I am trying to book as nice a room as possible for as little money as possible... we are a family of 4 so i will book a suite or two rooms. have been bidding on priceline to no avail... have considered hotwire but prices are higher. just found something interesting on lastminutetravel.com but they don't make it easy to ID the hotel and ideally i'd like to know what i'm getting. it is a 3* near times square for $102/nite, so for two rooms for two nights with tax and fees the total is $487 --- much less than any suite i could find.

below is the description they gave.... does this ring a bell with anyone?????
--------------------------

This is a fairly new hotel, which offers the ultimate in convenience for conventioneers. We are also convenient to Penn Station, the Lincoln Tunnel and Madison Square Garden. Time Square and the Theatre District are also within walking distance, as is the famous "Restaurant Row", and various "Off Broadway" theaters. This is also an enclave of diverse, ethnic restaurants located just two blocks away. Whether you are traveling on business or pleasure, come enjoy the charm of New York City. Parking is conveniently located nearby.

Fitness Center Handicapped Room Non Smoking Rooms Self Laundry
Ice Machine Tour Desk Interior Corridors Vending Machine(s)
Multilingual Staff

Isn't there a new Courtyard by Marriott?

Sounds like the new Marriott, which has gotten some good reviews here.

This just a GUESS - please don't hold me to it! Do you think it's the Best Western Convention Center on 38th between 10th and 11th??

This sounds like the Best Western Convention Center

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

Despite the somewhat ok reviews, I wouldn't choose to stay there as it's sort of a no man's land. I'd also be really concerned right now with the bedbug scare going on, cheaper hotels in that area seem to be most at risk. In fact, it could just as easily be the Regency Inn & Suites which was just featured on Dateline NBC as infested with bedbugs. Don't do it! Pay some extra money and stay elsewhere.

I don't know what dates you're traveling or where you live, but contact www.apartments2book.com They have contracts with many of the major suite hotels and get good prices.

Having just returned from the city, my guess is it is in the Hells Kitchen area, from 9th ave to 11th- and I believe mclaurie has it right on target.

I don't think they'd have called the brand new Marriott a "fairly new hotel".

They didn't spell Times Square correctly ("Time Square")?!? hmmm...

Check the affinia hotels website (affinis.com). they have some good special offers and many of their hotels have suites. I had family stay in the Shelburne a couple of years ago (I got spcial offer on a 1 bedroom suite there at that time for $178!) . It was very roomy, and in a good location.

Yup....Best Western Convention Center....read the description on this link...same mispellings and all:

http://www.lastminute.com/site/find/World/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York-City/LMN-Hotel-3417-0-1-TOU00030$v1v$.html

wow. you guys are good!! thanks! i like the rate, however, the bed bugs.... (or even thought of bedbugs) -- sounds like i should pass. thanks for the suggestions of other places.

i have been on affinia's website. i thought the rates were quite a bit higher, but that is probably because my dates are the monday and tuesday after Easter, which is school vacation week. I would think the suite type hotels such as Affinia offers will be selling out to families that week.

so glad I decided to run it by this forum before taking the plunge. Thanks a million.

Lest we start misinformation, there has been NO mention of Best Western Convention and bed bugs. It was the Regency inn & Suites. However, I still think the location of that Best Western is not very good for a family trip.

I URGE you to contact apartments2book as they have several of the Affinia hotels and generally at prices cheaper than directly through the hotel. Their #1 in NYC is the Affinia 50. Eastgate Tower is currently the cheapest of the Affinia hotels. It's #8 on apts 2 book.

hi mclaurie. I am looking at their website. Is is a UK company?? I am very impressed with the quality of the apartments that they show, but am not quite sure how one books... it looks to me that it requires a call to the UK (which is fine but a little more complicated than booking online).

I keep chuckling thinking about the bedbugs (although it really isn't a laughing matter). When we were in NYC in the fall we splurged for a suite in the Towers at the New York Palace.... to go from that to a flea bag hotel in noman's land: it just strikes me as sort of funny.

I think I will try to book the one bedroom suite at the #1 property. looks really nice and is closer to my sister and brother in law (whom we are visiting - they are on Central Park South by Columbus Circle)

Yes, it is a UK company. There's a form to fill out online or they say you can print out the form and fax it to them if you don't want to phone. I've figured out the following hotels, so you can check reviews on tripadvisor

1=Affinia 50
3 probably Kimberly
4-Best Western Hospitality
7=Radio City apts.
8=Eastgate Tower
9=Murray Hill East Suites
11=Beacon

The nicest of these, imo would be 1 and 3. But I'd fax them with your dates and ask them which properties they can offer for your dates for a 1 bedroom suite with 3 beds and see what they say.

hi mclaurie- you wouldn't know what #5 is, would you? it looks quite nice (although their rates aren't posted...).

I checked Affinia's website: Affinia 50 is $399 for my timeframe for a one bedroom. I will let you know what I hear from apartments2book.

I think #5 is the Blakely hotel, formerly known as the Gorham. It did have a complete renovation. Not all rooms there are suites. Very well regarded.

easy come, easy go... the Blakely appears to be booked (at least by trying through their website - not sure if this apartment2book.com would have access to rooms that the general public does not... I wouldn't think so).

I do agree with you that #5 is the Blakely (the bedspread at the foot of the bed gives it away).

Haven't heard back from apartment2book yet.

I think not only could this booking co. have rooms when the hotel itself doesn't, but I think that happens a lot with other booking cos./websites as well. The hotel gives a co. so many rooms that the co. "guarantees." The hotel then sells the remaining rooms. Now as far as the hotel's concerned, all rooms are taken. But the booking co(s) may not have sold on all the rooms they're committed to.

thanks mclaurie... I have no knowledge of how these things work so I am glad to hear that there is a possibility of staying at the Blakely. At this point it is my first choice.

If that doesn't work out, the Affinia 50 is my second choice.

If that doesn't work, I will bid on Priceline again (it seems people are winning the grand hyatt and the barclay for in the $120 per night range... - I'd be happy with that outcome - the only thing that wouldn't make me happy would be to win the NY Sheraton Hotel and Towers, we stayed there before and imo it was one of my worst hotel experiences. the doors to the rooms are paper thin - there were youngsters partying in the hallways til all hours - I felt like I was right out there with them - the noise was so bad - I will only bid on MTS as a last resort).

My last resort is to book two rooms on hotwire... I believe it is the Paramount for $140 per night for each room.