New York City has never been one of the cheapest places to visit -- especially when it comes to finding a decent place to hang your hat. So how do you sleep in style and comfort on a budget?

Snagging a decent package deal is one option, but you need good timing. An easier -- and more dependable -- alternative is to check in at one of the growing number of places that are as chic as they are style-conscious. Don't expect the most spacious rooms or the best views (this is New York City, after all, where space is at a premium). But neither should you expect cookie-cutter décor and humdrum design either (again, this is New York City, where bizarre and overpriced real estate fosters creative thinking).

The economic slowdown has made it even easier to snag your own unique space in the heart of Manhattan; here are a few ideas.

BELLECLAIRE

Built in 1903, the Belleclaire once welcomed celebrities like Mark Twain, Russian novelist Maxim Gorky and various Broadway stars. Today it's a value-priced choice, sitting on a quiet block on the Upper West Side, where travelers can enjoy recently refurbished guest rooms with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, iPod docking stations and rich red accents.

Management also wisely replaced the wall-to-wall carpet with more contemporary, hardwood-style laminate flooring. The front facade, which is being restored to the original design intended by famed architect Emery Roth, was still under wraps as of press time, but should be done by June.

Details: Hotel Belleclaire, 250 W. 77th St.; 212-362-7700; www.hotelbelleclaire.com; $129 and up from June-September; 10 percent off stays of three or more nights.

CHELSEA STAR

Located officially in midtown Manhattan but borrowing its name from the hip neighborhood called Chelsea that's a few steps away, the Chelsea Star offers accommodations ranging from dormitory-style beds to the family-oriented ''apartment suites,'' which have two queen beds and kitchenette.

Guest room names -- which include Rudolph Valentino, Esther Williams, Cher and Shakespeare -- underscore this hotel's playful approach to hospitality. Décor in the ''specialty rooms'' features giant murals inspired by Salvador Dalí, Betty Boop, Madonna and Saturday Night Fever. The hotel also maintains its own blog with information about local events and activities, as well as its rate specials.

Details: Chelsea Star, 300 W. 30th St.; 212-244-7827 or 877-827-6969; www.starhotelny.com; $29.99 and up for dorm beds, $79 and up for private rooms.

GERSHWIN

Where do cost-conscious fashion models and creative types stay when they have to travel on their own dime? Some check into the Gershwin. An entire floor, in fact, has been designated the ''model floor,'' complete with message boards for industry insiders.

But you don't have to be a fashionista (or the Temptations or U2, who have also stayed here) to book a room. The Gershwin's lobby and guest corridors feature art by Andy Warhol, Billy Name and members of the hotel's on-going Artist in Residence program. Except for the dormitory-style rooms, all guest rooms include TV, private bath and wireless Internet. And don't worry about not being able to find the building -- it's hard to miss, thanks to its bright red facade marked by giant, glowing horn-like sculptures.

Details: Gershwin Hotel, 7 E. 27th St.; 212-545-8000; www.gershwinhotel.com; $109 and up for private rooms; dorm beds $35 and up.

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