Hotels in Village/Soho/Downtown NYC?
 

In mid-May I am going to a 1-day alumni conference at NYU. I suggested to my husband that he and our 4.5-year old come up with me so the two of them can visit the Natural History Museum (my son loves dinosaurs) or go to the Central Park Zoo while I sit in meetings all day. ;)

Since the following day is Alumni Day at NYU, I'd like to stay overnight in the city in order to attend -- problem is, I have NO idea what accommodations are available south of Midtown since I've been out of the area for 14 years now. Obviously we're looking for someplace that's comfortable with/for kids and at least somewhat affordable (wishful thinking, probably). I'm willing to pay up to $200-$250/night for a room but if that's impossible I'll just come in for the Friday conference and leave that night. Does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA...

Last year I stayed at the InterContinental Barclay. It is very close to Broadway. I liked it for the most part. I do not recall liking the dinner menu all that much, so I did not eat there. But there are plenty of places to eat nearby. And the breakfast menu is fine- I just had brunch somewhere else on the Saturday and had to take a very early flight on Sunday.

A couple of years ago I did a program at NYU and stayed at the Club Quarters Downtown on Wall Street. The red line is right outside the front door and the green line is just a couple of blocks away. CQ is a members only thing, but my arrangements were made through NYU, so they may be able to work it out. It's smaller than the midtown behemoths, but was very clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated. AND was super inexpensive. Check with the alumni office to see if they have a deal they can work out for you.

sidenote - hey, might see you at Alumni Day...

check out pinkberry, its not a hotel but its good yogurt

See if you can find at your local bookseller "Where to see it, eat and buy it in New York". Sent a copy to my Big Sister prior to her trip, with her family of three, to NYC and she found all sorts of places in it.
And she stayed in a place up near Columbus Circle. One does not, given NYC transit, need to stay downtown.
Subway will get you there PDQ.
And Downtown and Midtown can get rather $$$