Happy New Year to everyone,
I am a Chinese Malaysian and will be visiting New York for the first time with a friend in early Feb for a week of holiday. I have shortlisted the following hotels with the US$100-150 rate.My preference of location is busy/touristy area and near subway station/public transport. Your comments /suggestions are greatly appreciated.
1) La Quinta Manhattan(W32nd St at 5th Ave)
2) Howard Johnson at Penn Station
(W 34th St between 7th & 8th Ave)
3) Grand Union Hotel (East 32nd St btw Park & Madison Ave)
4) Comfort Inn Manhattan ( W35th St)
Thanx a lot.

Recommend checking reviews at www.tripadvisor.com

I can't help with the hotels, but just wanted to add that many areas (if not most) of the city are busy/touristy and near subway station/public transport. I would think something not right on top of Penn Station would be a little nicer location (the hotels closer to 5th). My cousin just stayed at the Broadway Plaza hotel on Broadway and 26th and thought it was fine (and had a nice view of the empire st bldg). I would say anything in the 20s through 60s is decent as long as it's not too far over east (like near 1st & 2nd avs) or too far west (9th & 10th avs).

Have not stayed at any of these as the 30's is not my favorite area. Based solely on neighboorhod/surroundings, I would suggest #1 (1st choice) or #3 (2nd choice). #2 & #4 are in less desirable areas.

You can also check into the Red Roof Inn, which just opened this year, I believe it's in the same area as the other hotels you listed, and may even be under $100.

The rooms at the La Quinta are VERY small. The others i'm not so sure about.

I'd recommend Priceline as you'll likely get a better hotel than those you listed and spend less money on it. You can probably get a 4* for about $100 if it's not a busy week in NYC.

Go to www.BetterBidding.com for more info and help with bidding.

Also consider the Comfort Inn Midtown and Super 8 Times Square. Both are just below Rockefeller Center and between 5th Ave. and Times Square (the Comfort Inn is a block closer to Times Square - in fact, right by the visitor center). I have stayed at the Super 8 twice. The Comfort Inn is also owned by Applecore and is supposed to be slightly nicer; it will run you about $10 to $15 higher, but you should be able to get either for under $150. It doesn't get busier than this area, and you have subway stops at Rockefeller Center and 42nd Street. I would definitely pick Times Square over the Penn Station area. I have done quite a bit of walking down around the station as well, and it just isn't as nice.

I really liked the Comfort Inn MIDTOWN. It's very handy to Times Square, yet on a relatively quiet side block with a huge variety of interesting restaurants.

Ask for a room above the 6th floor, so you don't have an alley view. This is the only hotel in all of Manhattan that's entirely nonsmoking. I found it to be comfortable and clean, wtih cheerful, capable staff and good-sized rooms, only about 10 per floor so it's pretty quiet. Decent continental breakfast set up in the lobby, too, with yogurt, fresh fruit, etc.