Hi,<BR>Still looking at hotels. I have done searches, but have found many conflicting opinions about staying in Time Sq.<BR>I am trying to keep the price around 200. per night and I would love to stay in a hotel that they would really remember.<BR>I am considering Le Parker Meridien, because the roof top pool sounds cool- but again there are mixed review on the hotel.<BR>Does anyone have a good suggestion? There are so many hotels that the choices get over whelming. I have been looking at quikbook. Is there a cheaper option?<BR>

Bidding on Priceline.com is the cheapest. Go to BetterBidding.com for how to/advice. Times Square area is considered midtown west. The Parker Meridien is in upper midtown.

Though I'm not a fan of Times Square, I think that twelve year olds would LOVE it! It's so &quot;different&quot; (crowded, hectic, full of bright lights), it will be memorable. I doubt a 12-yr old would appreciate someplace more sophisticated. The Marriot Marquis, with its glass elevators, may be the ideal place.

cpeicott - I'm from the North Shore so I've done the Boston to NYC thing a few different ways. Amtrak is very comfortable and convenient. Shuttle can be really cheap on a weekend (a freind paid $49 each way on St. Pats weekend) but then you've got a $30 cab ride. Driving is our best option but I can park in my brother's garage on the West Side for $15/day. <BR><BR>I've also done the Chinese bus route once and was so surprised with it. Nobody in Boston outside of the Asian community knows about this it seems. Would definately do it again. The bus stops once at a rest stop in CT. We went back and forth in one day for $20rt each. I think its $25 if you stay overnight. Older Chinese women go on the bus to do their shopping in NY Chinatown. On our trip they tried to feed us. Awfully sweet.<BR><BR>Have stayed at both the Marriott Marquis and the Rennaissance in Times Sq. Prefer the Marriott but either one is fine. Even if you don't stay at the Marriott check out the lounge on the 8th floor. Its right at eye level with lots of the bright lights and its kind of cool to sit there and watch the street below. There is also a revolving bar on the top of the hotel. This is nice too. Don't be afraid to take the girls into either of these places. The one on the 8th floor is quiet if you go in around 5-6pm. And we took our then 5 and 9 year olds to the revolving bar around 6pm also. They were not the only kids in there.<BR><BR>Beco's is a good Italian restaurant walking distance from Times Square.<BR><BR>Have a great time.

driving is good, and it is probably the cheapest, although, considering the outrageous prices they charge to actually park your car in Manhattan, it might make more sense to take the train, because in New York, no car is necessary. If you want to drive, then park and take the train, I highly suggest Metro North railroad. It is a relatively inexpensive commuter rail system extending into New York's northern suburbs (Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Fairfield, and New Haven). My advice here would be to either park your car at either New Haven or Stamford stations (both, by the way, also offer Amtrak service as well as Metro North. Amtrak is quicker, more expensive, and puts you out at Penn Station. Metro North is slower, cheaper, and puts you out at Grand Central Terminal. Better choice here is Metro North). I recommend Stamford because trains leave more frequently from there, but it is a longer drive from Boston. For schedueles and more information visit www.mta.nyc.ny.us<BR>For hotels, all NYC hotels are overpriced and most are centrally located in Midtown. My picks would be the Hilton on 6th ave. and 55th street, Sheraton on B'way and 50th street, and Grand Hyatt on Park Ave and 42nd Street (which is conveinently adjacent to Grand Central Station and the Subway). As for restaurants, try America on 18th between B'way and 5th (N,R,W to 23 st), Ruby Foo's on B'way between 49 and 50 streets(1,9 to 50 st or N,R,W to 49 st), and Brooklyn Diner on 57th street between 6 and 7 Avenues (F to 57th Street)<BR>Have a pleasant stay in New York

Hi,<BR>I am now taking my daughter and 2 cousins,(all 12/13 year old) so driving is starting to make the most sense. By the time that I buy 4 train tickets,I can pay for the parking at the hotel and still come out far ahead.<BR>I appreciate the advise and I will look into the option of driving part way and taking the train the rest.<BR>Thanks also for the rest. advice.<BR>Do you know anything about the diner with the singing wait staff? Sounded like fun.<BR>

Don't bother with the drive from Boston to someplace in CT or Westchester and taking the train the rest of the way. (To be honest, I've never really understood why people do that). Just drive all the way in and pay for parking at or near the hotel.

Driving to New Haven and taking commuter train has worked very well for me on more than one occasion. <BR><BR>Advantages: driving that far is &quot;free&quot; (except for gas and wear obviously) and it's a straight shot up and down I-91, thus avoiding I-95 altogether. There's a parking garage right at the train station. As others have said, the commuter fare is much cheaper than Amtrak. That way, you arrive and depart at midtown with no albatross automobile to deal with. The worst traffic is that getting into and out of the city, and the train goes underneath all that, so this about the fastest, cheapest, and surest way to do this. <BR><BR>Bus has to deal with traffic, too; plane costs and puts you out where you have to pay a taxi to go through the same darn traffic; and Amtrak, while more fun and relaxing, can cost a bit.<BR><BR>Have a great trip.

A VERY convenient hotel in Times Square is Comfort Inn Midtown. I have stayed there. They are about $140 a night, can accomodate up to 4 people and have a continental breakfast included. Also you have to try Ellen's Stardust Diner on Broadway. You will love it and so will the girls. THey have singing wait staff. One of the waiters sat down at our table(beside my older sister - 53yrs. old) and sang to her. Luckily I had my camera - took pictures - and now I have a great souvenir to tease her with. Another thing, we took Greyhound up there - from Virginia - It wasn't exactly posh, but it got us there safely and the price was unbelievable! Round trip was $55 each. We were definitely for trying something different. Anyway, we had a great time. My husband and I are going to NYC April 24 for about 5 days and we will be taking Amtrak. I've never taken Amtrak, so I'm looking forward to the experience.

I liked the Comfort Inn Midtown, too. The only reason that I didn't recomend it here was that I didn't realize that they had rooms that could accommodate 4. I did see a rollaway oging down the hall at one point. <BR><BR>The hotel is recently-renovated, on a relatively quiet block full of restaurants just around the corner from Times Square hustle-bustle (literally around the corner from the Tourist Center), the continental breakfast is above average, the staff are pleasant and competent, and it's apparently the only entirely nonsmoking hotel in all of Manhattan (which is why I chose it rather than using Priceline).

As much as I love Amtrak, I usually drive to New York from Boston because it's cheaper, especially if their are 3 of you. Call the hotel you are planning to stay at and ask what their parking arrangements are. Overnight parking can range from 20 to 40 dollars. I once saw a Helmsley hotel offering free parking in the rate.

By the way -phone number to Comfort Inn Midtown is 212-221-2600. Be sure to ask for their best rate.

Be aware that Times Sq. area hotels tend to be noisy.<BR><BR>Re:driving -- I don't think people who either live in NYC or who go there all the time have any idea how intimidating it is for first-timer drivers.<BR><BR>Cpeicott may be used to the insanity of driving in Boston, but if you are unfamiliar with NYC, it's at least as daunting. Although there's at least some logic to the NY streets (unlike Boston), what's hardest for the newbies are the various approaches, taken at break-neck speed. If you are used to getting in and out of NY and know exactly where you're going to park, it's one thing. But if you've never done it and have no need for a car once you are in Manhattan, why take on the added headache, esp. for a short visit?