Candy Hostel

It's a place to sleep
Location -- Close to subway, felt safe to walk at all hours, but they desperately need some sort of signage to indicate that we came to the right place. The address seems to differ on several booking sites and seems to get confused with the Continental (330 95th) when the Candy is 316 94th. A nice man at the Continental counter lead us through a basement maze through the building to get us to the Candy side. This seemed to be common because we saw several confused travelers also being led in this way. I'm sure the Upper West Side is a "trendy, happening area" as many sites seem to indicate, but we much preferred Greenwich Village/Soho area which was only a subway ride away. Staff -- The most common response on all review sites is that the staff were rude. While I don't expect to be welcomed with open arms at a budget hostel, a simple smile would go a long way for people who have just arrived in a new city. The first impression was cold, but further dealings (requesting an extra towel/pillow, subway directions) revealed a bit more personality. It's very simple -- smile and be polite to all staff and chances are they will do the same. Rooms/Cleanliness -- We stayed in a private room, all rooms are shared bathroom. Each floor is split into two sections with two bathrooms per section. Bathroom rush hour was around 9 a.m. and sadly to say, our floormates were pigs. Hair everywhere, soap wrappers scattered around, water splashed all over the floor. (Dry yourself off before stepping out of the shower makes sense to me.) However, the cleaning staff made it spotless right after. Soap dispensers in the bathrooms would seem much more efficient than giving out the little travel soap bars every day. The rooms were also cleaned every day -- beds made, fresh towels, floor swept, garbage emptied. As for size, this is a hostel, not a hotel. The private room was about ten by twelve and had just barely enough room for the small double bed and table that held a TV. There was a small closet, and a hanger ration of one per person available from the front desk. The small shelves on the wall were fine for toiletries, but lose the TV and the table would have been much better for storage. If you want to watch TV, stay home! People seem to be worried about bedbugs, rats, mice, and roaches, but there were no evidence of any pests. I'm always amused by internet pictures vs. real life -- the pics are obviously right after a fresh coat of paint. Buildings in NY are old. Elevators in old buildings are slow. Get over it. Overall, The Candy worked for what we needed. A no-frills place to sleep and shower for cheap. I've stayed in worse but this place felt completely safe and comfortable. When we return to N.Y., if we can't find something comparable in the Village, We'd stay at the Candy again.

Rude Staff
This Hostel charged me extra when I arrived, although I showed them the print out saying balance of xx was payable when I arrive at the property. Although they said it is a tax charge the receipt they gave mentions zero sales tax. I realized theyre doing this to almost everyone checking in. They do not accept any credit cards, only cash. And I saw few big cockroaches. The staff was bullying anyone who comes with normal questions.

Friendly, clean, comfortable, and convenient
I stayed here for a couple of weeks and it was a very nice and safe place for my daughter and I. If you are looking for a basic room, with no frills, then this is the place. The maids and desk staff were great! Security is wonderful and the elevators work, but we usually took the stairs as it was quicker. I have been in hotels that didn't even come close to the service of this place.