Using a travel agent is the way to go!…read more Joanne helped us plan a trip to Germany. We went to three different places and she booked our hotels and rental car. She was very nice and prompt with all communication and picked out great hotels+got us good pricing. She earns the fifth star for helping us out when my boyfriend left behind his jacket at one of our hotels. She was very quick when responding, she contacted the hotel for us and the jacket was back home in San Francisco before we knew it! Thanks Joanna!

What a unique opportunity! As a very frequent traveler to New York for business, I have grown wary…read moreof the same hotels in the same neighborhood by my office. I crave some variety, and some way to break the monotony of a typical NY trip. Enter Seven Hills Travel I was introduced to Seven Hills through a good friend who used them successfully for personal travel, and they did not disappoint. I've gone from boring businessman schlepping to NY every other week, to somewhat of a local, staying in a great Upper West Side apartment! They set me up in a warm and inviting apartment in the middle of an amazing neighborhood. No more boring hotels with the same ole restaurants...now I have the full local scene available to me when I travel. All of that for less than a NY hotel. Knowing what they can do for vacation travelers, and experiencing their service for business, this is an easy 5 star rating for me! Thanks, Seven Hills!

The charm of the space was amazing! everyone was very welcoming. The beds were comfortable and the…read morerooms spacious. It was a bit noisy but it is NYC! Definitely recommend for an unforgettable experience.

Is it worth $142 on a sat night (including taxes and fees) for a Double bed + 1 twin)? It's a…read moreholiday long weekend and most 2-3 stars hotels in the entire Manhatten range $120-180 plus taxes. Airbnb units twice as much. So I guess one has to put in perspective when they compare; essentially what you pay is what you get - this seemed like "market rate". The room we booked was for 3 persons but we had only two occupants which is just right for the space. Might be tight for 3 if you have plenty of luggages. There is a mini fridge (not very clean but not gross like you would see in some motels) and a sink in every room which was convenient so you don't have to spend extra time in the tiny shared restrooms . A public area next to reception on 1st floor with free coffee and tea in morning. Also a microwave and water fountain. I guess the idea is that if you have leftovers, save them in your room's mini fridge and then warm them in the shared microwave. Pro: charming, unique, interesting murals and artistic, great location (lots of restaurants!), hot water in showers, heater kept room very toasty, clean sheets, clean thick newer towels, staff is super nice (Mr Patagonia) and gave a nice welcome. Room is relatively clean, doesn't smell. Con: it's a hostel at a hotel price. Some rooms are better condition than others. Some of the bathrooms are also slightly better condition than others because they were upgraded. Bedroom got too hot we had to prop open the window to cool it down. No elevator. Suggestion: 1. arrive early you might get a choice of rooms 2. Bring Flipflop (and a plastic bag for your personal stuff) for the shared bathroom 3. Save a few dollars if you book direct. We paid more through Agoda because we didn't know. 4. Tour the whole hotel walk around every floor! 5. Don't loose your key - no staff after midnight so you will be locked out! 6. Plug in the mini fridge first thing when you check in as it takes forever to cool it down. We had a room with walls of painted dolls that look like voodoo dolls - especially when the lights go out, their white faces reflect the ambient light looking back at you....pretty spooky. We didn't hear any noise from next door. Kept expecting to see cockroaches crawling out from the drains but so glad we didn't. We parked on the street - free parking on sat night to Sunday. Other days you have to pay the meter. We could have driven to Queens and had a much nicer and newer hotel for the same price but then we chose location over that. One night is ok. More only if you ok with the gringiness. It's very old and could updates but then, if updated, you probably won't be paying this price like other places in Manhatten.

I learned about this company through my Japanese manager who uses their services often. First time…read moreI called them to buy a JR Pass. When I was planning to buy my flight ticket to Japan for the second time, I filled out a form on their website and they got back to me in less than 24 hours with ticket prices and options. So I called them and Hiromi san (Hiromi Otera) was the one who picked up the phone and helped me. Now, I am a very particular person and it took a while for me to decide on a flight but Hiromi san was extremely polite, friendly, professional and helpful. Thank you very much Hiromi san! I am going to buy my next JR Pass here as well. I've visited their office once and everyone is very friendly. This agency is my regular place to go from now on whenever I would visit Japan! Thank you AMNET!

Found out about this company through friends that use them for their travels. Contacted them and…read morereserved a New York tour while in town. We paid in advance so all we had to do was show up at the rendezvous point. I initially thought we would be swept into a giant bus with a large group, but it was a more private affair with only eight people including us. Our driver/tour guide was awesome! He pointed out and explained many points of interest as well as stopping at all of the major locations throughout New York. This particular tour included a harbor tour around New York, New Jersey, and Statue of Liberty. The tour ended with a trip to the Top of the Rock (also included). This was the highlight of our trip. Highly recommend this class act and professional travel agency. We will use in the future. Also, the whole tour was in Japanese!

Fasano is a private membership only hotel that offers long stay home away from home. Only available…read morefor people who has membership to book hotel or come in to the bar and restaurant I was invited to come for their member only rum tasting from Ten to One Rum. There are 3 signature cocktails and light bites throughout the night. The difference is that this place is exclusive only to members, so it's very upscale and hidden. Not overly crowded right next to Central Park. The hotels have views of the park as well. The service is top notch.

Went there early evening. From the moment you walk through the front door to the cafe you're…read moregreeted by very professional, staff. Beautiful, classic design. Warm and comfortable "Club"- feeling. Cocktails- perfect.

I stayed in a shared room with 5 beds for two weeks while looking for housing in the city. The NY…read moreMoore is an easy recommendation for me for other people in the same situation. I'm a regular hostel user whenever I travel and something I didn't anticipate here was having my own standalone bed (i.e., not a bunk bed) as well as the room having plenty of space. Bathroom was a nice size and was cleaned daily. The amenities in the basement were solid. I didn't cook much but I did take full advantage of the fridges/freezers. Luggage storage came in handy when I moved!

Disclaimer: This review reflects my personal experience. I'm being fully transparent and honest…read moreabout my stays at this hostel, which I visit once a year for both personal and business reasons. I've been coming to this hostel since 2017, and while I've had a mix of experiences--some good and some not--most of them have been positive. I'm bilingual and tend to understand travelers better than most. I usually book through Hostelworld, which I recommend for anyone looking for a fair price and reliable booking. One of the highlights is the people you meet here. I've connected with travelers from Chile, Germany, France, Canada, and Japan, and shared great moments watching FIFA games--yes, including watching Salt Bae embarrass himself on national television. As a photographer and documentarian, it's my job to assess and evaluate conditions at establishments like this. Some people may not like the location, but I personally do. The hostel is only 5-10 minutes from Manhattan's East Village, with a nearby subway stop at Morgan Ave. The surrounding area is made up of warehouses and lofts and is frequently used as a filming location for movies and TV shows. There are also excellent food spots nearby, including a great bar and pizza place just down the block. When checking in, make sure to lock up your belongings. If you have larger items, you can ask the front desk to store them for you. The hostel does offer handicap accessibility and an elevator, which is not common in many hostels. This is a good option for large groups, families, or group travelers, as long as you book in advance. Rooms are cleaned daily, so please allow housekeeping the opportunity to clean both rooms and bathrooms. I recommend staying here because the layout is comfortable, and beds are first come, first serve, allowing some flexibility. The showers are excellent, and there is free coffee and tea available. There is no breakfast, but there are nearby cafés, or you can buy food and cook in the large shared kitchen. Please label your food properly, and if you're leaving and have leftovers, relabel them as free so nothing goes to waste. Another disclaimer: I received no compensation for this review. Yelp has previously accused me of solicitation, and I want to make it clear that this is an independent review. I am a professional traveler, licensed journalist, and documentarian--it's my responsibility to inform others about the conditions and well-being of businesses operating in New York City. There is no laundromat inside the hostel, but there is one just around the corner with affordable pricing. There's also a game room located in the lower basement, on the same floor as the kitchen--great for socializing and downtime. My name is Panda, and this is my official review of the hostel as of 2023. If you need assistance during your stay, I highly recommend speaking with Nico or Jonathan. They are the longest-serving staff members, knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely helpful.

Meticulously and expertly planned and arranged small group travel with 5 star accommodations…read more Could do this again and again.

I cannot find enough negative words to express my frustration and anger at Arrangements Abroad…read more Shame on me, since I travelled with them before and hated them, but decided to try one more time since my favorite art professor from the Met was supposed to be leading the trip and we love travelling with her and were interested in learning about Byzantium and the Western Mediterranean. However, any way in which Arrangements Abroad could skimp, they did--even limiting the "free" internet usage for an 8 day cruise to about 45 minutes and requiring a fee for all extra time. This was a VERY expensive cruise, although most of the $18,000 per person must have gone into the Arrangements Abroad owner's pocket. While we were on board the Sea Cloud II, which is lovely, the time on shore and visiting sites was reduced to a bare minimum--clearly to save Arrangements Abroad money. We spent at most 3 hours a day on shore, and had all our meals on board--also to save them money. For example, we arrived in Caligari, Sardinia at 8 am, but sat off the harbor until 2:30 pm, obviously to save them docking fees and to avoid the cost of a meal on shore and additional guide time. We finally left the tour after 4 days because we realized that over the following 4 days, we would be be spending a grand total of about 3 1/2 hours on shore. Jim advised that a partial refund or accomodation was out of the question. Even in booking a taxi to make our escape, we were again ripped off--being told by Arrangements Abroad that to get a car, we couldn't pay by credit card but had to pay cash. Arrangements collected 900 euros in cash from us, but we then learned that they paid the car service by credit card--obviously so they could take their cut. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has discontinued Travel with the Met, I have learned, mostly because there were so many complaints about Arrangements Abroad. Run, don't walk, if you have the opportunity to travel with them. How people gave them 5 stars is beyond me; those reviews must have been written by friends and family and none of them is recent.

I took Brooklyn Ferry from the Bklyn Promenade twds Greenpoint & E. 34th St…read more The ride is only $4.50 per person-One Way & a (10) trip ride for only $27.50. I gave the Ferry only 4 stars bc like any metro in NYC the announcements r garbled & u can't understand it. If ur a tourist & not familiar w/ stops get a map or take a photo of stops to be clear. I live in Manhattan, but had business in Brooklyn via subway train but on the way back didn't want 2b on a smelly stuffy train so I took the Ferry a refreshing 15 minute ride back to the city. It's basically, only 3 stops b4 E. 34th St then L. I. C Queens is the last stop. It's a great trip too for a family outing across the East River. There's also one on the Westside- Hudson River going twds Lincoln Pk -Hoboken NJ, to Frank Sinatra restaurant. I've used them all & I'm very content.

I look forward to my ferry trip every morning. crew are professional, pleasant and helpful.read more

My husband, two Japanese Chin, and I needed a place to stay while we waited to move into our new…read morehome. I liked the location of this particular aka because it was a little off the beaten path for lack of a better phrase. The staff were delightful and went out of their way to help us when needed. George even went out of his way to bring up my medicine that needed to be refrigerated. Not COVID, I'm immunocompromised. We lived there for around three months and stayed in three very different rooms. The first time we changed rooms was because it sounded like the people upstairs were bowling. The next time we moved was because they needed the room we were in. That's the thing about aka, I don't think they'll ever say there's no room at the inn once you're already there. We could hear the music from the restaurant down the block which was soothing. Here are the overall pros and cons: Pros: Great staff Comfortable mattresses Clean No bar Gym Free laundry Great quality kitchens Very large rooms Prompt repairs Cons: No room service Poor shower water pressure in certain rooms No bar (What can I say? This was a pro and con) Here are my room breakdowns: Room 306 (I think it was 306) Pros: Large, private outdoor space Comfy couch Good storage Cons: Not much sunlight Poor shower water pressure Dated Room 1503 (This was my favorite room) Pros: Very large Great storage Beautiful Couch from heaven Lots of natural light Juliet balcony Great kitchen Cons: Mosquitoes Marijuana smoke from outside at night (not good especially for my fur babies) Poor shower pressure Could use a second phone line location Room 1006 (Least favorite room despite two bedrooms) Pro: Turns out this hotel indeed has water pressure in the shower! Good smoke detector Good desk with awesome light to fill and design my nails Cons: Not great storage Small kitchen Interior layout of the fridge... Um... It wasn't the best for us Evil demon couch! I have never been on such a bad couch! OMG! A beanbag chair would have been better! An inflatable neon couch probably would have been better! A bed of nails... That probably wouldn't have been better. I could feel the springs so I put pillows on it! It gave new meaning to pain in my butt! And my back. And my legs. And my neck. It was also extremely low to the floor.

Had a wonderful month stay at Aka. I was set up at Aka by my firm for the month of May. The…read morelocation is great, in Midtown East on 56th street between 1st and 2nd Avenue. The amenities are amazing, with a beautiful pool, lounge, cinema room, bar, laundry room. The staff is impeccable and very attentive.