BudgetTravel

MIDTOWN WEST

Ameritania
230 W. 54th St., 888/664-6835, nychotels.com
Chic, comfortable, and quite possibly the best hotel value in Gotham. Extra niceties include Belgian linens, on-demand movies, and a hopping lobby bar. Doubles from $165.

MIDTOWN WEST

Hotel QT
125 W. 45th St., 212/354-2323, hotelqt.com
Steps from Times Square, the latest property from hotelier wunderkind Andre Balazs. Attractively minimalist rooms with flat-screen TVs. And its lobby bar has a swimming pool-really! From $150.

UPPER EAST SIDE

Bentley Hotel
500 E. 62nd St., 212/644-6000, nychotels.com
A sister property to the Ameritania, this modern hotel is decked out in neutral tones, and delivers stylish comfort. Its library, rooftop restaurant with good skyline views, and proximity to Bloomies are big pluses. Doubles from $165.

UPPER WEST SIDE

Country Inn the City
270 W. 77th St., 212/580-4183, countryinnthecity.com
No, you're not in the Cotswolds, but this English-inspired inn might transport you. Country antiques, four-poster beds, and hunting-lodge accents sing with Old World charm. Downsides are no credit cards and its three-day minimum stay. Reservations only. Doubles from $150.

UPPER WEST SIDE

Jazz on the Park
36 W. 106th St., 212/932-1600, jazzonthepark.com
A funky hostel-inn run by a hands-on international crew who put on summer BBQs. Linens, lockers, and laundry facilities provided. Dorm rooms from $25/night, private rooms from $75.

SPLURGE

Hotel on Rivington
107 Rivington St., 212/475-2600, hotelonrivington.com
The brainchild of Surface magazine and a United Nations of industrial and interior designers, this ultrafab hotel is the first high-rise (and hotel you'd actually want to stay in) on the Lower East Side, which means 360-degree views from every glass-walled room. Guests coo about the deep egg-shaped Japanese-style soaking tubs. Doubles from $255.

TIP

Hoofing it in NYC: It takes the average person one minute to walk one "short" (north-south) block, and two minutes to walk one "long block" (east-west) in Manhattan. Do the math.