The Host (Alan):
I didn't get to meet Alan in person, but we communicated a lot. He's a nice guy, he responds to messages quickly, and genuinely tries to solve the problems as fast as possible. He also has great recommendations for local restaurants and music venues.
The Apartment:
*The View: You're probably getting this apartment for the amazing view, and you won't be disappointed. It's breath taking both during the day and at night. We went to a bunch of bars/restaurants that were known for their views, and Alan's apartment was way better. You may think if you stay somewhere for a long time, you may get used to or get tired of the view, but NOT THIS VIEW. Even in our last night, we were enjoying the view as much as the first night.
*Day-to-day Living: Alan lives in this apartment himself and it comes with cons and pros. For pros, the apartment is very well equipped, anything you need for cooking (utensils, dishes, sauces, spices, ...) he has them all. The apartment has super fast internet. It has a very nice working desk and chair (of course with a view) that make working from home very pleasant. We also used some of his equipments for exercising. The only downside is, since Alan lives here, most of the closets are full or locked. You'd definitely have enough closet space if you're staying for a few days (to a week), but not if you're staying over a month.
The Building:
*Positives: The building has 24/7 doorman which is super nice, for example, if you have packages delivered. It also makes check-in much easier.
*Negatives: It looks like the building is not generally in good shape. We had some plumbing problems as soon as we arrived. There are some construction happening. Elevators are slow, and most of the times one of them is out of service. The laundry is in the basement: don't use the nicer machines because there's always someone waiting there and as soon as the cycle ends will throw your clothes out. They have a bunch of other machines that are OK. Many of the neighbors are constantly smoking weed that I could smell if I left the window open. So, in general, OK building in terms of neighbors and maintenance.
Neighborhood:
*Positives: You're very close to the Central Park which is great. Also, not far from the main subway stations which make the commute downtown or uptown very convenient. There's a Trader Joe's right across the street, and a Whole Foods 3 blocks north, this makes grocery shopping very convenient. Finally, there's a great coffee shop (Peaky Barista) downstairs. We're from Seattle and coffee snobs. Peaky Barista is definitely one of the best coffee shops in Manhattan.
*Negatives: You have to walk at least 15 minutes south to get to the nicer areas of the Upper West Side (with nicer shops and restaurants). This building is on 93rd street, and most of the good food options (and nightlife) is at around 80th street or south. Walking north of 86th on Columbus late at night is a bit unsettling (even though it's technically safe).
Overall, we really liked Alan's place. It's beautifully decorated and has a personal touch, it's very well-equipped, and it has incredible views. We do recommend it to future guests.