Haunted House in Williamsburg♡

Superb

9.0

Absolute catfish

1.0

− Immediately after arriving we were shocked at how run down the place was – the pictures on booking.com must have been taken years ago and are extremely misleading. Some devices were clearly torn off the walls and ceiling, and the entrance looked like it had been broken into before and the lock simply covered with duct tape. There was also visible water damage and stains in the kitchen area. On the listing, a garden access is also shown which was not available to us (basically all doors except for the bathroom are locked, and you only get the code for one room). The neighbourhood is also quite rough, and also very noisy – there was a party going on in the street outside the window (which couldn't be closed because of the mounted AC unit). We agreed to pay the first night and refund the rest via WhatsApp (retrospectively huge red flag!) with Magic, but the customer service requests for this were repeatedly denied by the property manager (not Magic).

WARNING: Unsafe Environment Despite Convenient Location, questionable reviews, and Amenities.

3.0

I booked this property due to its mostly positive reviews, convenient location near public transit — just minutes from the subway and bus lines — and close proximity to the heart of Williamsburg. The surrounding area is vibrant and walkable, with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, McCarren Park, and the track within easy reach. The property itself offered a few decent amenities: I was granted access to laundry facilities, kitchen, clean towels and linens, and a small but pleasant outdoor patio (though rarely used). The shared common areas included a television room and a modest in-house library. I appreciated being able to borrow an umbrella and browse some of Magic’s personal books, which he kindly offered. The room was basic but clean, with a functioning bed, pillow, and sink. I write this review not out of spite, but to ensure that future guests, especially solo and female travelers, are aware of the risks. Book this property at your own risk. What you read online may not reflect the full reality. If you are a solo traveler — particularly a woman — I urge you to exercise extreme caution. This listing is operating in a very gray, possibly illegal area, and the hosts' behavior is highly concerning. I sincerely hope this helps others make an informed decision.

− My experience was marred by serious safety and security concerns that overshadowed any positives. From what I gathered during my stay, talking with the other guests, tenants, and police, the property is in foreclosure, and many of the people living there are squatters. Two individuals, David and Magic, appear to have taken control of the listing, impersonating one of their roommates, and are renting out over 10 rooms on Booking & AirBNB, reportedly after kicking the other roommates out. During my stay, I encountered: -Frequent police visits (>4 police visits). -Fights between the tenants of the place. -Harassment and unsettling behavior from various individuals around the property -Loud, unexplained noises at night and generally strange occurrences (see photos below). -Sketchy and unpredictable guests -A broken door lock in my original room (which turned out to belong to a long-term tenant), prompting a room change -Inconsistent, bizarre, and conflicting explanations from David and Magic. -Gasoline in the hallway. -Overpriced to the experience and value received. -Constantly changing the name-address & photos of the listing. Though I was able to switch rooms and the situation calmed slightly, things soon escalated again. I ultimately chose to vacate a day early and found another legitimate and secure place to stay. The most disturbing aspect was Magic & David's behavior. While initially friendly, they became increasingly erratic and invasive — suddenly appearing on streets I was walking, frequenting the same shops or blocks. I witnessed him following another guest into a nearby convenience store, with which he and David apparently had past issues. This repeated pattern of being watched or followed made me feel unsafe and anxious, and I began to worry about my physical safety and personal belongings.

DO NOT STAY HERE!

2.0

The only thing I liked was the location.

− In the future I will write a novel about my experience but for now it will be a short story. On my first day as I arrived to Sketchy Homestay I was met with cops outside the building. After entering the courtyard I was met with a tenant that stayed in the adjacent living area informing me this place is running an illegal airbnb/booking.com business. As I tried to get into the building I felt an immense amount of dread and the feeling of being overwhelmed with this being my first experience of arriving. As the day progressed the situation calmed down and I felt more at ease to go outside the building. When I did I was met with the same tenant that gave me the first warning and another guy that is the property manager since David & Magic are tenants. They informed me that David & Magic were running an illegal business out of the complex. That the place was in foreclosure/in probate. Which means anyone living there is basically a squatter. I get a phone call from David to meet and he tells me what’s going on but my intuition told me he was telling me complete BS. After our conversation I went back to my room to chill out for a bit. Later that night I went back outside and the cops were there again. This time I was talking with the cops and they confirmed the place was in foreclosure and the people staying are squatters. In the state of New York especially in the cities they have rights to stay in these types of places. It’s an ongoing issue with these types of situations and the courts being behind/delayed with similar cases they can get away with it. As my time went on things got more and more weird. David was on edge and Magic was acting obvious and dismissal of the issues with the tenants and the police. The names kept changing as to who was in charge of the business and the stories kept changing of what was actually going on. I’ve traveled all over the world, I’ve been to 30 countries some being 2nd and 3rd world.

I had very scarcely experience there.

3.0

Disappointing

4.0

Very easy and proactive communication with the owner/manager. They offer a free ride from the airport. Excellent.

− The bathroom is shared for multiple rooms and it’s not a big bathroom, nor an impeccably clean one. Also, there is a constant noise for the underground in proximity.