Chelsea Star Hotel
(877) 827-NYNY
300 West 30th Street
at 8th Avenue New York, NY 10001 Toll Free: (877) 827-NYNY [827-6969] Voice: (212) 244-STAR [244-7827] Fax: (212) 279-9018  "International guests pulled from a Benetton ad were checking in, logging on (two computers are available for $2 per 20 minutes; also free WiFi) and vegging out in the lived-in lounge, which comes with a TV, books and hot coffee until 11 a.m. For a breath of fresh city air, an outdoor deck with umbrella-covered tables stays open year-round; the cold did not seem to deter the hardier Europeans from breakfasting alfresco." "The 16 single and double rooms with shared bath are campily decorated, with such themes as Coney Island, Esther Williams and "The King and I." For both of our stays, we were assigned the Shakespeare room, which had a romantic sweep of curtains over the bed and etched prose on the wall." "THE BATHROOM: The bathroom-to-guest-room ratio is about 1 to 4, and the distance between the two was close enough that we could make a mad dash in our jammies without getting busted. [...] The checked tile is very mod, the sink large enough to sail toy boats in and the overall sanitation level high enough to pass Mr. Clean's test." Andrea Sachs   "From street level, the nondescript door hardly looks like a hotel entrance. But up a narrow stairway, you'll find one of bargain lodging's best-kept secrets. Two years ago, owners Ted an Claudia Howard transformed the former hot-sheets transient hotel (Madonna lived here before her big break) into a charming, funky find facing Madison Square Garden. The clientele is largely youthful and European; the flavor, decidedly arty. A small second floor lobby is painted a cheerful yellow with blue cityscapes and glass brick; sounds of a fountain echo through industrial-chic hallways of pressed tin and exposed brick." "...artist Rob Graf designed each [room] with a unique theme. The Shakespeare Room's walls are lined with sonnets and gray velvet swags; the Orbit Room's deep blue walls and ceilings glow with fluorescent stars at night. Baths are clean and new, with gray slate and black marble; all are shared (generally one shower and two toilets per six-room floor). All the rooms have TVs. "...light sleepers might want a room facing away from Eighth Avenue. Décor varies dramatically, so get a room list ahead of time and choose one to suit your taste." "Suites with baths are available in the building next door..."
Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel |
"You may think you come home every night to a cramped studio apartment, but as far as your friends and relatives back home are concerned, it's a cozy bed-and-breakfast. If you'd rather not play host, but feel guilty sending your loved ones to an exorbitant midtown hotel, Arthur Frommer, publisher of the Frommer's travel books and the undisputed master of budget travel, recommends the Chelsea Star, a funky, twenty-room hotel near Madison Square Garden (300 West 30th Street; 212-244-7827)." "It has real flair. You don't even feel like you're in a hotel," he says. And at less than $100 a night it certainly doesn't cost as much."
Emily Gitter "I'm not paying that: The Chelsea Star Hotel, Eighth Avenue is not to be confused with the rather more notorious Chelsea Hotel, and of course is not as lovely as The Mercer - but whaddya want for a star-themed double from $82 (£55)?"
By Nick Coleman "You don't need a Wall Street salary to get to the core of the Big Apple, says SEAN NEWSOM" "New York City on a budget? It might seem hard to believe, but it's not out of the question. Most of the fun to be had in this city comes simply from being there, so, once you've sorted out flights and accommodation, you're set. Provided, of course, you stay out of those shops." "Hostels: The Chelsea Star Hotel (00 1 212-244 7827; www.starhotelny.com - from $20 a night) has the best dorms in town - light and airy, and fairly close to the action."
By Sean Newsom |
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