Romana Hotel - NYC

The rooms in the photos online were definitely nothing like ours. The lobby was messy and under construction, and only one elevator was running for the entire hotel. We waited anywhere from 5-15 minutes to get to our room or down to the main floor. One room was so cramped you had to walk sideways to get around. The bathroom sink had a grime ring, there was no coat closet, and the bathroom door wouldn’t shut properly, with a big chunk missing beside the knob. We won’t stay here again.

The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and the room itself wasn’t terrible, but the quality matched the low price. There were stains on the bathtub and toilet, stickers on the walls and doors, and the place felt neglected. My friend and I spent 3 nights at Romana Hotel and left disappointed. The subway ride to the main tourist spots took about 20 minutes, which was convenient, but the neighborhood felt unsafe and sketchy. As two young women, we were very uncomfortable walking from the subway and ended up taking Ubers to avoid some groups on the street. At check-in, the desk attendant asked for our social media accounts, which felt unprofessional. I asked for an extra pillow three days in a row and never got one. The tap water wasn’t drinkable, and when I asked for water, they had none to give us. I wouldn’t stay again, or recommend it to a woman traveling alone or with friends. If you only need a cheap place to sleep and shower, it might be okay for others.

The area can feel a little rough, but the hotel is very close to the subway. There’s a good deli around the corner for coffee and food, plus a great street food truck serving mexcian food. I was pleasantly surprised after seeing the bad reviews. The room was clean, fairly quiet compared with many hotels, and had everything I needed. The shower didn’t drain very well, but it wasn’t a big deal.

The room was standard and comfortable enough as a base for exploring the city. I was especially happy with the reliable service and convenient location, which made my NYC visit much smoother. A solid 4-star stay, and I’d definitely consider coming back.