Hi...I'm looking for a lovely hotel in the $150-175 range, hopefully, in the midtown/middle east area of Manhattan. Nice bedding and other creature comforts would be great....nothing old or antique-y....hip but not devoid of necessities. Prefer not to stay in a chain unless there's one that's especially nice.

HI--what have you found so far that either sounds good (or not so good)? That way people would have a better idea of what you have in mind...

What time of year? Depending upon time of year, hotel rates in NYC can double or triple.

BTW-because real estate is at such a premium, very very few hotels in Manhattan are independently owned.

The Salisbury is one.

I wouldn;t expect anything "lovely" in that price range. You can - most of the year - get perfectly pleasant and functional for that price - but to me "lovely" imples something extra special - which would usually be significantly more.

There is no "middle east" area of NYC. Assuming you mean Midtown - and not Times Square (which is the antithesis of lovely) I would try to find something near the southern end of Central Park.

Not sure why you have a problem with chains - most hotels in NYC are associated with one or another.

What do you mean by "lovely" - are you asking for a very feminimne hotel with luxury linens? Elegant decor? Fantastic service? Are you willing to put up with small rooms to get more amenities (most of the newer trendy hotels tend to have VERY small rooms)? And - very important - when are you coming?

FYI - rack rates for 4* hotels in NYC are typically $300 plus - so you really need to give more input so people can help you find a bargain.