Jackie was great- very welcoming! He was available to help our cab driver find the apartment, met us downstairs, and even carried my heavy suitcase up the stairs (I'll pack lighter next time). The room was as-pictured with plenty of space for me and my daughter, and the corner desk was perfect for toiletries, maps, souvenirs, etc. There was a shelf in the refrigerator for us and access to the kitchen, dishes, and silverware as needed. We felt subway stations, and we were able to travel easily around NYC.
Great eclectic neighborhood, especially Pies and Thighs and the Essex Street Market. I would describe it as "unpolished" (no marble entries or uniformed doormen) yet safe. We felt secure, even late at night. Expect an absence of curb appeal, it's not much to look at from the outside.
The space could definitely use some detailed cleaning and maintenance. While I would not describe it as dirty, it was not cleaned to the standards I would expect for paid lodging. We found a previous guest's sock and shoe and dust piles under the second bed (futon), indicating that the room had not been thoroughly cleaned between guests (how could you miss a sock and a shoe?). The futon cover needed a good washing / replacement. The bathroom was in desperate need of an overhaul. The metal (stainless steel?) walls just seemed dirty all the time, the toilet and shower needed detailed cleaning, the grout was cracked and dirty, and parts of the wall to ceiling seams were open. It looked like they were originally covered by a metal seam tape that was no longer holding. The vanity was slightly too small for the space, which wouldn't have been a problem except for the 1/2 inch gap between the sink and the tub with unknown dirt and trash permanently stuck in a space too small to clean out. The size of the bathroom was OK, but the layout was awkward and the space needs to be cleaned and brightened up. As a renter, Jackie probably can't do renovations, but someone needs to give that bathroom some self-esteem and a reason to live! One other issue that arose was the steam radiator system. We left the radiator in our room off, but the heat coming off the exposed pipe made the room uncomfortably hot. We literally had to run the window A/C unit even though it was 35 degrees outside because the room was so warm.
All that being said, even considering the sad bathroom, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, and I hope to stay with Jackie again as soon as possible. Next time I will give in to my inner clean freak and just give the bathroom and bedroom a complete cleaning when I arrive. It's a small price to pay for a great space at a great price!