If you're visiting Manhattan, this hotel is a good choice for non-solo budget travellers who don't mind taking the subway into the city. It is conveniently located next to the subway station (about a 12-min walk), which can bring you straight to Radio City Hall. The wait time for the subway is longer than the subway lines in Manhattan, around 15 min.

The major flag with this hotel is safety. I would not recommend this hotel for families with young children or female solo travellers. As a female solo traveller myself, I felt vulnerable on the walk between the hotel to the subway station even in daylight. For context, the hotel is located right next to the biggest housing project in USA, the Queensbridge Housing Projects (search vlog for walkthrough of space).

To get to the subway, G Maps instructs you to cut through the housing courtyard, but it's best to stick to the streets (40th avenue, then 21st avenue) to avoid the people loitering outside the buildings. The hotel doors do lock in the evening, and you'll need to tap your card to enter.

Other than the neighbourhood, the hotel was great for its price. Inside, the lobby was clean and maintained well, with a dining area for complimentary breakfast, as well as small tables for working/leisure. Tap water was offered throughout the day, as was hot water, but it had an unpleasant coffee taste.

The hotel room was big, and is most likely way larger than the ones in Manhattan. Decor and furnishing were nice, and the shower pressure was terrific. The fridge came in handy for stops at Trader Joe's (about 20 m away by subway). Hair dryer worked well. Rooms were mostly quiet, except you can hear a party if it's happening next door. It's a good idea to bring earplugs when staying in New York. Up on a higher floor, the noise level outside is muffled, but you can still catch sounds of sirens or rough yelling on the streets in the night.

A note about housekeeping: they don't clean your rooms until the 3rd day. However, you can ask the front desk for additional shampoo, soaps, conditioner, lotion (no toothbrush/toothpaste or combs). There were also minor signs of dirtiness when I checked in, notably an untouched sticky spot in between the desk and the fridge. They cleaned well generally (sheets, covers, bathroom, showers), but the in-between bits where guests can't reach weren't done very thoroughly.

My card stopped working 2 times throughout the trip. The first time, a housekeeper was in the hall and opened the door for me—without checking my credentials or card. That was a major flag in terms of safety. The second time, the front counter helped me reset my card. A second major flag in terms of safety: they didn't check my ID or confirm whether I was staying in the actual room. They simply reset the card after I reported my room number.

Complimentary breakfast was decent, but recommend getting there as early as it starts to avoid the crowd. There's a good mix of bread, bagels, yoghurt, fruit, tomato and cucumber slices, hardboiled eggs, sausages, cereal, and juices. Coffee and tea selection was limited. The selection does not change day to day.

This hotel is a good option for those who don't mind commuting and have a smaller budget. However, if safety is a number one priority for you, it may be better to consider different hotels in Long Island City, such as around Gantry Plaza.