PROS: First and foremost, the host is very communicative and easy to engage. She is friendly and helpful. The apartment is in a great midtown location with nearby access to many attractions. There is a beautiful and quite large private back patio/terrace area that would be lovely in warm months. (Not in December, unfortunately.) The kitchen is functional and appliances all seem in working order. Wifi works fine.
CONS: The layout is VERY strange and inconvenient. Basically there are two units that are connected by a hallway which is open to the owner's unit above. There is no real privacy. There is only one full bath in one of the units, and a half bath in the other. This is not ideal for certain groups traveling together, such as ours. (Granted, the listing does say "1 1/2 baths" so I will take responsibility for missing that.)
The furniture is not new nor especially comfortable. The beds are not new. There were plenty of linens, towels, etc, but it did not feel like the apartment had been refreshed in a very long time. The second unit's main bed is literally pushed up against an uninsulated window that looks into the sidewalk where there are trash cans are stored.
We had hoped that this listing for a large Airbnb would be the ideal way for our multi-generational family to be able to hang out together in New York while we explore. We did not enjoy being in this apartment. In fact, we regretted the decision almost immediately, and wished we had opted for a hotel.
My advice to potential guests: Be absolutely certain you understand the layout and the bathroom arrangement before you rent. The listing does not make this clear, and we would have made a different decision had we understood. It would be fine if you are a solo traveler or for a couple in the main unit. But the second unit situation did not work for us, and I can't imagine that it would work for many.