Cheap Sleeps - New York City Free and Dirt Cheap - page 16

110 Ave. C, btw. 7th and 8th sts. 212/533-4175. Fax [phone]. www.bedandcofee.com . 10 units, all with shared bathroom. $135-$155
double. AE, DC, MC, V. Subway: L to First Ave. Amenities: Common kitchens; Wi-Fi. In room: A/C.

Off Soho Suites Hotel If you're traveling with a posse, this converted tenement is a great option. Go for a suite,
designed for two or four guests. The smaller iteration shares a bathroom and kitchen with the next suite; the lar-
ger has its own living room on top of a kitchen, bathroom, and master bedroom. The result is a set of spacious
mini-apartments, ideal for a group of friends (or a band gigging in one of the many nearby venues). Low season
rates drop down as far as $299, or around $75 per person if you have three fellow travelers. The staff is chill, and
for exploring downtown neighborhoods you won't beat this off-Bowery location.
11 Rivington St., btw. Chrystie St. and the Bowery. 800/633-7646 or 212/979-9815. Fax [phone]. www.ofsoho.com . 38 units. $199 double
with shared bathroom. AE, MC, V. Subway: J/Z to Bowery; F to Second Ave. Amenities: Fitness center. Inroom: A/C, TV, hair dryer, kitchenette,
Wi-Fi.

Saint Mark's Hotel This corner of the city is as youthful and bustling as New York gets. The young fare best
here, not least because they won't be deterred by the walkup to the rooms. (They're also better primed to take ad-
vantage of the lively cheap eats right outside the door)

No credit cards accepted, just cash or traveler's

checks.
2 St. Marks Place, at Third Ave. 212/674-0100. Fax [phone]. www.stmarkshotel.net . 70 units. $102-$170 double. No credit cards. Sub-
way: 6 to Astor Place; N/R to 8th St. Amenities: Restaurant; bar. In room: A/C, TV, Wi-Fi ($9.95).

Under $100
The Bowery House The louche romance of the Bowery Bum is not for everybody, but if you'd like a glimpse of
gritty New York history, these accommodations (ca. 1927), once called the Prince Hotel, have been lovingly re-
stored. The cabins were used by returning World War II vets, which is reflected in the dog-tag door keys. I say
“cabins,” because these are something less than rooms—you'll get four walls and a lockable door, but nothing
more than latticework for a ceiling. Combine the potential for noise with the small beds and it'll be easy to see
why it's only $69 a night. Bathrooms are shared, stocked with Red Flower bath products and towels by Ralph
Lauren.
220 Bowery, at Rivington St. 212/837-2373. Fax [phone]. www.theboweryhouse.com . 104 units. $129-$144 cabin for 2 with shared bath-
room. AE, DC, MC, V. Subway: J/Z to Bowery; B/D to Grand St.; 6 to Spring St.; F to Second Ave. In room: A/C, Wi-Fi.

The Shadow Universe of Vacation Apartment Rentals

Given the scarcity of real estate in NYC, it makes sense that the city would develop a shadow universe of less-formal
accommodations. My neighbors in Brooklyn rent out a spare room from time to time. It's just one way to close the gap
between income and ungodly rents.
There are several ways to connect with nontraditional sleeping arrangements (I'd put you up at my place, but I can't risk
my priceless collection of Hummel figurines). Craigslist.org is an obvious starting point. Watch out for poorly translated
English and setups that sound too good to be true—because they are. Beyond short-term rentals, you can work out swaps
where you trade time in your apartment for time in someone else's. A more formal version of this is HomeExchange (
310/798-3864; www.homeexchange.com ) . As the name suggests, you're swapping houses (or maybe second houses),
and the company claims that in 20 years they've never had vandalism, theft, or folks showing up to a vacant, wind-swept
lot. Membership starts at $15.95 a month for 3 months, or $9.95 a month for a year; swaps are free.
If you want to stay in New York without putting up your own home, there are several services that help with rentals. Costs
can be slightly higher than a Craigslist hookup, but it's nice to know your rental has been vetted and inspected. You
may see places referred to as “bed-and-breakfasts,” though they'll bear little relation to the hot-scones-and-Laura-Ashley-
sheets variety. The use of the term reflects the 2010 New York State law that made unlicensed short-term rentals illegal.