My second time to NYC & first time solo; also my first time using Airbnb. I am very glad I stayed at Cynthia's. I would highly recommend staying here if you want to get away from the "touristy" part of the city & explore the neighbourhoods. She is right in the heart of the Upper East Side. It was a wonderful stay. Here is my review: long & hopefully detailed enough. Cynthia as a host was fantastic. She had booked a car service for me to & from the airport (cheaper than a cab), & greeted me with open arms when I arrived. She immediately struck up conversation; this girl can talk, & her conversations are intriguing & wonderful. She respected that I wasn't a morning person, & kept quiet in the mornings. She let me borrow her umbrella during the one day that it poured. She gave me a subway map & explained the lines to me. She provided me with a list of nearby cafe's, restaurants, & grocery stores. She also gave me the low down on what's up with the museum admissions... I suggest staying with her if you want to know about that as well. Overall, she was very kind & helpful & I appreciated it all. The apartment itself looks exactly like the photos & is so thoughtfully & artistically designed & detailed. It was also extremely clean! Staying here was an experience in itself. Keep in mind the "no shoes in the apartment" rule is a strict one; all shoes are kept outside. Cynthia walks around barefoot, & I was comfortable doing the same, but if you aren't, make sure to bring socks or slippers. I found the loft very comfortable after my days of wandering around. There is an air conditioner up there that you have control over, which was very nice. The room was small but cozy, & the only thing worth mentioning is that the walls of the room & loft do not go all the way up to the ceiling so you will hear everything in the apartment. Also, the door to the room is see-through, so you do not have 100% privacy. Changing in the little dressing room was a bit tough for me at 5'4" tall; consider changing in the bathroom if you are taller. The rest of the apartment is perfect. The area is wonderful. A pharmacy & Starbucks & a subway station within a block walk; Central Park steps away with the Reservoir greeting you when you enter. Museum Mile is close as well. Getting down to Brooklyn Bridge took about 20 minutes on the express lines & another 5 down to Bowling Green & Battery Park. Not too difficult to get to Times Square either. Overall, fantastic location. Lots of cute shops & places to eat. Very non-touristy feeling. I will be contacting Cynthia again if I ever need a place to stay in NYC. 5 star rating from me; fantastic stay. Would highly recommend....