Chelsea Inn, New York City

Advantages: good location, friendly staff
Disadvantages: limited facilities, small, no disabled access

...The Chelsea Star Hotel is situated on the corner of 30th street and eighth avenue in Manhattan. It is quite a small hostel with dorms as well as single and double rooms which are all custom designed. The bathrooms are nice and the place is always clean but there is nowhere to sit and relax - something you long for when you are staying in a dorm. There are phones, an internet machine and a coffee machine and good tourist information. I found the staff extremely helpful and friendly and I received a warm welcome. The hostel itself is in an ideal location: mid-Manhattan and within easy reach of the subway, Times Square, Madison Square Gardens and Penn station. Over all it was a good place to stay, if not a little expensive for the limited facilities. The room prices are not bad for Manhattan but not as cheap as the International Student... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Fab Location, very helpful staff.
Disadvantages: Small Rooms, No Communal area.

...September 2004 I arrived in New York and not wanting to return to the hostelling international hostel my search began for a hostel. Phoning around I discovered apparently New York was exceptionally busy and almost everywhere was fully booked. Upon phoning the Chelsea Star they too were fully booked however, helpfully offered me a pull out bed in one of there dorm rooms for a discounted price. On arrival the staff were exceptionally helpful, offering advice with what to do for my stay and carrying my bags to my room (as someone who had been staying in hostels for the past 3 months this was rather a surprise!). The room was a crowded 10-bed doom with me on a little put up bed blocking all access routes and practically on someone's feet. As I was paying a discounted price I didn't mind - but I hardly felt it was fair for the rest... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Everything about it.
Disadvantages: Getting more expensive.

...A multitude of pubs and bars mixed with historic tourist attractions and the odd cobbled street make York a fascinating place to visit (or live). There is so much to do, to see, to eat and to drink. Highlights include the breaded mushrooms at Victor J's cafe-bar on Finkle Street, a pint of Terrier at Colliergate's Last Drop Inn and the sweet and sour fish at Goodramgate's Siam House. Many new and expensive bars have made York the Notting Hill of the north, but there are enough traditional pubs that you feel like you are in the ancient city as portrayed in tourist brochures. An excellent mix of the old and the new. Try it, I did and I ended up living here.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful