Lynn's airbnb is AMAZING! When you book this room, you get the third floor for yourself (bedroom + bathroom) so it feels very private and comfortable. The room was bigger than I expected and it was extremely comfortable. I stayed for two months and had more than enough space in the drawers and in the closet for all my clothes. I did my homework on the desk and then got to unwind on my bed watching TV, which worked perfectly. The heater was also wonderful for the really chilly days and it got to warm up the whole room really fast. The bed was also very comfortable and the sheets were super soft and great to sleep in. The bathroom had its own heater, was very clean, well illuminated and had lots of space. It was easy to get hot water both in the sink and in the shower despite the cold temperatures outside. A huge bonus was that tap water was drinkable, so I could refill my water bottle in my bathroom or in the kitchen and spare money on buying new water bottles every time I went to the city.
Regarding the location of the Airbnb, the bus stop is just a few meters away from the house. This is great because you can just check (in Google Maps) at what time the bus is going to arrive and just leave the house a few minutes earlier. It feels as if you are waiting for your private Uber. You can get a Metrocard in a place located at a 10-minute walking distance from the house - the buses in Staten Island are part of the NYC MTA so you can both use it for most buses of Staten Island and Manhattan (including the Subway). My favorite route to reach Manhattan was taking the bus up until Geroge Ferry Terminal, and then taking the ferry -which is completely free. The service is punctual, clean and fun, with a lovely view of the river and the Statue of Liberty. If you want to stay in Staten Island, though, you absolutely can. On the same street of the house, there's a CVS and a grocery store. You can also go to the Staten Island mall (I suggest you go by bus so you can watch the boardwalk, and maybe make a stop to step on the sand and get your feet in the river) and, once you get to the mall, enjoy the many, many stores (e.g. Macys, JC Penny, Barnes and Noble), restaurants, a cinema, another - really cheap - grocery store (Lidl), and many more. Oh, and you can also visit Empire Outlets and get good deals on clothing. (This place is located on George Ferry Terminal, right before you get on the ferry and enjoy the ride on the river.)
My experience during the two months was incredible. Lynn, and her partner Dave, were the best hosts I could ask for. They both went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable and safe. They were very flexible with my arrival time, as I'm a student and my flight arrived at 1:00 am, and also very tolerant with my class schedule - which made me get back home very late at night. There were so many extra things they did to take care of me and make me feel at home, as well. For example, Dave offered me to drive me to the place where I could get the Metrocard on the first day of my arrival - just so that I wouldn't have any trouble finding it, and explained me how to use it. Also, Lynn constantly offered me delicious, homemade plant-based food in case she cooked one, because she knew I'm vegan and was on a budget. (Dave also cooks some great oatmeal!) Lynn also added so many toiletries for me, and made sure I had the warmer flannel sheets when the days got cooler. These are just a few examples of just how loving they are. They definitely made me feel as part of the family and were even kind enough to invite me to join their Thanksgiving family dinner - my very first! Such a lovely celebration.
And to wrap up, I can't avoid mentioning Sonny and Ziggy; two amazing, adorable, playful, loving dogs who do nothing but spread more joy in the house. I really looked forward to Sonny coming to visit me in my room upstairs (he doesn't go upstairs if you don't want him to, but I most certainly did.) Ziggy doesn't come upstairs, as he is older, but will be waiting for you downstairs to receive many hugs. He will also love it if you sit down in the floor and let him put his head on your lap while he sleeps - and snores a bit.
Anyway, if you are hesitant about booking this place, don't be. It will truly be a wonderful experience.