Pod 51

Pod 51 is a compact budget hotel at 230 East 51st Street in Midtown East, in a residential-feeling block a few minutes' walk from Grand Central Terminal and the United Nations headquarters. The Lexington Avenue–51st Street subway station and the Midtown East business district are close by, and the Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue are all reachable on foot. The hotel's concept is to offer private, efficiently designed rooms at prices well below typical Manhattan rates, and it has long been popular with students, solo travelers and visitors who want a central base without a large budget. Room types include the Single Pod, Double Pod, Bunk Pod and Queen Pod, and some rooms use shared bathrooms, which is a key part of the price advantage. Rooms are small and functional, with space-saving furniture, so luggage space is limited. Listed amenities include wifi, a rooftop terrace, a cafe and shared bathrooms. The rooftop terrace offers a place to relax and take in views of the surrounding rooftops in warmer months, and the on-site cafe provides basic breakfast and drinks. For fuller meals, the streets around Third Avenue and Lexington Avenue have many delis, diners and casual restaurants. There is no spa or pool, and the fitness facilities are not listed, so the hotel suits travelers who spend most of the day out sightseeing. The service style is straightforward and informal, with a small team that handles check-in and local tips. Nightly rates in the $$ tier generally run from about $100 to $250, with private-bathroom rooms costing more than shared-bathroom rooms. Families and couples sometimes choose the Queen Pod, while groups of friends may prefer the Bunk Pod. Travelers arriving from the airports can use taxis or the subway, and Grand Central provides direct rail links to the suburbs.