Location, location, location. I was able to get to work (one office in Midtown, another in Brooklyn) very easily. The Steinway Street subway station is about a block away (400 ft/125 m) walk away and you can catch the M, R, E or F lines. Lot of food trucks, restaurants, cafes, etc. within easy walking distance - and everything reasonably priced because the neighborhood isn't one of those homogeneous, gentrified areas. It's a diverse and ethnic neighborhood with soul - young and older generations mingling, and there's a weekend nightlife on Steinway if you want to go clubbing. On occasion you'll get a taste of big city sounds - cars with big base booming, a street sweeper, bus rolling by - but you can't hear the subway or other constant loud noises that might prevent you from sleeping. If you sleep with the A/C (or fan mode) on it pretty much drowns out any street noise and you don't notice you're in NYC. Room is nice sized, bathroom is next to the room. I didn't notice if someone was showering as sound didn't come through the walls. I could hear upstairs movement or outside stairwell sounds more than sound from inside the apartment. A/C worked nicely. The apartment is on the third of four floors, and there isn't an elevator, so you'll need to carry your suitcase up. Marcos and Sony are very friendly and nice hosts - they'll invite you to share in their dinner, coffee etc. if you want to join, or will leave you to your own if you don't. I stayed for two weeks and really enjoyed my stay. Since I travel for business, they are on my list of places to return to next time I'm in town!