Luz's place was wonderful and Luz herself is warm, inviting, and very kind. When I say it's clean, I mean really clean: there were no funny smells, stray hairs, etc. It honestly felt more like a hotel; I was genuinely surprised. Her apartment is located in a part of the building where it's very quiet so I was able to get a lot of sleep at her place, something I was in very short supply when I arrived at her place.
The neighborhood is full of great South American restaurants, but also not too far away from a major supermarket chain and a RiteAid. I'm short, and the walk to the subway stop (the number seven local train) only took me about eight minutes (if you're taller, it'll probably be even less than that). The seven local is a pretty reliable line as NYC subway lines go, but I always double check with Google Maps for the latest subway updates.
Finding a place in the city where a woman can feel safe and clean is hard, but I'm so grateful I found Luz! I highly recommend Luz's place if you're a woman traveling on your own. Knowing that it's just another woman (and Luz's adorable daughter) is just that added peace of mind that will make your stay that much better. Thank you again, Luz!