Profile

A clean, inexpensive spot for travelers who prefer beachfront New York to the congestion, noise and frenetic tempo found in Manhattan, the Golden Gate Inn boasts a retro ‘60s interior (in a non-ironic sort of way) and 150 simply appointed rooms with standard budget-hotel amenities and generic hotel furniture. Though the immediate surroundings are nothing to write home about—the perpetually clogged Shore Parkway roars just yards from the front door—the Inn is a short walk to Emmons Ave., a strip of quaint beach town-style shops and restaurants that sits on the northern side of Sheepshead Bay. A ten-minute drive leads to Brighton Beach and all the attractions of Coney Island: Astroland, New York Aquarium and KeySpan Park, the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team. — Andrew Wang

It's close to several beaches and Coney Island, and just a short cab ride to JFK.

Cons
You may want to rent a car as the closest subway stop is more than a mile away.