Heart of New York Suites

SCAM ALERT. Listings on Orbitz and Expedia give a very different impression from what you get. You may think you've booked one room for one adult, only to learn at the last minute that it's actually a hostel where you share the bedroom with three people of the opposite gender, along with a kitchen and bathroom. The shared amenities wording doesn't make clear that the bedroom is shared, and none of the photos show bunk beds or suggest a hostel. Check-in isn't allowed after 8. When you contact them, you reach an Ontario-based number with static-filled background noise. Shady to the extreme.

I wish I'd read the reviews first. We booked through Expedia and arrived in New York at 12 PM on 12/4 with our luggage. I was with my elderly mother and granddaughter, and asked if we could leave our bags until check-in. They said no, there was no front desk, and told us not to show up until 4 PM. So we were out walking the cold streets with our luggage, my mother, and my granddaughter, just minutes after getting into New York. Then I got calls saying I needed to pay a $500 deposit that would be returned at checkout. I don't know where that came from. I was also told I would share a bedroom and bathroom with four other men, which freaked me out. I said there was no way we were doing that. He asked if I wanted to cancel and said he had to cancel me then if I wanted a refund. I had to cancel; there was no way I could put my family through that. We found another room, which cost over $2,000 because it was a busy, expensive time in New York. That was money we had planned to spend on food and enjoying ourselves, which we didn't get to do. Expedia said they'd try to reach them about a refund, but Heart of New York isn't responding. I've tried too, but the Canada phone number won't respond. They owe us a couple of thousand dollars, and I don't know what to do now.

I lost $500 after canceling my reservation once I learned I would have to share a bathroom with four men. As a married woman, I found that unacceptable. The listed address also wasn't the actual location. It was a very disappointing experience, and I wouldn't recommend it at all.

SCAM!!! Don't stay here. The listing paints a nice picture, but before you arrive, Martin from “front desk” will call or text with a list of restrictions. Then, at check-in, you find out you must share a room, kitchen, restroom, and bathroom with seven other people, including the bathtub. I refused to stay and lost $750. EXPEDIA is part of this SCAM. They know what's going on and won't do anything to return my money. You'll lose your money like I did. FALSE ADVERTISING!!!