HotelChatter

1. Try your luck at Las Vegas' Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. It just so happens that this, our number one choice for those with new time on their hands, is also the cheapest. Book a non-refundable room on their website and you're looking at only $29 a night, a small price to pay to completely escape from your life for a little while. If you manage to save your soul from the slot machines, then head to the thrill rides that encircle the crown of the hotel; the Big Drop plunges faster than the balance of your 401K.

2. Head to warmer Climes and beach bum it at Miami's Hotel Shelley. After Art Basel and before Christmas, the beloved art deco hotels of Collins Avenue will massively drop their rates, leaving the unemployed snow birds to grab up the $49 a night standard rooms at the Hotel Shelley. If you're feeling indulgent, even the suite with jacuzzi rings in at only $89. This is the perfect time to have no commitments but several pairs of flip flops.

3. Give those Hollywood dreams a second chance with Los Angeles' Orbit Hotel. Again with the warmer weather, because something as simple as sun exposure may juice you up with enough Vitamin C to feel optimistic again. The Orbit is one of those slashies, a hotel/hostel, but its vintage mid-century modern decor and excellent location on Melrose make up for possibly sharing a bathroom. Desperate to beef up your imdb profile? Bunks right now are going for $30 a night, or upgrade to a private room for $75. We can personally vouch for the shared rooms here, and the location for the price is unbeatable; stores like Kid Robot and Agent Provocateur are on the same block.

4. Go Green without spending all your green at Maine's Graycote Inn. Because sometimes you just want to be alone and quiet. The Graycote is a traditional New England Bed & Breakfast within walking distance of downtown Bar Harbor and a 5-minute drive to Acadia National Park. For $85 a night, leave the noise, grit and depression of the city behind when you step into the home's eco environs; The Graycote uses energy-efficient lighting, high-efficiency appliance and water-conserving fixtures. To reduce waste, there is no Styrofoam use, and composting and recycling is the order of the day. Even the included breakfast features organic coffee and locally grown produce. Also, free wifi!

5. Live the New York Dream (which is to simply be in New York) at The Jane Hotel. We've covered The Jane from head to toe, and still their $99 a night rates cannot be beat. Come to New York for the street food and sample sales, not for the job market. If you aren't into couchsurfing, then The Jane is your best option for an affordable stay within reach of all the best cafes. Whether you spend your days skimming the jobs on craigslist or cruising for someone to take you to dinner, at least you're in New York. Again, free wifi!

[Monopoly Man image via Prima Tiara; Stratosphere image via zweigonaut; Images of Hotel Shelley, Orbit and The Jane all via the hotel's own websites.]