My mum is turning 60 (a very young 60 BTW) and the trip is my birthday present to her as she has never been to the USA or Europe.
What we are thinking of doing now is having 3 days at the Hotel Beacon and then 2 days in 4 star plus hotel such as NY Palace or The Muse. That way we get to experience 2 different NY locations and it also has the benefit of if we don't like one of the places for whatever reason we know we are not there for too long.

BTW I agree about Times Square - I don't think either of us would enjoy staying right IN that area....

Katec1, glad you are not keen on Times Square ARea. It is not the best place to stay.
NYC is really easy to travel around so you do not really need to do 2 locations.
I visited in December for my 50th birthday with my family and it is a great place to celebrate.
We stayed at Wyman HOuse on the UWS, around the corner from Beacon Hotel. The location was fantastic. Great places to eat and really nice to walk around, and very close to subway and central park.

I wouldn't bother with two locations either. Travel is so easy throughout the city. It's a hassle to pack up, check out, check in, unpack, etc. in my opinion. If not a hassle, it's a time taker-uppper.

Katec1, once you take care of the practicalities of where to stay, you're really going to love planning the rest of your trip!

Agree that staying in 2 places doesn;t really make sense. You can easily get to know a bunch of neighborhoods by visiting them - you don;t have to live there. And packing up, checking out, trekking to the new hotel and the reverse will take several hours out of your limited time hear.

I would just pick one and go with it. Since you wanted a 5* that's probably the direction I would go in - although I don;t kow enough about the Palace recently to know i f you would be happy there - not saying you won;t - I just don;t know personally.

I won't get into a debate with NYers regarding their transportation system. I will only say this; the official web site is the MTA (Metro Transit Authority) and most tourist book maps that feature the location of entrances are marked with an M --- as are many of the entrances themselves. It's this taking people to task for using a term that a native wouldn't use that makes some travelers nervous about interacting with locals. Personally, I've never been met with a "blank stare" from any NYer when I've asked for assistance. I respectfully suggest the mood on this board could lighten up since it is ,in a way, the first introduction to NY residents that many travelers get.

kate, I haven't read all of this thread but I will speak up to say if you want to switch hotels during your stay, go ahead and do it. I've done it often when switching from my business hotel to a hotel for the "play" part of my stay and it's not much of a hassle at all. Pack up, call a cab, go to the next hotel and check your bags if your room is not ready and keep on going. I've never "lost" more than an hour switching hotels and that hour is not lost if I was headed to that part of the city anyway.

On one visit to NYC I stayed at the LaQuinta for free on points and then moved to the Hilton on 6th to a room I got on Priceline. Do it. It's not a problem at all.

I'm often a dissenting voice on here regarding staying in the Times Square area. I love it. I'd hate being right on the busiest streets, but there's a lot I like to see and do near Times Square (mainly shows) and I love being in the area. I also like that it's in MIDtown so takes less time to travel north or south via the subway. I stay (for free) in the UWS and although I love the area and the apartment it DOES add a lot of travel time to go to other areas of the city. I've stayed in many areas of the city and agree that each may have their pluses, for a pure tourist trip in NYC I think the Times Square area can't be beat - especially during the hottest and coldest days of the year. I've been to Alaska (twice) in the winter and live in the humid south but NYC in winter is the coldest I've ever felt and a subway platform in summer is the hottest, most stifling place I've ever been.

I loved the Muse. LOVED it. I'm a big fan of the Kimpton boutique hotels and really enjoyed the location and vibe of the Muse. We stayed in a king room on the last visit and it was not tiny. The Priceline room I got at the Hilton WAS tiny. I'd stayed there a lot in king and two bedded rooms and was surprised that there was a room that small at that huge conference hotel.

I agree with TC about some of the comments on this board by the locals. Thankfully I have a thick skin and pretty much ignore the barbed comments directed towards those considered yahoos because they live in horrible areas like the south, midwest or boorish areas outside of The City. In any case, I've found ellenem's advice always spot-on and have had the treat of actually spending time with her in the city. Take the good advice and don't worry about the rest.

I've found locals to be very helpful as well. Enjoy your visit. It's a fabulous city!

Yes, the Metropolitan Transit Authority website includes subways, but also local buses, commuter rail lines, and bridges and tunnels. Many people who visit NYC are nervous about visiting an unfamiliar city and especially about using public transportation. I hope my contributions on this forum give clear, accurate descriptions of what visitors can expect to encounter while in NYC.

Clarifying a series of incorrect statements for the benefit of first time visitors could hardly be considered 'taking one to task.'

Nobody was assessing where the information came from, simply assessing the information given.

kate: Re. your budget: Your choice of hotel shouldn't be limited to the few suggested here. Even in October, you should be able to get exactly what you want for $500.00 a night. Nobody suggested the Carlton or the Sofitel, but they're both options (with others of their type) to be considered.

"Clarifying a series of incorrect statements for the benefit of first time visitors could hardly be considered 'taking one to task"

I've read more of this thread. IMO there's a lot of "incorrect statements" that needed "clarifying" ;)

lol. I know exactly what you mean. I noticed them too....

I was referring to the (incorrect based on my experiences) comment about the "small rooms" at the Muse.

No, my assessment and Neo-patrick's assessment of the room size at the Muse are correct:

NeoPatrick wrote (and I concur):

<< TC, you must have been dramatically upgraded at the Muse or else paid for a much more deluxe than standard room. The room we had had a queen bed against one wall and not much other space. The tiny closet held an ironing board and there was almost room to hang up two coats but nothing else. The bath was tiny with a single pedestal sink and NO place to put out toiletries. There was a TV in a cabinet facing the bed, but you couldn't see it if you wanted to sit in the only chair in the room -- you'd have to lay on the bed to see it.>>

He and I must have been unlucky.

I was referring to this:

<< I've stayed in many areas of the city and agree that each may have their pluses, for a pure tourist trip in NYC I think the Times Square area can't be beat - especially during the hottest and coldest days of the year.>>

Cheers.

"He and I must have been unlucky."

Evidently so.

We have different experiences and opinions. I have visited the city - and taken the foodofny.com original Walking and Tasting tour of Greenwich Village when the temps were in single digits. I've walked from the 90s in the UWS to CPS in triple digits. I love the city, but IMO it's one of the coldest places ever when the icy wind is being funneled between the tall building - colder than Fairbanks in February. IMO a subway platform in summer is the most stifling place I've ever been - much hotter than any southern or Caribbean place I've visited.

The OP is visiting in fall so extreme temps would be an issue. I still like the Times Square area for a great vacation in the city. I like staying in neighborhoods for other reasons but for proximity to things most tourists like to see/do without requiring use of the subway/metro/other public transportation, the Times Square area works well. I especially like the Muse, the Hampton Inn North and the Hilton Garden Inn.

Those are my opinions. Your opinions and experiences may be different. That doesn't make me - or others on this thread wrong though.

So "lol" back at ya ;)

BTW, Neo and I do agree on the apartments at WWP. He and Lee enjoyed staying there for long visits and I enjoyed staying there when my friend lived there - before moving to the UWS. If I were LIVING in the city, I'd choose outside of Times Square. As a visitor, it's still my favorite place to stay. I have another friend who could literally live anywhere he wants, and he lives overlooking the old Studio 54. He never goes to Broadway shows but loves being in the middle of the museums, restaurants, etc. He loves the quiet when he comes to visit us yahoos out in the boonies, but will probably never move because he loves it so. Different strokes for different folks.

"The OP is visiting in fall so extreme temps <s>would</s> won't be an issue."

starrs: Don't panic. Carry on.

I have reserved The Beacon for a June trip with some girlfriends. We have the 2bdrm/2bath suite reserved. It sounds like a great location for us, and the price is $525.

I am a bit concerned that some say the Beacon is not in the same class as others. What does that mean? Will we be happy with it?

btw: There aren't any decent restaurants, shops, museums, or galleries of note in Times Square. One of the best subway stations is in the area though, very convenient to get one's self out of the commercialized hell that is Times Square. A walk through Times Square to see all the pretty lights is a one off; no reason to actually Stay in the mess. In my opinion.

Cheers.

The Beacon is a great choice. The rooms and suites are newly remodeled and the area is fantastic. It isn't a 5* but it's a nice hotel. I haven't read a bad review of The Beacon anywhere.