Central Park Hostel Nightmare!
Apr 26th, 2000 | 08:53 AM
#1
Guest
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Central Park Hostel Nightmare!
I just returned from NYC where I had a learning experience in booking a hostel sight unseen over the internet. The Central Park Hostel advertised on the internet was not what I encountered upon my arrival. I can sum up this hostel by using the expression "flop house". This facility just opened up so I figured that it couldn't be too bad - it was so awful that I'll spare you the details. I checked out 3 hours after I checked in, they didn't ask me why - they just highlighted the "no refunds" part of their waiver. Unsuspecting travellers beware of deals which seem too good to be true.
On the positive side, I relocated to The Regal UN hotel which was spacious as well as gracious! Everything from the staff to room to the fitness facility was exceptional! I loved this hotel and they had a special rate of only $159 for Easter weekend.
On the positive side, I relocated to The Regal UN hotel which was spacious as well as gracious! Everything from the staff to room to the fitness facility was exceptional! I loved this hotel and they had a special rate of only $159 for Easter weekend.
Apr 26th, 2000 | 03:07 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
neal,
You can go to the Central Park Hostel website to see what they advertise. My first clue should have been the unsavory characters littering the front stoop - I should have turned around and never checked in but I usually don't judge a book by the cover - I'm still not sure if they were homeless, transients or guests at the hostel. I am not against offering these people shelter - I just would have liked to have been prepared. Then inside was dark, gloomy, and looking like it was in the process of being renovated - not like it just had been. I saw no "bright sunny rooms or bathrooms" just windows covered with paper - and there were no mirrors (which might have been indicative of "vampish" nature of some of the characters I saw coming and going). I must say that I was sure that I had walked into an interactive theater group preparing for a production of "Rocky Horror Picture Show". I can poke fun at all this now as I am far away from it all, but honestly there were none of the promised lockers to secure my belongings(I had brought my own locks as they had suggested). Not that I had brought vaulables but I was skeptical about security in such an environment. Even my streetwise cab driver commented as we drove up to CP Hostel to get my bags, that he would be surprised if my bags were still there - and that was just from pulling up outside.
I hope this satisfies you somewhat, but I admit I have sugarcoated the description a bit...it makes for a better memory won't horrify my parents as much.
You can go to the Central Park Hostel website to see what they advertise. My first clue should have been the unsavory characters littering the front stoop - I should have turned around and never checked in but I usually don't judge a book by the cover - I'm still not sure if they were homeless, transients or guests at the hostel. I am not against offering these people shelter - I just would have liked to have been prepared. Then inside was dark, gloomy, and looking like it was in the process of being renovated - not like it just had been. I saw no "bright sunny rooms or bathrooms" just windows covered with paper - and there were no mirrors (which might have been indicative of "vampish" nature of some of the characters I saw coming and going). I must say that I was sure that I had walked into an interactive theater group preparing for a production of "Rocky Horror Picture Show". I can poke fun at all this now as I am far away from it all, but honestly there were none of the promised lockers to secure my belongings(I had brought my own locks as they had suggested). Not that I had brought vaulables but I was skeptical about security in such an environment. Even my streetwise cab driver commented as we drove up to CP Hostel to get my bags, that he would be surprised if my bags were still there - and that was just from pulling up outside.
I hope this satisfies you somewhat, but I admit I have sugarcoated the description a bit...it makes for a better memory won't horrify my parents as much.
Apr 26th, 2000 | 04:24 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
John,
I couldn't afford the Regal UN for 8 nights while I looked for a job. I ended up cutting my visit very short and had to use my emergency credit card to cover costs - needless to say it was a disappointing trip which set me back financially since it also cost me money to change my return transportation. Like I said, it was a learning experience albeit an expensive one.
I couldn't afford the Regal UN for 8 nights while I looked for a job. I ended up cutting my visit very short and had to use my emergency credit card to cover costs - needless to say it was a disappointing trip which set me back financially since it also cost me money to change my return transportation. Like I said, it was a learning experience albeit an expensive one.
Apr 27th, 2000 | 10:11 AM
#7
Guest
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dawn --
I stayed at the Hostelling International youth hostel at 113th and Amsterdam a couple of years ago, and it was clean, pleasant and cheap (it's still about $27/night). It's a dorm situation, but the people I met were pleasant, lockers were available, and the rooftop garden was reasonably relaxing. Next month I'm returning to NYC on a VERY brief business trip, and I'll be staying at Habitat -- MUCH cheaper than the Regal UN, but looks okay if not palatial.
I stayed at the Hostelling International youth hostel at 113th and Amsterdam a couple of years ago, and it was clean, pleasant and cheap (it's still about $27/night). It's a dorm situation, but the people I met were pleasant, lockers were available, and the rooftop garden was reasonably relaxing. Next month I'm returning to NYC on a VERY brief business trip, and I'll be staying at Habitat -- MUCH cheaper than the Regal UN, but looks okay if not palatial.
