We're fairly seasoned travelers, and wanted to head to NYC for a weekend. We didn't want to stay in the city and waste part of our budget on completely inflated hotel prices, so we found Union St. B&B. On arrival, we didn't even know if we were at the right place. There isn't any sign that tells you where you are other than the building address painted on the glass of the front door. After heading up the steps, we found a small 3 inch by 1 inch plaque that said Union St. B&B. We walked right in and met Johanna. She introduced herself and proceeded to show us the rooms she had available. Once we'd chosen a room, which wasn't cleaned from the previous night yet (it was mid morning, which was OK with us), we were given a key to the room coupled with a key to the front door of the building. We left for the day to explore NYC.

After a full day in NYC, we arrived back very late that night, and found the room to be made up as promised. To our surprise, the AC unit was VERY NOISY, almost like it was going to fly apart at any time. In fact, if left on anything but HIGH COOL, it wouldn't even engage the compressor. It did cool the room to mid 80's and pumped out enough humidity that we could get a decent nights rest.

The shared bathroom wasn't really as big of a deal as some have made it to be, except for one thing. There is no air conditioning or exhaust fans in the bathrooms in this building. We didn't find that to be a problem for the first day because the humidity in the area was unseasonably low for that time of year. The next day, however, was a different story! It was stifling hot in the second and third floor bathrooms where the windows had been open all day. After taking a shower, it was all but impossible to dry off in the bathroom. We both had to dry in our room with the semi-air conditioning running to get dry.

The furniture was an eclectic and odd collection of stuff. Rooms had a combination of modern futon, wicker chair, antique desks, antique dressers, chairs, lamps and end tables. The beds were pretty worn and noisy, but still comfortable. There was no breakfast because the kitchen was still being remodeled (9-07). We were told about the breakfast before booking and were told that the breakfast was, "...just toast and coffee anyway..."

This property is just in need of some basic maintenance and upkeep. It was an old, but clean building that just needs some TLC. My suggestions to the owner/operator would be to: 1) replace the air conditioners 2) add at least an exhaust fan to the bathrooms, but preferably an air conditioner to each 3) add a small sign outside that says what the place is (unless it's not there because the property isn't commercially zoned?) and last but not least 4) spend $20 - $30 a day each morning for a few bagels and some juice and have it available to your guests--even if the kitchen is torn up. Put the juice and cream cheese in some ice filled bowls in the hallway and let people eat while they head out for the day.. At $150.00 per night, I think it's feasible to spend $25-$35.00 a day at the local bakery for a few items other than the aforementioned "toast and coffee".

Would we stay here again? Maybe, if there was a little maintenance done to the place and the AC units were replaced with new ones. The location is VERY convenient and the neighborhood felt very safe walking to and from the subway--even at all hours of the night.

As experienced B&B guests, we found the place minimally acceptable if one must stay in this part of Brooklyn for a night, but certainly nothing to write home about. On the other hand, the only alternatives except in dicey adjacent neighborhoods are a Marriott, a Holiday Inn, and a Holiday Inn Express at $325-$500 per night. Actually, the "overall experience" rating should be the reverse -- "Lots of problems, but OK if absolutely necessary."

Be aware that bathrooms are shared, only one for the three rooms on each guest floor. On one floor the bathroom has recently been renovated, with new wall tile and a modern tub-shower; the other floor's bathroom has a traditional clawfoot tub with shower attachment. Unfathomably, however, the innkeeper will not allow booking of a specific room, despite the protections provided by the house's strict cancellation and refund policy -- rooms are assigned only on arrival.

Decor seems to be striving for "typical" B&B ambiance (e.g., flowered chintz wallpaper everywhere, and some old pieces), but the impression mainly was of stuffing the rooms with whatever cheap furniture they could find, regardless of era, style, or condition (in our room, mostly '70's-type student furniture). Bathroom towels were plentiful but worn. There were no drinking glasses or even paper cups in either the shared bathroom or the room itself.

The breakfast room is jammed with furniture, but with table space for only four guests although the house sleeps up to 12. (Some of the rest, if they all show up at once, evidently are expected to sit in extra straight-backed chairs or on a little sofa, with their plates and cups in their laps.)

Although not visibly grimy (except for the dust in the corners), every surface in both guest room and breakfast room felt sticky to the touch -- floors and furniture alike.

As another reviewer said, the breakfast offering gives new meanng to the phrase "continental" -- one wonders what continent they have in mind. The cereal boxes, supermarket plastic-wrapped breads, and jam (only one jar, almost empty except for a few bottom scrapings, with no replenishment in view) were what one might expect in the family kitchen of a family with a fundamental disinterest in food. The innkeeper says in her response to previous criticisms that most of their guests prefer the local restaurants for breakfast -- no wonder, we concluded (and this is not mentioned on the house Website, nor by the innkeeper on check-in, much less when booking). All the boxes and jars, as well as the cutlery, felt sticky too. Breakfast is "self-service," meaning scrounge through the fridge and pour your own juice out of a carton, and pile your dirty dishes with those of others in the sink; as another reviewer commented, the "self-service" scheme apparently also extends to brewing your own coffee, as the innkeeper herself (Johnanna) was present and chatty but paid no attention to the pot, just letting it run out.

After reading the innkeeper's responses to prevous negative reviews, my net impression is one of disingenuousness. (1) She says that the bathroom sharing arrangement is disclosed "to those inquiring," but in this day and age most travelers -- even B&B enthusiasts -- expect private baths and would not think to inquire. (The house Website does disclose this, but not everyone looks at the Website before booking.) In our case it was not disclosed at all in the first phone discussion, and in the final phone discussion was disclosed only after our credit card number had been taken. (2) She distances herself as "owner of the business" from the "owner of the building," but omits to mention that the latter is her mother. (3) She blames other reviewers' complaints re lack of hospitality on "several part-time employees," but this must refer to housecleaners (if there are any), as she personally greeted us on check-in and we saw no trace of other staff.

But what really grates is that, when departing, we asked the innkeeper if we could use her computer to verify an address in the city to which we were about to travel. She refused, saying they do not offer amenities such as Internet access. We then asked if she herself could check the address for us; she fumbled and stammered that "even in this day and age" she does not really have computer skills and couldn't do this for us either. Imagine our surprise, therefore, upon our return home, preparing to submit a Tripadvisor review, to find that this self=styled "computer-illiterate" not only frequents Tripadvisor herself, but somehow manages to submit lengthy defensive responses to customer criticisms.

I had an excellent stay at the b and b and plan to go there anytime I am in New York. The hotel is very charming and clean, Johanna was a warm and gracious host. The place is very cute and is decorated in a unique Victorian style and the neigborhood is the nicest of any I have been to in the 5 boros, it doesn't feel like you are in the city yet is only a few train stops from downtown Manhattan.

Very dirty. Ended up having to fumigate our apartment for the bedbugs that we brought home with us.