We loved staying at Linda's place. Linda and her family were really friendly, and Seven and Max the cats are too - they will come and chill out in your room if you leave the door open! The house is nicely decorated and there were loads of little thoughtful touches - Linda provides everything you might need. We especially loved the insect noise in the bathroom. It is easy enough to get into Manhattan, it's just a short walk to a subway station then a direct subway. It takes a little while to get there, but Linda's place is way better value than anywhere you'll find in Manhattan, and it's worth staying further out. We found the room quite noisy at night as it's right next to a fairly busy road, so not ideal if you're a light sleeper, but Linda does provide ear plugs, and melatonin.