Home Sweet Hotel: Duane Street

On my third trip to New York City, I stayed at a budget hotel in TriBeCa and walked by the Duane Street Hotel every day, simply to admire their branding. They have simple block letters in white decaled on the front door, and the inside—as you can see below—is even more stunning.

Photos: Alex Ry

Duane Street's decor is a perfect blend of retro influence with casual luxury and delightful whimsy. Alex and I spent several lovely, slow moments winding down in the lobby with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine taking in the city around us through the big picture windows. It's a different vibe in TriBeCa than midtown, where we were staying for the first half of our trip. Since it was Alex's first time in New York City, I wanted her to see it from more than one angle, so I moved us downtown for two nights after I found a great deal on Hotels.com.

I didn't know what to expect since staying at Duane Street had only been a dream of mine, but as soon as we walked in with our 8 pieces of luggage, we felt taken care of. They made us feel like they wanted us to be there, which should be the feeling you get from any hotel. Every concierge was easy and enjoyable to talk with. The hotel is conveniently located right near a popular subway stop, and they even have free bikes out front for you to rent for rides along the river or in traffic, if you're brave enough (I'm not, especially without a helmet!).

It was a splurge for us, but I guarantee you'll find better Duane Street deals when your stay doesn't fall over fashion week. Hotel prices were up at least 3x, no matter what neighborhood we looked in. I'm so pleased with what we found and truly can't wait for my next stay.