Feather Factory

Worst hotel ever. I called before booking to check the pet policy and spoke with Supervisor Zahoor, who confirmed service animals were allowed, so I booked. When I arrived, I was told pets could only stay on the first floor. Even though he said rooms were available, he wouldn't allow my small Maltipoo to stay. His attitude was mean and condescending, and he said he'd call the police if my dog barked. That's appalling customer service for someone in hospitality. Take your money somewhere it's valued and the staff understand customer service.

The room was spacious enough for the price, getting to Manhattan was easy, and the train noise honestly wasn't too bad. The hotel itself is okay. But the sheets weren't as clean as I'd like, and I had to spot-clean a questionable stain. I later learned how close it is to the superfund site, so look into that. There was road construction during my stay, too. For me, it's a 4/10.

It's a good-value, no-frills place for NYC, and easy to get around from by Uber or Lyft. The nearest subway is about a 10-minute walk, and LGA is convenient from here. Inside, the rooms are clean, updated, spacious, and relatively quiet, with what you need for a comfortable night: a small fridge, safe, ice bucket, and soap, lotion, and shampoo. It's not fancy or fussy. Higher floors are quieter; on the first floor, which shares space with the lobby, you hear some people coming and going in the hall. The people running the boutique hotel are friendly, fun, and welcoming. There's a small DIY shop with food and supplies at surprisingly low prices, from chargers and cold medicine to sandwiches and different kinds of spring water. The lobby also has a nice coffee and tea spread, and WiFi. An unsung hero for the price.

The Manhattan view from the room and top-floor breakfast area was great. Breakfast itself has limited choices, but it's tasty and cooked right in front of you. The rooms were clean, and housekeeping did a good job. Staff were friendly, especially the cooks. The metro is a nice 10-minute walk away, though the nearby train station is pretty loud. All in all, it's a great place for the price, considering how close it is to Manhattan.