1. As the name suggests, the Sohotel embraces the eclectic mood of the Soho district with appropriately zany décor. Faux tiger skin couches and exotic chandeliers are just some of the wild design features in this trendy three- story hotel smack in the middle of Manhattan. The snug air conditioned rooms have private bathrooms and the friendly staff offers guests complimentary tea and coffee each morning. You can use their free Wi-Fi and get directions from the tour desk to nearby hotspots like the New Museum of Contemporary Art, the Bowery Ballroom and the world-famous Katz's Delicatessen. The subway station is just across the street or you can head off on foot to explore Soho, Chinatown, the Bowery or chill out at the Sara D. Roosevelt Park, one of the best people-watching spots in NYC.

2. With an address like Lexington & Park Avenue, you'd expect the rates at Hotel 31 to be pretty steep, but this newly refurbished hotel treats visitors on a budget to spacious air conditioned rooms with big windows and flashy decor. Save a bundle staying in the dorm rooms with color TVs and daily maid service with shared bathroom facilities on each floor that are kept clean around the clock. For a small splurge you can have a private single or double room with your own bath complete with toiletries. Next door is an authentic NYC deli/market where you can grab breakfast in the morning before heading out to explore the Kips Bay district packed with colleges and professional schools. Discover block after block of cool cafes, coffee houses and shops that cater to a wide range of tastes. Across the street there's a subway station for a quick trip to the Empire State Building or the Rubin Museum of Art and all points beyond.

3. Want to party like the beautiful people but stick to your budget? Then Hotel 17 is your kind of place considering that celebrities like Madonna crash there and Woody Allen used it as the setting for his film "Manhattan Murder Mystery." Loaded with character, the private rooms are a bargain and with self-catering facilities available you can stretch your budget even further. The shared bathrooms are nice and clean with privacy locks and there's Wi-Fi available for a small charge. Fluff up using your ensuite pedestal washbasin and hit the streets in style after riding the classic elevator down to street level. Explore the East Village where every block is alive with personality and just two blocks away is Union Square where you can catch the subway to all points in NYC and beyond. Dance the night away at one of the many upscale or grunge clubs in the area or settle in for a delicious ethnic dinner followed by a dazzling performance at an off-Broadway theater in nearby Greenwich Village. Right across the street is the famous Stuyvesant Park, a great place to settle in to watch the bustling city in action.

Live it up in a cheap hotel in New York City where the funky atmosphere can add even more zest to your vacation to the Big Apple.