NH Collection New York Madison Avenue

On its website, the Jolly Madison bills itself as a "clever blend of Italian elegance and Art Deco flair" That's not quite accurate.The hotel is part of the Jolly Chain of Italian hotels that's akin to Marriotts in the U.S. In 2007, Jolly was taken over by a larger Spanish hotel group, NH Hotels. These business dealings don't have a direct effect on the average hotel guest, but they can be felt. Staying there, it's hard to get a handle on just what the hotel is trying to be and do. Rooms are clean enough but not sparkling, and décor in the standard rooms is dated, not boutique cute. The hotel's restaurant, Caffe Buongiorno, serves a buffet breakfast in a clean but boring setting. Amenities are lacking: no gym, no business center, and no spa. Still, for the hotel's price, it's clean and comfortable enough. Not surprisingly, it mostly attracts a European crowd -- young Italians and Spaniards looking for a cheapish place to stay, who've stayed in NH or Jolly hotels before. The overall vibe of the hotel is extremely relaxed. Children play on banisters in the lobby. Bellhops sport long hair or facial scruff. The adjoining bar boasts a two-for-one "Jolly Hour." Just note that due to the long, narrow lobby, the hotel doesn't have a grand entrance or inspire a communal feeling.

Though "Madison" is in its name, the Jolly Hotel Madison Towers entrance is actually on East 38th Street, not Madison Avenue. Madison Avenue is just around the corner, though it's not the famed fancy stretch of the avenue. That's another 20 blocks or so north.While there's a Staples across the street, the hotel is mostly surrounded by pretty, upscale residential buildings in Murray Hill. The hotel's immediate surroundings are relatively quaint for the area: There's an old, pretty church just around the block, as well as that New York rarity: trees. Two nicer, more expensive hotels, the Kitano and 70 Park Avenue, are also just around the corner.A variety of public transportation options are nearby, but all require at least a four-block walk. Grand Central Station is four and a half blocks away, with connections to the 4, 5, 6, and 7 subway lines, as well as a shuttle train to Times Square. More subway lines, and the huge, historic Macy's department store are a little more than a half-mile away at Herald Square. Beautiful Bryant Park is also in walking distance, just four blocks away.The area surrounding the hotel is safe, but extremely quiet at night. There aren't many bars or restaurants open for dinner in the immediately surrounding area. It's a destination for worker bees during the day, not for party animals during the night.

Deluxe rooms were renovated in 2008, but Standard Rooms and other guest rooms are a bit more dated. But all 242 rooms have "European ambiance," with red and white tones, dark wood furniture, and work desks with leather chairs.- Most Deluxe rooms have flat-screen TVs, while other rooms primarily have old tube-style TVs. All have cable and pay-per-view

• Clock radio with alarm
• In-room safe
• Bathrooms start at 40 square feet and have updated beige walls and Italian tavertine marble tiling
• Imported Venetian glass lamps on nightstands
• Wi-Fi for a fee

The hotel lacks a gym and spa, but there are a one-computer business center and meeting room spaces.There's no real restaurant, just a breakfast served in what looks like a conference room. Caffe Buongiorno serves a continental spread of pastries, cold cuts, cheeses, fruit, yogurt, and breads. Omelettes and eggs can also be ordered. There's plenty of restaurants within walking distance.The Whaler Bar has good lighting, a nice atmosphere, and even live jazz some nights. Even better, it has a true New York hotel rarity: a happy hour with half-price drinks from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Drinks on offer are pretty basic (no specialty cocktails) and beers on tap are pretty standard.

The hotel offers free cribs, and standard rooms are able to accommodate them. However, no adjoining rooms or roll-aways are available. Some standard and deluxe rooms have two double beds but most have a single king bed. Guests wanting rooms with two double beds should make that request when reserving, as the hotel only has a limited number. Room rates are based on single or double occupancy. The hotel charges an extra fee per night for a third person, but children 12 and under are free. Families with older children, however, should take note. Junior suites, some with pull-out sofa beds, are available at about the same cost as the deluxe rooms. However, like the standard superior rooms, they're dated and in need of renovation.For guests needing a babysitter, the front desk provides the number for The Babysitter's Guild, a childcare agency that specializes in caring for children in from out of town.

Guests can bring their purse-size pets at no extra cost. They must sign a waiver saying they'll take responsibility for any damage caused by their pets.

New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Flying into JFK or LaGuardia is typically easiest and the least time-consuming. From JFK, it's a (one-hour) flat-rate taxi ride to anywhere in Manhattan. From LaGuardia, it's about a 30-minute metered cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Rides from Newark can take more than 90 minutes. Don't forget to tip your driver 15 to 25 percent.To save some cash, try the group shuttles that are available at all three airports. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. You can also take public transit from any of the airports for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairs.