Profile

With its cherub-adorned entryway and stark white façade, the Herald Square Hotel is a bit of a sore thumb among the cluttered storefronts of West 31st Street. The exterior cherubim and the duplicates dotting the hotel walls are a holdover from the building's prior role as Life Magazine headquarters in the early 20th century. Framed magazine covers and black-and-white photographs of Life bigwigs in the lobby also pay homage to the hotel's history. Although the building has since been renovated, the rooms are a bit cramped, minimally decorated and lack character and charm; the modestly-sized bathrooms have graying tile floors and basic white fixtures. The Herald Square does have its share of perks, though: the air-conditioned rooms come equipped with satellite television, free wireless Internet access, decent views of the surrounding buildings, and, in most cases, a private bathroom. — Sara Sargent

Laundry facilities off the lobby.

Cons
No-frills décor and the possibility of sharing your bathroom with a stranger.

Claim to Fame
The upper floors of the building were the former studios of artist Charles Gibson, creator of the famous Gibson Girl.