We stayed a few nights in the Eastern part of Manhattan in a hotel before moving to Mio's place.
It was really great to check in Mio's place where we felt lot more comfortable than in an impersonal hotel. Mio's was helpful from the start and allowed us to drop our luggage few hour before check-in time so we could go around the area freely.
The area is really the best to visit New York. Heaps options for dining or cooling down with a beer. Right next to a subway station, we really loved this area. It is easy to walk to the World Trade Center or to the Empire State Building from there....
I have no hesitation to highly recommend.