Location: about 4 blocks from the nearest subway train which has a direct line to the middle of Manhattan. It's at the end of a line too so if the train suddenly becomes Express (like it did to us) then it doesn't matter! Astoria it self is a very safe nieghborhood which also has lots to offer including restaurants, bars and nice places to eat (NYC Bagel & Coffee, Create and Bonnie to name a few). We walked through the Astoria late at night on several occasions and never once felt uneasy. It's far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city to relax and wind down, but only 20-30 mins away on the subway so you can get into the middle of Manhattan quickly when you're ready!
The place: basement of a house in Astoria with easy access whenever and security lights. It is how advertised; a bed, a bathroom and a sofa with some nice personal touches from the hosts. This didn't bother us personally as we were out 12-14 hours of the day in and around the city.
The hosts: Chris and Rod were great when needed. Always quick to respond when messaging, brought fresh towels to us within 5 minutes of asking, recommended some nice places around the area to eat and visit.
Overall verdict: for our trip, it couldn't have been more perfect. Just a place to rest before hitting Manhattan again the next day. If you're looking for somewhere to spend a lot of time then this might not be the place, but it had everything you need to freshen up ready for the next day. Thanks both!