Hi cd,

I've driven OUT of the city. I know you can drive in (and then out). Just get in, park your car and you're set. :-)

I'm not familiar with this hotel but travelbuff (who I respect a lot) has recommended it often. It provides FREE parking - evidently the only hotel in the city to do so.
http://www.thetravelinnhotel.com/

Otherwise, just come in, park your car and use the subway/taxis to get around. Parking will be expensive but you'll do fine coming in and driving out of the city.

You'll love NY! :-)

You'll definitely get more out of a 2 night stay if you get a hotel in Manhattan, and driving in NYC is not difficult, since all you have to do is turn off of I-95 at the exit for either the Holland or the Lincoln tunnel, and follow them into town. Soon as you go through either tunnel, you are in Manhattan, and it's basically like driving around any other downtown area, only bigger. As long as you aren't trying to pinch pennies, just drive straight to your hotel and let them park the car. Then you can walk, take a taxi, or take the subway wherever you want to go. If you are looking to cut costs, there are ways to do it and still be in Manhattan, such as the suggestion by starrs above.

Oh Starrs, The Traveler is great! I cannot believe I got it for 175.00 with free parking!!!!Thank you, thank you, thank you..Only problem is they could only give me 2 nights and I wanted 3 but what a deal!!

Great price and nice area. Tons of good, affordable restaurants on both 10th & 9th Aves between 42nd and 52nd. Congrats!

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement regarding driving I-95 into Manhattan! And bardo1, it's good to know there are tons of restaurants close. Any favorite's?

I have favorites! :-)

You are within a block of two of my favorites.

I probably should ask the standard questions - what's your favorite cuisine, what's your price point, etc. - but two of my very favorites are within a block of your hotel.

For lunch, dinner or after a show -
http://www.westbankcafe.com/menu.html

I'd order from their prix fixe menu
http://www.westbankcafe.com/menu.html


Another favorite has a location in Hell's Kitchen (near your hotel)
http://www.piopio.com/

And our favorite is the Matador Combo -
http://www.piopio.com/pdfs/Pio8Menu.pdf

It's $34 but enough for 2 to 4 people to share
If you look at the pictures shown with the "about" page of the website, it's the spread of food shown on the table with Pio Pio NY in the center.

We don't have Peruvian food at home and it will be among the first places I'll go back to. Well, actually we order it as take out to share at home. But baked chicken, rice and beans, (strange as it sounds) french fries with sliced hot dogs), plantains and avocado salad. Pio Pio is not fancy at all, but (IMO) good food at a good price.

Other Fodorite favorites nearby include
Chez Josephine
Five Napkin Burger
Becco


A few blocks away is the rooftop bar at Ink48 (a Kimpton hotel). I've not been there (yet) but it would be a great place to go at the end of the evening for a drink - and to enjoy the view from Press.

http://www.ink48.com/new-york-dining/index.html

Yummmmmmmmmm We have never had Peruvian food before. I think we'll be there more than once!

cd, my other "must" in NYC is Thai food. I don't have a particular one to recommend near your hotel but this list may be helpful to you -

http://newyork.timeout.com/search/ap...ackage=1590753

You'll find a lot of inexpensive places to eat along 8th and 9th. A lot of the time we eat in the room so we can get a bit of a rest in after a full day of sightseeing and before a Broadway show. That's always an option and most of these places deliver. It's a way to avoid the pre-theatre rush in the restaurants and get a bit of down time before heading out again.

If you plan to see a show, check the discounts at broadwaybox.com.

I've eaten at the Pio Pio location on the Upper East Side and loved it. I was with a big group, we had an enormous amount of food and it could not have been more than $15 pp. Don't miss the chicken!

We recently had a very nice dinner at a fairly new place, much pricier than Pio Pio, though, called La Silhouette, on W. 53rd. It's a small place, divided into small cozy rooms. Service was lovely and the food was very very good. It's pricey, though, about $160 for two without dessert or coffee (we had to run), but with a cocktail. It's not where I'd go for an "everyday meal", but I'd go back for a special occasion.

cd - this is great for figuring out routes between different locations/sites in NYC. You can choose walking, driving (cabs), and public transportation including subway -

http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork

sf - the chicken is what I plan on having!!
starrs, the hopstop is great! I've already printed out Ellis Island and Ground Zero. We love Thai so really appreciate that link!