A lovely boutique hotel with an Art Deco vibe, the Seton offers chic, if small, rooms in a convenient Midtown location. Amenities are few -- there is no on-site fitness center (the hotel offers free passes to a gym nearby), spa, or restaurant -- but a lovely lounge, and freebies such as Wi-Fi and coffee, make this property a solid mid-range option.

This 80-room budget hotel -- sister property to Hotel 17 a little farther downtown -- is a great value. Many rooms have their own unique decor, down to the patterned wallpaper and outdated bedspreads. That being said, the hotel is clean and maintained by a longstanding housekeeping staff, and technology includes flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Room sizes and types vary: some have private bathrooms while others are shared -- though it is rare to run into the neighbors except while waiting for the single (and slow) elevator.

Situated on the edge of Chinatown, the two-and-a-half-pearl Comfort Inn is within a five-minute walk of the subway and restaurants on the trendy Lower East Side. The 40 modern rooms are adequately-sized for New York, with rooms located higher up offering better views and less noise. In-room amenities include flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, and air-conditioning, and the hotel features a small fitness room, free continental breakfast, small business center, and free high speed Wi-Fi. These kind of extras won't be found in many budget properties in Manhattan. Want more peace and quiet? The Fairfield Inn and Suites located in the heart of Chinatown, has larger rooms with less noise, but with a higher price tag. 

This virtually flawless 88-room TriBeCa hotel (opened in 2008 by Robert de Niro, among others) offers large, homey rooms, breathtaking design, and very attentive service. Even better: free Wi-Fi; free minibar snacks; and free Wii video games by request. Better still: an underground pool; Shibui Spa; premier gym; and the homestyle Italian Locanda Verde restaurant.

The Midtown outpost of this four-and-a-half-pearl hotel remains a mainstay for travelers loyal to the brand, but it has some quirks and drawbacks that should be noted. A bold statement is made from the start, with grandiose interiors designed by I.M. Pei, yet beyond the marble-clad lobby, Four Seasons New York delivers an abbreviated version of a luxury hotel experience. Features check high-end boxes -- there's a bar with top-notch cocktails and 24-hour room service -- but the hotel lacks a dinner restaurant, the spa and small gym are in the basement, and there's no pool. Its 368 spacious guest rooms and suites are sophisticated and comfortably staid, with custom-made furniture, minibars, and bathrobes, though high-end amenities like espresso machines and iPod docks are missing. Travelers looking for a step up in features can try The St. Regis New York. 

Between the contemporary art (even in the guest rooms) and the high-design lobby, this luxury boutique feels as much like a SoHo gallery as a hotel. Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art, and Fifth Avenue are all within a three block radius. The cheapest rooms might feel like a tight squeeze but they're spacious for New York standards and lofted suites with expansive balconies are more like luxury apartments than hotel rooms. David Chang's Ma Peche restaurant and Milk Bar are hot spots for Manhattanites and hotel guests. There isn't a fitness center but guests get free passes to a nearby gym and pool. Chambers Hotel is a rare find for the Midtown East neighborhood. Though prices are high, most hotels in this neighborhood (St. Regis New York,The Peninsula New York, Four Seasons New York) are even higher and they don't offer room service by David Chang.

This property delivers on all of the Hampton Inn staples, and the convenient Midtown East location makes it a solid pick for both business and leisure travelers. Constructed from the ground up in 2013, the 148-room hotel is fresh and modern. Guests get free Wi-Fi, a free hot breakfast, a 24-hour business center, and a well-equipped fitness center (though it's in the basement). Rooms are comfortable, with large beds and flat-screen TVs; they're a decent size for New York City, and at least four feature balconies.

With a convenient location, spacious, modern rooms, and freebies such as hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, this Hyatt Place is a solid value pick in Midtown. Though the surrounding area isn't particularly attractive, the hotel is within walking distance of numerous sights, shops, restaurants, and offices, making it a popular choice among business and leisure travelers. Amenities aren't extensive, but the hotel meets most guests' needs with a small fitness center, business center, and cafe that offers sandwiches, salads, and small plates 24/7.

Located in Lower Manhattan in the heart of the financial district, this DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel property is an upper-middle-range property that's popular with business travelers. Its 399 rooms are compact in size, but clean, tastefully decorated, and outfitted with flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and coffeemakers. Amenities include an on-site Italian restaurant and bar, a fitness center, and a meeting room, but there are complaints of slow elevators, and Wi-Fi is only free for Hilton HHonors members (which guests can join for free). Travelers may also want to consider the Millenium Hilton, which for similar rates, offers a 40-foot indoor pool and impressive city views from the guest rooms.

Clean, comfortable, and convenient, the 184-room Hampton Inn is a fine pick for the buck, especially given its free continental breakfast, fitness center, and Wi-Fi. But in this location, just outside Times Square by the Port Authority bus depot, there are no glittering lights -- it's quiet, but not very pretty.