Cheaper by the dozen: Manhattan treasures

BOOKING a hotel room in New York City is a lot like browsing the breakfast menu of a fancy, five-star restaurant: The selections are often overwhelming, exotic and expensive.

And when it comes to accommodations here, you’ll certainly get only what you pay for ... sometimes less. Sprawling suites, swimming pools, room service and concierge desks are amenities often found only at hotels charging significantly more than the average rate of $250 a night. Many don’t offer free continental breakfast and will charge extra for Internet access or use of fitness facilities. Parking, for those strong-willed enough to drive, is astronomical.

Yet, there are some hidden treasures in the smorgasbord of Manhattan hotels. Places that offer unexpected extras, excellent service and loads of character at below-average rates.

I stayed anonymously at four such boutique hotels in October and visited eight others that regularly offer clean and charming accommodations at less than $250 a night plus tax. I avoided national chains -- most in Manhattan have nothing special to offer.

Rooms will be tight between now and Christmas, but openings and last-minute bargains can be found.

Booking my October stays turned out to be an exercise in patience and persistence. Surprise: I garnered the best rates by reserving through the hotels’ websites and sidestepped the occasional “sold-out” message by calling the reservations desks directly.

Hotel Newton

2528 Broadway (at 95th Street); (800) 643-5553, www.thehotelnewton.com

With freshly overhauled guest rooms and a quiet location, the under-the-radar Hotel Newton was my favorite.

All standard rooms were reserved or still undergoing renovation during Columbus Day weekend, so we booked a junior suite, Room 508, with two queen beds, a sitting area, kitchenette and a large tiled bath.

The burgundy carpet, fixtures and dark wood furnishings were in mint condition. Our room had a flat-screen TV and air conditioner, plus a microwave, coffee maker and mini-fridge in the lounge area.

As we dashed around Manhattan to shop, we reveled in the convenience of having a subway station steps from the hotel.

Price paid: $288.95

Rates: Standard double rooms $165-$230 plus tax. Suites $230-$250. Two rooms on each floor share a bathroom; rates for them are $120-$150.

Pros: It’s hard to top a place that has just undergone a major renovation yet still charges below-average rates. Vintage charm -- such as exposed pipes and detailed woodwork -- was evident in the stairways, exterior and lobby. Close to transportation, Central Park and Starbucks.

Cons: The lone elevator that serves nine floors was small, slow and inoperable during part of our stay.

Hotel 41

206 W. 41st St. (between 7th and 8th avenues); (212) 703-8600, www.hotel41.com

In the heart of Times Square, this ultra-chic hotel features 100-square-foot rooms but many amenities. The front-desk staff let us check in early and upgraded us to a slightly larger room with a street-side view and a refrigerator.

Though the faint smell of cigarette smoke lingered in the hallway, our room, 301, was odor free and exceptionally clean. It was small but tastefully decorated with high-end bedding, twin lamps, a full-length mirror and a desk topped with frosted glass.

We contemplated a late-night drink at Bar 41, the mod bar-lounge in the lobby, but fell asleep ... that is, until around midnight, when the evening theater performance of “Rent” let out next door and street musicians started blaring as the audience streamed into the street. This is a long-standing nightly tradition that typically lasts about half an hour. I poked my head out of our window to watch the scene and also caught a glimpse of “Mary Poppins” cast members as they exited the rear stage door across the street.

In the morning, there was no hot water because of a problem with the boiler. (The hotel took $75 off our bill).

Still, I would enthusiastically recommend staying here. The hotel’s character, perks, rate and room quality make it easier to overlook the inconvenience.

Price paid: $230.80 (including discount)

Rates: $230 and up, plus tax. Prices tend to fluctuate daily and drop for last-minute bookings.

Pros: Good last-minute availability. Close to attractions, theater, restaurants and subways. Distinctive decor and atmosphere.

Cons: A lot of street noise; small rooms.

Hotel Edison

228 W. 47th St. (between 8th Avenue and Broadway); (212) 840-5000, www.edisonhotelnyc.com

Staying in the massive 900-room Hotel Edison was an adventure.

Mere steps inside the lobby, I was struck by flashy Art Deco murals, black marble floors and furniture upholstered in a variety of loud fabrics. A large tour group had taken every available space. People were buzzing in and out of the entrance so quickly, the revolving door was in a state of perpetual motion.

This hotel, I surmised, was either dreadfully tacky and outdated or old-school Times Square cool, in a touristy sort of way. I’m still not sure which.

The size of our corner room was ample, with a double bed and a beat-up dresser, desk and nightstand. The shabby-chic bathroom had harsh fluorescent lights, but the towels were clean and the shower-tub functional.

Price paid: $218.91

Rates: $180-$190 plus tax for a standard double room.

Pros: Great location, good last-minute availability and helpful staff.

Cons: No-frills rooms lack even fairly basic amenities such as hair dryers and coffee makers.

Da Vinci Hotel

244 W. 56th St. (between Broadway and 8th Avenue); (212) 489-4100, www.davincihotel.com

The Da Vinci Hotel, just around the corner from Columbus Circle and one block from Broadway, is a boutique establishment with 22 guest rooms, some of which are being renovated. With rich wood detailing and comfy chairs near a fireplace, the lobby looks like a vintage sitting parlor. The place was cozy and welcoming. (However, I didn’t spot any works from the famed artist the hotel is purportedly named after.)

I was pleasantly surprised to be handed an old-fashioned key to Room 101, right off the lobby. I was promptly turned off when the front-desk clerk requested payment for the room upfront.

Our room was simple and clean. The furnishings were outdated, but the TV was in good working order and the bed comfortable. A free continental breakfast was served buffet style in the lobby.

Price paid: $207.58

Rates: $150-$210 plus tax for rooms with one or two beds.

Pros: Hotel is being renovated; within walking distance of shopping, subway and many restaurants.

Cons: Guests must make reservations by phone or complete a form online and wait for a rate reply from the staff.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Metropolitan life

I visited several boutique hotels in various Manhattan neighborhoods and asked to be shown rooms that can be readily booked for less than $250 night. Many are known for offering above-average amenities at bargain prices, so it’s best to reserve far ahead of your stay.

---

The standouts

414 Inn

414 W. 46th St.; (212) 399-0006, www.414inn.com

Rates: $169-$199

Amenities: Chic rooms look like something out of a photo shoot for a home magazine. All have flat-screen TVs, luxury bedding and large bathrooms with Lanovera toiletries. Free wireless Internet access in all 22 guest rooms, the lobby and a striking outdoor brick courtyard, lined with bistro tables and potted flowers.

Chelsea Lodge Suites

318 W. 20th St.; (212) 243-4499, www.chelsealodgesuites.com

Rates: $195

Amenities: It’s as if you are living in a studio apartment in Manhattan. The four suites in this hotel have queen beds and pullout sofas. Kitchenettes feature compact ovens, sinks and refrigerators. Guests have their own phone number, wireless Internet service at no extra charge and access to a semi-private garden or street-side view of this trendy Chelsea neighborhood. Suites have private baths, hardwood floors and air-conditioning. May be subject to a minimum two-night stay.

The Mayfair New York

242 W. 49th St.; (800) 556-2932, www.mayfairnewyork.com

Rates: $130-$310 for a room with one bed.

Amenities: The atmosphere here is classy old New York. The lobby has dark mahogany wood accents and cozy seating areas surrounding a piano. Rooms are small but distinctive -- the one we were shown had blue-and-white toile wallpaper, new down bedding, a personal safe and a nice black-and-white tiled bathroom with a shower-tub. Close to Times Square, restaurants, subway and other attractions.

Hotel Bedford

118 E. 40th St.; (800) 221-6881, www.bedfordhotel.com

Rates: $160-$235 for a standard room

Amenities: This quiet Murray Hill hotel is in the middle of a major renovation. It is within walking distance of Grand Central Station, Fifth Avenue and the Empire State Building. Rooms here are larger than average, and four floors are completed with new furniture, bedding and carpeting. The lobby is decorated with a crystal chandelier and plush burgundy and gold sofas and chairs. Hint: When booking, ask for a room on a floor that has been fully remodeled. May be subject to a two-night minimum for weekend stays.

Cosmopolitan Hotel Tribeca

95 W. Broadway at Chambers Street; (888) 895-9400, www.cosmohotel.com

Rates: $175 and up for a standard room

Amenities: The main attraction here is the trendy neighborhood, but the rooms are nice too. The lobby and hallways have been renovated within the last three months. The room shown had nearly new bedding and wallpaper and a clean bathroom (minus fancy toiletries). Two large windows offer good views of the street.

The safe standbys

Milburn

242 W. 76th St., between West End Avenue and Broadway; (212) 362-1006, www.milburnhotel.com

Rates: $219 for a standard room.

Amenities: On a quiet street on the Upper West Side, this hotel is within easy walking distance of Central Park and several museums. All rooms have air conditioning, free wireless Internet access and a kitchenette with a fridge, sink, microwave and coffee maker. The hotel’s lobby and exercise room are under renovation, which should be completed by December. Some rooms will get face-lifts early next year.

Hotel Stanford

43 W. 32nd St.; (800) 365-1114, www.hotelstanford.com

Rates: From $169

Amenities: In the heart of Koreatown near Herald Square, the Hotel Stanford offers rooms with plenty of space, tasteful decor and updated bathrooms. There isn’t a lot of character here, unless you count the easy access from the lobby to a Korean bakery and Asian restaurant. The hotel charges a fee for wireless Internet access and late checkout, but it does offer guests free continental breakfast daily.

Hotel St. James

109 W. 45th St., between 6th and 7th avenues; (212) 730-9444, www.hotelstjames.net

Rates: $199-$259 for a standard room

Amenities: A good choice for those who want the convenience of Midtown shopping, subways and attractions without the noise and nuisance of Times Square. Although the friendly staff says the rooms are being remodeled, both rooms we were shown were average. The bedding, furniture and bathrooms were clean but basic.

- Shawna Van Ness