It's a basic, simple but clean and very affordable hotel. Good for low budget business as well. It's about 30 minutes to Manhattan Union Square. There's not much happening in the area but it is safe. Don't let the highway next to the hotel put you off. I slept on the outside and couldn't hear anything.

My husband and I took our first trip to NY in May of this year (2011). We decided to stay at the Sleep Inn Brooklyn Downtown after reading hundreds of reviews on this site. We wanted an affordable and safe location that was close to the city. We weren't disappointed! We arrived at JFK around midnight after a delayed flight. We used a car service that we had previously booked and arrived at the hotel at apprx 1:00 am. The hotel is in a mostly residential area. Even with arriving so late, the area felt very safe. Hotel check-in went smoothly. The front desk staff was very accommodating and the lobby was well lit. Our room was an average size with large king size bed. The bathroom is average size and very clean. Room was well-appointed with a flat screen TV and mini fridge. There were enough drawers and closet space for our more than a week's worth of clothing. The view was of someone's backyard, which was a little weird but not unpleasant. The bed was very comfortable. We slept well. It was very quiet. The included breakfast is VERY good and saved us a lot of money. We took advantage of the breakfast all eight of the days we were there. It included fresh fruit, cereal, breads, waffles, eggs, sausage, juices, coffee, milk, and more. The breakfast area was very comfy with a TV and computer area as well as vending machines. We went into NYC every day. It was a short walk to the subway, maybe five minutes at a slow walk. The subways were a new experience - kinda stinky but very safe. Took us apprx 20 to 25 mins to get to the city. Week long subway pass cost $29. We saved so much money by taking the subway everywhere. We used a phone application called HopStop. Enter where you wanna go and it will tell you which subways to take, transfers, walking directions, etc. It was amazing - woulda been lost without it. We got back to Brooklyn late every night. Felt very safe walking back to hotel even at midnight. Room was cleaned nicely. Fridge was very convienent for drinks, leftovers, snax. Overall, we were extremely pleased with our seven night stay. We would definitely use this hotel again. Highly recommended.

The hotel is only a year old (built in 2010) ...so how bad can it be? It is Brooklyn, so obviously, it is more industrious. I brought my young family of 6 to this hotel, we walked to the subway, and felt totally safe. The family that runs the hotel were very courteous. They have a nice free breakfast with the "make your own" Belgium style waffles. Beds were very comfortable. Hotel room was small, but everything looked brand new from the flat panel tv to the fixtures and tile in the bathroom. Inside the hotel did smell a little like smoke, but I believe that to be from the large quantities of Europeans that stayed there that may not be accustomed to America's smoke free environment. The smells don't come close what we got from visiting New York City : ) ...but we had a blast in our visit. The kids loved FAO Swartz toy store, Toys R Us, Time Square, and today we are going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! Definitely a great family memory.

Stayed 7 nights late October '11. Location near my daughter's concert venue in Brooklyn but did not feel a long way out given scale of NY.
Dubious after seeing bed bug pictures but note the pictures were taken in an office somewhere else in the world not in a hotel room at this location.
Very clean and comfortable. Bed huge (4th floor King sized bed room). Very well equipped with iron, ironing board, eight real wooden coat hangars in my room. Cleaning daily every afternooon. Front desk staff, cleaners and breakfast room staff all friendly. Most guests arrived for breakfast at 9.29am and complained about trivia. Very varied group of guests with lots of (well behaved) students. Personally happy with cereals, waffles, croissants and choices of bagels, boiled/poached eggs. This isn't trying to be the Ritz. Eat it in your room if no seats (which there will be from 6.30 but not at 9.29).

PC and printer to print your return boarding passes in breakfast room but wi-fi works ok as well.
Travel - I used Prospect Park subway sta which is a slightly longer walk further north up 4th Avenue but less scruffy than 25th Street. Most of the subway looks as bad as these stations anyway. Decided area was safe given number of single females walking about with bags over their shoulders etc. Front desk ordered cars at short notice (10 mins) and fares (these are registered vehicles) match Yellow cab fares, block for block.
Area around hotel is peppered with car repair businesses but hey these are all over this part of Brooklyn not just outside this hotel. Get real about staying in big cities.