I'm torn between giving this place four stars and five stars. On the one hand this is the best $140/night weekend rate hotel you're going to get in the area. I mean the best. I can't tell you how much my girlfriend and I enjoyed the convenience being so close to everything we wanted to do (central park, shopping on 5th and Madison Aves, Times Square, and the local bars and restaurants on 2nd Ave). Since we were so close to everything it was easy to go out in the morning and come back in the afternoon to recharge for the evening. Great hotel with the best shared bathrooms I have ever experienced. Best value in the city! On the other hand, by rating it a five other people will want to stay here and it will drive the price up :-( In addition, we woke up after our first night there and the room was freezing. We called to get the heat working that morning and when we came back that late afternoon it still wasn't working. After calling a second time someone came up right away and got it working. All things considered this place is a great value! Five big shiny stars! read more

The tiniest hotel rooms that you will ever see. Even knowing that, you'll be surprised at how small they are. :-) Once you get past that, it's all good! I've stayed here many times. The bunk beds are fine, and so are the shared bathrooms! I am *not* a hostel-type, but this place is totally fine. It's super clean, the staff is nice, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. There's no hanging out in the rooms (too small! remember? ;-) but they've got a great garden to hang out in, as well as a chilled out rooftop. Older adults and families are just as welcome here as the normal hostel-types. Great location, too. read more

I couldn't think of a more appropriate name for this hotel. Pod: packed, phobic, pretentious, phony, peevish, petulant, pent... You get the hint. It's small and agitating. Maybe it was the room I had but if it's any indication of how the hotel is overall, no thanks. -Service was so-so -I'm not too fond of having to sleep sideways on a bed to fit in it (I'm only 5' 8") -The shower/restroom has one door that slides and keeps one part completely viewable and the other blocked off. (A little too kinky for me.) -Paper thin walls (yeah) -Flat screen TV is 10" max and anchored to the wall here its barely viewable from bed It really is trying too hard to be trendy. Two stars to bring the rating down to a more realistic level. Overall: It sure beats paying $400+ a night at some other spots considering its location. read more

The way I would describe the Pod Hotel is if chic, high tech people came together and created a hotel. I stayed there by myself for a night and was really impressed that I had a nice room for a reasonable price. My room was very clean and though it was small compared to the other hotels that I've stayed in (the rooms are meant to be small), there was a lot of storage space. I had a nice, modern television in my room and even an iHome. The room itself reminded me of something out of the Jetsons. I liked the fact that I had a sink in my room because it limited the amount of time that I had to use the hallway bathroom. So to sum things up, these are the things that I liked most about the hotel and what I liked least in no particular order: Positives: 1) LOCATION: Not too far from Central Park. Only a minute walk to a network of Hop-On Hop-Off buses (if you like doing touristy stuff like I do), safe neighborhood, close to banks like Wells Fargo and I think Bank of America. Close to a subway station. 2) AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION: For fairly cheap you can take a shuttle that the hotel arranges to the airport. 3) ROOM: My room was very cute and chic. It was small, but in this case a good thing came in a small package ;) The room made me forget that I was in a hotel geared toward travelers. 4) VIEW: Nice rooftop that's good for photo opps or just to gaze at New York City. 5) PRICE: For a fairly clean, nice hotel in Midtown I think it's a great price. I didn't have to travel too far for famous landmarks, slept well, and didn't have a big dent in my wallet afterwards. Negatives: 1) BATHROOM: The bathroom was the only thing that reminded me that I was in a budget-friendly hotel. I had a room without a bathroom and there were about 3 bathrooms on my floor. You could definitely tell when someone took a shower because there was usually water everywhere. If you'll be in a similar situation, I suggest bringing shower shoes and also trying to respect others who have to use the bathroom after you! 2) FRONT DESK STAFF: They weren't mean but not too friendly and didn't really go out of their way to appear friendly or helpful. It could be an NYC thing or just the fact that they work at a budget-friendly hotel. 3) LACK OF FOOD: I normally don't eat at hotels but it's always nice to have that option. There wasn't much to choose from and though I think they have a restaurant either attached the hotel or near it, they didn't advertise it. So to sum things up, it's a superb hotel for travelers because of it's location, price, and overall cleanliness of the rooms (or at least my room). At the time of my stay, I had spent 2 weeks traveling to Los Angeles, New York, and London and had to be conscious of how much money I was spending. The Pod Hotel fit all of my needs and was a pleasant surprise. read more

Review is for a 4-night stay in their cheapest room (on the 2nd floor facing the street) between April 18th-23rd 2015 Pros: -Great location: *0.9 miles to the SE corner of Central Park *0.9 miles to Grand Central Terminal *1.0 miles from Time Square *0.2 miles (1.5 blocks) from subway -Price: we paid $162.50 after taxes and fees for Sat-Tue in April. Could not find a decent hotel for less than $200/night anywhere else in Manhattan when we looked and finding a decent hotel in Midtown was going to run $250-300/night during this time -Sink in room -Free wifi: fast and reliable (~4mbps) -Friendly staff Cons: -Shared bathrooms (toilets and showers) but they are pretty clean. There are four bathrooms per floor I believe, and around 10-15 rooms per floor. We had absolutely zero issues with the bathrooms being occupied when we needed to use them, even at "peak" hours. -Tiny ~50sq ft rooms -Bunk beds for the cheapest room -No ironing board, fridge or microwave -Loud: we could hear conversations on the street since we were on the 2nd floor facing the street. We could also hear conversations from people passing by and activity from our neighbors including playing of loud music @ 1am on a Saturday night and even an argument on one of the nights. Just slightly annoying while we were up but a non-issue for sleeping since I had ear plugs in. -Cleanliness inside room: carpet didn't feel that clean to us. Walls were a bit dirty as well and the blankets and sheets aren't the nicest (though they are clean) Takeaway: lots of cons and some could be deal-breakers for many so definitely for the budget conscious since you can't beat the price for a fairly prime location. Great for a 2-3 night stay if you don't plan on staying at the hotel much and just need a place to sleep and shower (and don't mind the shared bathrooms). Deal-breaker for you if you can't do shared bathrooms. Bunk bed rooms are good for 2 people max unless you can cram two to a bed on a twin sized bunk bed. I would say crowd seems younger, looking to party, and for a cheap place to stay. I probably won't stay here again with my wife but if I was with a friend I and needed to be in the area I would definitely consider (though a great alternative would be Airbnb). That is all :) read more

In my younger days, I've stayed at this place several times due to its low cost (around $120/night and that's cheap in NYC). However, on the last trip there, I started off staying there but ended up elsewhere because I just couldn't take the lack of facilities and the fact that they do not allow visitors after a certain time -- can you believe that they charge you if a friend visits you after a certain hour? Anyway... for young people without much funds, this could be okay as long as you don't stay in much and only go back to sleep. Definitely a 2-star hotel at best. On my next visit, I will stay far far away as possible from this place. read more

I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive about staying here, however after two nights there I definitely appreciated it and would stay there again. I stayed in a single with shared bathroom and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. The bathroom and shower were ALWAYS clean when I went and while I am sure the cleaning staff don't clean after each person that goes in there, everyone is pretty respectful of each other in the common area. The room was fairly small (even by New York standards) but it was very functional and very comfortable. Free wi-fi was definitely a plus! The neighborhood is quite good and it was easy to get around the city as it is pretty close to a number of subway lines. Also the Go shuttle has a readily available stop to get to the airports (still make a reservation). The staff was sort of hit or miss. They were either REALLY helpful or unhelpful. I did notice the day staff was much friendlier than the night staff... All in all a great place, and I would definitely check it out again if the rates were competitive. read more

When I visit my best friend on the east coast, I'm usually not terribly concerned with getting a very upscale place to stay for the night. With that line of thinking in mind, I booked a very reasonable night's stay at The POD 51. And you know what? It was delightful in every way. The hotel is very nicely decorated in contemporary style, and tho the rooms aren't large, they are comfortable. I had a room about the size of my closet at home, but it was big enough for a bunk bed (yes, a bunk bed! How cool is that??!!). There's also a small sink and wash area, a safe, and a coat rack. That's it. You share a few bathrooms with the rest of the floor, and that's fine with me because they're kept clean and tidy by the housekeeping staff. I didn't shower while there, but I did inspect the facilities and they were clean looking. I expected something akin to a hostel-type experience and was pleasantly surprised to have a comfortable and enjoyable night's stay. read more

Luxurious The Pod Hotel ain't. Clean, inexpensive & conveniently located it is however. The design is very trendy & mod...a little too trendy & mod. I wouldn't call it pretentious but it did seem like it was trying too hard. The rooms are small & come equipped with the merest of necessities. Some have bathrooms/shower, some do not. All have at least a small sink. The rooms are extremely tiny & the walls almost useless. Of all the NYC hotels I've stayed in, this was by far the noisiest - all night you heard doors slamming, the communal toilets flushing, I could hear the TVs in the room next to mine. The mattress was OUTRAGEOUSLY hard & the sheets scratchy. No bathrobes included. As I said, no luxuries whatsoever. I am very much tempted to give this place two stars or less. I realize that would be unfair however as I would be simply comparing it to other accommodations in NYC that I've stayed in. & in my opinion, for me to compare Pod to any of NYCs boutique hotels which I've experienced is simply not right - they are horses of totally different colors. The Pod Hotel doesn't pretend to be luxurious or fanciful, its basically a glorified hostel. You get what they advertise & what you pay for. Its not a "bad" place by any means. The very hard mattress & noisy hallways at night are annoying however & my biggest complaint. read more

Found this place on hotel.com...I actually loved this place and wouldnt mind staying in it again as a "single traveler". Having lived in Japan before, it totally reminded me of my small ass studio apartment in downtown Osaka but just lacking the lil kitchenette. Although its waaay more chic and the bed blew mine out the water. I had a nice view of 51st St and the weather wasnt so hot yet in early July 2009 that i didnt need to use the A/C. I liked the entrance and the greetings received by the front desk. They have a small mini cafe that serves breakfast and wine but i didnt go since we're in NYC after all and there were plenty of other places to go for that. The room iteslf served its purpose. Sleep, perform my #2's, shower and house my gear. Other than that, if you go expecting more than that, then go pony up the money and head more towards downtown. I'd recommend getting a room with the private bathroom although i did check the shared bathrooms and they seem to be kept clean right after use. For $60/night in NYC on the Midtown East side, I'd stay again...as a singe traveler though. read more

I've been staying here since it opened, and have normally been a huge fan... but things are starting to slip. First off, the tiny rooms and shared bathrooms were made better by the fact that everything was super neat, clean, and well-attended. Now, the wallpaper is getting a dingy yellow, the light switches have all kinds of gross gunk in them, and the bathroom cleaning schedule seems to have been made less frequent. Little things like that start to add up and remind you that you're staying in a glorified hostel, and if you didn't happen to get a good deal, you'll start to get a little upset. Location is phenomenal, staff is generally friendly. Pro-tip: bring sandals to walk to the bathroom, AND bring ear-plugs, as it is super noisy in here and people are on all kinds of schedules. read more

This is the second time in three years that we're staying at this hotel and the toilet is clogged when we get there (we had a private bathroom in the room). They fixed it though, so no problem. The room really is tiny, so it will get very messy very fast, especially if you have a lot of luggage. We really like the design. It is the best aspect of the hotel. The towels are a little too small, and so was the double bed. The bed was also too stiff, and the pillows weren't fluffy at all. The only place from which you can watch TV comfortably is actually the shower, through the curtain. The TV doesn't move, and it was very uncomfortable to try watching it from the bed. The location is good, but the area is dead after 10pm. There is a subway station not too far away though. If you're getting the private bathroom room you should know - you must feel very comfortable with the person you're going with, because there is no absolute privacy going to the toilet/shower. We were at the 9th floor, room 929, and the WiFi reception was very bad. And we needed it. After taking a shower the toilet floor gets wet, so your clothes will get wet if you want to go to the toilet. You can hear everything going on in the corridors. read more

Picked this hotel for the location and the price sharing the bunk bed room with a friend. Great location, close to subway and walking distance to good restaurants, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. The room was small, but it was only utilized as a place to crash for the night. There is a small sink in the room and the shared bathrooms were usually clean, except for one night were two of the 4 toilets were stopped-up and really nasty. Ugh! I stayed on the 7th floor and bathrooms 2 and 4 were the largest bathrooms. All showers have rain shower heads and bathrooms 2 and 4 have two additional side shower jets, Walls seemed to be pretty thin and we were able to hear people in the next room and loud talking within the hallways. Not really an issue on my stay, but it could be a drag during peak tourist season. I would recommend this hotel and would stay here again. read more

The only positive reason for give this 2 stars, is the low price. But it was not worth it, we were two persons in this double room and it was sooo small that it was troublesome to move around because it had only 2 fot space from the bed to the wall. Bathroom was also extremely tight, and i had my feet in the shower when i sat at the toilet. Luckily we had only reserved for two nights, so we opted for NewYorker hotel instead. New yorker is a few more $, but it was well worth the money. This hotel is for the back-packer who is trying to save every $. Do not take your girlfriend to this hotel unless you intend to dump her. The hotel i central located and the rooms are clean, but i don't see any reason to go here again. This hotel is the least favorable i have stayed in at my travels the last 8years traveling, and i have about 60+ different sleepovers locations in this time span. read more

The "poor wo(man)'s" version of the W! Small, but nice rooms. Clean sheets, hot water, and a really helpful staff makes this place my new fav! I opted for the double bed with a private bath. I'm way past my college days of sharing a bathroom. And, for a small boutique hotel, there are three lifts! East Side Social Club is next door (Monday was kinda dead). However, the Le Bateau Ivre serves till 4A.M! Nice location in Mid-Town and only two short blocks to the 53rd & Lexington Subway Station. All a very low and fare price. read more

I think I might be too old or uncool to truly appreciate The Pod Hotel. Because of the configuration of the diminutive, pod-like rooms, and a big gap under our door, we could hear EVERYTHING. Every movement in the hallway, closing of a door or a neighbor's sneeze could be heard. We knew the rooms would be small, but the bathroom was literally the size of an airplane bathroom. After washing my face in the teensy tiny sink, it looked like an elephant had bathed in there with water everywhere. Luckily, the shared bathroom down the hall was spacious, clean and always open, so we ended up using it. The upside is that the room was very clean, the hotel was a great value and the location was convenient and close to the subway. read more

Visiting NYC? You're not here to sleep in the hotel. You're here to go out and explore the city. This hotel is perfect for that. The single rooms are tiny. Very tiny. You get a bed, desk, and sink. Bathrooms are down the hall (shared, but there's a cute light-up panel in the room to tell you which bathrooms are open and which ones are in use). The amenities are what sells this place -- the rooms are comfortable, clean, and quiet. The place offers free WiFi and an iPod dock in the rooms. The hotel has a nice little lounge in the lobby - including a nice little garden. And... the rooms are dirt cheap for a Manhattan hotel. The hotel attracts a lot of hip international travelers who want a good deal. It delivers. read more

Booked this hotel last minute, and was the cheapest. This place is very trendy and creepy at the same time. Small, very small, but we did not mind because we were expecting to be roaming the city 90% of the time, and was just gonna go back to the hotel to shower and go to bed. Kind of felt like a jailhouse to me. The people here are friendly, wouldn't mind booking here again if we had to. read more

I'm sitting in the Pod lobby as I write this, waiting for my friend to wake from her nap. The weather is perfect -- upper fifties and sunny, so the hotel opened the sliding doors that lead to their very cute deck. Unfortunately, the wireless is spotty on the deck, so I'm hanging in one of their modern, but comfortable chairs. I love the decor, a pleasant combination of red, orange and gray mixed with natural fibers, stone and wood. Paired with an awesome collection of lobby music and the singing concierge, it makes for a warm environment to work in for a few hours. Things to remember: 1. Take the stairs. I actually waited ten minutes for the elevator before I realized everyone uses the stairs. The elevators are slow and rarely have room for you when you do get one. 2. The beds don't look exactly "as advertised" with slightly different bedding. The pillows are very flat and lumpy at the same time and I could have used more than one since I had a roommate. However, I slept soundly and comfortably. 3. The bathroom is TINY. I feel like I'm on a boat, which is fun until you need to wash your face in the sink that's barely larger than a cereal bowl. Keep your bathroom supplies on the desk or ledge outside of the bathroom and make use of their creative storage space. There's really no other option for storing things. 4. The hot water runs out quickly. It's a nice shower head, but if you're a tall man, you're probably going to have some space issues. 5. The halls are noisy, but the street isn't. As long as you don't get a party or teenagers running up and down the halls, you should be fine. 6. If you came to the city to work, they make it very easy with a nice flat screen TV, fast and free wireless and an iPod docking station. I wish they had some better channels and reception, but I'm here to go out with my friend, not watch HBO... 7. It's very clean. I can't be in a dirty space. I can't see mildew, I just can't handle it. That means staying in NYC is virtually impossible for my nerves because everything is so worn and old. The Pod does a good job of keeping things clean. There are some marks in the shower and dust along corners (the hall ways aren't very pleasant -- feels like a dark cave), but I felt comfortable, which means it must be clean. :) 8. If you have a private bathroom, when you close the door, your roommate can still see in! Just work out a system and you'll be good. General thoughts: This is one of the best value hotels in New York City. It's a "cheap" room ($139/night for a queen bed), has a good location, free wireless and a comfortable night's sleep. This isn't where I'd stay with my husband for a romantic night, but it's cute, convenient and perfect for someone that just needs to get in and out without a fuss. If they had better bedding, conditioner and better towels, I'd have been ecstatic and given them a fifth star. read more

The Pod 51 encompasses all your needs without negotiating style and price. They have a colorful lobby area with a communal table (conveniently ample with charging outlets) and an outdoor patio area to sip your coffee or happy hour beer. They have small coffee shop that is reasonably priced. And a gorgeous 14th floor roof top deck with plenty tables and lounge furniture--it's the perfect place to eat your breakfast or enjoy a nice cold beer. Bedrooms, as expected, are small and drab. But comfy and sufficient for you travel needs. The air conditioner worked extremely well and they have a safety box to store your valuables. There are (4) shared bathrooms on each floor, but they're clean and stocked with body wash and shampoo. However, I wish they had some disposable towels to dry your hands. If privacy is a concern, you can shell out extra bucks for a private bathroom. Located in Midtown East, the neighborhood felt safe and clean. Walking back home around 1am, I never felt I would be mugged or followed. Up the street is Essabagel to grab a delicious hot bagel and instead of eating there, bring it to Greenacre Park across from the hotel. It's a nice respite in the big city. The front desk employees were dead pan and you feel like you're bothering them. However, they did get me an extra pillow asap so they're not totally useless. Overall, the Pod 51 is an excellent option for all you frugal travelers who can't spend $500/USD at the rest of the hotels. read more

Got a room with a private bathroom. It was really tiny. I could barely move inside since I had two luggages with me. The room was clean, per say, but it sort of had a smell. I still wouldn't even dare walk bare foot on the carpet. I couldn't really complain because it was the cheapest hotel I could find that I was willing to settle for and I was only staying there for one night. Another reason why I chose this place was because of the location, easy access to everything. I probably won't be back here just because I want to try other hotels but this is not so bad, especially when you won't be at the hotel the whole time. TIP: If you need a ride to the airport, they do have shuttle service but you have to inform the front desk beforehand so they can put you on their schedule. read more

Well I only stayed here on night but I think I've got a pretty good feel for the place. Pro's: -The rooms are affordable. -The rooms are clean. -No street noise. Con's: -The elevator is ridiculously useless and slow-just walk down the stairs. -The beds aren't the comfiest or longest (I had a single bed). -The shared bathrooms are nice as far as shared bathrooms go, but it's still a shared bathroom. -The light was out in my room. -The pipes clanked and banged a lot. -The hallways were dimly lit and a touch musty. This is a place for 20-somethings-period. That or people on a severely restricted budget. $69 for a room the size of a closet with no private bath is affordable, but what's that savings worth to you? During my trip I also stayed at a hotel that had a king bed, a large private bath, cable, Internet breakfast and fast elevators for $120 a night. Maybe I'm just grumpy because my room was missing a pillow and had no light, and I had to walk down halls in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, but I don't see the magic here. The front desk staff was average at best. If you just need a place to crash and value is important give this place a try and see how it works for you, but for now it's a 3.5 star place for me. read more

First and foremost, this is Manhattan. Any clean, well-decorated, modern, and enjoyable hotel in the midtown area for a price starting of $99 a night, is fully deserving of a 5 star review in my opinion. Key things to note: it's within very short walking distance of the train, there are several options for food and convenience type stores in the immediate local area, and you're located near all the midtown tourist and shopping favorites! Oh, and one little semi-secret: there is a rooftop terrace open to everyone. It offers a beautiful place to relax and take in the city lights, especially on those warm summer nights. Walking into the lobby for the first time, I was impressed! It's so modern and clean, and the decor is lovely! I checked in at the front desk with a very friendly and helpful receptionist, and was on my way up to my room in less than 5 minutes. Caution: the elevators can be claustrophobia inducing, but still much better than taking the stairs up to your room on the 12th floor. The rooms, albeit small, were perfect. Considering the location, I didn't expect the room to be any larger than it was. I didn't spend any time in my room apart from sleeping, so the size wasn't important to me. My room was impeccably clean and cute! I had the bunkbed setup; I liked the layout and feel of it. Depending on what type of room you book, there are communal showers/bathrooms in the hallway for your use. Upon finding that out for the first time, I wasn't too thrilled, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised! The bathrooms were very clean, I actually saw the maids cleaning them several times a day. I never had a problem waiting in line for the bathroom as there are several on a floor. Definitely a favorite of mine when visiting the city. I always recommend it to everyone! read more

Negative: THE WIFI is TERRIBLE and worthless! It did not work at all in our room during peak time and crashed regularly. Works ok in the lobby, but you will be forced to listen to other's phone calls and piped in musak. I am writing this from the lobby, so 1 star it is. I would expect better based on the image this place is trying to portray. Positives: The rate was very good and we were upgraded to a queen room from a double and they lowered our rate to the current rate. Room is clean and attractive. Small but that was expected. Don't stay here if you plan to spend any time here. Stay here if you want the cheapest place in town you dare stay in. It is in a good location and is pretty trendy of an environment. @jonwiersma read more

If you are looking for some place fancy, you should go there. I live in CT, a hour from the NYC. Sometimes I just go there but needed to stay for one night. Their price is good, and very fun to stay too. Best place for people from CT or NJ to stay for a night~! read more

Great affordable hotel to stay it if you're visiting New York for a few days and just need a place to sleep, shower and change. Loses a star due to the shared bathrooms. Yeah, I know that's a part of what makes it affordable, but it's still a pain even if you plan for it. Also in an area that's very hopping and surrounded by lots of options for dining and drinking, which is definitely a plus. I will be staying here again at some point. Of this I am sure. read more

This place was the bomdizzle. The rooms are tiny tiny, but the hotel itself was just beyond gorgeous. Highlights: - Rooftop garden - Fun fancy bathrooms with rainfall showers - Mod decor - Sexy Europeans. Rawr. $200 a night was pretty devastating, but I know that we wouldn't have been able to find anything as clean and close to the places we wanted to visit for less. read more

Nice little hotel with a trendy European-hostel vibe. Great if you're on a budget, but want to stay in Midtown. Safe neighborhood - just across the street from a police station and plenty of NYPD officers everywhere you look. The rooms were clean and nice. We got the room with a bunkbed, and each bed came with a small tv. They provide you with everything at normal hotels like pillows, towels, etc. You get a small sink in your room, but the trade off is that you might end up having to share the bathroom in the hall. We didn't mind since we were on a day trip, but for longer stays I'd say it's worth getting an individual bathroom. Their reception was well-organized and friendly, and they have luggage storage for guests. Also, next door is their bar, Pop by Pod, which was always packed when we walked by. Pros: Clean, safe and a great location. Luggage storage. A sink in your room. It's like a blend of hotel and hostel - cheaper version of a hotel, nicer accommodations and service than a hostel. Cons: The walls are very thin - so you can hear the elevator ding every time someone stops on your floor, and you could really feel doors shutting. So if you're really sensitive to noise, bring some earplugs. Some rooms don't have a private bathroom - so depending on the length of your stay it might be worth paying slightly more for a room with a private bathroom. I'll definitely stay here if I need a place to stay in NYC, but I'm used to traveling in Europe and this felt much nicer than some of the hostels I stayed at in Europe. read more

So small I could see my bf taking a pee in the bathroom! So I went on a trip to NY with my bf(my first time to NY ever!) and we were searching hotels. Man they are sure expensive in NY, but we found The Pod and decided to book it. My Bf had warned me it was going to be small, but I didn't really believe him. I can say we were definitely two peas in a pod! It was so tiny I could see my bf taking a pee in the bathroom. Despite how small it was I really enjoyed my stay there It felt really cozy. And the customer service was excellent they were eager to help and provide us with everything we needed. I will for sure stay there again if I'm ever in NY again that is! read more

The POD hotels are really hostels depending on the type of room that you book. I think POD is very expensive for having to share a room and bathroom with someone. For the same price you can get a regular hotel room. What's the point of staying here? read more

I couldn't even stay the night. It's middle of winter and very cold here in NY. I tried 3 different rooms and no heat. They monitor the heat - 1 hour off, 1 hour on and none of the rooms were remotely warm. 3 hours of trying and I couldn't ever take my shoes or coat off. The rooms are tiny and so are bathrooms which other reviewers have said. I could have handled that but no heat? No way. Also, no room service and they don't have bottled water or any vending machines for drinks. Sorry but I don't know what all the fuss is about with the reviewers... read more

The service attendant continued to cut me off over the phone when I attempted to explain what I was looking to book and hung up on me mid-sentence. I was extremely dissatisfied with the service and do not plan to ever stay at Pod 51. read more

Walking into the lobby I was greeted with relaxing lounge music and an ultra modern decor that felt welcoming at the same time. The staff was all very friendly and the concierge was very knowledgeable. The deck on the lobby level is very nice and has a lot of natural maple accented with stainless steel chairs and is a great place to take in the sights and sounds of the city. I was in a group of 4 and we got a suite at a very reasonable price. Unfortunately the suites are located in a different wing of the hotel and there is no elevator access so we had to carry our luggage up a few flights of stairs but it's a small price to pay for having a great room, in a great part at town, at an even greater price.The room was minimalistic yet utilized very well. Lots of storage space, iPod stereo dock, comfortable but modern decor, flat screen television, and free Wi-Fi. The suite had a queen sized bed, two roll out singles, private bathroom, desk, a spherical pod chair hanging from the ceiling, and plenty of windows that backed onto E 51st St. The neighborhood the hotel is located is fairly quiet and great area for grabbing food and drinks as there are many restaurants and bars around. The hotel does not offer room service but I never order room service anyway so it didn't affect me much. The clientele was fairly diverse being anyone from twenty-something students to young professionals. Overall, the price of the hotel does not reflect the great amount of value you will receive as a customer and I would definitely recommend this hotel to those that are young and looking for a cheap place to stay in Manhattan. One of my favorite boutique hotels in the city. read more