Avalon Hotel

This 100-room boutique hotel emanates traditional New York glamour -- with marble columns, gold-trimmed mirrors, and ornate plasterwork adorning the hallways and lobby -- however, if you look a little closer, you can see that some of that glamour has started to fade. (You may notice peeling wallpaper and worn table edges, for example.) In back of the lobby there is a plush, Library Club Room with red velvet chairs -- perhaps the only updated part of the hotel. The location in this area of midtown Manhattan does provide a decent value, with many attractions and restaurants close by. Though for a self-described “boutique” hotel, it lacks in personal touches and style, compared to other chicer boutiques nearby, like The Roger. Some other New York boutiques offer extras such as wine hours, pet-friendly policies, robes and slippers, above-average toiletry kits, and welcome drinks -- all of that is missing here. Guests at the Avalon Hotel are largely tourists, families, and couples excited to tour the big city.

At the edge of Midtown East, located between the friendly, post-collegiate Murray Hill area and lively Koreatown, the hotel is on a relatively quiet street for the bustling neighborhood. Koreatown offers a variety of Asian cuisine options right outside. It is very convenient to transportation: Penn Station and Grand Central Station are each about a 10-minute walk, and there are several different subway lines to choose from in a three block radius. It’s also close to some of the great sights of the Big Apple: Macy’s, Bryant Park and the New York Public Library are within walking distance, and its just a little farther to Times Square and the Theater District. The Empire State Building is two blocks away.

Continuing the hotel’s classic style, the rooms have old-fashioned touches like striped wallpaper and gold-framed mirrors, mixed with modern amenities, including flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. Rooms, with wood floors and nice bedding, are very comfortable and a good size for Manhattan (a minimum of 225 square feet), where spaces can be small.The clean, marble-tiled bathrooms are a bit cramped, though. There is a mini-fridge full of snacks for a fee, and also a second fridge or cooler for personal items. There are no coffeemakers in the rooms (there is a free espresso machine in the lobby.) But for accommodation advertised as a four-star hotel, it's surprising to find many shabby details: peeling wall paper, worn furniture, ripped curtain edges, and a rusted, missing piece of the sink hardware.

One of the most attractive spaces in the hotel is the Library Club Room, a sitting area with luxe velvet chairs, warm decor, and an espresso machine where guests grab coffee and hot chocolate at all times of the day. The business center consists of two computers with speedy Internet, also in the Library Room. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, though reception can be spotty in guest rooms. The modern fitness room, with a decent selection of machines, is open 24 hours.

The continental breakfast is basic for the considerable fee. (Mine came to a whopping $16.) It includes of lots of nice pastries, fresh fruit, bagels and bread with jam -- but no hot options (like sausage, bacon or eggs). There is no bar or restaurant in the hotel, and no room service available, though there are lots of dining options right in the neighborhood.