• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • FAQ
  • Links

Caroline in the City Travel Blog

Responsible travel for millennials

  • Start Here
    • About Caroline
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • City Guides
    • Girlfriend Getaways
    • Hip Neighborhoods
    • Packing Advice
    • Personal Growth
    • Responsible Travel
    • Street Art
  • Destinations
  • Gear
    • Australia Packing List
    • Travel Insurance
  • Life List
    • Life List Continued
  • Working Holiday
You are here: Home / hostels / Why Tiny Sleeps are Best in NYC

Why Tiny Sleeps are Best in NYC

January 30, 2019 by Caroline 1 Comment

Let’s face it: accommodations in big cities eat up most of your travel budget. And in New York City, your money doesn’t get you quite as much as it does elsewhere. Similar to apartments, hotel rooms are generally smaller.

But for me, that’s just fine. When I visit the city, I am happy to sacrifice the size of my room for great locations, reasonable prices, and hotel amenities. Here are just a few of the places that understand that tiny sleeps are the way to go.

This post contains affiliate links that can earn this website a small income. They will not cost you anything to use.

Ace Hotel

艾斯酒店, 紐約艾斯酒店, 紐約, 紐約市, 美國, 美利堅合眾國, Ace Hotel, Ace Hotel New York, New York, New York City, The City of New York, United States of America, United States, America, The States, USA, US
Credit: bryansjs

This stylish hotel brand has locations around the country. Their New York outpost has varying room sizes, including “mini” and bunk rooms for $139, which come with a mini refrigerator, fully-stocked minibar, free WiFi, vintage furnishings, bathrobes, and luxury toiletries. Their lobby has a popular coffee shop and lounge, always busy with digital nomads and remote workers, as well as three restaurants and shops.

Book here

Bowery House

Credit: The Bowery House

Located in one of New York’s oldest neighborhoods, the modern-day Bowery House was built in 1927 as a hotel before it was reconfigured for lodging for World War II soldiers. Like with The Jane, it’s made up of single room cabins with communal hallway bathrooms that cost around $50 per night.

But they also have modern full sized rooms. Hotel features include free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, a store, and top-notch toiletries. It’s a short walk from trendy Nolita boutiques and Chinatown eateries.

Freehand New York

View this post on Instagram

A day well done. 📷: @beckyfmartin #freehandwalls #nyc #freehandnewyork

A post shared by Freehand Hotels (@freehandhotels) on Apr 23, 2018 at 5:45pm PDT

I’d previously stayed Freehand’s Miami and Chicago locations. Their New York outpost is in the Flatiron District in the former George Washington Hotel. It’s designed by Roman and Williams, the team behind their other spots, and decorated with Bard College student artwork.

They have a podcast studio, their award-winning Broken Shaker bar, and chic rooms for around $100. The Artist room has a twin bed, Argan bath products, WiFi, and a TV.

Book here

The Jane (now closed)

Located in the trendy Meatpacking District, The Jane was originally a home for sailors that housed some of the survivors of The Titanic. I’ve stayed here twice because it’s usually around $100 per night and you can’t beat the location, steps away from the High Line and the Whitney.

Rooms are tight, but there’s storage for everything. Bathrooms are down the hall and you get a robe and slippers for your stay. The hotel also has a rooftop bar and a popular basement venue. There’s also an attached cafe where you can eat breakfast.

Moxy Hotel

Moxy Hotel

This hotel is close to the Subway and only a few blocks from the Javits Center. Amenities include self-check-in, luggage storage, free morning coffee, and an onsite restaurant and bar. They also host special events like pop-ups and there’s also a tattoo parlor.

The rooms are small, with storage mainly tucked underneath or on hooks, but have everything you might need. There’s a television and seating, with a sink in the bedroom and an attached bathroom and shower. This is a great option if you don’t plan on spending a ton of time in your room. The brand has locations in Times Square, Chelsea, Downtown, and the East Village.

Book here

Pod Hotels

On my most recent stay, I finally stayed at the Pod Hotels, which have multiple locations around the city, including Pod 39, Pod 51, and Pod Times Square. They are well located and have multiple room options, including bunks like this room that I shared with my sister.

Each bunk has its own plugs and television. The bathrooms are small, but the hotel itself has free WiFi, tours, and a tiki-style cocktail bar. It was also only a block or so away from the Subway and Times Square, with rooms for around $130 per night.

Book here

Row NYC

When I traveled to New York for work frequently, I usually tried to add on a day before or after for fun. I found this affordable 28-floor hotel in Times Square, which has its own mini food hall, bar, store, computers for guest use, and free WiFi.

Guests can choose the size of the room they want, like the under $100 deluxe rooms, but expect to pay more for larger rooms. They come with TVs and WiFi.

Book here

Yotel

Yotel NYC
Credit: Frank Tasche

Another hotel known for its small but affordable rooms is Yotel. Located near Times Square and the Javits Center, you can usually get one of their rooms for under $100. Their Solo room has one bed, free WiFi, televisions, and ensuite bathrooms. The hotel itself has a luggage robot (!), rooftop terrace, and an in-house bar and restaurant.

Book here

Don’t forget about private rooms at hostels, which can be just as cheap, if not cheaper, than these hotels. I recommend Hosteling International.

Would you stay in one of these tiny rooms?

Filed Under: hostels, hotels, New York, New York City, travel, USA Tagged With: budget travel, hostels, hotels, New York, New York City, United States

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda Brown says

    August 6, 2019 at 5:07 pm

    Awesome Post, Keep up the good work, I love Newyork city

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

About Caroline

Hi, I'm Caroline. I'm a professional storyteller, sharing experiences from life abroad and my own backyard. This blog began as a way to document my twenties as I lived in a city I adored and attended college. But from there, it developed into a journal of my travels as well as my ideas about life … Read more about About Caroline

Buy my book!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Visit Our Sister Site

Copyright © 2025 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in