Munich hotel for 4 in October (after Oktoberfest)

Have you considered Hotel Uhland? They are not that close to Marienplatz, but they do have family rooms, and it is a very pleasnat place to stay.

I concur with your desire to be close to Marienplatz. Also, you can check their prices, but I believe Uhland to be a bit pricey. I have some links to some accommodations in Munich, including Uhland and three places nearer to Marienplatz, listed on the bottom of my webpage.

Check out Hotel Blauer Bock. It's a short walk from Marienplatz.

We recently stayed in one of the family rooms at the Hotel Royal near the train station. The Hotel was comfortable with clean rooms and a great breakfast. The neighborhood feels a little sketchy (as in: you walk by some strip bars to get to the hotel) but we had no issues with safety even when we walked back at night.

Thanks - but I think we really want to stay within walking distance of Marienplatz. Also, been told that some German websites are offering better rates than the actual hotel sites and/ir expedia, etc - anyone hear the same?

This is a good budget place Rick suggests in his Germany guidebook, and I liked it:
http://www.pension-beck.de/ Easy to get to the Marienplatz and was also very easy to get to The Deutches Museum. Nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable rooms, clean WC, and had a color/cable TV in room, too (not that I watched much, but still...). Very good bfast each AM, too. Was on a nice, very quiet street. Overall, a good value and good central location.