Andres apartment is a great option if you want to stay in Manhattan and save some money. There is a Subway station a couple of blocks away, where you can take the A train downtown, with connections on major stations such as Times Square, PABT and Penn Station. It is a 40 minute ride on the local train. The neighborhood is very welcoming and you will find all sorts of cheap places to eat (Subway, McDonald's, Starbucks) plus all sorts of local restaurants (it's a Dominican neighborhood). There's supermarkets, laundromats and groceries shops around. Most people speak both English and Spanish, and in fact will address you primarily in Spanish. His apartment is very clean and warm, and he's very friendly. Give it a shot!