Thanks for your compliments. Are the 3 hotels you chose all the same price? I think in terms of location, The Roosevelt is a good choice. It's location on Madison & 45th St puts it close to both 5th ave shopping & siteseeing, and within walking distance to the theater district & times square. It is close to Grand Central and the subways there. The Madison Ave bus is convient for you to use if you are going uptown to the museums & Central Park.
The Park Lane has a 'fancier' address & location, being on Central Park South between 5 & 6th Ave, and directly across from Central Park. If you can get a Park view, that would be wonderful. It's gotten some mixed reivews, but would be generally considered a step-up from The Roosevelt. But since it is further uptown than the Roosevelt, it is not as convienent to Times Square. It seems to me that the Park Lane would be more expensive than either of the others you mentioned, so I would choose The Roosevelt and use the savings for nice meals. I don't think you can go wrong with the majestic, either; I checked some of the reviews on travelocity, and they were good. It is closer to the theater district, so if you plan to spend alot of time in the times square area ( and you don't have too, since there are many other things to see & do) the Majestic seems like a good choice. Pricewise, it seems to be lower than the Park Lane but slightly higher than the Roosevelt.

Helmsley Park Lane, on New York.com is pricing at $160 a night, The Majestic, $149, and The Roosevelt, on quikbook $110. Parking at all are around $40 a day for valet parking. Or...should would park at a city lot. I just thought valet parking would be less of a hassle. I am very open to suggestions though as far as hotels go! There are so many hotels to pick from. I know I'll love Central Park, I'll want to see Times Square, Theater area...Fifth Ave. shopping, I'm afaid I won't come home! Really. We want to see a show, I need to get on the ball with tickets for that. Hairspray, what do you all think?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! for all of you help!

If it was me, I'd take the Roosevelt, and with the price difference vs. The Park Lane, it will pay for valet parking, which I would agree would be easier than driving to another lot elsewhere in Manhattan - but of course, it's more expensive. Since I live in Manhattan, I haven't been inside all the rooms of the hotels here, but I know that the Roosevelt has nice rooms.
Maybe some other posters whom have stayed at the Park Lane can vouch whether it's worth the extra money.

Given the rates you quoted, though, I would either choose the Roosevelt for the low price, conveinent location and a nice, solid 3* hotel, or spend the extra money and upgrade to the Park Lane, and be nice and friendly to the desk clerk and see if you can get a free upgrade to a room with a Central Park view.

I would rule out The Majestic based on the rate you quoted.

In any case, as you see from the rates you got yourself, it really doesn't pay to stay outside Manhattan to save money, because you won't! Just remember, these rates for Manhattan hotels would have been 50-70% higher just 2-3 yrs ago!!!

oh, also, are there any NYC travel books that anyone would suggest that are great! They sell so many, or are they not worth it, should I just buy a good map...and there are so many of them too!

Suggestions also on driving directions to Manhattan from Pittsburgh. AAA trip tick? MapQuest hasn't been that accurate for me lately, or the ole' road atlas!

Anthony, we must have both been posting at the same time! You have been an amazing help!!!! I can't thank you enough!

Avella...
If you're uncomfortable driving into NYC, then don't. I've been living in NJ for 10 years now. My husband and I drive into NYC quite a bit (we're about 45 minutes away). We go see bands play at bars, we go to the theatre, dinner, etc...(my point is that we go a lot). And after 10 years, I'm still not crazy about driving in NYC. There's so much traffic, bad and aggressive taxi drivers, one-way streets, and I can go on and on and on (My husband is a New Yorker so he doesn't mind-although he does seem to curse a lot when we drive into NYC)...
The Holiday Inn front desk can get you a TAXI to the train station and you go from there. Yes the other posters are right, don't walk around Newark at night (but then again, there are areas in NYC I wouldn't recommend walking around at night either!), but you'll be fine during the day ESPECIALLY if the cab drops you right at the station.
I'd love to know where the $20/night parking spots in Manhattan are! We never can seem to find them.
Avella, staying in NJ is a good idea if you don't want to drive into NYC. Donnabee's suggestion is a pretty good one, by the way.
Good luck!

Oops...I do see where Anthony posted the garage info for $45/3 nights. We'll have to check it out next time we're in Manhantta.
But Avella, I still say park your car in NJ. Manhattan driving sucks.

Avella, have you considered taking Amtrak into New York City? I would bet it would be around $100 per person which would get rid of the car problem.