Wyndham Midtown 45

Its non-descript, 33-story building (erected in 2004) sits on the border of two less-than thrilling neighborhoods Midtown East and Murray Hill. And yet, on the inside, the Wyndham's interiors feel distinctly downtown.David Rockwell, renowned for his work on the W hotels and Nobu, designed the 203-room property. The lobby is pretty small, though it makes quite the impression with its fireplace and color-changing background lighting.With Pfizer and TIAA Cref just around the corner, and the United Nations is just a couple of blocks away at 46th Street and First Avenue, Wyndham Midtown 45 is an attractive option for business travelers. But leisure travelers can also find much to like about the hotel -- its large suites; its in-room kitchens; its top-notch bath products; and, from time to time, rates that dip far below comparable hotels.

Unlike more centrally located Midtown hotels, the Wyndham Midtown 45 is about a 10-minute walk east of Grand Central Station. The hotel is a few blocks from the United Nations, and its top floors provide excellent views of that building, the East River, and Midtown landmarks like the Chrysler Building.Midtown East is where many New Yorkers come to work. Iconic skyscrapers -- the Chrysler Building and the Seagram Building -- dominate the skyline. On the ground, plenty of delis and Starbucks cafes feed the cubicle occupants. Nightlife is scarce, but excellent, typically pricey, cuisine is always within walking distance. On its western border, Fifth Avenue is home to shopping icons like Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co., along with high-end flagships like Gucci and Versace. Madison Avenue, one block east of Fifth Avenue, is also dotted with designer boutiques.The area lacks the residential quaintness of the Upper West Side, and most insider haunts are found farther downtown in areas like SoHo or the West Village. But subway access is ample, making it easy to venture anywhere in the city. Plus, the 24-hour, tourist-focused chaos of Times Square and the Theater District is just a long walk, short taxi, or brief subway ride away.

In the standard room (the Deluxe King), there's an open closet built into the wall, a desk area with a series of vertical shelves. Of the hotel's 203 rooms, 130 are suites that include luxe amenities like Poggenpohl kitchens, Sub-Zero refrigerators, and Miele dishwashers.Rooms, though modern, have some wear and tear. Wydham took over the property in 2013 is expected to update the rooms to brand standards. tag:revisit 10/1/2013- Sharp Aquos flat-screen TV with cable and on-demand

• An oh-so-comfortable king bed (covered in Frette linens and a choice of down and hypo-allergenic pillows)
• A small LCD TV in the bathroom
• Earth Therapy bath products

• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
• Huge 24-hour fitness center with personal TVs and DVD players on machines
• No spa or business center on site

Deluxe Kings do not have room for cots. On the other hand, many of the hotel’s larger suites are more spacious, and feature living rooms with couches and kitchens with huge refrigerators and great cooking appliances. For families with older kids, these could be a great option.

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) $45 flat-rate taxi ride to anywhere in Manhattan. From LaGuardia, it's about a (30-minute) $40 metered cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 (plus tolls), and can take more than 90 minutes. Don't forget to tip your driver 15-25 percent.To save some cash, try the group shuttles like Super Shuttle that are available at all three airports for about $14/person. 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. For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.