It is located 10 minutes walking far from Columbus Circle, right on the south-west corner
of Central Park.
I went there for three nights on last July and it was the only place we found
in NYC for less than 100 bucks a night.
The rooms are very minimal, a bed, a desk and a lamp, but it is definetely worth it
if you are looking for a cheap and easy-staying place in New York.

Great pro: no cockroaches! :)

I was in NY in october and stayed there for 3 nights. Of course the building is old, the walls would defenitely need repainting, but it was clean (no bed bugs!) and the location is great. I was having a private bathroom (no problem with sharing...), and I will definitely return, it is a great deal in NY where hotel rooms prices are increadibly high! The cafe on the first floor was great also. Didn't have time to use the pool or the gym.

Accommodation in New York is of course very expensive and it's hard to find anything affordable.
This YMCA is very basic and bathrooms are shared (for the cheapest rooms, communal). It's a place for sleeping only.
The place has an institutional feel, but unlike some other reviewers I've found it neither dirty nor unsafe, during several visits. It's far from luxurious, but it's allright.
A big plus is that the accommodation gives free access to the fitness club and swimming pool, which are excellent. There is a decent cafe for breakfast downstairs.
It's really a question of what you're willing to pay. Anything else on the edge of Central Park will be at least twice the price. If you just need a bed and if you like a morning jog or workout, go for it.

After a wonderful semester in the USA and lots of traveling within this amazing country, my friends and I decided to end this wonderful experience in New York City. After staying in several hostels the last weeks, the one better than the other, this one is by far the worst. Better said, it's the worst place I've ever been.

When I wanted to check in after midnight (I called them and sent 3 e-mails about my late arrival, due to a delayed train from Virginia), the security guard refused to let me in. I was walking in with all my luggage (5 months of personal belongings, lots of suitcases) and he was just staring at me struggling with this and shouting at me that I couldn't put it at the place I was collecting it. Then when I wanted to check in, he told me in a very rude way that I was "checked in already". I told him my friend arrived a couple of hours earlier and he told me it was her fault that she didn't arrange another key for me. I couldn't do anything. I wasn't allowed to call her, he didn't accept my digital confirmation, and he really made me cry of being so intensely rude. Finally after AN HOUR he sent some guy upstairs to wake my friend up, so she could pick me up downstairs. That was it. I had to give the guy my passport and he told me I could pick it up the next day. No apologies or whatsoever.

Next day at "my" check in, I was charged an extra 90 euro (= 130 dollars) because I didn't book with YMCA itself. I still think that's weird, so I'm going after that.

Our room on the eleventh floor was small and hot. The A/C is kinda working, but it doesn't really help. Everything is old and unstable and especially unclean. The light automatically switches on and off 8 times in a row or so when you want to go to bed and decide to turn it off. The shared bathrooms are horrible. There are only three toilets, and one of them couldn't flush. Showers only have curtains (no doors) and the water coming out of the sink is so hot it almost boils.

Then there are these old people. Thank God I read more about them here at tripadvisor. Really, what are they doing here? This lady is walking around in the halls all day, and every time she uses the bathroom, the floor is totally wet of urine. The last two times I was in the bathroom she was also staring at my breasts. I don't know why, I didn't feel harassed or anything, but it's just awkward. It's the same with the old men in underwear walking around the hallways in the middle of the night. What. The. Hell.

Although my friend and I had the "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on our door, housekeeping kept knocking on our door everyday. Better said, every time we came back from our day in New York, we saw housekeeping DID come over to change towels or whatever, while we really didn't want that. Not because we are dirty, but because I had all my belongings in this small room. I didn't feel comfortable exposing my expensive jewelry, computers etc. while someone was in our room when we were away. Then WHY is there an option to hang the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door when everyone is ignoring it!? I really felt uncomfortable with that. Why didn't I put away all my stuff? Because there was no room for that.

Although there is so much more to say, I'll end with these final two things: the cafe downstairs is insanely overpriced (I got a 1/3 baguette and a fresh orange juice for 11 dollars?) and it's outdated to ask MONEY for WiFi in a hotel! There's an option for free WiFi internet, but that one is really slow and only makes a connection in the downstairs lobby. Look for other free WiFi providers when in your room. We used 8coupons or something like that. Please do, because there's also not really a nice lounge to chill downstairs.

Really, I've been to a lot of places (check my profile if you don't believe me), but this one was terrible. Excuse me, IS terrible, because I'm still there. Only two more nights! Oh and by the way, my friend and I both have a fever. Wouldn't be surprised if that would come from the hygiene in this place. Please, pay some extra dollars and go somewhere else, even though this location is terrific!