I am in charge of planning a family trip to NYC and am struggling to choose a hotel. There will be 3 couples traveling, and we would each like to have our own room. We are staying 6 nights.

If it were just my husband and I traveling, this decision would be easy b/c we would either stay at the Holiday Inn Express-5th Ave. or the Casablanca Hotel. We stayed at the Casablanca last year and loved everything about it except that our A/C was quite noisy. The problem is that these hotels are showing nightly rates of $256 and $279, which is more than my sister-in-law would like to pay.

She is interested in staying at the Paramount b/c she knows someone from work that stays there every year and likes it. The rates are $205/night for the standard room or $235/night for the superior room. I've looked at the reviews on tripadvisor.com, and I really have no desire to stay there. It sounds like the rooms are filthy, and there are a few reports of bed bugs. I really don't know if I can stay there after reading the reviews. I don't need a fancy, trendy hotel -- just somewhere that feels safe and clean where I will be comfortable sleeping.

I have even suggested (strongly encouraged even) that we only stay 5 nights and stay at Casablanca or HI Express, but no one else seems interested in that idea.

I've looked at tons and tons of websites and reviews and have come up with the following other alternatives to the Paramount:

Ameritania Hotel - average nightly rate of $234 (but I did see bed bug reports on this hotel, too)

Wellington Hotel - average nightly rate of $229

Comfort Inn Midtown - $225/night

Out of these choices, I think I would prefer the Comfort Inn. Any thoughts/suggestions?

I checked Radio City Apartments, but they are booked up for the first night that we will be in the city.

Also, can anyone tell me the difference between the Edison Hotel and Edison Towers Time Square? When I go to edisonhotel.com, it shows no availability, but expedia shows that there are rooms available in Edison Towers.

When are you going? Have you looked at applecore hotels? http://www.applecorehotels.com/reserve/

You have my total sympathy. Trying to book rooms for other people who seem to have their own strong feelings is no easy task.

First of all, I think you have to take reviews including those on Trip Advisor with a giant grain of salt. I honestly don't think there's any more reason to expect bedbugs at the Paramount than at the Casablanca or anywhere else. They can happen -- but chances are really rare. I've seen some pretty dismal reviews of most of the places you mention -- including a report of someone flatly refusing to stay in a filthy room at the Wellington.

Have you checked the Belvedere for your dates? Their prices have been all over the place, but I think it sounds like something you'd all like.

Six nights is a worthwhile stay for a hotel. Have you considered calling The Casablanca and asking them to make a deal for three rooms for six nights?

321go - Yes, the Comfort Inn is one of the applecorehotels. The Super 8-Times Square was the only other applecorehotel in the Times Square/Midtown area. I saw a lot of reviews that mentioned bed bugs for the Super 8, so I figured for the same price I would prefer the Comfort Inn. We are going to NYC in June.

NeoPatrick - Thanks for your sympathy! I'm really starting to wonder if we should even go on this trip. I've never been a big fan of group vacations. It seems like everyone always ends up complaining. I think the money thing is really going to be a big problem. I've suggested putting the trip off for a year, so the others would have more time to save -- but again, no one seems to want to listen to me. I don't think they totally understand that a trip to NYC isn't something you should do half-ass.

Anyway, sorry to go off on a rant! I did check the Belvedere, and you're right -- they are all over the place. One night is $334, two nights are $254, and three nights are $314. These rates won't work for us.

I have thought about calling Casablanca in hopes that they could give me a discount for being a repeat customer and for bringing in the extra business. I will give it a try. I'm on their email list, but they haven't sent me anything for June yet.

read up on www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com and see how much people are getting 4* hotels for in manhattan.
this might encourage you to try it for this trip, although you can´t choose the hotel.. only the stars and zone.

good luck.

it is hard enough to decide when it is for oneself. let alone a group .

priceline might be your solution.

I don't know your travel dates, but I would not pay those prices for those hotels--especially if you don't want to stay there. WHY does everyone have to stay at the same hotel? That's crazy. Let your family stay where they want and you stay where you want. You don't have to be joined at the hip. The Casablanca or the HI Express 5th ave. are both very close to the CI Midtown or the Paramount.

Agree - if they're set on a specific hotel let them stay there - and you stay where you want. You're certainly not all going to be joined at the hip for an entire week (without wanting to kill each other). I'm sure you'lll have different ideas of what to do some days and what you feel like eating when. So - just use your cell phones to organize meetings and joint activities as you want.

Book your own hotels. There is no need to stay at the same hotel. It sounds like if you do, someone is going to be unhappy for 6 nights.

Then, if you book your own hotel, book some that can be cancelled, and try Priceline for the two of you. (go to www.betterbidding.com for info on bidding on Priceline)

Yep, just like they said. Book your own hotel. Pick one you can cancel. Then keep trying for something on PL.

For 250 or so, you can probably get something very good on Priceline. We only use Priceline for NY. I know it doesn't work for everyone's situation, but at these prices, I'm going for the best I can get, and that is always through Priceline.

IMO, your trip will not be fun if you make too many sacrifices.

There are certain places that I wouldn't book for others, and NYC is one of them. FYI, your SIL should do her own research for the dates, and see how tough it is!

Check out The Park South Hotel on www.Quikbook.com

Because the hotel rooms are small, it is usually very reasonably priced.

It is a lovely boutique hotel.

I agree with mclaurie, I wouldn't pay those prices for any of those hotels.

I'd book my own room and let sister in law fend for herself since she is the one putting limitations on your choices.

Call some of the entertainment card hotels to get their Entertainment discount rate for your dates. The card will then cost you $30 but if you save $30 a night times 6 nights--- do the math

Affinia Dumont, Affinia Manhattan, Eastgate Tower, The Avalon, The Roosevelt

Ok, so I'm still wrestling with this decision. What can you guys tell me about the area around the Jolly Hotel Madison Towers? Is this area safe for walking back to the hotel at night? Is it pretty deserted at night?

Also, based on the hotel map in my Fodor's guide, it looks like I can take the 7 train from Grand Central to the Times Square/42nd St. station. Is this correct? I just know from our last trip how long those east/west blocks can be, and I expect we will be spending a lot of evenings in Times Square for shows, etc., and it would be nice to not have to walk too far at the end of the night.

Visiting friends, mostly academics/professors, swear by the Hotel Wellington for cleanliness, location, and price.

Jolly Madison is in a office building
area & you are not far (3 avenues)
from Times Sq. area with a few
restaurants & Pierpoint Morgan Library in the area.
Re subway: you can take the # 7
(1st stop is 5th; 2nd isTimes Square) or the shuttle (1 stop) from GCS
to Times Square.

We were pretty happy with the Doubletree Metropolitan, at 51 and Lex. Great location for walking everywhere. BUT if you're concerned about the distance from Grand Central to Times Square (less than 1/2 mile), it may not be suitable for you.

Clearly, the Belvedere is trying to cash in on its recent popularity. It was in the $150 range not so long ago.

Totally agree with Patrick & McLaurie - let everyone deal with their own hotel issues. As the one who is usually the designated "group leader" I speak from experience!

To answer you question about the Jolly Madison area, I just walked through there last night - nice, safe (as anywhere use your head) easily accessible to bus and subway I would stay there without hesitation, but again, trying to figure out what other people want/think/may like/may not like will drive you insane. I did pop into the lobby because I have seem the Jolly Madison on hotel booking sites but wasn't familiar with it, the lobby was fine and the front desk and bellmen seemed to be attentive to their guests. I can not speak about the rooms because we didn't see them, they could be as nice as the lobby or then could be a let down, I don't know.

Tell your group you are empowering them to make their own reservations so they will all be assured to get the location and type of hotel that is important to them.

I just won the Paramount on PL for $124 a night in March.It was listed as a 3* on betterbidding.com but now appears to be a 4*.
While I would not consider Paramount to be a 4* in comparison to other 4*s I have won on PL in different cities. I would consider a great place to stay for 124 a night in Midtown. We go for the shows so its location is great for us. It is a very funky boutique hotel with great design. There is one drawback that may or may not change your mind however. These are the smallest rooms I have ever st ayed in. You cant appreciate how small until you see them. This took some getting used to and but like good travelers we adapted to it and ended up having a great stay there. Dean and Deluca is in the lobby so coffee was close which is big for me!Rest assured there are NO bed bugs here.I was nervous about the reviews after I won the first time but I was pretty happy I won it the second time. If you are expecting the Mariott forget it...if you want a clean albeit small room in the center of the Theater district...bid away!

BTW I would not even consider paying the rack rates you have listed ($205-235) This a $124 a night hotel in N.Y.
Cant beat it really.