Bunch of ladies heading to NYC to shop. No car so we need to be centrally located. We'd like to hit all the big department stores and perhaps a show. Suggestions for hotel in the $200 range????

Centrally located in manhattan depends what you want to do.

Big Dept stores? Like macy's and bloomies? You can just stay in midtown and take a cab between the two or hop on the subway. Same with the theater district. But really, it's all within reach by taking the train.

www.affinia.com - good hotels and a good price.

PS. There is much more to NYC then big Dept. stores. Dont limit your shopping chances! Hit NoLiTa, Madison Avenue, Canal Street, Lower East Side, etc.

I would stay on the east side because the good department stores: Bloomies, Bendels, Barneys, Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and Takashamya are on the east side between around 49th and 69th as is the other good shopping.

Not a big fan of Macy's.

Agree with the suggestion of the Affina hotels. Also, the Waldorf=Astoria frequently has deals which would be in a perfect location.

Given Macy's is on 34th and 7th Av and Bloomies is on 59th and Lexington, the other major stores are in between and along 5th Avenue, I'd say something om the modtown area would work, preferably something not too far east or west. The theater area is west side in the 40s and 50s.

Affinia does have some very nice hotels and some good 'special offers' on their website. The Shelburne is a few blocks from Macy's and a quick bus/subway/tax to Bloomies. The walk to Bloomie's is about a mile.

Just to add, Bloomingdale's has its own Subway stop on 69th and either Madison or Lex.

Sorry, I'm a moron.

Bloomingdale's is the 59th Street stop not 69th Street stop.

The subway stop is under Bloomies - at 59th and Lex - but the stop was there before Bloomies - it's not "their" stop.

Just like the stop at 34th and 6th is under Macy's - but doesn;t belong to them.

I'd suggest the Roger Williams Hotel on Madison Ave around 30th St. Very well located and the hotel was completely redone a few years ago. Most of the shopping you want too is within walkind distance or bus/subway ride away. Walk to 3rd AVe for lots of restaurant choices.

Okay, how is this nytraveler; there is an entrance to Bloomingdales in the subway station. I don't know about Macy's because I don't like Macy's.

$200 is starting to be a challenge. There's a new Holiday Inn Express on 45 st & Fifth Ave. that's sort of between shops and theater. Rooms are small though, esp. if you getting 2 bedded rooms.

The Salisbury (nycsalisbury.com) has large suite rooms. You might get rooms there for around $200. Depending on how many rooms you need, you might try to negotiate a group rate.

Look on quikbook.com and see what they have. The Carlton on Madison is a newly renovated hotel that can be very affordable.