I would highly recommend the Upper West Side. You'd get a feel for "neighborhood" New York and have easy access to the subway as well. I love the Beacon Hotel, which just completed a remodel. Big rooms and right on Broadway and 75th street, not far from a subway stop and always easy to flag a cab. Has a great venue next door (Beacon Theatre), a grocery across the street and a handly liquor store. There are restaurants in the area, or you can order in, because every room has a kitchenette.

E 93rd b/t 5th and Madison is a very desirable residential neighborhood called "Carnegie Hill." It is where Woody Allen lives (lived?), along with many other celebs. There are a number of nice, quaint, neighborhood restaurants in the area and lots of the city's finest private schools are there. For restaurants, I like Bistro du Nord, Sarabeth's, Jackson Hole and Yura & Co.

The area north of 96th street becomes immediately less nice due to Mt. Sinai hospital and several housing projects, but south of 96th streets is fine.

Are you looking at the Hotel Wales? It is nice, although some of the rooms are quite small. The linens are nice, though, and it is clean and charming. My husband stayed there twice when I was delivering my daughters at nearby Mt. Sinai.

thanks to the last two posters... good things to consider.

we chose the location that we did because of economy. we were able to book an apartment suite with a jacuzzi tub for only $165/night.

i hope we can find "reasonable" access to the subway from there!

For me, I take out a map and highlight those places we're planning to visit (theaters, restaurants, etc.), then set about shopping for a hotel.

With theater tickets, we like to stay within walking distance of the theaters. It seems taxis are nearly impossible to find at theater time, dinner time, when it's raining, hot, etc.

NYC is easy to navigate with the numbered streets and avenues. The long blocks (along Streets) run east/west and are about three times as long as the short blocks (along Avenues) run north/south. Three long blocks or nine short blocks equal about 1/2 mile, or about ten minutes walking.

The more "recreational" activities like museums, shopping, scenery (Central Park...) are easily reached with public transportation.

We get a MetroCard (for $10, you receive $12 worth of rides, etc.) which we can both use on the subway or buses (we love the buses). If we wind up quite a ways from the hotel, or the subway/buses are awkward or require transfers, we often just grab a taxi back to the hotel. There are fabulous subway/bus maps you can download, crop, print, then fold up and carry in your pocket, at the NYC transit website (with most of the sights and attractions on them).

Our favorite place to stay is on 44th between 5th and 6th. A very quiet block. Times Square (and the theater district) is just steps (but seems a world) away with all the Fifth Ave shopping in the other direction. We love the Algonquin and the Sofitel, both in that block, but there are several other good choices as well.

Don't often spend a bunch on hotels, but have been to NYC 3 times now. Would not stay anywhere but Marriott Marquis.

In Times Square, close to many things. Well worth the splurge...

We are going in at Christmas and are staying at the NY Palace. It is is in the Midtown East section, right across from St. Patrick's and steps away from Saks, etc. It is supposedly lovely and in a very convenient area. Check it out :-)

Lynnejoel, there are a few people who have stayed at the b and b on 93rd & Madison. I think you might find some info if you search for staythenight.com here. Rickus is one poster who used it. He said it didn't look as good as the website but that's all I remember. It's convenient to many of the museums.

Here are some other threads about it
a brief review
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34420220

Lots of info
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34474664

how nice of you mclaurie!! thank you!