Tourist accommodation in New York City

I love the information on the other New York post but I couldn't find any suggestions on where one should stay. A city with over 8 million people, I'm sure there's some great and not so great places to stay. I'm looking at five nights close to public transport for about 100 to 150 USD a night, the cheaper the better, in late Feb. Does anyone know if there's apartments for short term rent and what they generally go for?

That should be plenty to stay in a pretty nice hotel in NY. I'd suggest looking at hotels.com and finding anything in Midtown due to its proximity to lots of stuff and its central locale.

Back in the nineties I use to work as a security guard and nightshift reception clerk at a place called The Gershwin Hotel. It was a fun backpackers outfit about 12 stories high if I remember. I checked on the internet and it still exists - it even looks snazzy now judging by the photos. Have a look here: The Gershwin Hotel. One of the many things I liked about it was it's location: 27th Street, between 5th and Madison. When I would go out of the hotel and head to 5th Ave half a block away, I'd turn the corner and there was the Empire State Building looming down on me. What a sight.
Check out the Gershwin, sky hoc. If they're anything today like they were in '92 you'll have a lot of fun. There are dorm-style rooms for $40 & $45, but you most likely want a private room. I see some going for $109 and $129. Well, it's all changed now since I worked there. Met some great people from all corners of the globe. The place is owned by a Swiss French guy and his wife, Susanne, from Quebec (he was really cool, she not so much). It looks like they still own it after all these years. I'd do anything to go back and stay there again. Damn, I love New York

Me too. Manhattan at least.

the crowning of my 2 week family usa holiday will be new york city before heading back to d-land. i stumbled across the gershwin at hotel.de and it looks pretty promising & then i saw DVs reco above too so i was like, cool! is it a sign?

anyhow, does any one else have suggestions? i got a recommendation for chinatown, but prices were over 200$ a night for that recommended hotel. no special may offers. i know georgiagirl was in NYC for new years, but no mention of where she stayed. this will sort of be bf & i two year anniversary, so I'm willing to splurge a bit, but i think 200$ a night is my limit or else then I'll be eating breakfast, lunch & dinner in chinatown!.

p.s. a work colleague here mentioned a friend who lets out his place. anyone know a site where i could check out for things like that? yes, i could do my own search, but any recomendations are welcome. maybe you've used one and have some comments.

Try craigslist. You see offers for vacation rentals, sublets, and short term stuff on there all the time. You could even post a request if you want too.

Here's an interesting hotel on the lower east side of Manhattan that I stayed in that was quite comfortable.

"Some folks like to get away take a holiday from the neighborhood...I'M IN A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND"

According to Entertainment Weekly "The Inn for Hollywood Types and Transient Chic."

By the way neither of these terms describe me

http://www.hotel17ny.com/

days inn often has pretty good deals for nyc. i just saw an offer for one on the upper west side for $99 per room per night.

http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/home

the last time i went to new york i booked a private double room at a hotel in harlem for like $70 per night through expedia. when i got there they said this is no longer a hotel and they don't have a room. i eventually got my money back from expedia, but it took a while. i ended up finding a private double for $90 that same evening at the west side ymca. it wasn't bad, shared bathrooms and showers on each floor that weren't super clean, but not too horrible. the location is really good near columbus circle.

i'll add my recommendation here too. just got back from NYC. we stayed at Hotel 31, which is on east 31st street (duh) between Park Ave. & Lexington in midtown Manhatten. it is 2 blocks from the green line metro station and if you're not too burdened down by luggage, a 15 minute walk from Penn station. 4 nights set us back $620 -- double bed, private bath on 8th floor. no breakfast, one tiny, old-school style lift (with gate you have to slide back to get in) and ice machine on 1st floor.

most of hotel rooms have shared baths. i didn't look though.