We stayed there for 2 nights in a private room/shared bathroom. The room was not clean, hair on the ground, the matrasses laid through, really bad. The shared bathroom smelled like urine, the Walk in showers don't provide privacy, no doors... It is next to South Central Park which is good, but that's about it.

the worst hostel I've ever spent a night. We were on the eighth floor, the corridors were similar to Alcatraz, there is only one bathroom for about 150 rooms, with 4 showers, one out of order. The small room was full of dust, dirt, and the price paid was like a hotel. a nightmare

The location is unbeatable; the security, quietness, interesting guests, helpful staff, cleanliness, internet options were exceptional! I have recommended this to all my friends. My room on the 13th fl was perfect.

This is my second review of the West YMCA...this time I stayed with a friend in one of the "renovated" double rooms on the 13th floor.

Pros: Fantastic location. Very safe. Rooms were clean, beds comfortable. Cheap for NYC. Renovated rooms have carpet, desk, chair and a flat screen TV. They were a decent size. Staff was very friendly.

Cons: Bathrooms did not seem to be cleaned on a regular basis. Cafe that used to be in the lobby is gone. No blankets on the bed...I managed to snag a couple from the linen cart. People come and go at all hours, but this IS a hostel and that is to be expected.

Quirks: There was no ladder to get to the top bunk, and the bunks were fairly high! When we asked for a ladder, we were told that they couldn't get one so late and that people usually just "jumped" up! There really was no way to get up there...unless you were some kind of gymnast! The next day, we were given a ladder, but it had no hooks at the top, so when my friend tried to use it to climb down, it slid right across the floor and she was left hanging on the to side of the bed. It was extremely awkward and very odd...I have stayed in MANY hostels with bunk beds and even the worst of them had a ladder or way to climb up to the top bunk! The beds could easily have easily have been separated into two twins beds and the room was large enough to do this...I wonder why they don't go this route, rather than have people "jumping" or using a defective ladder. Seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen.