Locals will tell you that yes, you can find affordable accommodations right in the heart of the City and yes, they will be located in areas you'll actually want to stay in. One is in Manhattan; the other is located in the Downtown area (near Gramercy Park, East Village, Greenwich Village, and Washington Square Park).
Staying in Manhattan?
Locals and out-of-towners who want to catch a show and not worry about arriving home at a very late hour often choose the
Manhattan Broadway hotel. This hotel is located in the Garment District of Manhattan, which has an ambience all its own, but it is still convenient to several other places, including the Empire State Building and Times Square. In fact, it is halfway between these two places. You're only a few minutes' walk from Madison Square Gardens and Penn Station, which gives you the opportunity to go to other areas of Manhattan.
Hotel 17
Locals and out-of-towners will tell you that you are in for a very unique experience when you stay in this hotel. There are two bathrooms for every 10 rooms! These are located down the hall from the rooms.
A lot of New Yorkers will admit that they stay in hotels such as
Hotel 17 just for this bit of nostalgia (at one time, most hotels and rooming houses shared common bathrooms). Many students say it reminds them of staying in hostels and rooming houses in Europe and other foreign countries.
So, if you're looking for an inexpensive place to stay, that has its own unique "twist", do what the locals do and stay at one of these "budget" hotels right in the heart of New York City. After all, even the locals will tell you that part of the fun of visiting the City is trying something new.
