Kama Central Park Hostel

The one drawback was storage. There wasn’t luggage storage, just very small lockers in the rooms, so fitting my large suitcase into my pod was difficult. Otherwise, my room and pod were clean and nice, and the bathrooms were too. Staff brought me a replacement towel right away when I needed one. The location is handy, about a two-minute walk from the subway, and check-in was seamless. I liked using door codes instead of room keys. Prices are unbeatable, and I’d recommend staying here.

Easy public transport and other conveniences. It felt like a safe place to stay, especially for a woman. The rooms were okay, and the tiny showers and toilets were clean. The kitchen was very small and not that clean, and the fridge didn’t have enough room for food. In freezing winter, it would be good to have hot water, tea, and coffee available for guests in the dining area.

The location was lovely, quiet for Manhattan and just a few minutes on foot from Cenral Park. Getting there from JFK was straightforward: AirTrain to Jamaica, LIRR to Penn Station, then the uptown C train to 103rd, followed by a short walk. My friend and I paid for two beds in a two-bed mixed luxury pod room. It was fine, basically two separate capsule pods in a private room. Check-in was simple, and towels and a hair dryer were provided. I’d recommend it, particularly if you’re sharing with a friend.

I was worried by the reviews I’d read before arriving, but this ended up being one of my best capsule hotel stays. I spent eight nights there, October 12 to 20. The location worked really well, six minutes from public transportation and a two-minute walk from the park. The bathroom was clean and well equipped, and towels and sheets were provided. You can request fresh ones, and there’s a free drinking fountain for refilling bottles. The staff, including the cleaning lady and receptionists, were all very friendly. Valentina from the restaurant deserves a special mention, she’s a real sweetheart. There are five flights of stairs to reach the room, but you only do that once a day. You’re there to explore the city, after all. If I travel solo to New York again, I’ll definitely return :)