On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 14:23:50 +0200, B Vaughan wrote:
>On Tue, 19 Apr 2005 10:26:15 +0200, "Benjamin Mehlmann"
> wrote:
>
>>Hello newsgroup,
>>
>>
>>
>>we (my girlfriend and I) are planning a low budget trip to New York and so
>>we think of staying in the Uptown Hostel (239 Lenox Av at 122nd St. in
>>Harlem). It is very inexpensive for a double room (from what I can tell),
>>but is it clean and safe? I would be glad to hear some experiences or some
>>other recommendations where to stay.
>
>I've stayed there twice, but not in the past five years. It was
>reasonably clean, although the communal kitchen was rather messy. This
>was the fault of inconsiderate guests who left their dirty dishes
>lying around. The bathrooms and dorms were clean.
>
>It also seemed very safe. I stayed there with my teenaged daughters
>once, and we returned late at night without feeling unsafe.
>
>I assume this is the HI Hostel.
No, it is not.
Location: Manhattan's Upper West Side Corner of 103rd St & Amsterdam Ave
http://www.hinewyork.org/about_us.htm
There is a lengthy review of the Uptown Hostel at
http://www.hostelz.com/display.php/17511+Uptown+Hostel
It does not sound all that convenient as in the following:
The hostel definitely has a lot of character, including quirks that are both
good and bad. Most importantly, it's cheap, clean, has hot showers, and has good
facilities (including a clean kitchen, nice eating area, and bathrooms on every
floor.) However, the main disadvantage is that it is small, so you don't get the
luxury of a 24 hour reception, a bar, or lots of people to meet. There are only
two employees; the woman who runs the place, Giselle (who is very nice and also
speaks French if that helps), and a person who helps with cleaning. If you will
be arriving after 6:00, you need to call ahead and arrange for her to come back
to the hostel and check you in, which she will do. In addition, when you check
out you sometimes have to walk to her house, which is a few blocks away. This
may seem odd, but things like this keep the cost down.
They have towels, but make sure you ask for one when you check in or maybe even
on the phone so she knows to bring one for you. The showers/bathrooms are clean
but a little funny, there are no doors on the shower rooms, no hooks or shelves
to hang things on, and it takes a minute to figure out how to get the hot water
to work (turn it all the way to the hot side and wait a few minutes). Other
small problems include that she only accepts cash, there is no phone or internet
in the building (however both are easy to find), and you may have to climb a few
stairs to get your room. |