Me and my girlfriend stayed in the apartment which is on 4th floor and Subway (Utica Ave) is just 5 minutest walk away. We booked this place based on all the positive reviews but our personal experience was totally different. On our arrival we were greeted by the couple and they are such a lovely people. Apartment is great and same as in pictures. The area is called Crown Heights. However on our first day out we decided to explore the area but it ended soon when we were followed by a group of men who tried to talk to us and when we didn't respond they stated following us and shouting. We turned on busy road and then they stopped. Anyway we didn't let them ruin our moment. We came back to apartment in the night around 9ish and there was a house party going on with loud music and some guy on microphone. We were tired and fell asleep even with rumbling of sound in the whole apartment but only to wake up in the morning to find out some one was shot dead right outside our apartment. Area was secured by police barriers. We were really scared and wanted to move out but could not due to limited funds. Around 500 people attended the house party and it was all over the news. We decided to leave early in the morning and return before dark and it really impacted our very first holidays in NYC. Then every evening some guy parks a car outside apartment with all doors wide open and plays really load music with massive speakers and of course a microphone. I thought I might ask them politely to turn down the music but how do you speak to 40-50 people who are drunk and abusive to each other. Few days later another guy was shot dead on the same street. Anyway there is a fire station opposite apartment which is very busy and goes on all night with very loud sirens and also police sirens because of police station being on the same street. We did not feel safe at all in this area and if I return to NYC I will not stay in Crown heights or even in Brooklyn. We found queens to better area for stay and shopping. It feels safer and shops are cheaper with large variety. For travel I would recommend getting subway weekly metro card which covers whole New York including ferry and trams. Airport entry costs $5 which is easily accessible by subway to both airports in the city. I would suggest to get subway map and also download offline maps (I use HERE Maps) to make life easier.