One alternative you might consider for your next trip is a furnished apartment rental - check out vrbo.com.

Rates for Manhattan studios are comparable ($150-$300/nt) but without the trek to outer boros. There are a lot of listings to filter, with much variability in quality, not too different from researching hotels.

Renting out an apartment without permission normally violates a building's rules but that is presumably a problem for the owner rather than the renter.