Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
location, views over the Chrysler Building, exciting atmosphere |
| Disadvantages: |
too small, showers not much good |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
For my first trip to New York I was extremely anxious to arrange a good place to stay, somewhere central and clean but also somewhere that embodied the 'New York vibe'. Initial internet research taught me that all hotels on Manhattan are pretty expensive, and so I quickly refined my search to cover only place at the 'under £100 a night' mark.
I eventually selected Habitat for its low
price (£74 a night for a single room with trundle bed), pleasant looking interior and close location to Central Park, 5th Avenue and of course Tiffanys.
The hotel was easy to reach from the main drop off point on the airport bus and even though it seemed extremely large and had the atmosphere of a youth hostel in part, we had a warm welcome from both the men at the door and at reception. There is a bar (OPIA) on the 1st floor of the
hotel, which is not a part of the hotel but in the same building. When we arrived on Friday evening there was music playing and a really chilled out atmosphere, not to mention lots of beautiful people. As we were on the 16th floor the noise didn't affect us at all, and this bar was a bonus to our stay, but those on the lower floors may have found it rather a nuisance.
The room was minute, and even for just one person it would have been compact. Once the trundle bed was pulled out there was no room for manouvere - even opening the door was a feat. The room was clean and well supplied with pillows, sheets, bathroom accessories etc (and a hand basin) but it lacked storage space and could be claustrophobic at times. It was neutrally decorated with some very pleasant black and white prints of the city on the walls.
The bathroom was conveniently located just across the hallway but the showers were pretty hopeless handheld attachments and the water pressure weak. If you decided to have a bath there was sometimes not enough hot water. This was a bit of a disadvantage to be honest, and certainly the worst part of our stay there.
The location (130 East 57th Street) turned out to be fine without being spectacular, and we found ourselves always heading off in the same direction (towards 5th Avenue) wherever we were going, which became a little repitive. It also meant we didn't often feel we could pop back during the day for a freshen up or whatever but this was no great problem.
Staff were in scant evidence around the hotel save for in the reception area which had extremely friendly and efficient staff 24 hours. In common with pretty much everyone I came across in New York they were exceptionally helpful and seemed anxious we should enjoy our stay. The room was cleaned daily and while sheets were not changed the beds were always made.
If you are going to New York on a budget this hotel may be worth considering. it has a large roof garden with cool views and a common room which some more 'traveller' types seemed to be using as a base and bringing takeaway food back there. Again the atmosphere was really jovial and sociable, and if you had been travelling rather than on holiday this hotel would come as a rather luxurious change to most hostels I would imagine. I am looking forward to my next trip to New York to sample somewhere else and see how it compares, although I can recommend Habitat and would be interested to know what other people thought of it!
