The first stop for an inexpensive U.S. hotel with pizazz is the Gershwin hotel in New York, New York. Artwork lurks in every corner of this stylish 100-year-old building, and according to their website, "We are as proud of our Most-Cheerful-Bunk-Bed-Purgatory of the second floor as we are of our daring, infamous 13th floor with its artists-in-residence sprinkling good omens. And there is the family suite with a one-of-a-kind designer crib, another with a friendly cell-like creature staring straight into your eye as you walk in." With beds available for just $33 a night, this hotel is a perfect spot from which to explore Manhattan. On the other coast, if you're in California, try staying at the Vibe Hotel in Hollywood. Here, a flashy retro-decor room will cost you just $65 in the winter.
Marketed as "Thailand's Only Entertainment Hotel" the Red Rose offers a number of suites starting at just $44 USD per night. Room themes include UFO, candy, telephone, and magic. If your trip to Asia brings you to Hanoi, Viet Nam, the place to go for unique accommodations has "funky" right in the name. The Funky Monkey Hotel is located conveniently in Hanoi's old quarter and rooms start at the equivalent of $4 USD.
In Berlin, stay in the Prenzlaur neighborhood, known for being pretty funky in itself, with plenty of bohemian cafes, retail shops and markets. The cheapest and funkiest place to lay your head in this sector of the city is the Circus Hostels Weinbergsweg and Rosa-Luxemburgstrasse, where stays start at just $27 for a night in the stand-out red building; you can also rent a Segway or hang out in the hostel's cafe/bar, which boasts a shrine to David Hasselhof.
The next stop on the European hotel tour is in Paris, France at Les Chansonniers hotel. Eurocheapo.com explains that what makes this inexpensive gem unique is that, "the bar and café downstairs are filled with musical memorabilia and portraits of the singers. It struck us as a welcoming place, with neighbors dropping in for a coffee with the gregarious owner." Shared rooms here will set you back as little as $65 per night.
