High Concepts At Low Prices.(International Edition; LUXURY)(hotels)

Byline: Sameer Reddy

Design hotels have figured out how to deliver stylish innovation for the cost of a night at the Holiday Inn.

When the Morgans Hotel opened in New York City in 1984, the first property in Ian Schrager's soon-to-be empire pioneered a luxury hospitality trend, putting esthetics and conspicuous cool over traditional pampered service. Now, after more than two decades, design hotels are evolving in a more democratic direction, emphasizing affordable rates without sacrificing innovation. The shift is timely; with luxury tourism hurting, these hot properties are attracting guests--for cheap.

MAMA SHELTER

Paris may be full of antiquated institutions that define old-school hospitality, but in the increasingly trendy neighborhood of SoPig (short for South of Pigalle), design hotel godfather Philippe Starck and the Trigano family have teamed up to develop a new hotel concept that radiates youthful energy. Each of Mama Shelter's 172 rooms comes with its own iMac with integrated TV, DVD and music capabilities, as well as free Wi-Fi, rain showers, ultrasoft cotton sheets and strange--but cute--children's masks doubling as light shades. Self-service check-in kiosks in the lobby speed things along and help keep room rates lower than a Holiday Inn. The restaurant and bar are packed even on weekdays, with locals and guests intermingling over slightly boring, overpriced bistro fare. But drinks like the Bubble Bum (vodka, Malabar, lemon juice and sugar) are exceptional (from $100 a night; mamashelter.com).

THE JANE

On the edge of the Hudson River in Manhattan's far West Village, partners Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode--whose previous collaborations include the Bowery Hotel and the Waverly Inn--have renovated a shabby, century-old building into a small-scale hipster hotel. The 200 rooms fuse inspiration from Japanese "pod" hotels with retro-styled luxury train cabins, a clever solution to the cramped spaces--a standard room is about 17 square meters. Basics include a compact twin bed with built-in drawers and storage space, brass coat hooks, LCD flat-screen TVs and free Internet access. Charming communal bathrooms at the end of the hall are more hostel than haute; the finicky can take refuge in one of the 83-square-meter panoramic ...