A little about me: I’m a student in my early twenties who wanted to spend a few weeks exploring New York. Hotels were far too pricey, and I didn’t fancy taking a chance on a hostel. I decided to take a chance on Nora’s apartment, and I’m so glad I did.
Nora’s place offers a wonderful compromise between the cleanliness and safety of a hotel, and the community and authenticity of a hostel. Nora is scrupulous about cleanliness, and sets a number of clear and easy-to-follow house rules for each visitor. You are expected to obey these rules, and doing so will ensure the communal areas are clean for everybody. Nora will pull up anyone who falls short of these standards, and the place stays clean and tidy as a result.
The apartment is located in a nice spot on Brooklyn’s Avenue U. The neighbourhood is completely safe and contains a number of 24 hour stores. Delis, pharmacies, a laundromat and a number of restaurants and fast food joints means you will not want for anything during your stay. Nora’s place is a stone’s throw from the Avenue U Q Line subway station, which takes you straight into Manhattan in about thirty minutes, although journeys into Midtown can take longer. Generally you should leave an hour for travel as the subway can be tricky for newcomers. Coney Island is a few stops away in the opposite direction. Overall, the location is a solid launchpad to explore Manhattan, Brooklyn and Coney Island.
Undoubtedly my favourite aspect of staying at Nora’s was the people I met. Nora herself is lovely - friendly, accommodating and open, it is easy to quickly strike up a friendship with her. She enjoys conversation and meeting new people, and will treat you like family if you let her. Nora is also an experienced New Yorker of five years and has an intimate knowledge of the city. Be sure to ask her for tips! Having never shared accommodation before, I was hesitant about taking a room with total strangers and all the risks and inconveniences that potentially come with it. For whatever reason though, Nora seems to attract an incredible number of cool and interesting people. Travellers, artists, actresses, musicians, intellectuals, scientists - these were the people I met in my short stay at Nora’s, all with great stories and interesting conversation. If you come in with a good vibe and the right attitude, you will probably leave with genuine friendships.
Overall, I really don’t have a bad word to say about my time with Nora. Exploring New York from her apartment was one of the best experiences of my life, and I will certainly be booking with her again in the future!
Connor