New York City's Bed & Breakfasts

One of the most costly and aggravating parts about visiting New York City is finding affordable accommodations. Even the cheapest chain hotels are expensive and the common solution of staying in a motel in New Jersey and commuting in is unsatisfactory. Unbeknownst to many, however, are the bed and breakfasts of New York City. Offering a personal touch at slightly more affordable rates, these accommodations offer you a chance to experience New York City in a truly unique way: it is not the rigors of apartment living, but neither is it the impersonal and isolating experience of a mega-hotel. New York's bed and breakfasts speak to a gentler era in the history of the city, one in which Manhattan was more inarguably a unique place, neither American nor European, but, as Spalding Gray once put it, "an island off the coast of America."

New York City's bed and breakfasts range from cozy and convenient to romantic and remote. They are a destination, not just for tourists and business people visiting the city, but also for natives who want to vacation in the best city in the world, that just also happens to be their home.

Perhaps the New York bed and breakfast that offers the most startling change of pace for New York City residents is La Refuge, located on City Island in the Bronx. Located in a restored 19th century home, La Refuge offers fine French dining and seven rooms right on the ocean. Easily accessible by public transit, car and even bicycle, La Refuge evokes New England charm and history in its highly romantic (I imagine they get booked for a lot of weddings) setting.

Other bed and breakfasts in New York City are more centrally located and provide more access to the hustle and bustle of the New York City experience. Commonly located in historic brownstones in New York and Brooklyn with the owners in residence, there are also bed and breakfasts that offer accommodations in Soho lofts.

Excellent accommodations in Brooklyn include the Escape Guesthouse in Cobble Hill, a particularly charming and convenient part of Brooklyn with fabulous restaurants. Rooms here are spacious and airy and run between $140 and over $300 per night. Also be aware that like many bed and breakfasts in general and especially those in the city, the Escape Guesthouse has a three night minimum (two is more common).

The Sterling Bed and Breakfast in Park Slope offers a setting adjacent to Prospect Park , a stunning major city park that was designed to correct the mistakes of Central Park. Rooms st Sterling range from $175 - $275 a night and include one set in a private cottage detached from the main building. There is a garden lounge for all guests and the subway is just steps away. The location is a particularly great find for international guests with the owners speaking English, French, Spanish and some Russian.

In Manhattan perhaps the best known bed and breakfast is The Inn on 23rd Street. With quick access to multiple subway lines and walking distance both to midtown attractions and hipper downtown neighborhoods, the Inn on 23rd Street is in an ideal location. The Inn has 14 bedrooms, all with private baths, air-conditioning and elevator access (not a universal when it comes to New York bed and breakfasts). Rates are $269 to $409 per night and there is a minimum stay of two nights on weekends.

Bed and Breakfast Mount Morris is located adjacent to a park (and near the beautiful northern end of Central Park) in the rapidly reviving Harlem. This bed and breakfast is in a beautifully decorated brownstone from 1896. For guests interested in Harlem history or New York's many museums, this is a perfect place to say, located as it is at the top of what is known as 'Museum Mile" which includes the Met, the Guggenheim, the Neue Gallery, the Cooper Hewitt, and more.

These are just a small sampling of the bed and breakfasts available in New York City. For a thorough listing, reviews, photos and more visit BedandBreakfast.com and search for New York. It's a great way to see the variety of offerings available, which range from full-service inns to what are essentially single room availabilities in private homes.