PlanetEye

Not up for spending hundreds of dollars on a tiny nondescript hotel room in Manhattan? Don't want to economize by staying the night in a closet?  Keep that wallet in your pocket, hop on the free Staten Island Ferry, and sit back for a 25 min. ride through New York Harbor grazing past the Statute of Liberty and Governors Island with continual views of lower Manhattan's skyline.  Upon disembarking into the Island's brand new glass walled terminal graced with 2 large aquariums teeming with colorful tropical fish, break through the wall of cabbies waiting to scoop you up at the exit door.  You my friend only have to walk 3 blocks until you reach 22 Fort Place, home of the Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast. Walk straight across Richmond Terrace up the stairs along City Hall and continue straight up the hill to St. Marks Place. Make a quick right and then a left onto Fort Place. You'll see the property's distinguishing white and green edifice to your left on the corner of Montgomery & Fort. 

Once inside this Victorian classic built in 1864, a large sun porch greets you perfect for lounging or cracking open that novel you always wanted to start. Ornate marble fireplaces in each room, multi-hued wood floors, tin ceilings, and 8 foot tall wooden carved doors may give you pause that perhaps you're on a historic home tour rather than checking in for the evening.  Industrial Designer and Artist Paul Gorlach along with his wife Patricia restored this gem in 2005 and have been running it as a B&B since 2006.  Paul's own colorful paintings hang on many of the walls beckoning for a closer look.  The downstairs room has a bed large enough to fit 4 people and the upper floor rooms feature a skylight bath with views of Verezano Bridge.  Don't expect a lavish breakfast but a continental spread including plenty of fresh bakery bread is delivered to you on a tray each morning.