nyma, the New York Manhattan Hotel

The playful vibe from the fun Koreatown neighborhood (this area is known for its late-night karaoke and excellent Korean barbecue) carries over to the lobby and mezzanine lounge. The lobby is decidedly cool and trendy, with bright lime green color accents and high ceilings, while the lounge features super-modern red and black decor and funky lighting fixtures.

The Nyma is located on West 32nd Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue, which puts it 10 blocks south of one of the busiest intersections in the world, at 42nd and Broadway in Times Square. Those 10 blocks make a big difference, though. While it's not exactly quiet, the area is significantly less touristy. The main tourist sights are easily accessible, however, via the nine nearby subway lines.The main drag of Koreatown, or K-Town, is found on 32nd Street. Guests walking down the block will likely notice that most of neon signs are in Korean. Visitors can grab a plate of bibimbap at KumGangSan, then go across the street to Ding Dong Dang for karaoke. It’s a lively, and definitely unique, neighborhood. The Empire State Building is just a two-minute walk away.

The rooms are blander than the quirky public spaces, but they are clean, contemporary, and have excellent technology features, including flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi, as well as coffee and coffeemakers. Some of the rooms have microwaves and mini-fridges, which help guests save money on food. Bathrooms are clean and have generic toiletries. Some rooms (particularly front-facing rooms) feature lovely views of the New York City skyline and of the Empire State Building, which is just a block away.

The Nyma serves a free continental breakfast daily, but lacks a full service restaurant on-site. The mezzanine lounge offers guests a chance to relax, and features multiple flat-screen TVs and free coffee and tea. Guests also have 24-hour access to the hotel’s small fitness center, and there is a small business center in the lobby. Concierge services are also located here.Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

New York has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Getting to town from JFK or LaGuardia is usually more convenient than getting there from Newark, but travel times are heavily dependent on the time of day and traffic conditions. From JFK, a taxi to anywhere in Manhattan costs a flat rate and takes around an hour in average conditions. From LaGuardia, a metered cab ride to midtown Manhattan can take 30 minutes if traffic is light, three times that if it's bad. Rides from Newark can take more than 90 minutes. It's customary to tip your driver 15 to 25 percent.Those looking to save some cash can use the privately run shuttle buses that are available at all three airports. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. Public transit is also available for as little as $8 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairways.