The Dream Downtown is an aggressively modern hotel located directly behind the Maritime in Chelsea. The hotel blends public spaces together in a unique way: The fitness center has portholes overlooking the pool, and the pool itself has a glass bottom that looks down into the lobby. The hotel's scene is decidedly hip, especially at PH-D lounge (a popular celeb haunt) -- with stunning, sweeping views of Manhattan, PH-D is easily one of the best parts of the hotel. Gold King rooms have portholes surrounding the bed with killer views. But the super modern, futuristic touches can be weird (such as the odd lighting near the minibar, and overly metallic bathrooms), making the space feel less comfortable.

This 280-room Hilton in northern Chelsea shines with well-appointed rooms (Frette linens, 37-inch flat-screens, iPod docks), an excellent restaurant (Rare Bar & Grill), a rooftop bar, and 24-hour room service. It's a solid mid-range pick in a convenient (if unexciting) neighborhood, but it's rivaled by the nearby Hotel Indigo, so it's worth comparing rates.

A stylish lobby, big, beautiful rooms with Frette sheets and 37-inch flat-screens make this 292-room Kimpton the best hotel in a developing pocket of northern Chelsea. It also offers easy access to the tourist sites.

Housed in a unique building in the heart of artsy Chelsea -- near the clubs and designer flagships of the Meatpacking District -- the 120-room, nautical-themed Maritime boutique hotel offers luxury-level comfort at a very reasonable price (thanks, in part, to its slip off the "cool kid" radar since 2003 and especially after the Standard hotel opened in 2009).

Hovering above the High Line on concrete pillars, this one-of-a-kind Meatpacking District hotel offers 338 light-flooded, ultra-mod rooms with panoramic views of the city; one restaurant, several popular bars; and excellent service. It might just be the hippest hotel in New York City.

Opened in October 2009, this 122-room boutique in midtown Manhattan is a full-service hotel in miniature, with plush rooms, excellent views of midtown, a gym, a business center, an elegant restaurant and lounge, and a 19th-floor rooftop bar. Comfortable and well-equipped rooms are hard to beat, for the price -- only those at the nearby Fashion 26 can compare.

Opened in 2008, this modern 226-room Holiday Inn is a great value. Rooms are particularly small, but they're clean and all have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and comfy beds. The on-site gym and business center are big pluses for the price. Just note that its location in artsy Chelsea is 20 blocks from the tourist hubs.

Located on an unpopular side street, a bit cut off from most major attractions (though they are all accessible by subway), this 228-room Holiday Inn Express is significantly cheaper than its sisters, and just about every other hotel in New York. Given its free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and 24 hour gym, plus a cute outdoor courtyard, it's an incredible value.

When a good bed and a little desk space are all you need, the 158-room Four Points by Sheraton delivers, and then some -- free Wi-Fi; printing; gym; business center; room service. It's near the Chelsea art galleries, restaurants, and ample subway lines, too. But be sure to compare rates to the comparable Holiday Inn 6th Avenue before booking.

This budget 81-room hotel offers a convenient downtown New York location and proximity to Chelsea's art galleries and eclectic restaurants. Guests love the rates and accept the trade-offs: minimal services and smaller-than-average standard rooms.