Carlton Arms Hotel

So nice, cool and pretty. Perfect for people who appreciate art and paintings. Bed was comfortable everything was nice. The guy who is Argentinian is very friendly and nice. Awesome location.

Pro: Staffs are great. Location is perfect, very near to subway line 6 and walkable to Empire State Building (15min). Drinkable water dispenser, coffee maker, microwave at common space is very appreciated Cons: No elevator so not suitable for big family with huge luggages. Floor also a bit uneven. Not very clean room as I can see blanket cover has stain. Toilet has a refilling problem. Sink not clean looking so my husband brushed teeth at the bath tub. Beds not comfortable. No hooks inside room to hang coat. No functioning heater or aircond. At $*** per night if you prioritize comfort you need to stay outside Manhattan like Long Island. We had no choice because we were on tight budget and needed a place near attractions since we only had 3 days for the city

This hotel is fascinating ... Like a relic from old NYC bohemian culture. Think art everywhere (literally every square inch of wall space), a cat curled up in a chair, thick incense, the guy at the desk strumming a guitar. But I can't recommend it for traveling with kids. When we got to our room, a guy who identified himself as an exterminator was there unclogging the toilet (unsuccessfully) and doing "preventive" roach extermination. The nice man at the desk gave us a new room, which was relatively clean, but my daughter discovered broken glass under the bed, the lights kind of flickered in a way that made you wonder how old the wiring is, and there was a lot of street noise. All the fixtures were old and cracking. Some of the art is not really kid-friendly--some a little scary/dark, some nudes. I will say, the mattresses were pretty comfortable. Bedding was very basic, but clean enough. I knew it would be quirky, but it exceeded our expectations in that area! It was not exactly a bad experience--just not the best place for kids, or anyone expecting anything to be "normal!"

The price can't be beat. The water pressure is good; turns hot right away, most of the time (one night at 2 AM took a while). The floors are hardwood, which I appreciate. The beds are okay but I found some stray hairs caught in the linens. In my particular room the sink was in a weird corner of the room separate from the bathroom. The lighting is dark, so it isn't the best place to glam up. No full length mirror. LOTS of steps, narrow and steep, which is typical in NYC.