Alright already! I'm waving a white flag!

Well the Beacon Hotel is the obvious choice. Also good in the area are the Lucerne, Excelsior and On the Ave. For something less pricey but still an easy walk away - have a look at the Newton on Broadway near 94th St.

I am hopeful that the following will be a clear statement about a convoluted subject.

Although the Beacon Theater is on Broadway it is not considered a Broadway theater. A Broadway show is considered a house with more than 500 seats that is the Theater District or Lincoln Center.

Off-Broadway theaters are usually not in the Theatre District, although they can be, and have less than 500 seats but more than 100.

Off-off Broadway are theaters that have less than 100 seats.

These rules were established so that plays and musicals can qualify for Tonys, Obies, and a slew of other awards.

And equally important these desigantions are the basis for union pay and other contractual obligations.

The Beacon rarely has a long running play or msuical. They tried last year to have some Cirque du Soleil thing that evicted the Allman Bros after playing there every year for 20 years every March. This not only made Duane Allman riff in his grave, but the followers of the Bros had to go to another theater so they could drink and throw up.

Given the Jersey City hotel idea, I'm guessing that price is a big factor here. I'm reposting my suggestion from last night -

starrs on Mar 31, 11 at 10:10pm Check the rates here -
http://www.hotelbelleclaire.com/

VERY close to your theatre.

bt33, I just want to say that I think you should stay in Manhattan, not Jersey City. Especially after seeing Steely Dan (I saw them late 70s'). I think you will be "up" from the concert and a drink afterwards in the city will be icing on the cake. Try the upper West Side as some have suggested.

I think a long ride to Jersey will be a downer. Visualize the whole evening...

Aduchamp1 made a telling earlier observation - regarding posing the right questions. In my case my main preference for Jersey City was based on not wanting to drive into Manhattan (am I being a whimp?). I have driven in many US cities, but NYC seems a little daunting I will be at the tail end of a three week East Coast road trip - Washington, the Outer Banks and back to New York to see the show, visit the City (for a 3 day weekend) and then take a 4 night drive around Long Island before flying home (UK). A top priority for me is getting a good quality room with a "guaranteed" spectacular view - as big and as expansive a view possible - and for my $350 per night budget - and my NYC driving issues - my research is leaning me towards the Hyatt in Jersey City and experiencing the late evening subway / PATH. You have all been very generous and informative with your suggestions - thanks!

I don;t think any hotel is going to give you a guaranteed spectacular view unless you are paying extra for a room with a view. (And agree you won;t get this in Manhattan for anywehre near $350.)

But IMHO there are so many places to get great views (Top of the Rock, Staten Island ferry etc) that I wouldn;t give up all the benefits of actually staying in Manhattan for the possibility of a view out of a hotel window (which you will be in mostly at night). Just drive your car into the city via the GWB and down the west side highway and pick a hotel near the Beacon. You can get off the highway at 79th St and will b eon city streets for only a few blocks.

Thanks nytraveler. I will pay extra for a view from my room. - it's so important to me. My last stay in NYC was at the Millennium UN Plaza, in 2003 for 8 nights. And that was an incredible experience. I need a repeat of that.

mclaurie, so many thanks for your advice and pointers, So much appreciated.

I hate to break this to you bt33, but unless you plan on making a big "schlepp" out of your way on the Verrazano bridge, there's no way to avoid driving through Manhattan to get to Long Island from New Joisy. ;)

I've been to the Hyatt Jersey City to eat and while the view is nice, it's not drop dead gorgeous imo AND I can't imagine staying in New Jersey just because of a car. Sooooo, since you're going to have to drive through Manhattan anyway, does that change your thinking?

Unfortunately I think the Mill UN Plaza is not a possibility for you at that time and finding a drop dead view in Manhattan at a decent price is going to be a challenge. The Sheraton Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, NJ is not as nice a hotel as the Hyatt, but at least it's directly across from midtown where I think the views are better and you'd be closer. But I really think you should stay in Manhattan. I'd phone the Beacon hotel about rooms (they don't show as available online at beaconhotel.com) and if they can't give you one (there are some nice views on higher floors) book the Excelsior hotel asap (excelsiorhotelny.com) which is a short walk from the Beacon theater.

Thanks mclauarie, I was planning on the Verazzano. On a previous trip I took the 95, over the GW and took the Bridgeport – Port Jefferson Ferry, all in all a great experience. One of the pleasures of a vacation is in the planning, but this leg of the trip is not proving to be the easiest. But I am going to keep my options open, and following advice, maybe bite the bullet and drive straight on in! For now I will concentrate on my other hotel choices for the rest of my itinerary until I secure my concert tickets.

Honestly I think you're making a big mistake. Going over the Verrazano (from Jersey City) will easily take you an hour more for no good reason. Driving in Manhattan is easier than most people anticipate partly because the traffic moves so slowly. If you really don't want to drive in Manhattan, why not stay in Brooklyn? The Brooklyn Bridge Marriott should have some rooms with a good view, you avoid driving miles out of your way and you're at least on the NYC subway line to get in and out of Manhattan. (I would still book a room at the Excelsior until you make a final decision.)

mclaurie, Marriott looks good. I like this chain. This was one that I had considered and it has view rooms in my budget plus parking. I use Google Earth to approximate the views and had considered that the Hyatt would have the edge. I take you point on the Verrazano. I will weigh up these options.

The views at the BB Marriott won't be as sweeping as those from New Jersey b/c of the angle and certainly not as good as the Mill. UN PLaza (imo). But you have the added advantage of being a short walk from the Brooklyn Promenade and the Rivercafe.com from which you have some of the most stunning views of Manhattan there are any place. There's also a lot to see in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO near that hotel vs. not much of anything in Jersey City (sorry to say).