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Please see New York City for other available New York City hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
Uptown Hostel in Harlem is a great hostel for the price you pay. It's in Harlem, and despite what you may think, the neighborhood seems to be perfectly safe, the people friendly, and it is extremely easy to maneuver. It is advisable to be prudent while there, and it is probably not safe to walk alone late at night, however, this is true anywhere in New York. While there are grocery stores, restaurants, and night life right in the area, there is a 24 hour bus stop right out in front of the hostel and a subway station within a few blocks. Via subway, it only takes about 15 minutes to get to Times Square. The place is very easy to find; it's on the southwest corner of 122nd and Lenox.
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.
The rooms are also nice, the bunk beds look home made out of wood so they don't squeak and you don't have to feel the bars beneath the mattresses, and the sheets/blankets on every bed are different, so the room looks very festive. There is plenty of room to walk between beds and there are not too many people to one room. Another disadvantage is the key situation. We were a group of 6, so only having one key to the bedroom and 3 to the front door wasn't too big of a problem, however it seems that not having a key for every bed is a re-occurring problem. In addition, there are no lockers so there is really no safe way to keep your valuables.
On the plus side though, the hostel is small, seems safe, and doesn't seem to attract large crowds because people are scared of Harlem. 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.
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.
The rooms are also nice, the bunk beds look home made out of wood so they don't squeak and you don't have to feel the bars beneath the mattresses, and the sheets/blankets on every bed are different, so the room looks very festive. There is plenty of room to walk between beds and there are not too many people to one room. Another disadvantage is the key situation. We were a group of 6, so only having one key to the bedroom and 3 to the front door wasn't too big of a problem, however it seems that not having a key for every bed is a re-occurring problem. In addition, there are no lockers so there is really no safe way to keep your valuables.
On the plus side though, the hostel is small, seems safe, and doesn't seem to attract large crowds because people are scared of Harlem. 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.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
July 2004
Their Description
Uptown Hostel Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | 239 Lenox Avenue, New York City (Manhattan - Central Park North), New York, USA |
| Location | |
| Website | www.uptownhostel.com |
| Telephone | +1 (212) 666-0559 |
| Fax | +1 (212) 663-5000 |
How is Uptown Hostel rated on other websites?
Uptown Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Still open for business? I stayed in the uptown hostel for few days in 1997. The owner Gisele had just bought the place. It was already the worst place described in the previous reviews. The kitchen was specially dirty with cockroaches all over the place and mice. No cleanliness at all everywhere. I must disclose that i'm french because Gisele hate the french, does she like anyone anyway with her racist comments? I got robbed just two blocks from the hostel (beware of the neighborhood at night). There is no security at all. If i post a review today it's because in 1997 she was explaining to me that the dumpster she owns and she dare to call an place for staying would go under substantial renovation -- 14 years later i must confess i'm amazed some people are still booking in that trash but gisele would never surprise me with her love of money ... Stay away from that place!!!! — Anonymous , french (2012-01-07) Dive they made me, with two fine young boys, wait until 9 PM before we could check in. The two Twinks needed a private room, which they got. I, with my back like it is, needed a bottom bunk. Only because of the generosity of some young girl, did I get my bottom bunk. I found out the next morning, when I walked in on her in the shower, that she did have some pretty nice tits. But, she would not do the one thing that I do. And, those showers are very small, and it took all day for the water to warm up. Otherwise, the location was great. But, the place itself sucked. I think that it should be closed down. — David E Hunt , American (2011-07-06) THE WORST HOTEL IN THE WORLD We booked this hotel because this was the only cheap hotel we could find just one day before our travel. And we realized why there were still room in this hotel. we waited in the front door from 3 to 10 with ALL our luggage and NO ONE answered our phone calls. Finally when we got into the hotel the owner Gesley were rude and NEVER said sorry that she didn't answer the phone and that she was away. She was also arrogant and racist. NEVER BOOK THIS HOTEL!!!! It was the worst experience i ever got on my journey and I've traveled a lot. THE WORST HOTEL IN THE WORLD. — Anonymous (2011-04-01) Worst hostel ever! Do not stay here Being on a 6 months round the world trip I have stayed in many places that weren't great, but this place tops it all. The house is falling apart, there is currently no water, let alone hot water. There is no heating, it is freezing in the house and the landlady will only laugh at you if you say something. She is very unfriendly and never in the house. There is no reception and you need to call her and wait 20 minutes to get into the house. The entire house is dirty and under 'renovation', there is only one pot in the kitchen and nothing useful. No cutlery or plates or coffee maker or anything that should be there in a normal hostel. The bathrooms have no doors! There is a little curtain that separates the showers from the hallway. I am not kidding, this place is the worst hostel ever! I had far better accommodation in India! It is in Harlem, so not even that great a location, so pick a different place. It can't be worse than this!! — Mieke , Germany (2011-03-30) The worst of the worst Despite some reviews that we saw, me and my friend decided to give it a try, but is a filthy place. so dirty and smells terrible. the landlady was real rude to us. is not about luxury, is about security and hygiene. — Anonymous , mexico (2011-03-13) Disgrace this place is a disgrace, the only reason we went there is that the place we were going to when we got there said they were booked and gisele was the only person he knew that would have rooms. well for a start it was in harlem, not a safe place in my eyes, the stairs were unsteady, our bedroom was disgusting, dirty walls, stained carpet, holes in the walls and the door was about to fall off, we were giving no sheets, beds were disgusting, we even had a rat in our room, absolute disgrace. there was a cockroach in the bathroom that looked like it had never been cleaned, and the showers were worse. i recommend you stay away from this place, its not even worth the $30 a night. — Anonymous , ireland (2010-09-27) Do not got in this hotel!!! staff are not welcoming, the rooms are disgusting, our bed smelled of piss, walls are dirty, the floor also ... nothing is clean. the window does not open, (I cut my hand trying to open), it was hotter inside than outside! I did not sleep all night. I do not recommend this hotel highly. — Anonymous , France (2010-08-15) I been in this hostel in summer 2009 september. The boss lady, Jacqueline, was very very nice for me. I called there in almost night because all hostels in N.Y. were full. She allow me sleep in the dining room. She rescue me. Sadly I cant sleep there because when I go to center city in night I cannot find address later! My fault. In night this is not very friendly district, but in day is very ok. I come there just in the morning, I take my sleeping bag and bag. But this is good hostel, and cheap. Of course is not first rate. It is adequate for money what you pay. Is a clear. If you want very clear hostel and all new there, choose something other! God bless Jacqueline. Thank you for all! — Sebastian , Poland (2009-10-05) Great value for money I stayed there for a couple nights in 2002 for one very simple reason -- it's the cheapest hostel in New York. If I had been richer I'd have stayed elsewhere, but you do get what you pay for -- a warm and safe place to sleep. It's not shining clean, but it's decent nonetheless. The only thing I didn't quite figure out is how one's supposed to wash. And Gisele is very nice when she's not being too weird, she's full of helpful tips, and she'll willingly negotiate your rate depending on how long you stay or how much she likes you. — Valmi , Canada (2007-10-30) I stayed at the hostel in the summer of 2002. New York really is a great city, I cannot say the same thing about "Uptown Hostel." But it was the only place available at the time. Ok. Its cheap, much cheaper than other NY hostels, but the rooms aren't clean, we didn't feel too safe on the streets after the sun went down, and the kitchen and restroom facilities are very very poor! — Morten (2006-10-11) I stayed here two years ago and enjoyed my stay then but can no longer recommend this place. To start, getting a hold of the owner, Gizelle, for reservations is no small feat. For my most recent visit to New York late last May I had reserved accommodations a month in advance, however, when I finally arrived to NY and phoned Gizelle she tells me there is no availability. Avoid this place. — George (2006-06-18) This place is bad. I stayed there 8 nights. Gisele was always nice to me, but:
—I never saw her change her dress.
—I never saw anybody cleaning (I dropped a piece of toothpaste on the bathroom floor. It stayed there for 8 days. I wondered WHEN it would go!). The toilet was never cleaned, too, in 8 days!
—I saw a cockroach in the bathroom as big as my pinky finger. But it was fatter. He ran away when he saw me, by the way.
—The stairs between the 1st and 2nd floor looked like they were going to fall in at any second.
I stayed there because I got into New York City during Labor Day weekend (the first Monday of September) and everything was full. After the weekend I was too lazy to change places.
Harlem is not that bad, too, nothing happened to me, and I always arrived late nights at the hostel. It's on a big avenue, so I would say it's safe. But I'm a big male and not a single tiny girl.
I used my own sheets, but the ones that I saw the others using LOOKED clean.
Basically this place gets 2 stars instead of one because it's cheap, 25 bucks a night. But it's probably THE ONLY reason you want to go there. There's the Harlem public library where you can use the Web, too, for free for 30 minutes. — Ita guy (2005-09-10) If you never take a bath or could care less if you sleep on bloodstains then this place is up your alley. I do not think the board of health would step foot in this place. It is despicable, filthy and needs to be torn down. This rates a negative star. — Anonymous (2005-02-21) This place still exists? I stayed there for four months back in 1999-2000 when I first came to the States (I ended up living in New York City for a year and a half) and in that time it was — and probably still is — the cheapest place to sleep under a roof in NYC. However, if you're not trying to settle down in the city, spend a little more and stay at a "real" hostel. This place is great if you're working in town and have to save money, but I would hate staying there being a visitor to the city. Oh, and Gisèle IS the antichrist, don't even doubt it. :-) — Bart (2005-02-06) It's one of the worst places I've ever seen. There are no doors in the dirty showers, doors in restrooms are without locks and they don't even close. There's no safe place to leave valuables. Stay away from this horrible hostel. — Martin (2005-01-28)