The folks at the Hotel Metro pride themselves on never overbooking, a common practice at larger properties. “I can count on one hand the number of times we had to walk a visitor to another property,” Amy Schmidt, the sales manager, told me. “And then it was because of a guest staying longer than they originally said they would.” It’s that sort of up-front friendliness and honesty that makes this a prime choice in midtown. It’s not the most stylish hotel (think rather bland, modern Art Deco décor, in tans and burgundies), but this 1901 property has capacious rooms for this price category, and such nice extras as a free--and generous—continental breakfast, a library that guests can use as a lounge, and roof-top bar with Empire State Building views. The gym is a good-size, too, also with terrific views, so you don’t have to stare at the wall as you work out. An excellent choice for families, as their two-room suite feature three, large beds (so no one gets stuck sleeping on the fold-out sofa).   

-Pauline Frommer