Soldiers Sailors Marines Club, New York

Summer 2011 stayed here for about 2 weeks - great location. Very helpful, professional staff working with a somewhat old reservation system. Most rooms hold 2-3 cots. You rent the cot & locker - not the room (shared bathroom & showers are located in the hallways). Saying that, I found all of my roommates to be friendly with interesting military backgrounds - which is good because the rooms are NYC tiny. To read, there is a library on 2nd floor (w/TV). To eat, there is a canteen on lobby floor (w/TV). To visit with friends, there is a lounge off the lobby (w/TV & internet). Guests are not allowed above the lobby floor. I'm already looking forward to returning to NYC and this 90+ year old gem. Items I'm glad I had packed: A sleep mask, sweats to sleep in, and flip flops for the shower. Helpful hint: When looking at a photo of the building, it's best to vision the 3 sleeping floors by counting from the top of the building down.

We've stayed there twice and won't be returning. Little to no heat during the winter. I was told they didn't have the money to keep it warm. The front desk staff not very helpful. Poor security. We were asked to leave our key at the front, but when we came back at night there was no one to return the key to us so I went behind the counter and got it. Not safe! Another time there were several people there who were not associated with the military staying but were friends of the staff. And yet, someone who was eligible was turned away.

The room was extremely small even for one person. There were 2 bunk beds with hardly any pathway to walk through. I was lucky not to get a roommate. The front desk lady said that I may get one. I was not aware of such a possibility otherwise I would have paid the extra cash to stay somewhere else (which is what I'll do next time in NYC). No facilities in your room; down the hall for the rest rooms, and the showers somewhere else. This was like a rooming house from back in time. The service was not all that good but not totally bad, C- at best. Value wise it was not worth it even for such a good location. I won't be back!

The staff was very unprofessional and unprepared, the facilities were in disrepair, no internet in rooms, one blow drier for the entire facility which was "checked out" by another guest. If you like staying in a facility with a hostel type atmosphere, this is the place for you!

Should I begin with a negative - only if I can end with a positive. The Staff needs work - it seems they know very little about much at all; not helpful. The Hotel lacks in cleanliness all around - especially the Left Behind Items about the room you are now occupying. The kitchen could stand to be a bit more tidy for my taste. Staying Mid-Town Manhattan, however, it really can't be beat for the price. We've visited there frequently and yes, will be returning again and again and again. THE PEOPLE, the military folk make the trip...worth the trip. We are a caring and friendly bunch and for the most part, even with sharing a bathroom, shower space and close quarters - we do well together, eh? Free Internet always a plus. Free Breakfast from the bagel shop around the corner a nice start to the day. Free coffee, for the most part, 20/7 - but as mentioned at the start, my choice of beverage is tea and the tea water isn't available beyond the early morning set-up, which begins at 8am, so bring your own - or better still, meet someone wonderful who'll take the time to get you that special, wonderful cup of tea from down the street and bring it back for you (and right on time) to enjoy w/your bagel & cream cheese. Doesn't get much better than that now does it!