Text size:

Budget hotels in Manhattan

Everybody likes a bargain -- especially when they're heading off on vacation. Manhattan is one of the toughest hotel towns on the planet, and it's hard to find a place to stay that's remotely affordable. Herewith, our guide to moderate-priced but well-located rooms.

La Quinta
17 West 32nd Street
212-736-1600

An old-fashioned wedding cake of a building houses standard hotel rooms that include e-mail, in-room coffeemakers, and movies on demand. Near Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building and a quick walk to the galleries and shops of Chelsea. There is a bar and restaurant in the hotel. Rates range from $199-$249 per night.

Holiday Inn Downtown
138 Lafayette Street
212-966-8898
www.holidayinn.com
If it's downtown you want, the Holiday Inn provides a comfortable, pleasant alternative to the pricier hotels that have sprung up over the past 10 years or so. Located not far from the shops and galleries of SoHo, the hotel is also convenient to East Village clubs, and Chinatown's restaurants. Rooms have standard amenities like cable TV, in-room movies, hair dryers, and coffee makers. There are also a bar and restaurant in the hotel. Rates are in the $149-$229 range.

Thirty Thirty Hotel
30 East 30th Street
212-689-1900
A relative newcomer, Thirty Thirty is a stylish hotel near the Flatiron district, with its plethora of restaurants and bars. There's also easy access to Midtown. Rooms, while small, are nicely decorated and include amenities like hair dryers and cable TV. There is a restaurant in the hotel. Rates are in the $160-$210 range.

Howard Johnson Penn Plaza
215 West 34th Street
212-947-5050
www.hojopennstation.com
Reliable if not glamorous, the HoJo at 34th Street is a good choice for families. Near the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and a quick bus ride to the theater district, the hotel's rooms are simple and clean, with amenities like in-room coffee makers, complimentary breakfast, hair dryers, and cable TV. Rates are in the $229 to $309 range.

Hayden Hotel