Yo New York! Yotel coming to Times Square with $149 rooms

Yotel, a London-based hotel company that refers to its mini-rooms as “cabins,” plans to open a 669-room hotel near Times Square in June. Like the rooms, the prices are pretty small too. The Manhattan site will be the company’s first in the U.S. and the first located outside an airport.

The deal: For those unfamiliar with the concept, Yotels offer basic rooms for travelers happy to trade frills for low prices. But that doesn’t mean going without some cool high-tech amenities.

Rooms at the Manhattan hotel will come with a small desk, flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi in the 170-square-foot space, which includes the bathroom. Introductory rates start at $149 plus tax for a “premium cabin” with a queen-sized bed.

Yotel has hotels at London‘s Gatwick and Heathrow airports and one in Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. A few years back, I stayed at the Gatwick Yotel and found the super-small cabin rather comfy for one person. It was also convenient for my early flight the next morning. However not everyone likes such cozy quarters; check out this Los Angeles Times review of the Gatwick hotel.

When: The hotel is taking reservations for stays starting June 7, and the introductory rate is based on availability.

Tested: I went to Yotel’s website and found a room June 17 to 19 for $149 plus tax a night. I called the hotel and learned the introductory rate is available online only. Also, the June 7 date is a “soft” or early opening, with a grand opening set for June 13.

Contact: Yotel in New York City, 570 Tenth Ave. (at West 42nd Street); (646) 449-7700