I promise I will do a serch but hopefully you can get me started. Our family of six, planning a New York visit either August or September. We will be there for 3 nights. We want a Broadway show that will be entertaining for children and adults. We want a hotel within walking distance to Central Park and theatre's. I want to bid on priceline for 2 rooms, ( if our other children come, can I get three rooms?) what area should I bid on? Thanks in advance, it has been years since we've to New York.

Bid on Upper Midtown.

The Salisbury Hotel on West 57th has a two bedroom apartment that would fit your family and is two blocks from Central Park and a two minute walk to Times Square. The two bedroom unit has two full bathrooms.

King in the master, two queens in the second bedroom and a queen sofabed in the living room. Also has a kitchenette.

Forgot to add that the Salisbury doesn't do priceline but I'd look at the price vs. three rooms on priceline.

August will be about 25% cheaper than September.

Can't help with specific hotels, but you should be very wary of using Priceline for your group. Hotel rooms here are SMALL and may have fire and other code restrictions that do not allow more than 2 people per room--even if the people are small children. For 6 people, you would have to bid on 3 rooms off the bat, let alone if you add other people. Priceline (and the individual hotels) will likely NOT sympathize with the argument that some of your fellow travelers are children. When you use Priceline you agree to the terms that say "2 people per room" and you may get a very unpleasant surprise when you have to pay (at rack rates, even) for an extra room. You will probably be better off with some options for hotel suites or apartments that my fellow Fodorites can suggest!

Thanks! Is it possible to get an apartment for 3 days?

Broadway show- Wicked, Hairspray, the Lion King.

Hotel- few hotels will allow 6 to a room unless it's a large suite or 1 or 2 of the kids are infants. Suite hotels that fit the geographic description you give besides the Salisbury are the Buckingham (some rooms good others not), Carnegie Suites (pricey and some rooms noisy), the Blakely or the Rihga Royal (in August, by Sept. it will reopen as the London New York and be very expensive).

The Doubletree Suites Times Square is a very popular family hotel but not sure they have rooms for 6 and it's close to theaters but about 10 blocks to Central Park.

If you bid on Priceline, you can only be assured of a room for 2 and no guarantee of more than 1 bed.

It is possible to get apartments but in that area they're not going to be a bargain - and usually they're for 4 people max. It might pay to look though - try those that cater to execs on longer term assignments - which might be less crowded in August and willing to give better prices.

For Priceline the 2 people to a room is absolute - many rooms have 1 queen bed with just room to walk around it - so stuffing in extra people is simply not possible - even if the hotel would allow it (they won;t).

You might try Radio City Apartments or the Affinia group of all suite hotels to see what they have available.

Unfortunately you're looking in the most expensive part of the city - so be prepared for sticker shock.

(Sometimes people get decent prices at the Embassy Suites downtown - but then you would need to subway most places.)

Thanks so much everyone. I forgot that with Priceline I cannot be sure to get double beds so thanks for reminding me. I called the Salisbury and they have four 2 bedroom suites so hopefully one will be available when we decide on a weekend. I will take your advice and go for one in August.

We are seeing Wicked in Cleveland and we've seen Lion King in Chicago so maybe we'll go for Hairspray. Our grnadchildren are 12 and 16. We've never been to threater on Broadway, so what price are we looking at?

Hairspray is often available on discount using a discount code from broadwaybox.com (not the best seats) for about $50. Full price around $100. Given the age of the kids, the Wedding Singer might also be fun and is a newer show. That's also been available on discount.

There are also a number of off Broadway shows that are very popular with families. They include Drumstruck, Blue Man Group, Altar Boyz. These are also often on discount. In addition to broadwaybox, if you register (for free) you can get emails on specials from websites like playbill.com and theatermania.

Here's a page that shows almost every possbile option for getting discount seats.

http://home.nyc.rr.com/frugaltheatergoe/

Those 2 bedroom suites at the Salisbury book up early so I'd decide sooner rather than later. Sept. weather is usually nicer than August, but prices are not.

We loved Spamalot and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Be sure to stop by Sardis for a pre-theater cocktail!

You guys are great. Thanks for the suggestions Little Salty and thanks Mclaurie for the great links!