Vanderbilt YMCA — Local services in New York

I stayed in a single deluxe room which had a small desk and trashcan, air conditioning unit, single bed with drawers underneath, a small wall mounted TV with a few dozen local channels, a small metal shelf/coat rack combo, a rectangular vertical mirror by the door, a small cube mini fridge, and a window that can be opened for some fresh air - although it may be a bit noisy outside. Due to the layout of the rooms, the halls can be a bit noisy as well depending on the other guests, and it is almost impossible to shut the heavy room doors so that they lock without allowing them to close on their own, which makes a loud slamming sound. The walls are a bit thin and it is possible to hear TV's or people talking either in adjacent rooms or in the hallway. The bed was comfortable, however they only provide one pillow.

The deluxe rooms offer a semi-private bathroom which are shared, but are individual and can be locked so that you are the only person occupying the room. My floor had four bathrooms, and there was never a time that i had to wait to use one. The bathrooms are cleaned at least one time per day, and stay relatively clean throughout the day, although water from the shower would soak the floor after being used, making it a bit difficult to use the toilet afterwards due to the puddles. Hotel rooms are cleaned daily during which beds are cleaned and made, and a fresh towel is left in your room after each cleaning. Rooms are small, but clean and comfortable. The mini fridge works, but may take up to a half day for items to become cold.

There's a 24 hour CVS located on the corner which takes about a minute to walk to where you can buy medicines or groceries to stock your room with. I got a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly, a pack of bagels, a pack of granola bars, plastic utensils, and a case of bottled water for ~$25. For people who are light sleepers, they also sell ear plugs. Grand Central station is only five blocks away, and there's a $0.99 pizza shop three blocks away.

There's concierge services at the front desk on site that can help you order a shuttle bus to go to the airport, and a small screen mounted to the wall with flight arrivals and departures posted in real-time. The front desk has a 24 hour security guard at the front at all times, although all that they require is for someone to flash their hotel key on the way to the elevators, which seems a bit lacking. Free WiFi is available and the WiFi password is changed routinely, so you may need to check with the front desk to get an updated password depending on the length of your stay.

Check in is at 3pm and checkout is at 11am, however if you arrive early or if your departure time is scheduled for a later time they do offer bag storage for $2 per bag until 11pm for current guests only. Additionally, guests have full access to the YMCA exercise facilities, a mini shared kitchen and dining area.

The location is midtown east near the United Nations headquarters and is surrounded by consulates. During the daytime it may be noisy outside, however it becomes a bit quieter at night. It is also located close to the East river and a few small shops and chain restaurants such as Starbucks, Wendy's, and Subway are nearby. Although there's not a lot in the immediate area, times square is about a twenty minute walk from the hotel and the area is very safe, even at night.

The cleaning staff are mostly Hispanic and do not speak much, if any English, but they are friendly and I never had any issues with theft. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the front desk staff. It is hard to contact them by phone - sometimes no one will answer or they will simply hang up on you. I had tried calling a few times prior to my arrival and only once was I able to speak with a staff member. Being able to talk to someone on the phone and get information is unfortunately difficult. In person, most of the front desk staff aren't much better, often seeming cold and unfriendly as if they are only there for a paycheck and uninterested in the quality of their...

This review is about YMCA summer CAMP at the Vanderbilt location. Our experience was -very- ba, with broken promises of field trips, camp counselors who did little more than day care, and limited facilities.

My father grew up around a YMCA in Indiana in the 1930s (reallly), I went to a Y on Long Island sometimes -took swimming lessons there and more. But this Y...is really not geared for kids. They haven't thought it out. Its relatively safe day care, and that's all.

My son is attended their 'camp.' Really, it doesn't succeed as any form of day camp. The activities are de minimis. They congregate in a gym most of the time. They promised field trips and excursions to the park(s) but these have been very few, if at all. They provide no amenities at all -no lunch, or snack, or towels for the swimming pool (one day a week at most, unless you sign up for the swimming camp -we've moved over. Maybe it will be better).

There does not seem to be much thought put into their activities and the 'counselors' seem young and mainly untrained. My son is usually an optimist. But both he and a friend from school who is in the same camp say the same thing: bored. Forget any intellectually challenging activities.

We ran into another friend of his, Josh, on a bus there one day. He had gone to the YMCA last year and was at a camp across the street (I was told). His mom said he didn't dislike it while there, but then realized how much better camp could be at the other camp.

One day, one of the few 'crafts' projects, they did 'tye dying' and my son brought home a plastic bag with a small green-dyed cloth knapsack in it. The counselor gave it to me. No one mentioned it was still full of wet dye. And then, on the way home, there was a leak... Not happy. My hands were green for a day and a half. They are not really much good at arts and crafts. My son missed the day they painted a cheap wood slide whistle (he had a nosebleed in the morning). So, rather than spend 10 minutes with him to help makeup and to make a nice painted whistle the next day, he just got the plain unpainted version to take home. Altogether, just kind of a flop as a place.

The city is full of opportunity. And there are camps throughout the city that do interesting things. It seems this YMCA.... is not one of them.

Update: I received a response from them. An unknown representative asked me to 'contact' them with more information and that they are very eager to respond and improve their services, EXCEPT.....

(1) they don't provide a contact person or number, except "Vanderbilt YMCA Team" (go team!); (2) the response is perfectly generic and does not even show that they read the critical review but asks for "specific details" (-itself a sign they don't read -anyone doubt I was ?specific?") (3) generally, seems about as insincere and mindless as one could expect. (4) Originally I gave them 2 stars, we're now down to one. Anyone agree? (5) They told me they were sorry and asked me for more information -but I had provided all of this as a critique. Isn't this...

After a long flight over the Atlantic ocean,in a large group of 36 people, we arrived at the Vanderbilt YMCA. While we were waiting in the lobby we were constantly being asked by the 'conciarege 'to move due to little waiting area or sitting area. Dispite the YMCA claiming they are suited for large groups they lack the space for first arrivals. We then went up to are room which took a while but we were able to use the lift. When we opened are dorm room we were greeted by a room smaller than a parking space (for a country that's loves big cars and big homes/ buildings ,being greeted by a room not much bigger than 3m x 3m). We were sharing a 2 person bunk bedroom which on first look wasn't too bad not a place if I was booking it myself I'd stay but I put up with it. And the room which I was staying in was actually one of the biggest in the group. The bunk beds were on wheel which we were OK with we just assumed that the bed was locked. I then climbed up to the top of the bunk bed ( up the frame as half the rooms didn't come with ladders) the bed started moving but it was only slight. I then whilst up there went to put my back against the wall when the bed started to move and I started to fall down the back it was only for my friend being down their that I didn't fall down the back possibly breaking my back or neck, and he was able to quickly push the bed against the wall. We then quickly went down to the lobby where they sent a guy from maitance up to see the bed. He was a very kind man but said there was nothing that he could do to stop the bed rolling around the room. He then called down to the lobby to see if there was another room available for us to stay in. We then moved to a smaller room but at least the bed wasn't moving. On the floor there were shared toliets and showers which I've got to say in the 21st century it is not something that we see that often anymore. Although we did learn that on the 5th and 4th floor there were private toilets and showers that could be locked. The night. The mattresses were extremely rough and only one pillow was provided and when I went downstairs they said they couldn't give me anymore because the lady was about to finish. So I set in to my nights sleep of which I got probably 1 hour before I was awoken by the pipes above. And couldn't sleep the rest of the night. The following night I was able to get 3 extra pillows which did help me get to sleep but still had a rough night and only got around 4 hours. By the final night I'd came a customed to the bed and actually managed to get a ok night sleep.( Although some point through out this stay I was bitten several times by fleas ,don't even know when). The actual gym facilities were very nice ,small but nice and I couldn't complain about them. Not sure if the facilities up the second lift were needed but they were nice non the less. The staff also were very nice. But sometimes seemed arrogant and...