I have been so pleased staying at the Residence Inn Times Square. The rooms, with a kitchenette (sink, microwave, refrigerator) and a pull out sofa are spacious and clean. I love the location, quiet enough because it isn't right in Times Square but close to it and to Herald Square. There is also nice park close by. And... they have a huge complimentary breakfast buffet. Even if you don't eat it every day, it will save you a bundle and is so easy and convenient.

kate, if you are considering hotels like the Hampton Inn and Residence Inn do take a look at the almost brand new Staybridge Suites Times Square -
http://www.staytimessquare.com/defau..._on_us&rp=home

It's at 40th and 8th and offers free breakfast, afternoon reception, internet, business center,etc. The rooms have kitchens too.

Bwino stayed there for almost a month in December and loved it. I stay at one in Savannah and it's my new favorite hotel in Savannah. The rooms are nice, the beds are great AND they offer things that other hotels charge for free of charge.

From bwino - http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mes-square.cfm

LOL sf7307, I just thought I'd mention a place that day trippers to NY might recognize.

Some of the best food I've had anywhere has been within walking distance of The Muse on 46th. I love Victor's for Cuban, Toloache for margaritas and guacamole, Joe Allen's has the best meatloaf in the world, Pomaire on Restaurant Row has very interesting Chilean food, even Dervish on 47th has a really tasty Turkish menu-- none may be well known, but the food is outstanding.

I think people who only spend a day in NY don't always have the time to seek out the small, interesting places unless it's right in their path.

I'll leave LeBernadin to others. I'm a Shake Shack fan. I hardly ever 'make a day trip' into the city; lately my trips are nearly always for at least 2 nights. Cheers! :)

The giant M stand for the Metropolitan Transit Authority - which includes the subways, the buses, the LIRR and Metro North (which is also not called the Metro - but the train). Any actual New Yorker would know this. Also the station entrances are also marked with the letter or number of the train. Is it called the Metro A or the Metro 6? You can say anything you want - but to communicate to others you need to say "subway".

As for restaurants - there are several excellent and some good ones near Times Square. there are also a host of absolutely dreadful places - including a bunch of the same awful places you will find at the local mall - but at much higher prices. There are good places to eat all over the city - but Times Square has more than it's share of the truly awful. As for going anywhere for mac and cheese - I don;t get it. hated it as a child and wouldn;t touch it now - like eating yellow glue.

And I'm not sure why we're recommending 3* basic chain places to someone who started out really wanting a 5*. Naturally, one can change one's mind - but some of this thread appears to have gotten off track.

Okay, here's an idea. It's where my mom and I first stayed shortly after Trump renovated his first hotel -

http://www.grandnewyork.hyatt.com/hy...tels/index.jsp

The Grand Hyatt - next to Grand Central

Opulent. Rooms are pretty big. Not in Times Square (although I prefer Times Square).

IF you mom is 62 you can get the Senior Rate. That drops it from just under $500/night to $383/night.

Take a look at it.

Kate, check another Kimpton hotel - the 70 Park Avenue.
The senior rates there for the dates I checked in October are $359 for two queen beds. The senior rate is for age 55 and over.

http://www.kimptonhotels.com/hotels/...otel-new-york/

Now, 70 Park Avenue is a really interesting suggestion. We were there for a conference last year and a block of rooms was reserved for attendees. The rooms are small. The bathrooms are tiny. They've put up a mirrored wall adjacent to the toilet to try to make the room seem bigger, but for whom? Well, for you, of course, sitting on the john! Odd and just a bad design choice. The rooms are showing signs of wear. The drawer of the nightstand has 'toys' you can purchase but those were dated too. I think this is the hotel that'll leave a brownie on the pillow at bedtime, but that might have been at Gild Hall. All these 3 stars are starting to blur together.

There's an old school, red sauce Italian restaurant nearly across the street from the hotel on the corner of 38th and Park: Rossini's. You can get a decent bowl of pasta and a nice glass of Chianti in the rather cozy bar area of this restaurant. The bartender is a good friend. Tell him Bowsprit sent you. Avoid the hotel restaurant. It served a terrible breakfast that was very expensive.

Cheers!

Hint for those booking 70 Park - join the Kimpton "In Touch" program. It is free and entitles you to free WiFi, a larger/nicer room and morning newspaper. The program is free to join: sign up first then make your reservation so you can attach the Kimpton # to your res. They also have a nice coffee service for all guests in the lobby each morning, coffee, flavored syrups, tea selection etc. And all guests can also attend the complimentary wine reception each evening. The hotel also often runs a program called "Breakfast for $1" where for an extra $1 you can help yourself to the continental breakfast of juice, fruit, bagels, toast, cereals, hard boiled eggs, pastries, yogurt and granola. Hot cooked items are extra. The service in the Silver Leaf Tavern is very attentive in the morning and you will not wait more than a minute for a coffee re-fill! We spent 5 nights there in August, the queen-deluxe room on the 17th floor was fine as was the size of the bathroom - plenty of space. Watch their website, I booked for under $150 last summer but the rates changed frequently

If you stay at the Hyatt join their Passport Program and enjoy complimentary Starbucks coffee in the lobby each morning, you be assigned a "passport" room that is usually larger, and you'll receive a complimentary newspaper each morning. They also have some of the fastest elevators in the city!

Neither hotel is a 5-star, but both offer a comfortable stay. You would probably get more personal attention at 70 Park as it is smaller, and I have found the rooms are better sound-proofed than the Hyatt.

Added note: the room I booked last summer had 1 queen bed, so your rate would higher for 2 beds.

Margo_Chester: Kimpton's 'In-Touch Program' and $1.00 breakfast deal sound like a very good idea.

The Muse is discounted on your nights of stay at www.expedia.com

Also on expedia, two double beds at NY Hilton is $275 and at the New York Helmsley $350

HI Kate, I had the exact same delima for our trip to NYC in November/December last year, we really wanted an apartment and searched for ages on that front then found out it was illegal and decided we had to go for a hotel. As starrs said, we ended up at the Staybridge Suites in Times Square. The hotel is new, or newly renovated, and is really lovely and less than your budget. The room has a full size fridge, two burner hot plate, microwave, coffee maker and all the kitchenware to self cater or heat take aways you are likely to need. Very comfortable bed with good quality linen, plenty of towels, flat screen TV and all very modern, clean and fresh.

We went for a view room on one of the higher floors and had no street noise at all. Would highly recommend this hotel, location was great for going anywhere in Manhattan. Breakfast is included in the rate, cereals, fruit, yohurt, pastries, plus eggs and bacon / sasuages etc, served buffet style. The breakfast area can get crowded but they provide take away containers as well so you can take to your room or head out for your day of activities with your breakfast.