Best New York budget hotels

Mon, 04/30/2012 - 23:00 — Anonymous by Patricia ChuiBelieve it or not, it's
possible to find the best New York budget hotels and pay less than $250 per
night for a clean, comfortable hotel room with full amenities in a prime
location in the Big Apple.    It just requires careful planning and
flexibility: January and February are the best months for value travel, and
weekdays generally cost less than weekends.   Many hotels also offer
discounts for full payment in advance.    Budget travelers willing to forgo
a private bathroom can save even more at places like the Jane Hotel and Hotel
17, whose low-cost rooms have shared bathrooms.    If you prefer
full-service feel to college dorm vibe, here are eight of the best New York
budget hotels in the city. They offer great value and with the exception of
the Newton, all provide free Wi-Fi.   All rates listed are per night for a
standard room with private bathroom, before tax, which is around 15 percent.
Note that rates are subject to change.   Hotel Deauville, Gramercy Park
Hotel Deauville is a haven for artists. In the world of corporate hotel
chains, the Hotel Deauville, a quaint, family-run converted brownstone with
just 55 rooms, is a refreshing find and makes our list of best New York
budget hotels.    The Deauville is a nice option if you want a hotel on a
quiet street away from some of New York's more tourist-heavy neighborhoods. 
  The ancient, operator-run elevator rattles like an old ghost, but service
is personable and warm and the shabby-chic rooms are comfortable.    Quirky
fact: as a bonus for musicians, there's an artists' rehearsal room with a
piano off the lobby.    103 E. 29th St. between Park and Lexington, New
York; +1 212 683 0990; www.hoteldeauville.com; rates start at $139   Also on
CNNGo: Best new hotels of 2012    Hudson New York, Midtown West/Hell's
Kitchen The location is even better than the decor. Travelers wanting to feel
like rock stars could do worse than the Hudson, which has the look of a much
more expensive hotel, starting with the green, glowing, unmarked entry, which
might make you wonder if your smartphone map has the right coordinates.   
Beyond the wide lobby is a lovely outdoor courtyard. The Library Bar is has a
pool table, while the trendier Hudson Bar is an enticing glass-floored space
that turns into a nightclub.   In contrast, breakfast and dinner are served
on cafeteria-style tables. A well-furnished gym completes the
entertainment/facilities options.   While standard rooms are "cozy" (the
smallest is 12.6 square meters), they are handsomely decorated.    356 W.
58th St. between Columbus and Broadway, New York; +1 212 554 6000;
www.hudsonhotel.com; rates start at$229     La Quinta Manhattan, Midtown
East The nearest hotel to the best galbi in the city. The La Quinta is a
budget motel and it doesn't try to be anything else: the lobby looks as
though it hasn't been touched since the Carter administration, and room decor
is plain.    But for what you're paying you'll get decent space, not to
mention additional perks like free breakfast, news kiosk, fitness center and
Vu Bar, the hotel's rooftop lounge with a stunning view of the nearby Empire
State Building.    Macy's, Penn Station and Madison Square Garden are
within walking distance. The La Quinta is also the perfect choice for budding
karaoke singers and fried chicken fans -- it's located in the middle of
Koreatown.   17 W. 32nd St. between 5th and 6th Avenues, New York; +1 212
736 1600; applecorehotels.com/la-quinta-manhattan; rates start at $199 Also
on CNNGo: Best and worst hotel Wi-Fi     Nu Hotel, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Clean and simple. Located in Brooklyn (about 15 minutes from Manhattan), the
Nu Hotel is fittingly one of the best New York budget hotels, partly because
it is close to several train lines and a plethora of restaurants and bars on
Smith Street, otherwise known as Brooklyn's Restaurant Row.   Compared with
Manhattan accommodations, the stylish rooms have lots of space. Caffeine
addicts will appreciate the free coffee in the lobby and Keurig coffee makers
in every room. There's also a lobby bar.   If you don't feel like exercising
at the fitness center, the front desk will find you a bike.   If you know
someone who lives in the neighborhood, ask them to book the room for you, and
you'll save an additional 15 percent via the hotel's "neighborhood rate."  
85 Smith St. between State Street and Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn; +1 718 852
8585; www.nuhotelbrooklyn.com; rates start at $179   Best Western Bowery
Hanbee Hotel, Chinatown  Ask for an upper-floor room to avoid the noise of
the street.Located in the center of Chinatown, the Best Western Bowery Hanbee
is a good choice for anyone looking to explore New York's downtown areas.
It's within easy walking distance of Soho, Little Italy, the East Village and
Lower East Side.    While you might not guess it from the busy location and
no-frills lobby (not to mention the extremely low rates), rooms here are
modern and welcoming and have a fair amount of space, with enough room for a
guest chair and night table.    In addition to a fitness center, the hotel
lays on a complimentary breakfast buffet, and the staff is helpful and
friendly.    231 Grand St. between Bowery and Elizabeth Street, New York;
+1 212 925 1177; www.bw-boweryhanbeehotel.com; rates start at $189 Hotel
Newton, Upper West Side Ease your college-bound kid into dorm life by staying
at the Hotel Newton. Located well uptown between Riverside Park and Central
Park, the Newton sits near Columbia University, which may explain why it has
a lobby that resembles an old dorm lounge.   What the hotel lacks in frills,
however, it more than makes up for in value -- perfect to be regarded as one
of the best New York budget hotels   Even in the summer high season, you can
get a room for $132 a night -- a rate unheard of in the rest of the city. 
  The staff is cheerful and professional, and accommodations are clean and
not at all claustrophobic, with a dresser, desk, microwave and mini-fridge
included in every room. And though there are no dining options in the hotel,
there is a diner just next door.   Note: Wi-Fi here costs $4.95 per day.  
2528 Broadway between 93rd and 94th Streets, New York; +1 800 643 5553;
www.thehotelnewton.com; rates start at $225   Hotel Beacon, Upper West Side
The Beacon is the priciest hotel on our list, and the roomiest. At $350 per
night, the Beacon is the one hotel on our list that doesn't fall under the
$250 budget ceiling. But families traveling to New York City will need
space, and this hotel has it.   Instead of cramped rooms, half of the
Beacon's accommodations are roomy suites that sleep up to four. All suites
have a separate living room with a pull-out couch, iPod dock, and full
kitchen with stove, oven, microwave and full-size refrigerator.   The Beacon
also offers standard rooms with smaller kitchenettes: half-fridges, stove
burners and microwaves, but no ovens.   A multitude of moderate to high-end
restaurants surrounds the hotel, but groceries are easy to come by at the
Fairway across the street or Trader Joe's two blocks away. After saving money
on home-cooked meals, your family can go play at the nearby Museum of Natural
History, Central Park or Lincoln Center.   2130 Broadway at 75th Street, New
York; +1 212 787 1100; www.beaconhotel.com; rates start at $350     The Pod
Hotel, Midtown East A pop art take on NYC budget hotels. read more