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Sleeping on a bench in Penn Station might be more comfortable than a night in the Regency Inn & Suites, an aging hotel located across the street from the transportation hub. After a previous run as a Howard Johnson, this 1920s budget inn is now screaming for renovations—or at least a good pressure wash. Its lobby is a narrow waiting room with a lone, beat-up leather couch and cracking, scuffed marble floors. Tight, dirty hallways lead to the 117 rooms, which lack both space and hygienic sparkle. Bathrooms consist of a stand-up shower, instead of the standard tub, and windows from all seven floors look onto the brick walls of nearby buildings. And despite a free Continental breakfast and a few coffee makers, the “café”—with low ceilings and card tables—looks more like a dingy pool hall than a place to eat. These missteps in presentation simply aren’t outweighed by the hotel’s central location—within walking distance from Herald Square shopping and the theater district. — Maura Lynch

If Macy’s or the Garden is on your itinerary, at least this hotel is right nearby.

Cons
The dingy appearance and out-of-date amenities, like an elevator barely big enough for two adults, may disappoint most travelers.