The Melva Inn - Harlem

The hotel needs decorating, especially for the price, though I still found it okay overall. The location is good, and once inside I could use the code to come and go whenever I wanted. Getting in the first day was a mess: I didn’t know the main door code, nobody answered my first call, and after the second call they gave me the code. Then I waited about half an hour for someone to show me to the room and hand over the key. They should be better prepared for arrivals. The room was adequate, with an unpainted wall and no wallpaper, a nice bed and TV, and an okay bathroom with a hot shower.

I felt safe and at home here, and I’d absolutely stay again. The innkeeper was a darling. My room had a private bath, clean soft sheets, plush towels, and a comfortable firm bed. The decor was simple and contemporary, with a little color and vintage style. Parking can be tricky anywhere in NYC, but I found a great spot just down the block and didn’t have to worry about a ticket or being towed.

Never again. After a long flight, my 14 year old daughter and I arrived around 2 am and couldn’t get in. I rang the front door buzzer, but no one answered, so I had no choice but to call 911 for help finding us somewhere to stay. The cops tried calling her, and she eventually answered. About 15 minutes later she came downstairs, with no apology, and said she’d emailed the door code. Once we were inside, I checked my email and saw she had only sent it at the last minute.

The building is old and raggedy, with loud wooden floors and thin walls that made it hard to sleep. Our room was dirty and had one bed, even though I’d checked carefully that I booked a room with two. I called the proprietor the next morning, and she was very rude and blamed me for choosing the wrong room. I emailed a screenshot and got no reply. We left that day, but were still charged for the night. The staff were unprofessional and rude. Book somewhere else. Caveat emptor.