The journey of our lives! Where else?! In the center of the world, or otherwise, the Big Apple. Full of enthusiasm, we booked our airline tickets, and the next step was the accommodation part. A huge city, with endless options and many parameters to consider. When looking for accommodation, the truth is that we were looking for something relatively affordable. The reason was that we did not intend to stay long in the room! Below, in our short article, we will describe our own experience regarding accommodation in New York and why we distinguished it from the rest.
Location
The choice we made was the West Side YMCA, which met our expectations to the fullest. Initially, the most important thing for us was its ideal location. It is located opposite the fantastic Central Park, just a 5-minute walk from Columbus Circle, where the metro station is located. This made it much easier for us to move (at least when we were not walking, or had no strength left !!). Also, as soon as we realized that it is 1.5 kilometers away from Times Square, we realized that we were in the center of the Big Apple. Other points of interest nearby include the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Station.
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The nearest airport to the room is La Guardia, approximately 9 km away. Obviously, off-site, another plus in choosing this hotel was the fairly affordable price, compared to other options at the time we were looking. Also, at the end of each day, when we returned to the accommodation, we enjoyed the route through the main streets and felt the vibes of the city that never sleeps!
More information about prices, availability, and points of interest around the hotel can be found on Booking.com
Facilities
The room we chose overlooked Central Park. A green view that made us look forward to starting our day in this wonderful city every morning. Although we had bunk beds, we did not mind at all, as we came back every night full of pictures of New York, and we just wanted to sleep. We initially had doubts about the shared bathrooms on the floor, because we did not know what was in store for us. But when we saw the space and how clean the bathrooms were, we were completely satisfied. The same goes for the cleanliness of the room itself. The staff was very helpful, always smiling and always willing to help us with anything we needed. The rooms also had free Wi-Fi.
EXTRAS
Also, for those who do not know, the YMCA is a global community! It provides, in addition to accommodation, sports activities. We found that out when we realized that at the West Side YMCA, and just a few floors from our room, there were fitness facilities, a gym, group rooms, an indoor pool, a sauna, and a massage place. So we managed to fit our fitness program into our travel plan, and we started our day with wellness. Also, all the facilities were spotless and neat, and the trainers were willing and fully informed about our needs.
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Another feature of the West Side YMCA that we appreciated was the security of the building. The entrance to the accommodation was only with the indication of the cards/keys of our room, shown to the very kind security guards. We felt safe, that not just anyone could enter the building, and that we would find our things in the room as we had left them. All of the above definitely contribute to a positive image regarding “accommodation in New York,” and we would choose it again!
More information you will find on our ultimate guide to New York
