Location, Location, Location. Affordable Hotel Room.
The Freehand is a hotel, so the listing is for a room, but by way of Air B&B, in case that's confusing. The location is excellent: 23rd and Lexington, midtown Manhattan, steps from various subway lines, short walk to Times Square and whatever else, easy to get anywhere. That's what you want for a NYC trip: a place to crash at an affordable price in a great location. Everything else is just frills or petty gripes. But, the details:
The Great: Excellent location for an affordable price. A comfortable queen-sized bed with clean sheets. A shower with hot water and good shampoo and conditioner. Friendly service. The room is cozy, with lovely illustrations on the wall and ambient lighting.
There are plenty of extras: a small desk for writing. Free apples in a basket. Free purified water. Hair dryer. Robes and slippers. Laundry available. Lots of amenities, including room service, restaurant, Mezzanine hangout area, workout room, rooftop bar (which was not yet open when we visited), etc.
The Cons: Very few, really. The room is small, the bathroom is tiny, but what do you expect? There was construction right outside, and the noise and the smells woke us up each morning. Finally, know that because you're in a hotel you'll be charged for taxes -- NYC Occupancy Tax, NY State Sales Tax, NYC Hotel Room Occupancy Tax, NYS Javits Expansion Charge -- plus a Facility Fee for every night you spend. That added roughly $43 per night, for which we had not budgeted, onto our bill. The room was still a value overall, but it's good to be prepared for the extra charges going in.
Overall, a fine, chic hotel with friendly service in a great location and all for a great price.