We are going to New York in May and are trying to find a hotel around $200.00 or less (including tax). We want to visit both the areas around Central Park and SOHO - are rates less expensive in the SOHO area and if they are, is it safe there?

Do you have any hotels you would recommend? (2 couples are going).

Thanks.
ez

Ez- I'm not sure what area around the Park you are thinking about (upper west, upper east, central pk south?) but any of those areas are just as safe as soho. The one hotel I thought of in your price range is the Holiday Inn Downtown. It is technically in Soho, but more accurately is in Chinatown. It is not a glamorous hotel, I would say typical Holiday Inn. Soho is an extremely trendy area, and the majority of the hotels are priced sky high. The Holiday Inn website is
http://www.holidayinn-nyc.com/

If you plan to visit both the park and SoHo why not sty in midtown? You'll have the best selection of hotels and the greatest range of prices to choose from. Just try to be within a block or two of the N/R subway or the 1/9 and you can get up and down town to those locations in a big hurry. In May you'll also find it to be a pleasant walk in the evening if you're not in a major hurry.