help - we are 2 adults ('the parents') + 2 15yr old boys (son and friend) staying in New York for about 1 week from 8 Jan - coming from Australia. We are trying to find accommodation with 2 bedrooms and maybe a small kitchen. We want to do the tourist stuff and enjoy the many delights of NY.
Any suggestions on possible accomm?

Radio City Apartments
Affinia Group properties

2 bedroom suites are not that plentiful in NYC so they're pricey. The 2 bedroom suites at Radiocityapartments.com have only 1 bathroom and are $340/night plus tax for your dates. Some of the Affinia.com hotels have 2 bedroom 2 bathroom suites. The Eastgate Tower tends to be the cheapest of them but the 2 bedroom is $368/night plus tax for your dates. Nycsalisbury.com also has 2 bedroom/2 bathroom suites but you generally have to contact them by email or phone for those. Doubletree Guest Suites in Times Square is all 1 bedroom suites but has some 2 bedrooms too (again direct contact for those).

You might consider a 1 bedroom for the adults and have the boys sleep in living room on couch and cot.

Eastgate Tower is probably the best option for what you want, but you just need to be aware of the cost here. Though the costs for these types of properties are consistent with what you might pay for something comparable in Port Douglas or the Gold Coast.

It might be cheaper to get a 1 bedroom suite and put the boys in another room. but it seems to me that hte prices quoted $350 a night or so - for what is essentially a 2 bedroom apartment are already rock bottom due to the time of year.

The Beacon Hotel! Great upper westside location, with a market across the street and subway station on the block. Very nice two bdrm/two bath suite with kitchen, eating area and living room.

You have to call the hotel because it does not show on their website.

I stayed there this past June, and paid just $525/night. Recently remodeled.

We are staying at the Skyline Hotel in Dec.
We have an executive king, but they have suites also.

PS. One bedroom in the Beacon Hotel 2 bdrm suite has two double beds. Perfect for your son and his friend.

Ditto PeaceOut's recommendation of the Beacon. I stayed there with my younger son a couple of years ago in a one-bedroom suite. Loved being on the Upper West Side with The Fairway market across the street and Zabar's, H &H Bagels, and the Levain bakery all within a few blocks. The kitchen facilities made it easy to breakfast in the room. Very easy access to the subway.