Barbara was a very flexible and friendly host. She was pleasant whenever we interacted with her, and the few friends of hers that we met were also just as nice. She often checked to make sure we were enjoying New York.

However, she does often work late and seems to have a pretty busy social life, so she might come home later. If you are a night owl, a heavy sleeper, or a partier, this is probably a decent fit. If you aren't any of those things, then I would suggest picking a different host.

The room itself is very spacious, more than enough for two travellers and all your shopping bags. There is a lot of privacy since Barbara lives on the lower floor, and her schedule likely won't overlap with guests so sharing the bathroom wasn't a problem either.

Keep in mind this neighbourhood and the buildings are very old - the floors, doors and even the bed are all creaky; the walls seem thin. The room faces into a back alley so there's no view but it also means there's no street noise either. The bathroom is the most dated section of the apartment and required some small fixes, but the shower pressure was good, and the toilet just needs a longer push/hold before it flushes properly.

The apartment is on the first floor so it's good if you're not a fan of stairs or elevators. It's also close to a lot of small markets, fast food (Dunkin' Donuts, KFC, Taco Bell, McDonald's), as well as two subway stations, and a nearby express bus that goes to LaGuardia.