Location: Very Good
Close to subway (approx. 10 mins walk to Subway 3/ 3 blocks away). Approx. 50 mins by to Times Square. Basic groceries available closeby, plenty of places to eat around. Ghetto-looking area but quiet & safe during our stay.
Amenities: Poor to Fair (NOT all listed amenities were available at our time of stay) see below;
TV - available but no working aerial/cable to get any reception
Kitchen - Oven cooker & microwave available. However, no kettle, oven dish nor any oven cookware or bowl to use. Also, no dish drainer to leave plates to dry. Only 2 chairs & small table for dining, folding chairs would have been helpful for family of 4. (requested it after booking but sadly forgotten/ ignored)
Essentials - Plenty towels available. Unfortunately were all smelly (we suspect it's because of the plastic drawer storage where bath moisture probably gets trapped in towels). Shower curtain with black spots (moulds?) from inside
Pillows - if you are group of 4, you'll have to make do with 1 flat-pillow each. Can use the available throw pillows tho'
Bathroom - basically 1.5 only as shower in the downstairs is NOT available. Received text msg that it's not available the day we arrive NY. One of the reason we chose this place despite distance to Manhattan is having 2 bathrooms, so we don't waste time waiting to have shower.
Iron - available but take note, no functional ironing board.
Elevator - listed as
available in amenities but irrelevant. It's in 1st floor & you would not need it.
Aircon - 1st floor with aircon, basement with 1 fan. Be prepared if visiting NY in summer time, bit uncomfortable sleeping in the basement as the aircon don't really reach bedroom there.
Cockroaches - quite a number of them frequented kitchen /bathroom areas& made us jump everyday. Luckily, did not encounter rats. Rat trap seen outside front door.
Host- Unfortunately, never seen/met her at all. Keys were obtained from a secured container outside apt. Understandable as may be busy but no reply received when texted about some questions we had on our first night. Did not persist with msg as it's not an urgent thing anyway. Over all, would rate our experience "Fair" as they say you get what you paid for. It's cheap. Sad to say, would not recommend to my family & friends.