Hotel Newton

If not for the sidewalk awning, it would be easy to miss this old hotel, situated along a busy stretch of Broadway. Inside, the pink granite tiles and frilly wallpaper may not fit with the times, but they suit this budget hotel just fine. There's no effort to appear modern for the tourists looking for a bargain on the Upper West Side that stay here. There's just one slow elevator for the nine-story building, but the old stairwells have been well-maintained.

Hotel Newton is in the Upper West Side, a swath of Manhattan real estate that runs from Central Park west to the Hudson River (and Riverside Park). The area is a mix of low-rise brownstones and tall, swanky apartment buildings thrown together with a few family-friendly museums. Newton is located on Broadway, the main artery of Manhattan. It can be a bit noisy, but it's home to plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. The 96th Street subway station is half a block away offering access to the 1, 2, and 3 trains. Riverside Park is just a five-minute walk to the west, and Central Park is under 10-minutes to the east. Museums in walking distance include the Children's Museum of Manhattan (13 minutes) and the American Museum of Natural History (20 minutes). By car, it takes a minimum of 25 minutes to reach LaGuardia airport and 35 minutes to get to either JFK or Newark, though transit times can be much longer depending on traffic.

Most of the hotel's 108 rooms are small and have dated decor, including red carpets, floral curtains, and budget wood furnishings. Dark crown moulding and framed prints of oil paintings add some character beyond the average two-pearl room, but there's little else of note. All have the basic essentials such as flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Most rooms have en-suite bathrooms with shower/tub combos, but some of the Standard Rooms have shared bathrooms. Deluxe Junior Suites have separate living areas with couches and kitchenettes, though these are really little more than alcoves with the addition of wet bars.

The Hotel Newton has no facilities other than a small Internet corner in the lobby, with two computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, but it costs extra. There's no restaurant or breakfast service, but the hotel does offer room service through an adjacent diner.