Jazz on the Villa Hostel

There are better hostels for the same price
The one good thing about this hostel was the staff, they were helpful and friendly and available twenty-four hours. However, this was about the only good thing. The bathrooms were filthy, the showers barely draining so your feet are covered with water, and if someone has just been in, you have to wait for it to drain before you can have a shower. For a young woman on her own, harlem is an intimidating place. The beds are also very narrow and don't feel particularly stable. There are much better hostels in new york for a similar price.

well, after the initial freaking out that this place was in harlem, we were pleasantly surprised. The building from the outside looked promising and we were greeted by a bright reception (complete with chandelier!). The place is very clean and nicely decorated, the bathrooms could be nicer. However, we did have a few problems when we arrived, the lock for our door wasn't working (although, they gave us a room to put our luggage in and it was fixed a few hours later). The air con in the room wasn't working at all, we stayed in august and to be in a room without it was awful so they moved us to another room the next night. Overall it was a nice place and for $13 a night at the last minute, you cant really complain. Harlem isn't all bad, we didn't have any bad experiences and we were four blonde white girls! it was an experience though!

They say on their website that this is a newly renovated hostel but the building is old and they have a "problem with mice!" I certainly saw no signs of renovation! We had to chase mice out of our room several nights during our stay. Also, you don't stand a chance of getting to use the toilet or shower between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. as every single one in the hostel will be in constant use. The kitchen does not supply dishes or cutlery and the lounge area closes at midnight, so there's no chance of getting to socialise after that time. Harlem is a safe location but it'd be worth paying a few extra dollars to be closer to midtown/downtown Manhattan!

the most excellent thing is price -- $14 per night! and there is a shared kitchen at the first floor. microwave oven, gas, refrigerator, dining table. location is harlem and i am sataying there for almost three weeks but i didn't experience any bad thing (violence or sex crime). but this hostel has just begun on july of 2006, so some computer problem has occorred and booking or reservation does not work well sometimes. but if you come here you can understand that here is very peaceful place to stay.