The Harlem YMCA

The front door of this massive and historic brick building leads to a reception area, with polished floors, original wood-beamed ceilings, and pretty frescoes. Serving the diverse Harlem community for programs and events -- as it has since it first opened its doors in 1901 -- this Y is an active place. Several famous Harlem residents have been members during its long history, and although it rents rooms, it is still first and foremost a venue for the neighborhood. The low-prices appeal to hostel-goers, but this is no place for those looking to party. There is no alcohol or smoking allowed on the premises, and the clientele can include dads with their basketball-playing sons, graduates interviewing for jobs, and quiet groups of friends traveling together and splitting costs.

This historic YMCA  is in the heart of Harlem -- a slightly gentrifying but still diverse (and culturally rich) neighborhood in northern Manhattan. The building is less than a block from the 135th Street subway station, which serves the 2/3 subway lines, and within a 10-minute walk of the A/B/C lines, near St. Nicholas Park. Guests can also hoof it to Morningside or Central Park in about 20 minutes. A bus on 135th Street goes to LaGuardia Airport.The Y's cafe sells essentials, and several nearby groceries and convenience stores make it easy to stock the rooms' mini-fridges. There are several places to eat in the neighborhood, including the Red Rooster and Dinosaur BBQ, along with a few music venues. 

The rooms are for guests looking to save significant amounts of cash for a bed in New York, who don't mind sharing a bathroom, and who don't plan to spend much time in their rooms. The 90 rooms take up three floors and depending on the occupancy level, single travelers might be paired with another single traveler of the same gender.All rooms have bunk beds with white linens (extra blankets are in the closet), towels, two bars of soap, mini-fridges, dressers, and windows with air-conditioning units. The Bunk Bed Deluxe Rooms have bright accent walls (the standard rooms are starkly white), as well as flat-screen TVs, and small work desks. There is no free Wi-Fi in the rooms, and irons/ironing boards can be borrowed from the front desk. Housekeeping is provided daily.All rooms share bathrooms, and each floor has a mix of communal bathrooms (separated by gender) and shared private baths with walk-in showers. Some bathrooms are in better shape than others, but all are kept clean by a housekeeping staff that makes regular rounds. (Overall, the rooms and bathrooms on the 11th floor seem to be the best.)Each floor has a lounge area with a microwave, sink, table and chairs, free Wi-Fi,  and windows with some nice city views facing south. 

Guests here have access to the facilities at the The Harlem YMCA: a children's play area, fitness center with a basketball court, large rooms for cardio exercise, weight training, spinning, aerobics, yoga, and Pilates classes. Equipment is replaced every year, and personal trainers are available for hire. There is an indoor pool and lifeguard on duty, which is also free for guests. Men's and women's locker rooms have bathrooms, lockers, showers, and steam and sauna rooms. Note that these facilities are shared with members of the YMCA.A cafe near the main entrance sells self-serve Starbucks coffee, packaged pastries and snacks, fresh fruit, and meals that can be heated up in the lounges. Past the lobby is a work area with free Wi-Fi (though there are few outlets), and a narrow outdoor space just beyond. Guests can use the desktops in the computer lab when there isn't a training session taking place.