who can assist with advising of hotels in NYC best close to Time Square that accomodates 5 persons.

In one room? There are very few, if any, that will accommodate 5 in one room. You'll likely have to look at suites or apartment hotels, such as the Affinia chain:

http://www.affinia.com/Hotels.aspx

Most hotels in the city won't be able to accomodate 5 in the room, so the earlier suggestion is a good one. Also ALOT of the hotels in the city the rooms are "small"

The Doubletree and Embassy are both suites hotels so you might start there, also check The Ace, they have add on rooms that have bunk beds, so a little more room and 2 bathrooms, always helpful with 5.

Have GREAT time while you are here.

A regular room will not hold 5 people - it's against the fire laws - and most rooms are WAY too small, many having just one double bed. You will need either a suite or two rooms (the latter is often cheaper). The Affinia hotels are well-regarded and moderately priced - and have a large variety of different room types. At a lower price point you can try the Radio City Apartment (but they sell out far in advance for that reason.) You might also look at the Beacon on the upper west side.

If the group can easily break into 2 rooms (that is, not several very small kids) I would look for 2 rooms at the discount web sites. Also, IMHO Times Square is not the best place to get hotel bargains - or in fact a very pleasant place to stay - unless you like frantic, bright and very loud.

Any suite hotel will handle 5 people but there aren't a lot of them in/near Times Square. The Doubletree Guest Suites is in TS. Radiocityapartments.com is not far from TS and has 1 & 2 bedroom suites, but only 1 bathroom. The Affinia Manhattan is due south near Penn station and has both 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom/2bath suites. The Eastgate Tower, one of the Affinias also has 1 & 2/2 bedroom suites that are very large and usually relatively affordable. Affinia also now owns or runs the Buckingham, about 10 blocks north of Times Square. Nycsalisbury.com is another option-very dated but large suites.

There are quite a few suite hotels in midtown east-due east of Times Square- like the Kimberly, the Best Western Hospitality, the Alex, the San Carlos and Affinia's Shelburne Murray Hill and Affinia Dumont.

thank you

all great starting points; will research; yes 3 kids.

have great weekend

We stayed at the Affinia 50 in May with three grandkids. Had a bedroom with two beds and a living room with pull-out couch, kitchen and good sized bathroom. Kids loved it- and it was close to many good restaurants and walking distance to most everything we did, with exception of the Metropolitan museum. Very clean, friendly hotel for families. Our friends stay at the Radio City Apts. and they love them. Good luck and have fun.

mcLaurie, I have a reservation at the Salisbury for 2 of us for October for $309. If it is dated, can you suggest anything else in as good an area, that is not a shoebox for the same price? Thanks.

Since you want to be around Times Square, I think the Doubletree fits the bill. They have suites with a bedroom that has either a King bed or 2 doubles and a living room/ kitchen area with a pull out sofa. We stayed there many times in our "early NYC days" with our 2 children, and were very comfortable. I liked that we could put the kids to bed in the BR, shut the door, and still have the pull out couch for us with the kitchen, etc. We have stayed at the Affinia properties and have always liked them as well, especially as we no longer want to be in the TS area. But if you want the TS experience, the Doubletree is for you!

ita, prices fluctuate so greatly. Blakelyhotelny.com is much nicer but probably more money. I think the trick is to find a "deal". Have a look at either the Millenium Broadway or the Millenium UN Plaza and try using the discount code PPC.

mcLaurie, the Blakely is much more money. the Millenium Broadway is booked and I don't like the location of the other one. I prefer the area of the Salisbury and the Blakely-close but not in Time Square. Any other suggestions and how to get a deal?

Look around at rates for the NY Hilton and the Warwick (kayak.com, hotels.com, quikbook.com, oyster.com), both in that general area. The Buckingham is another possibility that has some renovated rooms that are a bit nicer than the Salisbury.

I add my vote for the Blakely, as we stayed there just over a year ago. Great location and can hold five. Very nice, but yes, it is expensive. I'd be surprised if the Doubletree is much less though.