Website: none
This hostel is in a great, safe location on the Upper West Side. The dorm rooms are located on the ground level of an apartment building near reception but the private rooms seem to consist of various rooms owned by the hostel in the adjacent apartment block which are mostly inhabited by permanent residents who also share the communal bathrooms with hostel guests. It sounds kind of dodgy but actually isn't that bad, with the bathrooms cleaned daily and kept in pretty good condition.
We booked a room with shared bathroom facilities via the Hostelbooker website initially for two nights, which we extended after a night. The rate was significantly less than the West Side YMCA but with nicer facilities which was why we decided to move hostels for the rest of our stay. It cost USD$60 per night but according to the tax system here, we also had to add 14.75% as well as a USD$3.50 daily fee which was still quite a good deal for budget accommodation in New York City!
There was a guard posting in the entrance to the building (which changed constantly) and a very old, slow lift which took us up to the fifth floor. Each level has three wings of rooms behind three doors, each with one shared bathroom. Our room was quite basic, with a sink, wardrobe and cable tv and no reason to complain regarding cleanliness. Despite the high numbers of residents and the relatively thin walls which enabled you to hear whenever people left their room and go into the bathroom, it was quiet most of the time which was great. There was a slight problem with the water from the sink leaking through the cabinet underneath and onto the floor whenever we turned on the hot water tap but we temporarily addressed this problem by avoiding use of the hot water tap.
There were no computers provided for internet users, with free wi fi only available in the immediate area around reception. Unfortunately, there were only two small, old couches available to use, with the security guard often stubbornly taking one of them, often leaving users to sit on the ground which wasn't that appealing. If they only provide internet connection in a limited area, at least provide sufficient seating or a specified common area!
The hostel was in a great location on the Upper West Side, a few minutes from a supermarket and restaurants, as well as a subway station. It was also within walking distance to Central Park, taking us about 15 minutes at a moderate pace.
Overall, probably one of the best value budget accommodation options in New York City. Good location, safe surroundings, and nice enough reception. Using the internet was a hassle, with the small, uncomfortable reception area unsuited to serve as a make shift common area. Best reason to stay is for the price and the clean facilities.
Rating: 7/10
We paid USD$79 per night (A$
No comments:
Post a Comment