We are a family of 5 with young adult children and hope to be in NYC for New Years Eve. We want to book hotel in Times Square. What hotel would you recommend?

Bellevue.

You should be aware that this is the most expensive night of the year In Times Square. At the Marriott Marquis rooms with a view run $1000 and up.

Also - if you are thinking you can book a hotel there and then just walk out into the crowd (that has been waiting 7 or 8 hours) - it can't be done. Hotels with front doors facing the mobbed, cordoned off areas of Times Square have their front doors locked as soon as the area they're in is filled. And all guests have to enter/exit the hotel using other entrances (away from the areas with a view).

So - you can stay there if you want. But to see the ball drop you still need to be standing waiting in the streets for 7 or 8 hours beforehand - or you have to book dinner/evening at one of the few (very expensive) hotel dining rooms or restaurants with a view.

Book the One Bedroom Apartment at The New York Salisbury Hotel.

Close to Times Square without being in it and the suite is huge.

Queen sleeper sofa in the living room and two queen beds in the bedroom. Massive bathroom and kitchenette.

I wouldn't try to cram five people into a standard hotel room.

Other than that I can't think of a more miserable way to spend New Years Eve.

Sorry - didn;t realize you meant 1 room. Very few NYC rooms will hold 5 people - even if some are kids - never mind 5 adults. You will need either 2 rooms or a suite.

I don't see anywhere that 1powell is trying to fit all 5 people in one room, and I also don't know that he/she is on a tight budget, so why don't we start over?

1powell, so now that you know (or maybe you already knew) that New Year's eve in NY is extremely hectic, and extremely expensive, can you give us other details?
Were you hoping to be part of the festivities in Times Square? As others have pointed out, it's not really enjoyable for anyone over 21
Did you want to go to a fancy dinner/dancing in one of the hotels?How old are the "young adult childen"? If any are under 21, that will limit some options for that night.
You would need 2 or 3 rooms for all of you. How much are you willing to spend? How far away from Times Square are you willing to stay, or do you only want to be "right in the middle of it all"?
Like most people here(at least the New Yorkers), I personally wouldn't want to do this, but if a million people come to NYC, they must be having fun...!

I know that we would not fit all 5 of us into 1 room. Youngest kid is 17. We have all really wanted to be part of the NYE festivities in Times Square for sometime and this year it works out, even though we know that we will have to stand for hours. Any suggestions for hotels near by Times Square? We will have to leave the hotel about 5am to get to JFK and worried that roads might still be closed off. Anyone been to the Muse Hotel?

If I stay overnight in NYC is to see a binge of Shows, so I stay at the Muse because of it's convenient location. Other things it has that I like is room service and a good on-site restaurant.

If you mean that you will be taking an early morning flight on New Year's Day, you'll have no problem getting to the airport. Streets will all be open well before 5 a.m.

First, you do NOT want to stay in Times Square. You want to stay near Penn Station. Close enough to get back quickly but far enough away to be out of the crush. The Salisbury is a fine idea for a hotel; the Affinia Manhattan might have a 1-bedroom suite that could accommodate 5 people. The problem with staying near Times Square is the crowds and costs; totally not worth it. Better to take a short subway ride (or even walk ... 15 minutes down to Penn Station from Times Square) than to deal with the huge numbers of people and mess.

Thanks for help. Anyone been to the Library hotel? From what I can see, most hotels are charging top dollar for that period of time, so might as well stay somewhere really nice.

nytraveler, wasn't it you (and if not, do you remember who it was?) who posted a very descriptive NY/New Year's Eve description a week or two ago? (all about the barricades, etc.) . I think 1powell would benefit from reading that post, but I can't find it. Anyone?

Yes - I've posted it several times - but can;t find it now. Half the time I can;t get the search engine to work.

Just so you know they start closing streets about 3/4 pm as the sidewalks fill in with people. You are then blocked into small penned areas (you can leave but not return) and have to stand until the ball drops and the crowd disperses. You may or may not have a porta potty. You may or may not have a coffee shop. You can bring in water and snacks, but no alcohol - and no large bags or backpacks. You need a strong bladder and to be able to stand the whole time.

Also, as the streets close the corresponding subway stations close (the trains run through without stopping). The blocked off streets spread as people gather and more subway stations are closed.

(All of this is enforced by about 5,000 police with horses and barricades. And since 9/11 security is extra heavy.)

If it's warm (40 or so ) it;s not too bad. If it;'s cold (20's or even teens with sleet or snow) it's very unpleasant.

I did it one when I was 20 and would never consider doing it again. You're much better off having a nice (and less outrageously priced) dinner elsewhere in the city and watching the free fireworks in Central Park (no lines or waiting).

Oh - and if you do leave your pen to try to get back to your hotel you have to go the way the police send you. so a hotel right near Times Square is not a great idea - since major entrances may be blocked and you might have to find a way in through the service area.

Thanks for your suggestions. One only thinks of Times Square for New Years Eve. You mention the fireworks in Central Park - are there other free things going on around New York? Any suggestions for NYE reservations for dinner? Am sure that these will get booked up quite quickly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

My recommendation for NYE dinner would be a low key late lunch somewhere fabulous like Blue Ribbon Bakery.

Reservations for dinner will be set menus and super expensive.

If you get rooms at the Salisbury or Le Parker Meridian (they are across the street from each other) you will be in very close proximity to Central Park (two blocks) and Times Square (six blocks or so).

You can always get a pizza late at Angelos which is next door to the Salisbury or get a burger at The Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridian.

The Cathedral of St. John The Divine usually has a New Years Eve choir thing that is supposed to be very good.