My husband and I are planning our first trip to New York. I'm trying to narrow down our hotel options. We thought about Priceline or Hotwire, but I'm not sure of the areas(midtown, downtown, etc.)

We'd like to see a Broadway show, Central Park, and the Met Museum of Art. Other than that, we'd like to just do a lot of walking and see some of well-known places (Rockefeller Center, Empire State, Statue of Liberty).

Any suggestions on an area to stay? Thanks in advance.

I like to do the all things you mention. I typically stay mid-town, near 7th avenue. The area in Hotwire and Priceline I would try would be Mid-Town/Times Square. Last time I used Priceline, (a while ago) I got the Le Parker Meridien that I was really happy with. Good luck and enjoy NYC

Others may not agree, but I love the Times Square area. It is within walking distance of many that you mention and is accessable to all the subway lines for other places. I find it to be a great central location.

Another vote for mid-town. If you like to walk, it's a great location. You'll be able to walk to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the Met, Broadway, Grand Central, Central Park.... the list goes on. Enjoy your visit!

If you're going to use Hotwire or Priceline, be sure you check better bidding dot come and bidding for travel dot com, both of which will help you identify the hotels that might be "won" in particular areas. Particularly with priceline, that might help you narrow down the area you search in, if there's a hotel listed for an area you DON'T want to win. For example, the Sheraton is in the Mid-town West area on Priceline. I didn't want to "win" the Sheraton, so I didn't bid on that particular area. I ended up at the W on Lexington Avenue (which is Mid-town East) and liked both the hotel and the area. It's easier to identify a specific hotel on hotwire than on priceline because of the amenities lists and tripadvisor ratings (you can cross-check). Hotwire, therefore, usually runs a few more $ than Priceline for the same hotel.

I would start by looking at the hotels that Priceline and Hotwire use in each area if that's how you plan on booking. Not all areas are equal in terms of which hotels are likely won. Betterbidding.com has lists for both while biddingfortravel.com has a list just for Priceline. When do you plan on coming? Do you realize there are certain times when it's difficult if not impossible to get a PL win? Best idea is to book something cancelable once you have dates in case.

The things you list are in different areas so no one area is going to be in walking distance of everything. The theaters are in Times Square which is a PL area (and a good one for 4* hotels). Midtown west and upper midtown are also good options. Sometimes midtown east is easier to win and still not a bad option.

I'm going to agree AND offer a slightly contrarian view.

For most of the concrete activities you list, Midtown is indeed central to all of it. Times Square is pretty chaotic, but it's also incredibly exciting. Standing in the middle of it all will get your pulse racing; you feel like all of Manhattan is swirling around you.

Then you need to get somewhere. And the masses of humanity in Times Square start becoming a pain.

I would think about staying either a little bit uptown, or a little bit downtown. Just a couple of blocks north and east will get you into Midtown East; the ambience is a tiny bit quieter, but you're still in the center of it all (the center of high-end shopping and high finance, that is).

Alternatively, there's heading south and east-- i.e., heading downtown a bit-- into Murray Hill. A bit more residential, surrounded by where New Yorkers live and dine. The hotel choices have more personality, I find.

Affinia has hotels in both areas:

http://www.affinia.com

Wherever you choose, you're going to have a great time. Enjoy!

Most of what you want to see is midtown (Broadway show, Rock Center) or uptown (Central Park and the Met - as well as many other museums). I suggest Top of the Rock instead of the ESB - to avoid hours long waiting lines. Statue of Liberty (and you must get tickets in advance - as in now, since they sell out months in advance) is on an island in the harbor.

so no matter where you stay you'll e taking the subway to get around. Many of the donwtonwn hotels are in areas that are strictly business - and so quiet at night. (Or, there are some uber trendy hotels downtown = again intrendy areas of clubs and boutiques - but not necessarily toruist sights.)

For a first time visitor I would do midtown (but NOT Times Square which is truly awful) or uptown (upper west side has some nice hotels at reasonable price,s lots of good inexpensive/moderate places to eat and abuts Central Park with an easy ealk to many of the museums).

It would help to know when you're coming (prices vary tremendously by date) and what your budget is.

While I agree with the IDEA of midtown but not Times Square, the reality is midtown west bids on Priceline generally yield the Sheraton which would not be my choice. The 4* hotels in Times Square are all excellent and not so true in other areas.

Bottom line is there is no one best answer to your question and a lot will depend on when you visit, for how long and what you hope to pay. PL is less likely to yield results for longer stays in NYC but if you're coming early next year, there are usually lots of discounts available on websites like travelzoo.com and travel-ticker.com

Why don't you start by giving us an idea of when you're coming, for how long and how much you'd like to pay?

Since just about anywhere in Manhattan would work for your plans if you include a subway ride, I'd go for the best price for the amenities you are looking for. If you stayed downtown, the noise level is low at night. STaying in Times Square you can walk to everything and there are some good restaurants closeby as well.

Get a map of the city so you have some ideas of where everything is located.

Have a GREAT time.

On my last two visits to NYC, I stayed in midtown East (Lex @ 50th) and near Herald Square & Macy's (35th near Broadway - not sure what Priceline calls this area). Both locations were excellent for walking everywhere, and subway connections were very convenient.

Thanks for all your help. You've given me what I was looking for - a start! Now I'll head to the sites mentioned and see about hotels.

We're planning on April or early May - we're fairly flexible on dates. We'll probably go Wednesday pm - Sunday, but again, fairly flexible - a weekend plus a few days either way.

I realize we'll be taking the subway or cabs for some places, but I really wanted to be able to walk some places, also. We just didn't want to be in the middle of nowhere (or as much as you can be in New York).

Thanks again.

Mid town east not Times Square,,,from a native NYer.

I really love staying on the Upper West Side at the Milburn Hotel. I can walk most of the places you mention from there. It's just a few blocks to Central Park, then across the Park to the Met and all the museums on 5

I love staying on the Upper West Side at the Milburn Hotel (76th & Broadway). An easy walk to the Park and the Met and all the museums on Fifth Avenue. Also, a nice walk to MOMA and even Chelsea. There are buses and subways within minutes here and many great restaurants.

Sorry, hit the wrong button the first time.

I vote with nancy1652 and those who suggest not staying around Times Sq/Broadway, etc. and second the suggestion to stay on the Upper West Side. We have stayed at the Lucerne, although also considered the Milburn and the Beacon in that price-range; and when things were better we stayed at the Excelsior across from the Mus. of Nat. Hist. All were within a block or two of a subway that took us directly to much of the mid-town stuff, or the cross-town bus that goes quite close to the Met. Museum. We LOVED being able to come "home" from the bustle without much hassle, and the neighborhoods along B'way, Amsterdam, etc. in that area have plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as a neighborhood-y feeling.

We spent 7 nights in the Deauville, 103 E. 29th between Lexington & Park. We're walkers, so we had no trouble walking from Penn Station to the hotel; we also walked back from Times Square one day. Subway one block over. Modest, no view/no frills, but excellent value. It's a small hotel with hand-operated elevator and staff. Drugstore one block down for forgotten items, lots of restaurants and small markets nearby.

Whoops, I meant hand-operated elevator and pleasant staff!

upper west side is a great place to stay...we tried UWS, Midtown and financial district during our 2wk stay...loved UWS the most!!