Alex and Ivy were perfect hosts. They were accommodating, kind and wonderfully fun people with an interesting perspective on work, travel & life. We hit it off and got together a few times just to hang and talk about NYC.

1) The apartment: charming, huge, bright, clean (exceptionally clean!) updated, smart, modern and livable. All appliances are brand new, as is the creatively assembled dining set/cooking tools. They include inspiring non-fiction books and guides to NYC. The shower is awesome!

The bed is new, firm and super comfortable. We didn't miss our bed back home, at all. This is crucial when staying for over a few nights.

Ivy & Alex left us hotel-quality sheets and towels, all amazingly presented and folded. Don't worry about shampoo and body wash, it's all included and luxury quality.

There is no, I repeat, no street noise. We brought earplugs-didn't use them.

Toys - they provided toys for our 2 & 5 year olds. Fantastic stuff, too.

Keyless entry - no fuss, no muss. You arrive, you punch in the code and you're in. You don't have to go to some weird bodega to pick up a key. This is a huge convenience at the beginning and end of your stay.

2) Neighborhood: If you like neat, quirky, non-commercial neighborhoods, this is the best. It's extremely family friendly and off the beaten path. The dining is incredible, some of the best in NYC. It's a 2 minute walk to Little Italy, 2 minutes to Chinatown and 2 minutes to Soho. Literally, there are 4 different worlds within a few blocks.

The DeSalvio Playground is a 4 minute walk, and the subway is 5 minutes away.

All in all, we had the perfect experience. I wouldn't change anything at all. We'll be back, this is the only place we'll consider when returning to NYC.