This week, while attending the DDD Immersion course in NYC, I have been staying at The Jane Hotel in the West Village. It would not be for everyone, but it sure suits me just fine.

As this NY Times article points out:

The original 1908 red brick structure was built as a lodging house for seamen, and its residents included some men rescued from the Titanic. Now, having been renovated by the developers Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode, it is one of New York’s most unusual, and economical, lodgings.

The rooms are tiny but very cosy, and you share a common bathroom. But at under $100/night with free WiFi, flat-screen TV and a quite street in the West Village, it was just right for me. Here is what the room looks like. Notice the giant mirror on one wall.

The doors to the stairs and corridors have portholes(!). And the corridor reminds me of what you would typically find on a yacht or cruiseliner, not a hotel.

As the NY Times article continues:

…a guest gets the same rooms that the seamen got, a bunk on one side, some storage on the other, and barely enough space to turn around. However, they are fitted out like yacht cabins, with polished wood, as well as flat-screen TVs, WiFi and iPod docking stations. The bath is where it always was: down the hall.

The West Village is very picturesque in places, with beautiful streets that ovoke nostalgic images of horses and carriages and late 19th century life (minus the plastic bag and Jaguar of course). So if you are looking for somewhere a little different that is only a 5 minute walk from the 14th and 8th st subway, in a historic part of town, I can highly recommend it.