What a great place to stay - while researching accommodation in NY I came across this B&B and thought the reviews can't be this good, it just seemed to good to be true.

I made enquiries via email and every response was positive so thought there may be some truth in the reviews so decided to book.

Our flight from Australia was delayed approx 7hours which meant we landed in NY at 12;30 at night. Luckily I had managed to email Robert and advised of the delay, I spoke to him when we touched down in LA and he said to call him again when we got to NY and he was up and waiting for us when we arrived. After such a set back his welcome was really appreciated. From that point on all I can say is that our stay was a great introduction to the US - nothing was to much trouble for him.

The location was excellent, some may think you're along way out of town but 20-25 minutes and you're in the heart of NY plus you get the bonus of seeing and meeting the locals which is what travel is all about.

Other reviewers have covered all the other positive aspects of staying
at this B&B and all I can do is agree with them, I look forward to returning and have no hesitation in recommending this B&B to anyone.

This was our second stay at the Loralei. We cannot say enough about our host Rob. He was so helpful and generous, making our stay memorable. We stayed in the Gramercy room, a quiet retreat from long days of exploring New York City. There are lots of great places to eat nearby, check out the Farm on Adderly and Afganistan restaurants. The subway is so convienient, only a two minute walk. We will definitely be back!
Lori & David
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

We found the accomodations tastefully appointed with modern amenities that allowed us to watch the LATE NIGHT WITH DAVE LETTERMAN taping on CBS we'd attended that day. The private bath was spacious, clean, and well-stocked. We also appreciated the additional private room we utilized for reading and on-line planning of the next day's activities. The wi-fi signal was glitch-free. The hair dryer provided also came in handy as we tried to dry our wet shoes. (See below). [ROOMS-- 4 out of 5.]

Service was a real issue. The first red flag went up when we found our phone calls were forwarded to a cellphone and answered at inappropriate times. Reflecting, we probably should have gone with our gut and stayed elsewhere. Nonetheless, with vacancies dwindling, a private bathroom as criteria, and budgeting a concern, we proceeded with the booking.
On the second day of our stay, caught in the rain, we returned to the B&B to change out of our wet clothes. Dripping wet in the foyer, the host informed us that Brooklyn had received some rain today. (Oh, really-- thanks, I thought.) With no offer of assistance, we opted to hang up our wet items in our private bath, and head back out for an evening in Manhattan once the storm showers had passed. Upon our return we met the maid who informed us that our host had left to stay with family for the night. Discovering our clothes still drenched, I asked the maid if we might put our wet items in the clothes dryer for a few minutes. She informed us that she was not allowed to use the dryer on the premises. Tired, I did not persist and we settled in under the covers as the cool night air flittered through the screened windows. The next morning, with the temperature near 50F, we awoke to a very chilly Loralei. With no host around to take out the screens-- which prevented the windows from being closed, we quickly dressed and headed downstairs--without showers-- the resolve to eat and leave. Shivering through breakfast, (which we set out ourselves for the most part,) we ate and headed back up to collect our things. Then, nearly packed, with our wet clothes in plastic bags, the maid broke down and offered to dry our things. Too little too late, I thought). [SERVICE-- 1 out of 5.]

[VALUE-- 3 out of 5.] You get what you pay for.

Despite being an older home, we found the residence to be immaculate. The renovated bathroom, although only accessible from the hallway, was spotless. And of course we know the Loralei has a maid. We spent more time with her than the host. (CLEANLINESS-- 4 out of 5).

To be fair, we were also surprised by the quality of the breakfast. Expecting little, we found an assortment of "help yourself" breakfast items. The selection of fresh fruit was much appreciated. Granted, certain items were not replenished the second morning of our stay. [DINING-- 4 out of 5].

All in all, while we'll never stay here again, this property certainly has several things going for it. Mind you, an innkeeper with a smug and condescending manner is surely a conflict with success. Not necessarily a people-person myself, I do have a strong appreciation for customer service; something our host seemed to be distracted from. Who knows. We never saw the other innkeeper. Maybe there was a break-up.

Quite simply, our stay at the Loralei was a fantastic experience. After spending the day running around the city, my mother (75 yrs old) and I looked forward to returning to our home away from home each night. As the subway is just a short walk away from the Loralei, it made for a perfect base for our four night stay. Forget Manhattan - stay at the Loralei and experience the warmth, diversity and hospitality of Brooklyn.