We're visiting New York City in early December. My in-laws will be along. My mother-in-law insists we should stay on Times Square at the Marriott Marquis. Only place she's stayed in the city. The only time my hubby and I were in NY was six years ago, and we stayed at the Plaza then. I'm not into touristy schtick and prefer to find off-the-beaten path places that allow you to see more than something canned; she's all about the glitz. I'm looking for hotel suggestions. The kids are 11, 10 and 5.

The Embassy Suites, near Wall Street, is good for kids. It's a great price, too. The location is close to Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. We walked from there all around Greenwich Village, SoHo, etc. Took a cab uptown.

You will have a bedroom with two queen beds, plus a front room with a pullout sofa. Also a small bar sink, and refrigerator. Maybe a microwave, but I don't remember. Two TVs, which is great when there are kids along.

Best of all is the breakfast included-- a hot and cold breakfast buffet, including an omelet station, etc.
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I would instead get a suite at Le Parker Meridian.

It is a stones throw from Times Square but has suites large enough to give you and your husband some privacy from the kids.

The higher rooms also have views of Central Park.

I think the Marriott Marquis might put your kids on sensory overload.

It is a very very busy convention hotel with a Times Square Theater inside the hotel.

Any suite hotel is a great idea with kids. While I think the Embassy Suites is wonderful, it's not a great location for a Xmas visit as it's not only far from the typical midtown Xmas stuff (Radio City, Rock. Ctr., store windows) it also is pretty cold and windy down there right near the river.

The affinia.com hotels are some of the nicest suite hotels in the city. Their Benjamin or the Affinia Gardens are probably the nicest of the group. I'll warn you early Dec. is outrageously expensive for hotels now. If MIL insists on Times Square, the Doubletree Guest Suites is one option.
The Blakely is also a small hotel within a walk of Times Square but out of the fray. They have some 1 bedroom suites. The reviews on tripadvisor haven't been as glowing recently, but it's well located.

Do you know the Plaza should be re-open by the time you visit?

With kids I would tend to stay on the upper west side. You're right near Central Park and the Museum of Natural History - giving the kids a lot of things to see/do - and on days with warmer weather some running around time in the park. Plus there are tons of good family friendly restaurants and good subway service to the rest of the city (just 10 minutes to Times Square).

Frankly I think this trumps your MILs desire for glitz (it should be easier to reason with her than with 3 kids). Point out that she'll be only a block from the multi-million dollar co-ops on Central Park West - and all of the actors, authors, TV people that live there.

Check out the Lucerne or On the Ave for someplace pleasant but still fairly reasonable.

Great idea mclaurie!

The Plaza isn't taking online reservations until January of 2008 but they should be open by December 1st for the soft opening. No hotels open without a soft opening.

I'd call just to see what they have.

I punched in random January weekday rates for The Plaza and they start at $755 per night.

I guess I'll just have to stick to the Oak Bar!

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! Will let you know what we decide. We're going to try for Wicked tickets for Sat. matinee. What's the best way to get them?

What do you think of the Herald Square Hotel? Seems reasonably priced.

It is reasonably priced (for a reason). It's fine for a budget hotel, but it ain't the Marriott let alone the Plaza. I don't think MIL would like it at ALL. While I recommend it as a good budget option, a friend who's not high maintenance stayed there and hated it.

All of these hotel suggestions are good ones, and any of these places would be better than the Marriott Marquis. I strongly second the idea that you absolutely have to get out of the immediate crush of Times Square. Affinia properties are mostly in the neighborhood where I live, and it's a good place (close to everything but not nearly as crowded as midtown).

The only way to get Wicked tickets for December is to buy them for full price. Try Telecharge.com. If there are no tickets available, then you have to go to a broker and pay a huge fee, and only you can decide if it's worth 200 bucks a pop to make your kids happy. Tween girls are enjoying Legally Blonde just as much, and it's a much easier ticket (discounted sometimes).

UPDATE: We got back last night from NYC. We ended up staying at the Residence Inn in East Rutherford, N.J. Couldn't find an affordable room this time of year in Manhattan that could accommodate all our needs: three kids, two older adults, hubby and myself. I was disappointed at first, but it turned out super.

An express bus to the Port Authority terminal picks up right in front of the Residence Inn. Roundtrip fare for an adult was $3.40, and the trip into the city averaged 20 minutes. The hotel had a pool, which was great for the kids.

Next time we go, if we go at a less popular time, we intend to try some of the recommendations found here. Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. But this worked out well for our particular situation at this time. I can highly recommend the Residence Inn, and it was especially convenient to the Newark airport, which we flew into and left from.

Happy holidays!!

Glad the hotel worked out! What did you see/do and what did you like the best?

The trip into the city averages 20 mins? That's amazing at this time of year. How often did the buses run? How did going back work? Would be really helpful for others to know about this hotel if it's a good commute.

Sorry I'm just now replying; it was a crazy December!

Going back to the hotel from the Port Authority was no problem. The buses run late, and the longest we waited at the gate was maybe 20 minutes. Only stood up one time, and that on a Saturday morning. I don't think as many buses run on weekends.

Here's what we did while in the Big Apple. Keep in mind, we had kids who'd never been and in-laws who are in their mid-60s (but they are veteran travelers.)

We toured NBC Studios, saw a little of the Today show, walked up and down Fifth Avenue to see the Christmas windows, ate at Island Burgers, took a Grey Line City Lights tour (sat on top and froze to death, but it was worth it,) went to the Museum of Natural History, saw Wicked, walked around Times Square, went to Macy's and saw Santa, walked into Central Park, tried to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park but lines were too long, ate a slice of pizza in a little deli in Times Square.

It was a lot of fun, and the weather was great. Had we traveled one day later either going or leaving, we would have had bad weather getting out of our home airport.

Thanks, again, for all your suggestions.

"we waited at the gate was maybe 20 minutes"-- so the entire one-way trip took how long?
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With the 20 minute wait, I'd say 30-40 minutes from Port Authority to the stop in East Rutherford. It's one of the first stops.

Thank you.
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Thanks for the recomendation on the E. Rutherford NJ Residence Inn... I have never thought about staying outside of Manhattan but the prices for hotels have really skyrocketed in the past few years.