Good budget hotel in non-touristy area
I stayed at Days Inn during the recent post-hurricane power outage. This is a good budget hotel in the Upper West Side. Very convenient location (half a block away from subway line, 24-hour drugstore right underneath, and several good restaurants in the area). You can easily be in Midtown in 10 minutes via subway. The room was clean with a modern bathroom and the usual amenities. I would recommend it for anyone who is looking for a great value place to stay in NY and would like to avoid the craziness of Times Square/Midtown. Downside is the super slow elevators and somewhat noisy AC unit. 
Upper West Side is much more family-friendly, but I don't think there's much to see in terms of tourist attraction in this area. Side note: for similar price, you can get more upscale accommodation/amenities at the Doubletree on Stone St or Club Quarter in the Financial District.