Guestbook Comment

We chose Sankofa after reading the comments of the previous reviewers and we found it's excellent reputation to be completely deserved.
The apartment is immaculate,spacious and beautifully appointed with
that intangible"something special" which is rarely found in a private home,let alone an apartment in a big city.
Edith and Norma are gracious ,welcoming hosts who as far as we were concerned had thought of everything to make their guests stay as stress free and comfortable as possible-even down to providing umbrellas for the less than perfect days.
To be able to do our washing without going out,and to have enough food provided for the the first day or so was especially welcome after a long trip.
We found we could walk to Central Park if we wanted and the transport options were plentiful to travel further afield .
We especially liked the M2 bus for the scenic ride.
It's also easy to catch the Metro North trains to upstate NY-the trip to Cold Spring along the Hudson River is lovely.
Sit on the left and look out for Westpoint Military Academy on the opposite of the river from the town of Garrison.
Thes trains depart from the Lexington Ave. stop on 125st E where its also possible to catch a subway train directly to the Staten Island Ferry via Grand Central Station,itself worth a visit.
Sankofa is a superb apartment. beautifully run by two delightful ladies in an interesting and exciting part of New York.
We can highly recommend it.

Since New York is one of our favorite places,we have been there many times but never before have we stayed in Harlem. From now on we will not stay anywhere else !
Here is why :
Sankofa Guest Apartment turned out to be the perfect choise. Not only is this beautiful apartment filled with craft, art and books, you can also find maps, booklets and brochures with all the information about New York that you can possibly wish for. And more : comfortable beds,
well aquipped kitcken and bathroom and a very cosy, comfortable livingroom. Really the perfect "Home away from home".
You will find what you need for breakfast the first days, already in the
kitchen !!
A big supermarket just minutes away as well as the subway station. And the subway takes you to Times Square in 15 minutes. Add another 5 - 10 minutes and you are in Greenwich Village, Soho or Chinatown.
If you want to eat out, there is a selection of restaurants and bars just around the corner from Sankofa. The people are so friendly ; more than once we were met by ; "Goodmorning ladies ! " in the street, from complete strangers ! Is this typical for Harlem ? It certainly doesn´t happen in our hometown !!
And our hostesses ! So sweet and helpful ! We can honestly say that
we felt sad leaving Sankofa. It´s a relief to know that we will see Edith and Norma again, next time in New York !!!!
Lena

We really enjoyed our stay in Sankofa. The atmosphere of the apartment was nice. Everything was nice and clean and the apartment was well equipment. Location was good, only few blocks to grocery store and subway. We will definitely come back!

A retired couple and their daughter from Finland

We had a very warm welcome from Edith and Norma, who showed us where everything was and how things worked! The apartment is at the top of the house, and there are two flights of stairs to climb, so not suitable for those with limited mobility.The sofa bed in the sitting room was a proper bed, very omfortable. The kitchen was well equipped and there were breakfast provisions for us, milk, orange juice, tea/coffee, cereal, butter and muffins. The bedroom was very comfortable, loads of storage space. The apartment was very quiet and we slept well. Harlem was a wonderful area to stay, very interesting. Edith and Norma are obviously proud of their African American roots, and the apartment was decorated in this style, with plenty of books to read about the history of Harlem and so on.Edith and Norma were very good at helping us to work out how to get to places. The subway was surprisingly easy to use, buses were also good. The ride down in the bus alongside Central Park was lovely. The apartment was handy for both bus stops and subway stations. Harlem was a great place to stay. Fascinating area, with good places to eat. It was also easy to get downtown, about 20 minutes on the subway. We were two women travelling together, and we felt very safe.We went to a gospel service just around the corner, which was one of the highlights of the triip. There were so many highlights though that its difficult to pick one. The only suggestion I could make about improving the apartment was the television. I don't suppose anyone goes to New York to stay in and watch TV, but it would have been nice some evenings when we were tired. Some upgrading required perhaps? Apart from that small thing we had a fantastic time, in a wonderful apartment with lovely hosts. Would definitely stay there again.

We stayed in this apartment for 8 days in February 2009. From the very beginning we felt at home due to the beautiful and tasteful decoration of all rooms. The apartment was impeccable, very clean and silent. It's the perfect place for relaxing after busy days of sightseeing and going out in New York City. The apartment is located in a safe neighbourhood and we could even park our rental car in front of the apartment without hardly any parking restrictions. The bus links (M2 / M1) are just around the corner and a subway station is just a 5-minutes' walk away. The two owners of the apartment Edith and Norma are extremely friendly, warm-hearted, cosmopolitan and helpful. The apartment is fully equipped (washing machine, dryer, kitchen, WLAN, towels, bed sheets, hairdryer, etc.). We really enjoyed our stay in NYC very much and living in this wonderful apartment contributed a lot to this very successful vacation. By the way, staying in this apartment makes you feel like a real New Yorker!
Doris and Martin (Austria / Europe)

We stayed at Sankofa from 11-03-08 to 11-12-08. It was the best decision I have ever made in lodging. It was so comfortable, with lovely amenities surrounding you that made it all the more enjoyable. The decorating was superb. The bed as good as our one at home. We couln't have asked for a better spot to retreat to after a long day sightseeing in NYC. Edith and Norma were the best. They were so helpful and kind when our son visited us unexpectedly. He also was very comfortable. The subway was close, all sorts of info. pamphlets made available, stores close by for food, good restarants and more. It's a jewel that we'll definitely use again. I actually feel I have found two new friends, besides a lovely retreat in the city. Thank you again, Edith and Norma.

I stayed at the Sanfoka Guest Apartment for 4 nights. The owners Edith and Norma were very nice and helpful. The apartment has everything you need to make your stay in NYC enjoyable. There's a full kitchen and laundry room. The apartment is in a safe neighborhood off 125th street in Harlem. The subways are a few blocks away and it takes about 15 minutes on the express subway lines to get to Times Square. Staying at the Sanfoka is much more relaxing than staying at a small NY hotel room. I will definitely be staying at the Sanfoka for future trips to NYC.

My husband and I spent 4 nights at this charming apartment; it turned out to be one of the major highlights of our two-month European trip.

Our host--Edith--was a delight and could not have been more helpful. (Edith's sister, too, was there to greet us when we arrived.) Everything was provided for our comfort and convenience..

The apartment was immaculate and superbly-decorated with fascinating objet d'arts. The neighborhood was a quiet oasis in a teeming city. Imagine ... lush gardens in the heart of Harlem!! I found it fascinating and we felt perfectly safe wandering about. In fact, the people we met were, without a doubt, some of the most helpful and friendly we've ever experienced.

Transportion was a snap. A quick walk to the subway or the busline took you on your next adventure.

I chose this guest house as an alternative to the boring, expensive hotels available in New York City. It was one of the best decisions I ever made and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the place. In fact, my husband and I have already done so to several friends.

Shirley and Walter

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