The B&B; Alternative

Looking to save money and find a more individualized big-city experience, an increasing number of travelers are trying bed-and-breakfast operations in New York.

These are not gingerbread houses stuffed full of quilts and doll collections. Many are unhosted apartments, where a guest may get no maid service, but may enjoy use of a full kitchen. Other rental spaces are “hosted� rooms in brownstone residential buildings, high-rise apartment buildings or other large properties. Properties frequently require minimum stays of three nights. Rooms are usually more affordable than apartments. Just as New Yorkers do, you’ll pay more for a central location, more for a building with a doorman, more for a balcony or (rarity of rarities) a backyard garden.

A Hospitality Co., telephone (800) 987-1235 or (212) 965-1102. About 192 unhosted apartments, from $95 up a night. Also, the Hospitality House, a 33-room bed-and-breakfast at 145 E. 49th St. (between Lexington and 3rd avenues), is scheduled to open this month. Rates in that building will run $150 to $275.

Abode Ltd., tel. (800) 835-8880 or (212) 472-2000. About 35 unhosted apartments (four-night minimum), $135 to $400 nightly.

Bed & Breakfast (& Books), tel. (212) 865-8740. Reservation service for 40 unhosted apartments and hosted rooms in brownstones and high-rises. Rates roughly $100 to $130 a night for double rooms, more for larger places.

Bed & Breakfast Network of New York, tel. (800) 900-8134 or (212) 645-8134. About 100 unhosted apartments from $115 to $350 nightly.

City Lights Bed & Breakfast, tel. (212) 737-7049; fax (212) 535-2755. Service handling about 400 unhosted short-term apartments and hosted B&B; rooms in brownstones and high-rises. Rates roughly $85 to $110 a night for a room, $125 to $300 for apartments of one to three bedrooms.

New York Habitat, tel. (212) 647-9365, Web site https://www.nyhabitat.com. About 500 unhosted apartments and a handful that are hosted, from $85 to $500 per night. Three-night minimum or more during holiday seasons.

Urban Ventures, tel. (212) 594-5650. About 600 unhosted apartments and 350 hosted rooms in brownstones and high-rises. Rates for rooms run $95 to $115 a night with a three-night minimum. For apartments, $125 to $325 for studios to three bedrooms, with a four-night minimum.