Best Western's Seaport Inn: Open for business!

A few years ago, my family stayed at New York City's Best Western Seaport Inn, a boutique-style hotel with old-world charm that sits on the Hudson River.

From the hotel we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge on a perfectly clear winter day and had lunch at Grimaldi's, a pizza place in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood at the foot of the bridge.

It was a glorious and memorable day and in the evening we were happy to return to our spacious room (a rarity in the Big Apple) with comfy beds and fluffy down comforters.

And so I was happy to hear that the Seaport Inn, which was shuttered for a brief period after Hurricane Sandy, is already back open for business. This well-located hotel that's within walking distance of SOHO and the financial district offers reasonable rates and is located in the charming Seaport Village, with shops, cafes and cobblestone streets.