Not a bad place, not quite as good as I was hoping. It got the job done. The place wasn’t messy by any means – like everything was put away and there wasn’t any notable dirt or dust – but when you’re actually in the space, it doesn’t feel like you’d imagine from the pictures. Just personal opinion, yours might differ.
There was no welcome email with instructions, directions, etc. which is something that I’m used to from other Airbnb stays. A day before my trip, I emailed requesting this information. No response. I had to follow-up again on the day of my trip to receive a reply. I’d like to point out that from this point forward, Jeremiah was quick to response.
The check-in process was simply to walk up to the top floor, where the keys were left in the front door. Easy, yes, but not what I’d call an ideal or secure process – especially considering the neighborhood. When I arrived, I tried to connect to the WIFI, but the service provider had turned off internet and cable due to lack of payment. I contacted Jeremiah and to his credit, his was quick to resolve, but still worth noting.
One of the main reasons I booked this spot was due to the rooftop shown in the pics. What’s not mentioned is that this is straight up a vertical ladder. Should you accidently fall off this ladder (10-12 feet high) there’s a 50/50 chance you’d then also fall down the stairwell another 1-2 stories below. I’m a very physically capable person and the ladder itself isn’t too big of an issue for me. What was the issue was trying to close the hatch once you returned down the ladder. Again taking note of the height and consequences of a fall, yanking down on hatch/lever, while trying to hold on with one hand was not an easy or enjoyable experience. I’d arrived the day after a large rainstorm and the rooftop was pretty tossed around. Despite this being a main reason for booking the location, I never went back up after the initial visit. Just thought this was important to mention.
The subway (6) is about 5 min away and crossing over the bridge into Harlem is more like a 15-20 min walk. Close proximity to LaGuardia airport was nice. Plan roughly 40 min door to door to Midtown Manhattan.
It was very hot when I was there and despite there being air conditioning in both the bedroom and the living room, sleeping was near impossible several of the nights. The bedroom AC was not very cold and really would’ve liked to have had a fan as well. If the windows were left open to help cool, it was very loud since you’re directly next to a busy street and freeway.
With just a few minor tweaks or clarifications, this place could be great. A few personal touches and a bit more transparency with photos and listing description would be helpful. I’d stay again, but I’d just come a bit more prepared. Thanks Jeremiah.