Here are solo‑friendly hotel options across Manhattan + Brooklyn that give easy, fast access to public transit (subway, major train hubs, or ferries). I’ve listed the nearest station/lines and one‑line reason they work well for solo travelers — pick by neighborhood and budget.

Budget / Hostel

• HI New York City (Upper West Side) — 891 Amsterdam Ave (near W 103rd St). Closest subway: 1 line (103 St) and A/B/C/D/2/3 within a short walk; good social atmosphere, events, and long‑term lockers for solo guests on a budget. (hiusa.org)

Compact / Value

• Pod 51 (Midtown East) — 230 E 51st St. Closest subway: Lexington Av/53 St (E, M) and 51 St (4/6); small, efficient rooms and 24‑hr front desk make it easy for solo travelers who plan to be out exploring. (thepodhotel.com)
• Pod 39 (Murray Hill) — 145 E 39th St. Closest: Grand Central / Grand Central‑42 St (4/5/6/7/S); very centrally located for Midtown and quick transfers to most lines. (pod39.devsite-1.com)

Midrange / Lifestyle

• citizenM New York Times Square (Theater District) — steps from 50 St / Times‑Square area stations (1/2/3 and A/C/E/B/D/F/M/N/Q/R/W nearby); modern, social lobby and good for solo travelers who like a lively central base. (moovitapp.com)
• YOTEL New York (Times Square / Hell’s Kitchen area) — 570 10th Ave at W 42nd St. Closest: 42 St – Port Authority (A/C/E) and Times Sq complex (1/2/3); compact rooms, self‑service tech, and easy airport‑bus/Port Authority access. (helpcenter.yotel.com)
• Arlo NoMad (NoMad/Midtown) — 11 E 31st St (and Arlo SoHo in SoHo if you prefer downtown). Closest: 33 St / 28–33 St area stations (6 and other Midtown lines); boutique vibe, small rooms, good communal spaces for solo guests. (arlohotels.com)

Near major transit hubs (best if you’ll use regional rail / need fast airport/train connections)

• Grand Hyatt New York (connected to Grand Central Terminal) — directly adjacent to Grand Central‑42 St (4/5/6/7/S) which gives the fastest access to Metro‑North, many subway lines, and easy cross‑city transfers. Great for solo travelers relying on trains or arriving via Grand Central. (moovitapp.com)
• (Midtown near Penn / Moynihan) Row NYC or similar hotels in Times Square / Penn area — if you want immediate access to Penn Station (Amtrak/LIRR/NJ Transit) and many subway lines. Row NYC (700 8th Ave) is a common value choice near Times Square. (timessquarenyc.org)

Brooklyn (if you want to stay outside Manhattan but still be quick to/from it)

• The William Vale (Williamsburg) — 111 N 12th St; closest: Bedford Ave (L) and ferries; great if you want Brooklyn neighborhood life + a short L‑train ride into Manhattan. (thewilliamvale.com)

Transit note (important for solo travelers): New York’s subway and buses now use OMNY (tap‑to‑pay contactless) and the MTA has been moving away from the MetroCard system — bring a contactless bank card, phone wallet, or buy an OMNY card if you prefer a physical card. Check the MTA site for the latest payment and service notices before you travel. (mta.info)

Quick solo‑traveler tips

• Choose hotels with a 24‑hour front desk or staffed lobby if you’ll arrive late or leave early.
• Midtown (Grand Central / Times Sq / Penn) gives the easiest transfers across the city; neighborhoods like NoMad, Murray Hill and the Upper West Side are quieter but still well connected.
• Keep a portable charger and download Citymapper / Google Maps + MTA alerts for live subway service changes.
• For safety at night: use well‑lit station entrances, sit in cars with other riders when possible, and check service advisories (weekend maintenance can reroute lines).

If you want, I can:

• Narrow to a specific neighborhood (Midtown, Downtown/SoHo, Upper West Side, Brooklyn) or budget and give 3–5 best‑value picks with approximate nightly rates for your dates (I’ll look up live prices).