The biggest problem facing New York City is space - Space to stay, space from others, space to drive - and park. There's a limit to how much you can pile things way up into the sky, and the higher you go, the costlier it gets. Point being that a stay in New York costs a heck of a lot more than most other cities.

As of now, NYC is the 2nd costliest U.S. city for visitors, with an average daily expense of around $600 for a couple, including lodging and meals, while average nightly room rates for hotels in New York are $277.

I know that $600 a day sounds higher than normal for even a city like New York, but that's what the official figures say, and when you compare that against the $277 average room rate, it means that most people are paying above normal for room and meals. Note that the average room rate is calculated based on rates charged by each hotel, not based on what visitors to New York have paid as a whole for hotels.

So basically what visitors to NYC need is to find decent and cheap accomodations which won't break the bank. Listed below are some options you might want to consider.

I'll keep it simple - All the below listed are cheap hotels which charge below $150. As far as I know, they're all decent enough, and won't be tourist traps or dumpsters. No frills, but adequate enough.

The Gershwin Hotel - Its a bit hard to find something like the Gershwin in Manhattan, which is cheap, but not a depressing dinky little cubicle. Its quaint and arsty, and over a 100 years old with an artsy and colorful Frenchified atmosphere and decor. They have everything from $45 bunks to $445 family suites. Also offers internet access, baby sitting and drycleaning services. Info: 7 East 27th St New York NY 10016; (212) 545-8000; www.gershwinhotel.com/

The Pod - The Pod is an Americanized version of the Gershwin. Bunk beds, shared and private rooms, tiny LCD televisions above each bunk, iPod docking stations and free wifi, and an air of being a 'cool crash pad'. More suitable for single travelers, but they do have neat private rooms. Rates from $129. Info: 230 E 51st St. NYC, NY 10022; (212) 355-0300; www.thepodhotel.com/

Some more options include the Chelsea Savoy, Chelsea Inn, Chelsea Lodge, Park Savoy, Cosmopolitan Hotel, and Hotel Newton.

If you want to shave off $100 from your accomodation budget, then you have a range of hostels which cater to low-budget backpack travelers, with rates from $25 to $50. Course, not all of them turn out to be worth even that much, and some you wouldn't stay at even if they paid you to do so. Point being, again, that you need some neat and decent hostels. Which you'll find listed below.

Your options should include the Central Park Hostel, the two Chelsea Center hostels - one in midtown Manhattan and the other in the East Village. There's also the American Dream Hostel, the Big Apple Hostel, and the Jazz on the Park hostel. Photo copyrights - Chelsea Center Hostel.

Most of the hotels are all in excess of $130 and the hostels might not be the best option for some of you - especially family travelers. In that case, you should be looking at some Bed and Breakfasts, which usually straddle the price range in between these two.

I should mention here that the run-of-the-mill B&B's in the City are a wee bit different from what you might be expecting. There are, of course, a lot of old world historic B&B's oozing southern charm which will have a view and a library and a fireplace and a heavy breakfast, but these will all be well above $250, so you just need to forget about these and focus on the B&B's which do not offer any of the above.

Breakfast is, at best, a Continental affair, and most times, there is no breakfast. Its more like a check-in, sleep and check-out kind of arrangement, same as a private room in a hostel, except that you get to use the common kitchen and maybe there's also a common lounge.

Maid service is iffy at best and you shouldn't go in expecting to be treated like you would at a Country Inn, where the owners stay in-premises and take care of everything and offer a sumptous breakfast. In NYC, the B&B will probably have a manager, and a couple of staff for cleaning, and nothing more. Kinda like an extended stay apartment building.

If that's ok with you, you should check out the East Village Bed & Coffee, The Sofia Inn, and Union Street Bed & Breakfast. if you're looking for a week's stay, you could also contact a B&B and furnished apartment provider like Affordable NYC. Photo copyrights East Village Bed & Coffee.