My husband and I, not young, are hoping to stay in New York for 8 days in Fall next year. We would really appreciate suggestions on a comfortable hotel, preferably in an area with charm and cafés and close to the main museums. Not too far from Central park would be a bonus. I have looked at some maps but local knowledge would be an enormous help. Bed and breakfasts would also be fine if such a thing is available in NY.

Forgot to say, our budget would be around $US 200 a night.

Generally, visitors know a lot more about hotels than NY'ers. We put a guest here or there but for the most part it is visitors who have the actual experience.

Additionally there are are relatively few B & B's in New York. It is basially a hotel city even though there are more than there used to be.

I think you'll have a hard time finding a decent hotel in any location in Manhattan in the fall for $200/night, let alone in the very expensive area known as the upper east side where the bulk of the museums are located. Hotel prices fluctuate by date. Unfortunately the fall (any time after Labor Day which is Sept. 7 this year) is a busy and highly desireable time to visit so hotel prices high. If your dates are flexible, you might do better coming late August or that first week in Sept.

The upper east side hotels like the Mark, the Carlyle, the Wales and the newly renovated Surrey are very expensive . The Franklin is one of the more affordable ones, but their rooms are pretty small and I don't think prices there are great either. There is a Hampton Inn Upper East Side and an apartment hotel called the Marmara in the area, but these are so far east, it becomes a very long walk and not particularly convenient. You should start getting used to using maps.google.com which is a great source for distances, directions, and even finding hotels. For example, if you map a museum like the Metropolitan and then use the "search nearby" function for hotels, you'll see what's around.

There are a number of b & b's and more affordable hotels on the upper west side--directly across Central Park, where you'll find the Mus. of Natural History and from which you can take a crosstown bus or walk through the park to get to the east side and be closer. Hotels are Milburnhotel.com, Beaconhotel.com, Excelsiorhotelny.com, http://www.thelucernehotel.com/, Ontheave-ny.com There's also a Comfort Inn Upper West Side but the rooms there are really TINY and while the location is good, the place is just not comfortable for 2 people together imo.

B & B's (most of which require walking up stairs)in NYC are really more like apartments in a small building, most not actually providing breakfast. They include
Jacksbandb.com
Countryinnthecity.com
www.wymanhouse.com
innnewyorkcity.com

1871house.com is a nice b & b on the east side but it's pricey. The Affinia Gardens is a hotel you might consider on the edge of midtown east and the UES.

I think overall the Milburn may be your best bet. Their rooms are like small apartments with a small kitchenette and they include a light breakfast in the room rate. It looks like rates almost any time in Sept. will be within or close to your budget. Remember hotel tax will add ~ 15% to the prices on most websites.

First of all there is no "museum district". Granted Fifth Ave from about 100 down for about amile and a half has a bunhc - bt there are many museusm - many of them major ones - in other parts of the city.

$200 will be esp difficult inthat neighborhood -- and in fact difficult anyplace in NY in the fall. (The NY Times just had an article about affordable boutiquehotels - $200 to $250 per night - but not in high season when you would be going).

You would do better on the upper west side which has more modst places - but even then that rate will be difficult. Check now to see if any of the hotels in that area are offering internet specials if you pay in advance. A couple were but perhaps not in that time frame or alredy gone.

Other than that look at travelzoo.com, kayak or other discount sites to see what is available for your dtes. And look at the entire city - with your budget you can;t afford to limit yourself to the most expesnie neighborhood.

I'd suggest trying priceline and see what you can do for your dates of travel.

Just about anywhere you stay in Manhattan will be accessable to the museums, as they are on or close to subway and bus stops. If you stayed on the west side, you would also have the cross town buses to the 5th Ave museums.

You won't find anything close to your budget in hotels near 5th Ave that is our "high rent" area of the city generally, and the hotels there are expensive to VERY expensive.

Also try some of the other booking sites like www.hotels.com and www.hotwire.com to see what hotel rates are for your dates, that will give you an idea of the price changes based on seasonal demand.

Fall is the high season here, still lots of tourists and the weather is still great.

There are a couple of B&B's I can recommend, although not close to museums, both are close to the subway. They are both in my area and I have toured both. The Harlem Landmark Inn is on W 147th St and very nice, includes breakfast and the rooms are nicely done and large.

The other is the Sugar Hill on W 153rd St between St. Nicholas and Amsterdam. Also cute and nicely done and the rooms are large.

Both B&Bs are located on National Landmark streets and are within a ocuple of blocks to the subway A line so you can be midtown in 15 minutes or so.

There are several grocery stores and delis closeby so creature comforts are easily had.

The other hotel I toured recently was the Ace Hotel, and I think you can get room there for close to your budget. The Ace is located midtown on W 29th and 6th AVe. It is close to transportation (subway and bus) and close to shopping and a few restaurants. (www.acehotel.com)

Hope this helps a bit.

Rates vary so significantly from day to day at NYC hotels that it's tough to recommend anything even with a clear budget range. Look at www.betterbidding.com and learn about using Priceline and Hotwire. I got a great Twitter/Facebook special at the Roosevelt Hotel, in midtown Manhattan, so sign up with them on Facebook and Twitter. Look at www.hotelscombined.com to get an idea for your actual dates, of what the cheapest rates are.

Most likely with Priceline you can get a hotel under your rate, but it can't be guaranteed if you are choosing really popular dates.

The other issue with Priceline is the number of nights. Few hotels offer stays that long - although you could probably get 2 bids for 4 nights each. But - you need to understand the bidding process and the risks involved - since once you bid the money is gone - even if you hate the hotel.

Thanks so much for all your really helpful replies. I think I may have to up my price a little after reading these. Mclaurie we especially appreciate the thought and effort you have put into helping us find the right place. But really appreciate the advice from you all. Will be following them up. Thank you.

Try: Gracie Inn - 502 E. 81 St. Heart of the Upper East Side and a short bus ride to Central Park and the 5th Ave. museums.Check their web site: gracieinnhotel.com