Royal Park Hotel

This no-frills hotel is aimed at budget travelers who don't mind a lack of features and services. The property bills itself as both a hotel and hostel, but all rooms are private and there are no shared dorms. Most of the guests are young travelers on a budget. The small lobby is a simple affair that's brightened by pops of orange courtesy of a colorful patterned carpet, accent walls, and doors, as well as colorful paper lamps hanging from the ceiling. A black couch and armchairs provide a place to sit, but the space doesn't get much natural light. 

The hotel is situated next to a parking garage on the Upper West Side. It's a convenient and safe location with plenty of dining options, shops, and grocery stores in the area. There's a subway station with the 1, 2, and 3 lines just a two-minute walk around the corner. Central Park is a 10-minute walk away. Other nearby attractions include the American Museum of Natural History, which can be reached in 13 minutes by subway or 25 minutes on foot, and Columbia University, which is a 14-minute subway ride or 20-minute walk from the hotel. Other top attractions that can be easily reached by public transportation include Times Square (18 minutes away), the Empire State Building (20 minutes away), the Museum of Modern Art (23 minutes away), 9/11 Memorial (25 minutes away), Rockefeller Center (25 minutes away), Metropolitan Museum of Art (30 minutes away), and the High Line in Chelsea (30 minutes away). LaGuardia Airport is a 20- to 50-minute drive, depending on traffic, or around an hour by public transportation. JFK Airport can be reached in 40 minutes to an hour-and-a-half by car, or around an hour by public transit.

The hotel offers small private rooms with shared or en-suite bathrooms. Decor is simple but homey and inviting, with brick accent walls that add a New York City aesthetic to the spaces, brightened by art on the walls and orange bed runners toppings white bedding. Furniture is spare Ikea-like pieces such as dressers and nightstands. Some rooms have original decorative fireplaces. Standard amenities include air-conditioning/heating, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi (but the signal can be weak in some rooms). Mini-fridges, hairdryers, and irons/ironing boards are available upon request. A Twin Room with bunkbeds is available, which has a small in-room sink and shared bathroom facilities. Bathrooms, both private and shared, are tiny and dated, with small sinks, cramped showers, and old fixtures. Some rooms have nice neighborhood views. 

This simple budget hotel offers little in terms of features. There are no common spaces besides the lobby, where a couple of armchairs and couches offer seating. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but some guests report poor connections in certain rooms. Reception is available 24/7. Children under the age of 12 stay for free.