West 30th Street Guest House

The shower and shared bathroom on our floor were poorly maintained. For such a high price, the rooms are very small. Maybe fine for a night or two.

The price was budget-friendly and the location convenient, which helped make this seventeen-day stay bearable. Still, the place felt like a room left to fend for itself, somewhere between basic functionality and neglect. There was heating, and the shower worked without fuss, but the bed was odd: layers of sheets, with stains on the top one that made me question its cleanliness. Sleep came in fits. The fridge roared, building noises came through the walls, and on the last day I saw a cockroach. The showers had no soap, and one roll of toilet paper had to last all 17 days. There seemed to be no staff or services at all. When I asked the hostess about changing floors because the stairs felt like a daily penance, she didn’t respond. It might suit someone on a tight budget with a strong stomach, but if you can spend more, I’d look for somewhere more restful.

Paying rent online has been a welcome change, and I no longer have to write checks or make trips to the post office. The building has also stayed clean, with the hallways looked after and the sidewalks cleared early when it snows. Reservation Resources has kept our previous pest control company and even found them extra work. They’ve been managing the building for six weeks, and their support team is easy to reach by phone or email. Questions, requests, and suggestions get a quick response, with help soon after. As a tenant, I’m much happier with them in charge and would recommend them to landlords who feel overwhelmed by maintaining a rental property.

The location worked well for a few days, about a 10-minute walk from Penn Station. The rooms and bathrooms are very old, though, and the bathrooms are tiny. It was clean most of the time. Bring earplugs, since you can hear through the very thin walls. Some rooms face a brick wall and get no daylight at all. I felt bad for the older worker there, who seemed to be handling everything, from cleaning rooms and bathrooms to taking out the trash. Ten days felt claustrophobic, and the price was too high for the quality.