Thanks again to the trusty New York Times, I discovered The Jane, a funky ’boutique hostel’ bordering the Meatpacking District in the West Village. Loaded with history, the survivors of the Titanic stayed and held a memorial service for the victims at this hotel, then called Seaman’s Relief Center.
Awning outside The Jane Hotel
Although The Jane received mixed reviews on Yelp, for a ‘hostel’, this is as good as it gets. The rooms are tiny (nothing I can write will prepare you for how miniscule they actually are), the beds are bunks and the bathrooms are shared, but these are the only features reminiscent of a hostel. From the iPod docks, free wi-fi, flat screen televisions, bath robe and slippers provided to each guest, to the porter who carries your luggage up the stairs and operates the hand crank elevator, the details are what makes this place quirky, unique and appealing.
Creepy hallways
Possessing more character than anywhere I’ve ever stayed, this hotel is possibly the best value for money in New York City. Most hotels with private rooms are around $250 per night, but The Jane is less than half of this, at $115 per night for a bunk bed cabin, or $89 per night in a single room, which feels a lot more spacious than the double. Yes, you have to share a bathroom (although I never had to wait for a shower or toilet, and the shower heads are divine), but this is a small price to pay for a room in a hotel boasting location, charm and history.
Check-in desk in the hotel lobby
The inviting French-inspired cafe Gitane resides on-site and opens for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, serving delicious food in a hipster environment complete with a foosball table and waiters dressed in French attire. However, if nightlife is more your style, the Ballroom at The Jane, decorated in a fusion of African and Indian opulence, is the perfect place to have a late night drink after a night out in New York City.
