The best affordable hotels in New York City

Arlo SoHo has made it cool to book tiny hotel rooms, popularizing the trend of micro hotels where quarters barely measure 150 square feet. Sure, the bathroom is nearly reachable from your pillow, but the cozy nook beds are actually places where you'll want to curl up and hit snooze. Cheapest options include bunk bed, queen, or king options, that range in price depending on the view, and the time of year.

Plus, what it lacks in size, Arlo makes up for with fun common spaces including four bars, an on-site restaurant, co-working space, rooftop lounge, and a seasonal courtyard. And, it starts at only $103 in slower months, which a great deal for typically expensive SoHo.

Pros: Cheap prices and cool SoHo location.

Cons: The room sizes can feel shockingly small and bathrooms lack privacy, so, prepare yourself.

COVID-19 policies: All Arlo hotels have a Rest Assured policy that includes:

• Mobile check-in/check-out via the Arlo app.
• Housekeeping services will only be provided upon request in stay-over rooms.
• Guest rooms will remain vacant a minimum of 24 hours.
• Clorox360 Antimicrobial fogging sanitizing & cleaning system will be used in all guest rooms just prior to releasing the rooms for sale.
• Read more here.

Ace Hotels have long established themselves as a cool and also affordable boutique offering, with outposts in cities like Portland, Palm Springs, Seattle and more. Rooms are minimal and small (which keeps prices low) with the focus on common spaces that invite guests to linger and mingle.

The New York location is equally hip with industrial-meets-masculine decor. The lobby is bustling with creative types who camp out with laptops, and on-site food, drink, and shopping are all top-notch. Single, small, or bunk-bed rooms offer the cheapest rates. Never mind the smaller quarters, the real scene is happening outside the room anyway.

Pros: The hip Ace brand reputation delivers on cool factor with excellent on-site stores and eateries that may very well keep you on-property your whole stay.

Cons: Rooms are indeed small, especially bunk bed options, and some show wear and tear.

COVID-19 policies: The Ace Hotel has implemented new policies that include:

• All staff and guests must wear face coverings in public areas and masks are available for guests.
• Implementing deep cleaning and sanitation of public spaces on an hourly schedule.
• Guest rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and then sealed for your safety for a minimum of 24 hours prior to the next guest arrival to allow for proper deep cleaning.
• Limiting the number of reservations and safely distancing occupied rooms.
• Read more here.

The Freehand New York is a good pick for budget-conscious travelers who still want serious style, as well as convenience and personality. It also feels more in the know than the similar concept presented at Ace Hotels.

Art-filled accommodations are steeped in character and prices are especially reasonable if you select a bunk bed room or standard offering. Rooms still feel fairly new, too.

Pros: This hotel is hip and cool with excellent on-site food and drink.

Cons: Outside noise bleeds into rooms and may make sleep difficult if you're sensitive to it.

COVID-19 policies: The Freehand hotel brand has implemented new policies across all properties that include:

• Online check-in options.
• All food and beverage offerings will be grab-and-go.
• Masks and other hygiene products are available for purchase in travel shops and vending machines.
• Deep cleaning increased throughout the hotels.
• Read more here.

Marriott's outpost in the East Village from their affordable boutique Moxy brand is a four-star hotel themed after the neighborhood's vibrant local art and culture. There are clear nods to rock and roll, street art, and other East Village countercultures.

Rooms are small but make thoughtful use of storage and design, and the starting price of $185 midweek makes it one of the better-appointed and more affordable options in the hip, popular neighborhood.

Pros: Marriott Bonvoy earning potential, cool Moxy brand clout, and East Village location.

Cons: Room rates can seem expensive considering many rooms are on the smaller side.

COVID-19 policies: Moxy is part of the Marriott Bonvoy brand and will be following Marriott's new 'Global Cleanliness Council' policies that include:

• New cleaning technologies that include electrostatic sprayers for touchless disinfecting capabilities and cleaning processes.
• Surfaces are treated with hospital-grade disinfectants and cleaning is done with increased frequency.
• In guest rooms, Marriott has added detailed cleaning practices, requiring all surfaces be thoroughly cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. The company will also be placing disinfecting wipes in each room for guests' personal use.
• Signage in lobbies will remind guests to maintain social distancing protocols.
• Added partitions at front desks provide an extra level of precaution for guests and associates.
• More hand sanitizing stations around Marriott's hotels particularly near the entrances and front desks, elevator banks, fitness areas, and meeting spaces.
• Read more here.

Kixby in Herald Square in Midtown Manhattan recently went through an impressive redesign and both guest rooms and public spaces benefitted from the updated treatment. The space has an intimate members-only club feel, and rooms are quiet.

Newer renovated Lux rooms start at $295 per night, but it's actually the older but still worthy Classic rooms that deserve your attention here as they are actually larger than the new upgraded offering, and start as low as $152.

Pros: The vintage-inspired style and decor are fun and photogenic and the hotel's bar is headed up by industry pro.

Cons: The best deals are for older rooms, which while larger than renovated options, still feel a bit dated.

COVID-19 policies: This hotel is currently closed until November 2, 2020.

Rooms at the four-star Park South Hotel are straightforward but well-appointed in Manhattan's super central NoMad neighborhood. The hotel is a member of World of Hyatt's Joie de Vivre upscale portfolio ensuring your stay will be comfortable and chic, in line with the boutique line's standards. Prices in low season start around $150, making it one of the most reasonably-priced higher-end, four-star properties on our list.

Pros: The on-site food and drink are excellent and should be woven into any stay here.

Cons: Pricing is also unstable and can surge hundreds higher at busy times.

COVID-19 policies: This hotel is currently closed until October 1, 2020.

MADE Hotel is a boutique property with budget prices in slower seasons. It's a great find for travelers who appreciate boho-chic design, cool hotel hangout spots, and curated lush green plants. The intricate design has solidified this hotel as an experiential, one-of-a-kind property, unlike any chain offering nearby.

Rooms are minimal with standard rooms featuring beds perched atop platforms and tribal fabrics.

Pros: Standard entry-level rooms are arguably just as nice as more expansive, and expensive suites, offering compelling value.

Cons: Many guestroom bathrooms aren't designed in the most efficient way and become messy easily. Watch out for busy seasons when prices can rise dramatically.

COVID-19 policies: All Made hotels are rolling out new procedures that include:

• Guest rooms will be left un-entered for 24 hours.
• Rooms will only be serviced upon request.
• Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting in public spaces.
• Following cleaning and disinfecting protocols to clean rooms, with particular attention paid to high-touch items.
• Read more here.

If you love Ace hotels but prefer a more understated approach, Sister City is a good fit. It's a spin-off property from the creative studio behind Ace Hotel and caters to the experienced, busy traveler who appreciates modern amenities and independence. Self-service tablets guide guests through check-in, while amenities and housekeeping are available on demand.

It's a smart approach for savvy guests looking to avoid the pain points of crowded hotels and prefer a low-key approach, but with just as much style as a hip boutique spot.

Pros: A self-service approach helps things to run smoothly and keeps price points low.

Cons: Rooms can feel small for two people.

COVID-19 policies: This has currently suspended hotel operations and has not announced when they will reopen.

The Evelyn is a historic NoMad hotel that underwent a multi-million dollar renovation for an Art Deco-inspired look that's very charming. While many rooms and public spaces were updated, the hotel still preserved the building's iconic roots in music and history by maintaining original design details, which you'll find in restaurants and in guest rooms.

Pros: The Art Deco style envelops you in a stay that feels worlds away.

Cons: Rooms are on the small side, making it ideal for a solo business traveler, or couples looking for an intimate, boutique stay.

COVID-19 policies: This hotel is currently closed through September 15, 2020.

Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel from World of Hyatt, offers boutique personality under $200 pretty regularly. Warm and welcoming, the cozy decor is inspired by Aspen country houses for an overall vibe that feels rustic, and far from its corporate Financial District surroundings.

Standard rooms hover between $170 and $200, making it an interesting, out-of-the-box option for an otherwise generic hotel-filled neighborhood.

Pros: Intricate design and decor is refreshing in the Financial District.

Cons: Starter rooms and on-site amenities are small, in particular, the gym.

COVID-19 policies: This hotel has been recently reopened with new procedures in place including:

• Masks required at all times in public areas by staff and guests.
• Hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the hotel's public areas.
• Mobile check-in and keyless entry are available via the World of Hyatt app.
• Guests receive a personal Wellness Kit, which includes a single-use mask, sanitizing wipes and remote control sleeve.
• All hard and soft surfaces in guest rooms are cleaned and sanitized, and guest rooms are sealed for a minimum of 24-hours prior to arrival. Electro-static sprayers are used for enhanced measures.
• Housekeeping services can be scheduled or declined based on guest's preferences.
• Fitness Centers are open, though reservations are required and can be made through the front desk.
• See more info here.

Forget Manhattan, Greenpoint is one of this New Yorker's favorite neighborhoods in the city, and the Henry Norman Hotel is a hidden gem that's well-suited to explore it. This wonderful corner of New York filled with incredible restaurants (don't miss the authentic Polish food), a fun bar scene, and boutique shopping.

Housed in a converted 19th-century warehouse, the hotel's standard studio loft rooms are large and start at $169 a night, with a bright, modern eclectic vibe with far more space than you're likely to find in Manhattan for the same price (a general trend on this side of the river).

There's no on-site dining, but a complimentary shuttle transports guests anywhere within a mile of the hotel, and there are two 24-hour common terraces with great skyline views. There's also a laundry room that's free to use, which is a nice value, considering it's a common hotel upcharge.

Pros: Greenpoint. If this isn't your first visit to New York (in which case, you probably want to stay closer to the action), this is a neighborhood that should not be missed. Plus the rooms are quite nice and spacious.

Cons: Greenpoint. If you're planning to spend all your time in Midtown Manhattan, it won't be the easiest transfer.

COVID-19 policies: This hotel is open with updated procedures in place that include:

• The complimentary shuttle is temporarily suspended.
• Hand sanitizers are located throughout the hotel.
• Enhanced and more frequent cleaning protocols have been implemented in guest rooms, common areas, and back-of-house areas.
• All guests and employees are required to wear masks at all times in public areas.
• Cleaning and disinfecting of the room key card will happen with every check-in, and there is a drop off key disposal for a touchless check-out.
• If your stay is less than three days, no hotel personnel will enter your room during your stay except by request.
• See more info here.

I've seen Hotel 50 Bowery, a World of Hyatt Joie de Vivre boutique property, priced as low as $115 per night in winter, though $200 is probably a safer average.

Hotel 50 Bowery brings design-forward decor to the edgy Lower East Side taking inspiration from rich cultural surroundings. If you snag one of those cheaper rates, use the extra cash to upgrade to a balcony room for beautiful views of New York City and order a round of drinks at the rooftop bar.

Pros: The style-minded lobby and rooms are fun and functional, and the views and rooftop are stellar.

Cons: Some may find the LES/Chinatown base to be noisy and far from tourist sightseeing.

COVID-19 policies: This hotel has implemented new policies that include:

• Limits on the number of people in an elevator and fitness center at one time.
• Frequent cleaning of high traffic public spaces and touchpoints.
• More frequent replacement of HVAC filters in guestrooms and public spaces with HEPA filters.
• Revised guestroom setups and the removal of high touch items.
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures of all guestrooms.
• Read more here.