I was scheduled to stay at the Greenpoint YMCA for four nights. I stayed only two and checked out on the third day.

As others have noted (and I should have believed), there were mice and what I unfortunately think are bedbugs running rampant. I saw evidence of neither the first night, but both the second. That's what got me to leave early.

The place is unclean and depressing. You definitely need flip-flops for the shower, and expect no hot water. Two of the three toilets in the third-floor womens' bathroom did not have doors that closed properly. The mattresses were covered in plastic, adding to the flophouse feel.

The personnel were nice enough, particularly the man working on the morning I checked out. He was very cordial and helpful, but could not convince me to stay.

Greenpoint is a nice area, and the breakfast was delicious, but you really couldn't pay me to stay here again. Do yourself a favor and skip the mistake I made.

I spent six nights here in a de luxe room in early June 2007 and paid the weekly rate of $340 which included a $20 key deposit. The place looks old but appeared clean. Cleaners were about every morning and changed my towel and made the bed on about 4 of the days. The room had TV and air condition and was comfortable. I was on the 4th floor and the men's bathroom in the hall was clean. Showers were clean and except for one morning when the boiler appeared to be out of order (that's what the guy at reception said when I told him) there was always hot water. If you are coming from JFK, take the Air Train to Sutphin Blvd (get on free but pay $5 to get off) and take the E line (a further $2) up to 23rd Street Ely Avenue then change to the G train and to the Nassau St Station. When you get out of the train, walk north along the platform and exit at Norman Avenue and you are just one block and a half from Greenpoint Y. If you exit at the south end of the station, you have an extra block to walk because the Y is to the north of the station. The cooked breakfast at the 3 Decker diner is good and is free with the room. You collect a voucher every morning at the reception and breakfast is between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. The waitresses at the diner expect a $1 tip ($2 if you feel generous) but they deserve it. They are helpful and refill your coffee. You can have a breakfast "to go" if you prefer to take it away. A problem with Greenpoint Y is that there is no lift but if you are energetic, it is not a difficult walk up to the 4th floor. There are no porters or bell boys so checking in or out could be difficult if you have heavy luggage to take to the room. To compare, I spent a few days last year at the Jamaica Y on Parsons Boulevard and the price is about the same except that there's no free breakfast there but there is a lift. But the area around Greenpoint is much more pleasant.

I arrived late at night. The area seemed ok. The YMCA is opposite the NYPD precinct and the facade looks inviting. The staff were of average friendliness - typical NY. What was awful was the room I stayed in. A horrible dingy humid room. The bed consisted of 2 mattresses with their plastic covering still intact, as if they had been in hauled in from the wholesale retailer that very evening. The coversheets were negligible. The light was dim. The sparse furniture was grotty. One of the worst places i've stayed in - ever. And all that for 45 USD.

I stayed for 9 days (Nov 22nd-1st Dec 2006) in room 412 one of the properties deluxe rooms. The total cost was $395.00 which included breakfast at a local diner.The room was old and the carpet was threadbare in parts. There was a radiator and a colour t.v that had about 8 chanels.The bed was comfortable and clean. No bugs!! They cleaned the room daily and made the bed and changed the towel everyday.The communal bathroom was clean and the showers were hot. The staff at the front desk were young and mostly helpful but they were not tour guides. Overall it is unbeatable value for New York and especially travellers who don't want to sit in a room. I would definatley stay here again. I came back from the subway very late at night and felt safe.
If you want a hotel this is not the place for you but if you are a traveller who wants a safe budget hostel then stay here.