Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Metropolitan New York City

The Doubletree Metropolitan is surprisingly stylish for a chain hotel. The reception area is bright and elegant, with marble tile floors, attractive globe lighting fixtures, sleek, and large, colorful artwork behind the light wood reception desks. The lobby lounge features cozy, modern cream seating and an Asian-inspired room divider. The hotel completed major renovations in 2013, but it's an older properties and still has a few quirks (such as lack of individual temperature control in the rooms). Overall, it's a solid upscale option in Midtown East, especially among the suit-and-tie set.

Located in Midtown East, the Doubletree sits in a cluster of big, mostly old (and typically more expensive) hotels. The Benjamin is on the same block, and the InterContinental, Marriott New York East Side, W New York, and Waldorf Astoria, are all within just a few blocks. The hotel's entrance is right on Lexington Avenue, a street busy with cars (the better to get a taxi), but relatively little foot traffic.

Surrounded by many of Manhattan's corporate skyscrapers, the area around the hotel is busy during the day as office workers arrive via subway or train at Grand Central. After work, some of these folks stick around for a quick drink, but the area quickly empties out in the evenings and is relatively quiet. It's extremely safe, but not very exciting. However, the hotel is within just a few blocks of some of high-end shopping on Fifth and Madison avenues, and both Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art (the MoMA) are within a 10-minute walk. In terms of transportation, the hotel is near seven subway lines (4, 5, 6, 7, E, M, and S), most accessible via Grand Central Station. Visitors can grab the shuttle train there and be at Times Square in less than five minutes.

Rooms at the Doubletree are surprisingly stylish for a chain hotel. They're decorated in grays, whites, and blues, and featuring clean, modern lines. Flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations come with every room, and beds are comfortable. Some rooms also feature terraces, which bring even more natural light into the already bright spaces. Bathrooms are similarly contemporary, with generic toiletries. Just note that there is a daily fee for Wi-Fi, and rooms lack both coffeemakers and individual temperature controls.

There are ample features for business travelers at the Doubletree, including lots of meeting space on the top floor of the hotel. These penthouse rooms feature large terraces offering views of Midtown East’s skyscrapers. There are also several ballrooms on lower levels. In addition, there is a 24-hour business center on the first floor that, while small, is well-equipped with several computer stations, a flat-screen TV, and a printer/scanner system.

A 24-hour fitness center is free for guests. It is a large space with multiple machines and weights and, unlike many Manhattan fitness centers, it does have some natural light. Dining at the Doubletree is convenient, though there is no full-service restaurant on premises. The Met Grill serves breakfast daily and features a buffet, but closes each day late morning. The Met Lounge -- the lobby bar -- is a relaxing space to have a drink or grab a quick bite, and is decorated with dark woods and maroon seating. The nail salon and a barber shop on the ground floor of the hotel also have separate entrances on 51st Street. Though not owned by the hotel, many guests make use of both spaces, as well as a currency exchange office located in the same wing.