Stay here. Just do it. You can stay at hotels anywhere, and you can surely find airbnb apartments somewhere closer to the tourist highlights of NYC, but you will not find a place with the charm and comfort of the Greer's home in Inwood. She puts such care into the decoration and supply of her apartment, and by this point she's figured out the sort of things that travelers are likely to need and want when staying over for a few days. The place is impeccably clean, organized, and cozy. The neighborhood is charming and lively, even more so if you speak Spanish or like shopping at the awesome tight-packed urban supermarkets just a couple of blocks away. To top it off, there's an amazing subway connection to all that one might want to see in the city. I really liked the apartment and location.

But most important of all, by staying here you get to meet Greer herself (and her two adorably stranger-friendly cats). Why would I ever stay at a hostel when I can stay with someone that will personally welcome me into her house and treat me like family? She was considerate, communicative, and and trusting. Who'd have known that NYC could be such a warm and friendly place to visit?