Chelsea Star Hotel

"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
September/October/November 2000