Sherman's Travel

Looking to enjoy the Big Apple this spring without busting your wallet? Stay at The Jane Hotel, one of Manhattan’s best-kept secrets. This 100-year-old hotel, which once housed survivors from the Titanic, has undergone major renovations and now boasts cozy rooms for savvy visitors. Rates at the storied West Village hotel start from $99 per night — astonishingly low for this pricey neighborhood.

Rooms are small but comfortable, and include LCD TVs, an iPod dock, and complimentary Wi-Fi (communal bathrooms cut down on housekeeping costs and keep the room rates low). The hotel features a delicious French-Moroccan cafe and a lobby with a fireplace and eclectic decor.  Bicycle rentals are complimentary — for exploring the charming restaurants, shops, and bookstores of Greenwich Village, or for cruising along the Hudson River, just across the street from The Jane.

Downstairs, The Jane Ballroom is an opulent bar and lounge with velvet-upholstered couches, chandeliers, and communal board games, providing for an upscale but homey feel. With DJs and dancing on the weekends, it’s become one of the trendiest Manhattan nightlife spots in recent years.

Rooms are available consistently for $99 from now through the end of 2012, though the prices will likely increase as the summer months approach. Visit www.thejanenyc.com to book, or call 212-924-6700. Then, use our TravelSearch price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights to New York City.

Enjoy Los Angeles for less with these in-the-know budget hotel picks. Our Cali-based expert, Shaena Engle, rounds up her favorites which include quirky Hollywood classics like the country-modern Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, cool downtown hangouts like Figueroa and The Standard Downtown, and charming hideaways like the Venice Beach House. Best of all, these 10 Los Angeles budget hotels, all have rates for under $200/night, not to mention a taste of Hollywood glamour, sought-after ocean views, and even a chance for a celebrity encounter or two. Check out the full article here and see a preview of the hotels with our Top 10 Los Angeles Budget Hotels Slideshow.

While Manhattan just went through a serious hotel boom (with 15 or so hotels opening in 2010), neighboring boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens are following suit. The Sheraton Brooklyn (www.sheratonbrooklyn.com) seems to have jump-started the borough trend when it opened as Brooklyn’s first new full-service hotel in 12 years last May, and four more newbies are set to debut this spring and summer. Here’s a quick rundown of the openings, the on-trend digs, and the phenomenally affordable prices that are well worth the bridge or tunnel trek. Read more