Walking distance to popular attractions, dining, shopping, and public transit
Single or double rooms with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning,
and towels
Some rooms have bunk beds and/or mini-fridges
Guests have access to two pools, a gym, massage room, and
sauna
Communal kitchen, public microwave, and vending
machines
Coin-operated laundry room
Small storage lockers for personal items
Public computer and free Wi-Fi
Rooms are tiny
Dated decor and reports of cleanliness issues
Complaints of noise from large student
groups and radiators
Bathrooms are shared and often require a long wait to use
No dining options on-site
The Vanderbilt YMCA is a hostel-like budget
property with numerous on-site features, including access to two
pools and a gym, free Wi-Fi, and a communal kitchen. It offers 370 tiny, no-frills rooms with
bunk beds as well as single rooms, with limited amenities like flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and, in some, mini-fridges. Bathrooms are shared and guests complain that there are not enough facilities on each floor. There is no dining on-site, but guests tend to overlook this aspect due to the proximity to tourist areas like Times Square and Grand Central Station. Manhattan
Broadway Hotel is a good alternative in a similar location with rooms that have private bathrooms, plus mini-fridges and microwaves upon request.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Basic budget hostel with access to YMCA facilities
The
Vanderbilt YMCA is housed in an old brick building on a street surrounded by businesses,
apartment buildings, and restaurants. The lobby is small, but efficient, with multiple lines,
clocks displaying times around the world, and lots of travel brochures. There are a few
communal areas throughout the property, such as a lower-level space where the
vending machines and lockers are located. The orange tables and chairs, flat-screen
TV, black armchairs, book shelves, and public computer encourage camaraderie
between guests. Overall, it’s a
budget-friendly, no-frills hostel, though not one that’s particularly young, hip, or
social. Keep in mind that outside guests using the YMCA facilities are also present. Friends and solo travelers are the biggest clientele, however, student
groups are common as well -- and might be a cause of noise issues.
Location
Within walking distance of popular attractions, dining, and public transportation
The Vanderbilt YMCA sits in the
bustling area of Midtown East, near a variety of shops,
restaurants, and attractions. Tourists are drawn to this property due to its proximity to several top sights, which are in walking distance, such as Rockefeller Center (14-minute walk), Bryant Park (18-minute walk), Times Square (19-minute walk), The Museum of Modern Art (18-minute walk), and shopping on Fifth Avenue (16-minute walk). The United Nations is just a five-minute walk from here. There’s a variety of restaurants on surrounding streets and public
transportation is nearby, including Grand Central Terminal, which is about a seven-minute walk away. LaGuardia
Airport is around a 25-minute drive from the hostel, or 35 minutes via public transport, while JFK International
Airport can be reached in around 40 minutes by car, or around an hour via public transit.
Rooms
Tiny rooms with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, towels, and mini-fridges in some
The rooms here are tiny and no-frills, with basic
furnishings and limited amenities -- so expect some dated decor, dinginess and grit, and shared bathrooms. Rooms have either single beds or bunk beds that sleep two, and all are cramped and offer limited storage space. Wooden floors and basic furnishings are paired with orange or blue accent walls, plus bed linens are provided. There have been reports of some rooms
being more dated and less clean than others. Rooms often have desks or wooden
dressers for storage, which can take up quite a bit of space. Flat-screen TVs with cable,
air-conditioning, towels, and free Wi-Fi are provided, plus some rooms come with mini-fridges.All rooms share communal
bathrooms (though a few have semi-private bathrooms), which have multiple sinks,
a couple of toilet stalls, showers with glass doors or curtains, and wall-mounted soap dispensers. Some bathrooms are in
better shape than others, with varying reports of cleanliness. Many travelers
note long waits for showers and use of the bathrooms in the morning. As the hotel allows for
student groups, be aware that this could cause bothersome noise. There have also
been complaints of noise from the radiators.
Features
Two pools, sauna, steam room, gym, communal kitchen, laundry room, and free Wi-Fi
The Vanderbilt YMCA offers impressive leisure
facilities, including two indoor
pools with lap lanes, as well as a sauna, steam room, and a massage room. Other
features include an extensive workout area with weights and cardio machines.
The hotel doesn’t have any dining options on-site, but there are vending
machines, a public microwave, and a communal kitchen available for guest use. Coin-operated
washers and dryers are available, and the front desk is open 24/7. Wi-Fi is
free, and there’s a public computer. Guests can store personal belongings in small rentable lockers.
