Even though I didn't interact with Ross & Heather much since I didn't want to disturb them, I can tell they're really great hosts, eager to help and doing their best to make you feel at home.

When I arrived, I had tons of questions about how to get here and there, and they answered them all and also provided printed maps of New York and Jersey City and maps of the neighborhood they drew themselves. They also have snacks, coffee and cream for guests.

The place surpassed my expectations. You can tell Ross & Heather put so much love in decorating it it's genuinely endearing. It's on the ground floor of a three story house on a quiet street. Ross, Heather and their 4 year old daughter live upstairs. There is a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and closet behind a curtain there. You also have access to a Frigidaire washer and dryer on the ground floor. And you can hang out in the backyard. I liked it that everything was in good working order: bathroom fixtures, plumbing, the washer, the fridge, the cooker, etc.

The neighborhood is a normal residential area with two/three story houses, bodegas, laundromats, etc. I never went to a cafe or restaurant in Jersey City so I don't have much to say about local food except that shrimp with seafood rice that I grabbed from a seafood kitchen within a two-minute walk from the place I stayed was delicious. In case you need to go to a supermarket, check out the Pathmark where Pacific Avenue joins Grand Street (look it up on the map). Can't say I ever had a reason to worry about my safety in that neighborhood. I walked there alone late at night and here I am safe and sound.

Here's what I discovered about getting around, I think it could be helpful: there're several ways you can get to Manhattan.

1. You take a 15-minute walk to the Liberty State Park light rail station and catch a train to Exchange Place (4 stops). The train takes you to the Hudson bank (amazing view of the Manhattan skyline!) from where you can catch either a Path train to the World Trade Center (1 stop) or take a boat there.

2. You walk to the Exchange Place station (Pacific Avenue=>Grand Street). Took me around 40 minutes, which some may find time-consuming, but I love walking in summer so that was the route I normally took.

3. You can also try getting to the Newport light rail station from the Liberty State Park light rail station and catch a Path train to 33rd Street (Madison Square Garden area) but because my experience using this route to get home wasn't quite pleasant (I thought I took the wrong train from 33rd Street, then realized it was the right one, only it takes a detour) I wouldn't recommend it.

Please keep in mind that you need different tickets for the light rail, Path, boat and subway.