CHELSEA ROOMS NYC, New York

The location is a major asset - Penn Station is a three-minute walk, providing direct rail access to Newark Liberty Airport (around 25 minutes by train) and the rest of the city. Madison Square Garden, Macy's, and Times Square are within a short walking radius, and the High Line and Empire State Building are 15-20 minutes on foot. A subway station is one block away for access to all boroughs. A 7-Eleven is adjacent for snacks and drinks. The area is busy at night, with street noise that can impact sleep, but the position makes it easy to walk to most midtown attractions, restaurants, and theatres, making car use unnecessary.

All rooms are private and come with a key. Every room has a sink and a mini fridge, which saves trips to the communal kitchen area. The double rooms have one bed; twin/double rooms have two beds. Some rooms are very compact - often just enough space for the bed and luggage, with top bunks giving limited headroom. Rooms facing the street can be very noisy due to paper-thin walls and single-glazed windows that let in traffic and street sounds. Back-facing rooms tend to be quieter. Air conditioning is a window unit; heating pipes in some rooms can make ticking noises. There is no daily room cleaning unless requested, and no TV.

The breakfast is a self-service continental spread set up at the reception desk. It includes organic coffee, tea, milk and milk alternatives, a choice of cereals, muffins, fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, toast, butter, and jam. Gluten-free options have been accommodated on request. The eating area itself is very small, with only a couple of couches, so many take their breakfast back to their room. For those who need a heartier meal later, the immediate area has numerous delis (Salumeria Biellese, Green Blend NYC, NY Pizza Suprema) and a 7-Eleven direct below.

Reception is staffed from 8:30am to 11pm; late check-ins require advance notice. The facility is a walk-up with no elevator - steep stairs lead to reception and all rooms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. Luggage storage is free from early morning until 4pm; after 4pm a $10 fee applies. A safety deposit box is available. The building has full-day security, CCTV in common areas and outside, key access, and smoke alarms. There is an ATM on site. Payment is accepted by cash, credit, or debit card with no extra fees. Bikes cannot be stored on site.