I stayed here for 4 nights in January 2007.

LOCATION
The location was great, it is just across the street from the Port Authority Building (PAB) which is, I believe is one of the busiest bus stops in the world. This was very convenient as we caught a bus from Newark airport which arrived here. It is a two block walk from Times Square as well!!!! Despite this, it was not ultra-noisy.

ROOM
The bedroom had a bunk (we booked a private) and was surprisingly spacious. It had a locker each, a table, chairs, mirror and small stereo. I think there are 6 rooms here with a maximum of 20 beds. A very nice size!

CLEANLINESS
This place is ultra-clean, the owners dedicate time each day to the cleaning of facilities.

FACITLITES
There was a TV with cable, and a free internet terminal, and wireless as well. The bathrooms are small, with 2 showers in each, male and female showers are separate. Though they are small you can lock the door so you have the bathroom to yourself for privacy. I never had to wait to use the bathroom/shower.

A kitchenette had a large fridge, microwave, coffee maker. There were many cheap places to eat in close proximity, so that there was not a stove/oven was quite alright.

SECURITY
I felt very safe here personally and for my belongings. There were two locked doors that you had to pass through to get into the hostel, and then another into your room. Apparently in six years there had never been a theft, which cannot be said for other NY hostels. The owners are very honest and trustworthy.

ATMOSPHERE
Despite being close to the P.A.B and being above a bar (there is quite good soundproofing in the floor) it is quite tranquil given it is situated so close to the centre of the world. Earplugs were provided, I did not have any trouble sleeping, and I do appreciate a quiet place for sleep.

As this was set up for Japanese tourists originally this is not a party hotel and the guests clearly appreciate this little oasis. Only those who are respectful of other’s environment should book here

PROFESSIONALISM
When we arrived Sam gave us hand warmers for our gloves because it was quite cold on the streets. It was never too hot or too cold in the hostel, just right. We were also provided with maps and useful tips of the town.

The owners Sam and Hiroshi are both very courteous and professional. When an emergency occurred Sam and Hiroshi put our needs ahead of there own and were amazingly helpful.


VALUE
I researched a lot of hostels/hostels for NY, and this appeared to be the best offering for the price, you will not do better for this price.

I highly recommend staying at the accommodation provided by Sam and Hiroshi. I look forward to their hospitality in the future.

We stayed here for 4 nights. The place was located only a few blocks from Time Square. The location was very convenient. The place is located next to a 24 hr coffee shop right on the corner of 9th and W40th. There is a 24hr Dunkin Donut right on the corner of 9th and W42nd. We walked down on W42nd and then turned left on 9th and then a left onto W40th. There are lots of stores opened on 9th between W42nd and W40th and lots of people walking around even around 11pm at nights. It's New York, so of course there are lots of people walking around. We felt safe. I would avoid walking down W40th, it's more sketchy. There is a parole office a few doors down close to 8th. There is a club/bar next door of the hostel. This is good and bad. Good because there were people hanging outside around 11pm, so I felt safe. Bad because we could hear the music late at night inside the hostel. With earplugs, I didn't hear the music at all. The hostel is not located in a small alley. It's located on fairly busy street, so there are also lots of cars driving on W40th. You are highly visible entering and exiting the hostel.

The hosts were very accommodating and helpful. We arrived at 5:30am and took the New York Express bus from JFK to the Port Authority. Take the Express shuttle, very convenient to the hostel. The hostel didn't allow check-in until 12pm. We had breakfast and sat in a bookstore for awhile and finally tried to check-in. Hiroshi was kind enough to let us check-in a little earlier. We asked for towels and Hiroshi provided us with bath and face towels. The 12pm check-in was a bit of a hassle, but it is a hostel and not a hotel. If you can, however, I would recommend getting in closer to 12pm since there are no place to store your luggage temporarily after 9/11.

There are windows in the common area, but no windows in the room or bathrooms. We had the private room for 2 people. It was a good size. There was a small desk with 2 chairs for us to put things on. The lockers were narrow. You can't store your entire luggage in there, but it was big enough to store your important documents and other items. The bed in the private room was a bunk bed as well. The beds were comfortable. The room was well heated.

The bathrooms were very clean. The bathroom was divided into 4 units with doors. 1 unit was the men's toilet, 1 unit from the women's toilet, 1 unit for the men's showers and sinks, and 1 unit for the women's showers and sinks. There were 2 showers and 2 sinks per gender. Since there are only 6 rooms total in the hostel, you can lock door in the shower and have the shower to yourself. Hiroshi suggested to do that. A few times, we had to wait to use the shower, but never more than 5 or 10minutes. The bathrooms were small, but clean. The showers were hot with great water pressure.

The hostel provided hairdryers, free ear plugs, maps, subway maps, and free use of computer with Internet. Most of the guests brought their own laptop, so the hostel's computer was usually available.

The kitchen area is not in a separate room. It's part of the common area. It it well stocked with dishes, utensils, and recycling bins. The fridge is a regular kitchen size fridge.

The guests were quiet. It's not a party type and noisy hostel, thankfully. We got a good night's rest every night. You can't smoke in your rooms, but the common area smelled smoky. People are allowed to smoke right outside of the hostel, so maybe the smoke traveled in.

The common area looks like what you see in the 360 panaroma picture on their website.

Overall, this place was a great find and we would stay here again.

I just got back from a three-day stay at this hostel and LOVED IT! When I first arrived, I was a bit nervous, because in all honesty, the entrance to the hostel, on 40th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue, is not the best. But when you climb the flight of stairs to the hostel itself, a whole new world opens. The hardwood floors, the tiny kitchen (and the owners tell you to help yourself to the coffee and tea in the cupboard), and the VERY clean rooms instantly waved away my initial concern.

Let me mention that again, because it's important: This place is CLEAN! No bugs, no rodents. The bathrooms are spotless.

The location, as everyone says, is perfect -- one block from the theater district, one block from the subway -- but it is also on the edge of a very famous and now-gentrified part of the REAL New York, called "Hell's Kitchen." The area is NOT scary like the name! It's got tons of ethnic restaurants, funky bars and a CUTE flea market on the weekends! For people who don't know about the area, look it up here: [--].

I was a single woman travelling alone to NYC for the first time, and found this little hostel to be totally safe and delightful. It was REALLY great to be just a block away from all the touristy attractions of Times Square, as well as on the corner of a very famous area where the real New Yorkers go for good food and drink. 9th Avenue is lined with cute shops and bars and everything else you'd expect in a hip and funky part of town.

Sam and Hiroshi, the guys who run the place, pretty much bend over backwards to make you feel at home. And you do feel at home. So much, you don't want to leave.

The rooms are not big, the bathroom is even smaller, but who cares when everything is clean, there are absolutely no bugs (see reviews of other hostels) and the subway station is just one block away.
They have a PC with internet free to use, which is very useful. Sam is a very friendly, easy-going guy, he takes care of the place very well.
Other reviewers mentioned the noise from the bar below, but I heard it only one night and you will be so tired after walking in New York all day long, that you'll sleep well without earplugs.

I really enjoyed staying there, I will definitly go back, so please keep this place as good as it is now!

Cheers,
Tamas (from Hungary)