I am planning a trip for my parents to NYC and looking for suggestions on hotels centrally located. Price range $250 to $350 a night. Have read mixed reviews on the Waldorf. They would like to go in December. Also, any suggestions of plays would be beneficial. My mom prefers movies that are rated PG-13 so would like to find shows similar. Thanks in advance for your help!

We stayed at the Affinia Dumont on 34th last December for about $300 a night. Comfy beds and a kitchen. Great location with a subway station just around the corner.

December is the most crowded and expensive time of the year and I can;t imagine you will get the Waldorf - or anything close - for $250 to $300 per night. I wold check now on the various discount sites to see what is available for that budget for their dates - but do not expect a luxury hotel, but some thing much more basic.

Broadway shows are not rated - and for PG-13 I would think you are limited to Lion King or something similar aimed primarily at children.

Just did a quick check and for the early part of the month either the hotel is sold out or rooms are about $600 per night. If you go much closer to Christmas rooms start at about $380 per night but all nights are not available.

Later in Dec. is always cheaper than earlier. The Affinia Shelburne is a nice hotel and should fit the budget if they go in the middle of the month. But if the primary objective is theater, they might prefer to be closer to Times Square (that Affinia is near Grand Central and not far from Lord & Taylor and Bryant Park). I don't see any great options for $300/night.

For a show, Newsies is very popular and a good sining and dancing classic. Pippin would also be great. If they like Billy Crystal, his extremely popular one man show will be playing again..not a classic musical.

If they are set to go in December, have a look at the Night Hotel. They have decent rates and are a good location on W 47th St. for Broadway Theater. Its a more "hip" style, with smallish rooms, but the price is good.

If they are willing to wait, the week after New Years is a real bargain in NY. I've been getting emails from some of my favorite hotels (The Muse for example) with prices in the under $300 range rather than the December pricing of over $600. We often go to NY right after NYE, when all the Christmas decor is still up, but the crowds have gone.

Saw Big Fish recently and it would easily fill the bill of a PG friendly Broadway show.

I was about to recommend the Muse as well. I like the week after Christmas but before NYEve. As long as they leave by Dec. 30th, rates should be decent that week but all the decorations are still up. The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular tickets are less expensive then too.