Escape Guesthouse

I was not able to enjoy the breakfast portion of my stay due to other commitments.

We had a wonderful stay at Escape. Adrianne, Elizabeth's daughter, was our "inn keeper" and she couldn't have been more accomodating. Anytime we had a need, it was met immediately - without delay. It was quiet (yes, even in Brooklyn!) and very comfortable. It was hard to believe there was a "full house" for the 4 nights we stayed -it was sooo peaceful. -Cynthia and Jerry from Seattle

I was staying in the great Escape Guesthouse for 10 days in december 2010. It is perfectely located, very comfy, quiet and safe. The neighbourhood with it's nice restaurants and bars is absolutely charming. The owner and staff are very nice and so helpful. Breakfast was also great! Great coffee, bagels, cerials, fresh fruits, a daily newspaper and a nice chat. Feels like home. We definately will stay here again!

I thoroughly enjoyed my mini vacation at Escape Guest House----charming surroundings----helpful staff----informed about the area----

A few minutes away from Manhattan. Nice charming place away from the hustle and bustle of NYC. The owner was very kind and helpful, too!

Very clean; room well appointed and good reading amterials. The breakfast was very good with Irish oatmeal, variety of fresh muffins & bagels and freshly squeezed orange juice, etc. Great!

lovley spot- very clean- comfy and quiet and safe. Really nice and hlepful owners, perfectlocation. Breakfast was a bit spotty, but not bad

My first time staying at a bed and breakfast. Great place with wonderful service. Charming neighborhood, close to the city. Great location. I felt right at home really worth the money. Definately will stay there again.

This was a wonderful way to celebrate New Year's. The B&B was close to the subway and easy to get into Manhattan. The neighborhood was charming and there were plenty of nice restaurants, bakeries, stores all close by. The room was comfortable and clean, we stayed in "The Queen" and shared the bathroom, kitchen and living space with another couple. This proved to be a good arrangement. The staff was remarkably helpful and friendly! It was nice that they were not intrusive but were always present to answer questions. Will definitely recommend and stay here again!

Lovely atmosphere in a quiet street, and -nearly the best- close to downtown B'lyn and especially Smith Street. I will certainly return! Dr. Wolfgang P Osten

very nice stay

I arrived with three children in tow, and I was extremely happy with our accommodations. Not only did we get what we paid for, but we were given an extra room at a little below price, a great kindness for NYC. The proprietor was gracious and her daughter and assistant were wonderfully helpful. The assistant let us look at the other rooms, prepared breakfast, and was very personable. We were able to leave our bags after checkout time before we left the city. Although we were not able to stay long this visit, I would highly recommend Escape and stay again whenever possible!

I've stayed at the Escape a few times now and it has been consistently comfortable. The location is fantastic, staff is very friendly, and the neighborhood is great. Rooms are a good size for the city and quiet. I absolutely recommend it for the traveler who needs quick access to trains or is exploring Brooklyn. Smith street is a quick walk, offering great variety of food choices.

A friend (a New-Yorker) told me that this place was exquisite and he was right. I spent 4 days (3 nights) at the guesthouse and enjoyed every minute of it. Everything was perfect, the room, the service. Everyone was really kind and eager to help. Great place to stay, I'll be back next year for sure!

I found my small room cozy. It was nice to have air conditioning and a little fridge in July. I was pleasantly surprised that my towels were changed. The shared bath was rather small and the shower water sprayed onto the floor, but they cleaned up the bathroom nicely. I felt the place was very clean which makes me feel comfortable. I would return.

Hello, I was recently for the first time in New York. This is not cheap, but it is worth the money! Bergen St is a lovely area with friendly people and really near from Manhattan. I did id it once only by walking... Imagine entering Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge... Amazing I felt home in Escape Gueshouse. Elizabeth is a real NY woman,she knows everything in the city, Lenni and Victoria are lovely. Philippe

My girlfriend and I spent 3 days there in June

This was the first time I stayed at a B&B while traveling to NYC on business. What an excellent decision! Breakfast wonderful and friendly people. Great location, 1-1/2 block to the subway, nice neighborhood venues (eating, refreshments). I stayed in the en suite room. Large, comfortable, albeit stretched the a/c unit a bit on hottest days of the summer. I will definitely stay again.

We visited our daughter in August 2008. Great location for seeing Brooklyn and Manhattan. Charming street and neighborhood. The staff was friendly and unobtrusive. We felt very "at home" here. My daughter and son-in-law enjoyed their suite like lodging with kitchen.

I love staying in this area of Brooklyn when I go to NYC, and now I have found my favorite place to stay when I'm there. Just a few blocks from both the F and the C, a stone's throw from Smith Street, and very accommodating hosts. They accounted for a late check in, allowed me to pay with a credit card, and even left some fruit for me because I wasn't able to make it to breakfast. The rooms were spacious and clean, and the price is very competitive for NYC.

We had a wonderful stay at the escape guesthouse. The service was excellent. Liz was so helpful with directions, advice, tips...helped us in any way we wanted. It felt like such a treat to return to Escape after a busy and intense day in the city. the location is perfect because it is so close to the F-train - so we felt lke we were just a few minutes away from everything, yet given a tranquil place in the middle of hectic NY. The local pub just one block up is was a perfect place for a last drink on our way home / great atmosphere. We really recommend Escape guesthouse to anyone who is looking for a home away from home in NY or Brooklyn. We will definately come back. Jorun and Ingvild, Bergen, Norway.

I really enjoyed staying in Brooklyn (at least when you're conveniently located near a subway only a few stops from Manhattan). Gorgeous street of brownstones, friendly staff, continental breakfast, cozy rooms, but beds are a little old and uncomfortable.

Very friendly, extremely comfortable, excellent location. I'd come back in a heartbeat.

The television or cable service was faulty, and all but 3 stations were unwatchable. For the rather expensive rent, a hot brunch on the weekend would have helped to soothe the $250 per day. It was a surprise to find that I was sharing a bathroom and sitting area with another guest. This lack of privacy was not disclosed on the web site.

Upon my first day on arrival I temporarily parked in a space with no apparent signs. I went to the B&B for check-in. The bell didn’t work and I was coincidentally greeted by a woman her way out, asking me who I was. I explained I was due for check-in. Failing to introduce herself, she said she was in a rush and we did the check-in fast. Gave me the keys, showed me the room quickly. I inquired about parking she was too in a hurry to help her customer. I parked somewhere and checked for signs. There was a bus stop about 30 feet in front, but was unfamiliar with it (I’ve lived in Germany, Luxembourg, and two provinces in Canada). So I go back to the B&B and ask the Innkeeper if we could walk back to my car to make sure. We go to the car, look around, and she tells me I’m OK. Unfortunately I was not, and was towed for the amount of 300$. Next morning I tell her about my misfortune. She never even apologized. I requested she calls a taxi for me (after she offered) in 15 minute. Instead of a taxi, she called a private car service, and it arrived within 2 minutes. The ride cost me 16$ for 1 mile, whereas a cab would have cost half. The car issues aside, the room was cute and comfy. The bathroom however was unsatisfactory. The sink was so small and embedded in the wall under a mirror that you had to spit the water out of your mouth when brushing your teeth because there was not enough room to place your head OVER the sink. Breakfast was not very good, mostly 2 days old pastries. One brand of cereal, and terrible coffee. The breakfast is served between 8:00AM-10:00AM, but on Saturday I was up there at 8:35AM since I needed to go to Manhattan earlier and nobody was up, so I never had my breakfast. I would DEFINITELY not recommend this B&B to anyone. There are much better alternatives around (like Park Slope B&B). The B&B has ridiculous cancellation policies compared to the competition and charges a late fee after 6:00PM (unreasonable).

[Resource Id: innkeeperresponse, Set: reviews]
This guest arrived in a great hurry to get to Manhattan, and refused to take the time to park properly – there was room at the bus stop, so he left his car there. I explained repeatedly that he could not park at the bus stop, that he could either look for parking further along the street, or place his car with one of the professional parking lots in our neighborhood. After speaking with me (the Innkeeper), he asked my maid if he could leave his car where it was, and walked her out to see his car at the bus stop, and apparently bullied her into saying it was okay. Saturday morning he was actually the third guest to arrive for breakfast (which most definitely was available beginning at 8am), and told his woes to our other guests at the table. They were surprised that he had left his car when he himself had noticed the sign saying "no standing" on top of the bus stop's pole. (His argument was that “no standing” was not the same as “no parking”, and anyway he’d never seen a “no standing” sign in any of the other countries he’s visited.) I helped him to track down his car, and showed him on the map how to walk to where it was being held. He did not want to walk the mile, so I ordered him a car. I can call private car services; I cannot call NYC yellow taxi cabs to come to our door. I am equally bemused by his remarks regarding our “ridiculous cancellation” and “unreasonable late fee” policies: he was not charged a late fee, and he told us he wanted to make a reservation with us once he was able to cancel his reservation with a New Jersey lodging.

- Elizabeth (Innkeeper)

Pleasant proprietor, good Brooklyn location, but short on cleanliness (anything which fell on the floor gathered dust bunnies galore). Breakfast was quite minimal. Pastries left over from one day were served as breakfast the next day, no fruit was offered, and the junk on the dining table was simply shoved aside to provide a place to eat. Particularly galling is the "late" arrival charge should one arrive anytime after 6pm. Yes, it's there in the small print, but $25-50 per hour (or fraction thereof!) when one is at the mercy of flight delays, traffic and such is ridiculous. At least two parties were hit with late arrival fees the weekend we were there. A B&B is a travel related business and the owner shouldn't expect "guests" to always be able to adhere to the short 3-6pm acceptable window of arrival. I get the feeling that the owner is trying to pull in whatever money she can with a minimum of effort and expense on her part. There's yet hope for this B&B... if housekeeping and breakfast are greatly improved, and a longer arrival window / not charging guests for delays beyond their control policy is instituted!

[Resource Id: innkeeperresponse, Set: reviews]
This guest stayed with us back in February, and we were dusty then - even with daily vacuming and maid service. It turned out that we had a problem with our dryer vent which was causing laundry lint to be blown back into the house! Our breakfast table is set daily with fresh pastries and whole fruit, as well as napkins, condiments and utensils in individual holders. Perhaps the buffet style seemed cluttered on our narrow old breakfast table, but there is certainly room on the new table we have now. Our late-checkin policy still stands however, and yes - it is harsh. Our staff have lives and families of their own, and late-checkins make them miss out. We make every effort to accomodate early check-ins and delays due to weather and transit, but we will charge a late-fee to cover the overtime of the staff member who stays late and therefore misses their own planned activities.

- Adrienne (Day Manager)

Excellent in all regards. Would recommend to others wholeheartedly, Will be back next time I'm in Brooklyn!

I've spent many nights in this Bed&Breakfast and it has always been perfect. Hope I'll get back there soon! Perfect choice!

The Escape Guest House is an excellent choice if your are visiting friends or family in Broklyn. Just two train stops from Manhattan and yet in a charming neighborhood the Escape Guest House will make your visit to New York worth every penny.

wonderful house and location

Our wedding weekend was made so much easier and more comfortable by the Escape Guesthouse. We live in the neighborhood, so it was really convenient to have our relatives staying nearby in what felt like their own apartment. Elizabeth and company were very accommodating and respectful. Everyone raved about the location. I would recommend Escape Guesthouse to anyone looking for a place to stay in Brooklyn. The hotels are all overpriced and cannot compare to the relaxed, comfortable feel of this place. Thank you so much, Escape Guesthouse!

I was looking for a good location and value while visiting NY for 5 days. This B&B does offer those features including a friendly atmosphere. The single room is sparsely decorated in comparison to the more attrative decor in the larger rooms. Lovely back yard and deck. Guests could benefit from seating to allow them to use it. Significant improvements are needed in the cleanliness of the common living room and the shared bathroom. The living room was very dusty including the large surface areas (piano, coffee table, etc). The shared bathroom sink appeared dirty when I arrived and it only got worse during the stay. Prior to departure, I could no longer be in denial and wiped an area. It was dirty.

[Resource Id: innkeeperresponse, Set: reviews]
We perform housekeeping daily from 10am (end of breakfast) until 3pm (checkin) but this guest consistently arrived at breakfast 15 minutes after closing time during a sold-out weekend while my assistant was catering a wedding. This guest expected me to cook her breakfast to order, even though we ordinarily offer only continental breakfast. I should have explained that she had missed breakfast and I could not cook for her as I had to move on to my housekeeping. We have now added a second assistant, enabling us to keep up with busy weekend housekeeping even when our guests have special requirements.

- Elizabeth Kennick (innkeeper)

My short stay was to relax and enjoy New York. Staying in Brooklyn was finding a new friendly neighbourhood - I'll definitely be back! And Escape Guesthouse is just that, welcoming, informal, relaxed with a more than helpful service. I highly recommend it.