Best Western City View Inn

Profile

With its ivy-covered brick facade, the five-story Best Western City View Inn looks almost collegiate, particularly in contrast to the auto-repair shops and vinyl-sided row houses that occupy many of the surrounding Long Island City streets. In reality, it’s a former public-school building that since 1988 has been an affordable, if out-of-the-way, hotel. The spacious guest rooms have the usual amenities, plus an in-room exercise bike available upon request and a Jacuzzi tub for an additional cost. The rooms are tidy, too, though the décor feels a bit schizophrenic: Tropical-themed bedspreads are paired with damask-style wallpaper and framed prints depicting scenes like New England–settler types braving a stormy sea. The lobby is decorated with brown leather sofas, a grandfather clock, and ornate throw rugs; if not for the reception desk shielded by a thick plastic barrier, it might be confused for a classy living room. Common spaces include a tiny gym and a dining room that serves complimentary breakfast in the morning and treats like popcorn and fruit throughout the day. Visitors with cars will appreciate the location right off the Long Island Expressway, while those without must rely on a free, 24-hour shuttle that ferries guests to the nearest subway for the ten-minute ride into Manhattan. — Leigh Crandall

Fine rooms and free shuttle service to the subway make it a relatively convenient and considerably less expensive option for visitors who want to see the city without paying Manhattan prices.

Cons
Like the residents of Calvary Cemetery across the street, the immediate area is dead. And though some rooms, as the name implies, offer views of the Manhattan skyline, they’re not quite as impressive as you might hope.