OYO 563 Mytown New York

The staff seemed friendly, but the neighborhood was a real shock. It felt basically like a slum to me, which I hadn't expected from the reviews or somewhere so close to BGC and St. Lukes. The place looked worse than the photos, though I only saw the basic rooms since the deluxe ones were occupied. I went to check it out because the price seemed almost too good to be true. I didn't stay, and the area alone means I wouldn't consider it.

The towels were clean, the shower worked well, and the staff were friendly. The location is convenient, with delicious coffee sold nearby, and you can go up to the roof for a city view, though it's dirty and nobody cleans up there. I'd only book for a transfer or an overnight stay of no more than two nights. For longer stays, I wouldn't recommend it. The room was much smaller than the photo suggested and couldn't fit much luggage. It was very dirty, with cockroaches crawling around, everything cramped and inconvenient to use. Humidity was high and everything was moldy. The windows were filthy, and there was a garbage can outside, so it smelled bad. The air conditioner was very noisy and dripped water, like a thunderstorm was coming. It was hot and hard to fall asleep.

It’s more like a dormitory than a real hotel, and minors aren’t allowed in the building. The rooms are cramped. The low price is the one good thing, but you get what you pay for.

The rooftop pool and gym were the best part, a nice break from the sewage-smelling room. The gym is very basic and really needs air conditioning. We booked a double room with a bathroom, but it was tiny, with a wardrobe converted into the bathroom. There was a constant sewage smell and bugs in every corner, mostly cockroaches. The aircon was loud and barely cooled the room. This complex seems to be mostly permanent residences, and doesn't have what it takes to be a hotel or even a hostel. The street is busy and noisy, with traffic and loud music starting at 6 every morning. The area didn't feel safe to walk around, with people loitering and staring. BGC is a 10-minute taxi ride away or a 25-minute walk, but the location wasn't worth the price. We had two of our worst nights of sleep.