Jazz on the Town - East Village

Jazz on the Town - East Village is in a great location near two subway stops and lots of shops, eateries, and bars that won't break the bank! Like most old NYC buildings, it is cramped for space and has no elevator, but they have attempted to inject some bohemian charm with brightly painted walls (each floor is a different color) and the occasional painting.

Located on Fourteenth Street just off Second Avenue (look for the red awning), the hostel is one block east of the L line's Third Avenue stop and three blocks east of the Union Square/Fourteenth Street subway station served by L, N, Q, R, 4, 5, and 6 trains. An uptown 4, 5, or 6 train can take you to Grand Central Station or such areas as "museum mile" where you can visit The Whitney, The Guggenheim, or The Met. Head downtown to visit the neighborhoods of SoHo and Chinatown. Likewise, the N, Q, and R uptown trains visit Penn Station and Times Square or take a downtown train all the way to Brooklyn if you like.

Jazz on the Town offers dorm-style accommodations with en-suite bathrooms (toilet, sink, and stand up shower). Expect bare bones facilities and you will not be surprised during your stay. The rooms are just large enough to fit the bunk beds, which have no ladders. The mattresses are covered in plastic and the provided bedding consists of thin, threadbare sheets, a blanket, and lifeless pillow. Heat arrives via a radiator and air conditioning is supplied by a window unit. There are small lockers in the room which can fit a coat, purse, or pair of shoes (but not all three at the same time). Do not expect to lock up a backpack, as even the smallest ones won't fit! The bathrooms are generally clean, but may have quirks such as the shower faucet falling off or the toilet seat and lid not being attached. There are no hooks, shelves, or other furniture in the rooms or bathroom so invariably your possessions will end up stacked on the floor.

Two of the floors have a tiny room at the end of the landing containing two internet computers, pay phones, coffee maker, toaster oven, and microwave. There are no refrigerators, however, so the possibility of bringing back leftovers is limited. The only common area is the rooftop which has a few scattered tables and chairs. On a nice day it serves its purpose, but the area does not appear well maintained.

Jazz on the Town advertises twenty-four-hour check-in, which is not the case. The desk attendant cited check-in as 2 p.m. and check-out as 11 a.m. Their version of "luggage storage" consists of tossing bags in a pile on the floor of an unlocked storage closet or lining the hallway from the front door to the front desk. They also have a problem with double booking beds and shifting their longer visiting guests from room to room.

If you are looking for a hostel in which to relax and visit at length with other guests, then Jazz on Town is not for you. But if you simply need a cheap, safe place to lay your head after long days of sightseeing and partaking of the NYC nightlife, then this is the place for you.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review