What are the best ways to find cheap, but clean hotels?

I like Fodor’s. That’s how I found the pod hotel.

Wow! that place seems really neat! thanks :)

I have looked at many hotel sites online, and there are often reviews. One of the best places to find them is to type the name of the town you want to stay, and when the page comes up, click on “lodging”. You will often see reviews there.

AAA has one of the most reliable rating systems I have seen.

Also, tripadvisor.com seems honest.

@kevbo The Pod looks pretty cool. Did it make you feel cramped at all?

the pod hotel looks more like a hostel. i can’t imagine sharing a bathroom. lol

No, but it’s not big—it’s like a dorm room really. (We had the queen.) The thing about it is that it’s stripped down aesthetic is a welcome respite from the city’s frenzy. Also, you can’t have too much modesty with respect to using the toilet/shower, because you can either make one private or the other, but not both at the same time.

The staff was friendly, and they have roof access which is nice (although it wasn’t high enough to escape the garbage smell). It’s right near 53rd and Lex (I think), so it’s one stop from Grand Central and convenient to Lex Avenue buses. The worst thing about it was that the elevator was super slow.

You might like this

I have some friends who’ve started this great company: AirBnB. It’s a legit and super cheap way to stay in people’s homes and guest rooms. Way cheaper, and also allows you to connect with the city. I tried it on a trip to Denver and stayed in a great place, for waaaay less than the hotels. You should check it out.