Hotel Le Bleu

This stainless steel and glass hotel, opened in 2007, is located on a busy, industrial street on the edge of the brownstone-filled neighborhood of Park Slope. The hotel exudes modern style inside, and as the name suggests, blue is a prominent motif here: Blue accents fill the lobby, elevators, and hallways. A small yet bright lobby is tastefully decorated with a sleek marble front desk, low minimalist blue couches, and glass and wood veneer-paneled walls.There are no real property features, aside from a business center, and the rooms are the real draw here. Each of the 48 units has exceptional design and amenities. Details such as textured wallpaper, goose-down comforters, and Bose sound systems add to the high-end feel. Rooms are spacious by Manhattan standards, each measuring around 300 square feet, and all but nine feature private balconies. Sure, the views are hardly breathtaking -- graffiti-clad buildings and a U-Haul facility overshadow the Manhattan skyline in the distance -- but for those guests looking to save some cash, Hotel Le Bleu is one of Brooklyn's sexiest options.

Hotel Le Bleu is surrounded by high-rise apartment complexes and industrial businesses (a medical center, a taxi depot, a U-Haul center), so business and leisure travelers will find little of interest immediately nearby. But a 10-minute (gradually uphill) walk away is one of Brooklyn’s finest attractions, Prospect Park. Plenty of Park Slope's trendy and unique shops, restaurants, and bars are one block east of the hotel, along Fifth Avenue. Those staying in Brooklyn strictly for the cheaper rates can access Manhattan’s famous sights and attractions via the three subway lines located within six blocks; it's roughly a 20-minute ride into downtown Manhattan.- Three-minute walk to Fifth Avenue, Park Slope's main commercial strip

• Four-minute walk to F, G, and R subway lines at 4th Ave. - 9th St. station
• Five-minute walk to R subway line at Union St. station
• 10-minute walk to Prospect Park
• 30-minute walk to Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• 40-minute drive to LaGuardia Airport
• 45-minute drive to John F. Kennedy International Airport

At 300 square feet, all 48 of Hotel Le Bleu’s standard rooms are larger than the average New York City hotel room. All are colorful and modern, with furnishings from Kartell, Sealy custom-made orthopedic beds, cool blue accent lighting, and sleek white surfaces. The design maximizes the space, with modular shelving and a desk for storage of the majority of the amenities (city guides and magazines, Keurig coffeemakers, small closets, Bose speakers, and iHome docking stations). Forty-two-inch flat-screen TVs come with 150-plus DIRECTV channels, including HBO and Starz. Well-stocked minibars and mini-fridges include wine, beer, soda, water, candies, nuts, and chips. The majority of rooms also have balconies, though only one folding chair is provided and the street and alley views leave much to be desired. Most units feature balconies, though some face the back of the hotel, with less-than-thrilling views of an alley and U-Haul depot.Small bathrooms offer little in the way of privacy, with only a sliding frosted glass door dividing the toilet from the rest of the room. The roomy glass-enclosed tile showers feature Grohe rainfall showerheads and wall-mounted hotel-brand bath products. The glass wall is open to the rest of the room, but there are privacy curtains. Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and hairdryers.

Hotel Le Bleu's main common feature is its small business center with three computer stations, a printer, a conference table that seats six, and plenty of city guides. Free first-come/first-serve parking is available in a small, street-facing lot and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Free refreshments upon arrival include water and snacks, and there is a free continental breakfast served in morning.