Where to Put Up Every Kind of Traveler in NYC

When your broke-ass BFF comes, save him or her the grief of sleeping on your pullout couch and suggest a stay at The Jane Hotel. Rooms are small — as in, 50 square feet small. But what the accommodations lack in size, they more than make up for in history, style and affordability. Having once lodged The Titanic's crew, the pod-sized bunks lean towards the nautical: wood-paneled walls and old-fashioned lighting operated by a large copper key. But the real draw at this hip West Village pad? Late-night dance parties at the disco ball-lit Jane Ballroom.

So your grandparents are in town. With their walkers. Given your group’s, er, limited mobility, it’s not likely you’ll cover a lot of ground over the next few days. But if you hook Gram and Gramps up with a sweet stay at The Surrey, on the sedate Upper East Side, you won't have to wander far to take in some of the city's best sights. Central Park and Museum Mile are mere steps away, as are the designer stores (think Ralph Lauren, Chanel and Oscar de la Renta) on Madison and Fifth avenues.

Wireless alarm clocks and iPhone chargers may impress the average traveler, but they sure as hell won’t get the thumbs-up from your tech-obsessed teen cousin. One thing that will? YOBOT, the giant robot with a 60-foot hydraulic arm in the lobby of Midtown’s YOTEL. The futuristic-looking baggage handler keeps its watchful eye on up to 150 suitcases, slotting them into lockers for safe storage. If that doesn't scream Insta bait, we don't know what does.

Every family has a resident historian. Which means you run the risk of being dragged to yawn-inducing heritage sites and political landmarks while they're in town. But not if you can check said relative into the historic Carlyle Hotel. A masterpiece of Art Deco architecture, the institution has been a magnet for celebrities and high-society since 1930. Notable guests include Princess Diana, Harry Truman, Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy — no surprise, given the hotel's reputation as one of the swankiest (not to mention discrete) hotels in Manhattan. Even the lobby channels the glamour of a bygone era, with sparkling black-and-white marble floors, gilded oversized mirrors and original Audobon prints and Piranese and Kips artwork.

We love our parents. But that does NOT mean we want to spend every waking minute with them when they visit. How to get freedom and family time? Check your ‘rents into the Crosby Street Hotel. It's located on a quiet cobblestone street in SoHo and offers a handful of parent-approved amenities like afternoon tea and a rooftop fruit and vegetable garden, so you won't feel guilty stealing away for some 'me' time. Mom and dad will be so impressed they might even treat you to a meal at the hotel's buzzy gastropub. Talk about a win-win.

Show your art-loving friend a different side of the city’s creative scene by booking her a stay at the new 11 Howard Hotel. The owner, Aby Rosen, filled the hotel with works from his own private collection, including shots by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto. Also on view are ceramic works by Katie Yang, a neon sculpture by Dan Attoe and a silk mural by fashion designer Holly Fowler. But the most eye-catching work of them all is a 150-by-50-foot exterior mural commissioned by New York-based public arts organization Groundswell and artist Jeff Koons.

TCentral Park strolls and Statue of Liberty boat rides? Not for your college roommate. She plans to spend her vacay pounding wine and acting 18 all over again. And at The Standard, High Line — a party-centric pad in the perennially cool Meatpacking District — she'll be in good company. The see-and-be-seen spot has a variety of nightlife venues including a bustling ground-floor beer garden; the indoor/outdoor Le Bain, where there's a plunge pool and 360-degree views of Manhattan; and the Top of the Standard (or Boom Boom Room, as it's better known) — a glittering bar that's one of the toughest doors in NYC. The best part? No frat boys allowed.