"If you want to live a truer New York experience than what you'll get at a luxury hotel, then immerse yourself in this Flatiron hotel. Street vendors, purse hustlers, and mom-and-pop restaurants populate this neighborhood and add the exhilarating buzz of working urban life. Walking a block will get you to the subway stop and two stations away from Times Square, although walking just a bit more will get you more of the taste of the city and to tourist central. The hotel also is less than a 10-minute walk from Penn Station, a cab fare-saving distance for those light on the luggage.

As for the hotel itself, the budget prices may reflect the area, but definitely not the service that commands rave reviews. Staff shows care, the rooms get spic-and-span cleaning every day, and upper floors command views of landmarks like the Empire State Building. (The disadvantage of upper floors might be getting down from them during prime times, given only two elevators.) Even New Yorkers who don't want to take a late train back to outlying areas crash here, since it's such a deal. Rooms may be a tad cramped, but they're sizable according to New York (and European) standards.

The hotel has about 69 rooms and suites. Continental breakfast is thrown in, but wireless has a daily charge. Another bonus is the CD library. You could pay more and not get half the attention, so if you don't mind a little reality check in the surroundings, this hotel's a dream. "