more real........
Hope I'm not asking for too much. Any suggestions I will look at.

So I'd say either the Times Square area for convenience to theaters & good transportation or the west 50s-just at the northern edge of the theater district. I just looked on tripadvisor.com & found glowing reviews of the newish Hilton Times Square. The Gorham, in the west 50s, previously mentioned, gets good reviews on this board. The Double Tree Suites Hotel in the TS area is also well liked here, particularly by families. The Michaelangelo and the Muse are 2 newer, smaller hotels in the theater area that people like. Start researching those. Use tripadvisor.com and Rants & Raves here to read reviews.

Good sites for discount prices are quikbook.com, travelzoo.com, hotels.com and hotres.com. Good luck!

When all is said and done I keep coming back to the Michelangelo. Big and traditional? Well that eliminates the boutique hotels like The Muse, and the Doubletree seems too generic and contemporary for what I think you want. But a nice large, very traditional room at the Michelangelo fits the bill -- with elegant and refined service. Close to theatres, but out of the immediate hub-bub of Times Square. Fairly short walk to Rockefeller Center and shops of Fifth Avenue.

I think the Doubletree, as alrady suggested, is a good choice. I think it would quite comfortable for the 3 of you. I recently were in one of their suites visiting with people staying there (I live in NYC). It's quite roomy and pleasant for a moderately priced NYC hotel. The room also has little kitchenette type area with toaster, microwave, fridge and sink. Another decent, moderately priced suite hotel is the Shelburne. Mu mom recently stayed there. It also has a small kitchenette setup. It's located midtown west, near grand central station.

Your description just about dictates that you stay in the Times Square area! Go for it!