This review is both excellent and less than stellar. First the good. The apartment could not be better located. I have lived in many different parts of New York, and stayed in many more. Never have I stayed in a place so easy to travel to/from. So many trains go to Atlantic/Barclay's! It's incredible. It makes getting into the city a breeze. The convenience really can't be overstated.
In addition, the neighborhood itself is really delightful. Sure there's the ugly mall, but there are also restaurants and boutiques and cafes galore. We absolutely loved being there. There was even parking on the weekend! Truly nuts for NYC.
Check in was very easy, though we were quite late and thus had to pay a $75 fee. But we appreciated the host's employee being there. We also appreciated how responsive he was.
The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable, and the hosts had cleaned out the drawers and closets, which was much appreciated. The beds themselves were comfortable, but the bed linens, towels and especially the pillows were very old and ratty. We've gotten used to a better experience from the higher priced airbnbs. The sheets needn't be Frette nor the pillows down, but neither should they be lumpy and uncomfortable. The bathroom supplies were also substandard. It's okay not to supply these things in an airbnb (though the better ones always do), but if you advertise as providing then the bottles should be clean.
Which leads me to my biggest problems with the apartment. It was filthy. Like really dirty. Open a kitchen drawer and find a smear of old food and dirt. Take out a plate and find it crusted with old food. Dustbunnies under the beds and in the corners of the rooms. Grime in the bathrooms. Dust on the heaps of magazine.
It's really a shame, because if this listing were regularly cleaned by a professional service, and if the host invested in some new pillows and linens, it would be a really terrific place to stay.