Adequate is relative, I need a better number to make suggestions.

there’s a holiday inn on 45th street, between 5th and 6th avenue. the rooms are not big, but the service is great and there’s a great breakfast included! the price is very adequate since it’s nyc and the localization is awesome!

have fun in your trip (:

Sorry, always stayed with friends and couchsurfers (which is the best way to do NYC, IMHO).

If you’re willing to try Brooklyn, there’s a pretty nice hostel in Williamsburg (nice part of Brooklyn) that’s pretty reasonably priced. Check out http://www.loftstel.com/

I stayed for two months at the Greene St location, and it was good enough for someone fresh out of college and not making any money…

The Pod Hotel on 51st between 2nd and 3rd is a neat and cheap place. The rooms are small-ish modern “pods”, set up bunkbed style for the most part. You can get a single for ~$89 a night, which is damn cheap for Midtown. Separate showers and tub down the hall from each room, but they’re nice.

http://www.thepodhotel.com/

check out travelzoo.com they have had some good deals lately on NYC hotels. You should also check out clarion hotel, comfort inn in Korea town on 32nd st btwn Broadway & Fifth ave. I have an excellent apartment style recommendations with full kitchen complete with dishes pots pans etc. Full bath living room etc. Located in the strivers row section of Harlem. These are beautifully appointed fully furnished apartments in a private modernized restored brownstone with excellent amenities customized for short term stays. They are close to the subway in an upscale historic section of Harlem located in upper manhattan. Let me know If you are interested.

We stayed at Hotel Grand Union on East 32nd Street (way below 77th obviously.) The rooms are nothing special and the staff are not friendly but the location could not be any better. The subway is only a block away and Grand Central station is very near, also.

Adequate is relative to NYC, you’ll be hard pressed to find a hotel room in the 100 dollar price range as most rooms in Manhattan run closer to 150 bucks. But, given the mass transit system you could stay in Queens or Brooklyn for less and still be able to get around relativity quick. Just pick up a subway map and do your thing.

Luckily, I looked into this a while back. Dug up some cheapish, nice-sounding hotels that aren’t chains. Of course it does depend on what you mean by “adequate.” Anyways, take a look at these.

http://www.colonialhouseinn.com/

http://www.unionsquareinn.com/

http://www.cosmohotel.com/

http://www.bedandcoffee.com/

http://www.chelseasavoynyc.com/

http://www.chelsealodge.com/

http://www.gershwinhotel.com/

http://www.murrayhillinn.com/

http://www.eurocheapo.com/newyork/hotels/all.html?sortby=price&pg=1

I just stayed at The Mayfair on 49th and Broadway. It was a cute little place for around $130 for two people on a Saturday night.

Grand Central Fitzpatrick Hotel is located on 44th, right by Grand central station. Awesome location!! i love this hotel!

Also, the Da Vince is pretty good too. Located at 244 West 56th Street.

(between Broadway and 8th Avenue). www.davincihotel.com