u/yippeee1999

Hi everyone. While most of the bathroom showers/tubs that I clean are either porcelain or fiberglass, I've recently come across some shower floors/walls that are clearly made of some type of stone, cement or marble. (The shower floors and walls are very dull or 'matte' in appearance...nothing like a traditional, old-school, smooth and shiny white porcelain bathtub/shower....) I know that I've also seen similar shower materials in some Miami apartments, where my sister has a home....

This type of material is hard to get it 'obviously cleaned'...or to make it look shiny and like brand new, in much the same way I can accomplish, say with a traditional white, porcelain bath tub. This stone material - and the grout - can also tend to hold stains...often orange or brownish.

What do folks use to clean such shower material? Is there anything that can be done to make it look obviously cleaner, to the client?

Thanks.!

Hey everyone. I love promoting up-and-coming musicians whose shows I see, Live. So I often record a short video...then want to post it to my IG as a Story, and Tag the musicians and band members.

So I did just that, but when I go back and watch my Story, none of the folks I tagged are appearing. (I specifically wanted my Followers who see my Story, to be able to see/click on the profiles of the musicians I tagged...)

Yet, I see that even though I tagged them, IG has some note of how 'People added (tagged) here will be 'mentioned' in your story, but their username won't be visible'.

This makes no sense. How then are they being 'mentioned' in my story. Yes, I do know that the folks I tagged will receive a Notification that I tagged them, but my point of tagging them was really so that their profile names would APPEAR in the story. I guess we can't do that any longer??

Hi everyone. I recently started offering housecleaning services, as a one-woman operation. I advertised here on Reddit, in a few particular neighborhood-specific subs, in NYC.

I mainly offer a top-to-bottom basic housecleaning service. That said, I've had a few requests for more targeted cleanings (i.e., cleaning an apartment, post-renovation work, or cleaning an apartment before someone is moving out/moving in).

But for my basic top-to-bottom cleanings, I figured that I needed to start with a low price, in order to get some traction. I initially started charging $75 for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment (for first-time customers, only) and that subsequent cleanings would be $100. But at a certain point, I got this strong sense that many people hiring me were just looking for a one-off cleaning (i.e., before the holidays, before or after a party...or because their place hadn't been cleaned in a while - by them, or a professional), and since I was so inexpensive, they hired me, but then....I never heard from most of them again. (There were a few who did use my services a number of times, but then one of them moved elsewhere, while another was able to finagle a way to have their small business's cleaning person clean their own home...likely on the company's dime...)

I decided that I needed to try and filter out these 'cheapos'. (Obviously, it takes a lot of extra work when you are going to one new home after another...creating a file and notes on the client...learning the layout of their home, etc., only to have them never use your services again.) So I changed my pricing to $150 for the first cleaning (of a studio or 1BR/1BA), and then $125 for subsequent cleanings.

But I think this may still be too inexpensive. (I typically spend anywhere from 2.5-4.0 hours, depending on the condition of the home...)

What else can I do to try and attract the type of client who's looking for a cleaner to come every 2 or 4 weeks? Maybe I need to raise my rates even more?

While I do not have a website, I've had a good amount of success getting customers, via Reddit. But for some reason, I can't seem to find many folks looking for a cleaner to come on a consistent basis. Maybe my rates are so low, that I'm only appealing to the 'lowest common denominator' so to speak? I suppose I could be a bit more content, with one-off cleaning clients, but only if I charge quite a bit more money.... say $250 for a studio or 1BR/1BA. I've not yet tried that tactic... starting to advertise for that higher fee...but wonder what other cleaners in similar metro areas would suggest?

Thanks for any inputs!

P.S. And another problem I've found with many of these 'one-off' housecleaning clients is that... some of the homes were quite cluttered...some appeared that they'd not really been kept up (lots of dust bunnies all over the place...clumps of pet hair all over the place etc.). How do other housecleaners handle situations whereby you arrive to a new client's home, only to find that it's going to be pretty much impossible to get the entire home really clean, and that you have to sorta pick and choose what's most important to focus on...where there's just so much clutter that there's no way you could 'dust' everything, etc? So another problem with all these one-off's is that...you've no way of knowing what kind of home situation you are going to encounter. This is yet another reason why I really want to figure out how to get more regular (every 2 or every 4 weeks) clients...

Hi everyone. I recently started offering housecleaning services, as a one-woman operation. I advertised here on Reddit, in a few particular neighborhood-specific subs, in NYC.

I mainly offer a top-to-bottom basic housecleaning service. That said, I've had a few requests for more targeted cleanings (i.e., cleaning an apartment, post-renovation work, or cleaning an apartment before someone is moving out/moving in).

But for my basic top-to-bottom cleanings, I figured that I needed to start with a low price, in order to get some traction. I initially started charging $75 for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment (for first-time customers, only) and that subsequent cleanings would be $100. But at a certain point, I got this strong sense that many people hiring me were just looking for a one-off cleaning (i.e., before the holidays, before or after a party...or because their place hadn't been cleaned in a while - by them, or a professional), and since I was so inexpensive, they hired me, but then....I never heard from most of them again. (There were a few who did use my services a number of times, but then one of them moved elsewhere, while another was able to finagle a way to have their small business's cleaning person clean their own home...likely on the company's dime...)

I decided that I needed to try and filter out these 'cheapos'. (Obviously, it takes a lot of extra work when you are going to one new home after another...creating a file and notes on the client...learning the layout of their home, etc., only to have them never use your services again.) So I changed my pricing to $150 for the first cleaning (of a studio or 1BR/1BA), and then $125 for subsequent cleanings.

But I think this may still be too inexpensive. (I typically spend anywhere from 2.5-4.0 hours, depending on the condition of the home...)

What else can I do to try and attract the type of client who's looking for a cleaner to come every 2 or 4 weeks? Maybe I need to raise my rates even more?

While I do not have a website, I've had a good amount of success getting customers, via Reddit. But for some reason, I can't seem to find many folks looking for a cleaner to come on a consistent basis. Maybe my rates are so low, that I'm only appealing to the 'lowest common denominator' so to speak? I suppose I could be a bit more content, with one-off cleaning clients, but only if I charge quite a bit more money.... say $250 for a studio or 1BR/1BA. I've not yet tried that tactic... starting to advertise for that higher fee...but wonder what other cleaners in similar metro areas would suggest?

Thanks for any inputs!

P.S. And another problem I've found with many of these 'one-off' housecleaning clients is that... some of the homes were quite cluttered...some appeared that they'd not really been kept up (lots of dust bunnies all over the place...clumps of pet hair all over the place etc.). How do other housecleaners handle situations whereby you arrive to a new client's home, only to find that it's going to be pretty much impossible to get the entire home really clean, and that you have to sorta pick and choose what's most important to focus on...where there's just so much clutter that there's no way you could 'dust' everything, etc? So another problem with all these one-off's is that...you've no way of knowing what kind of home situation you are going to encounter. This is yet another reason why I really want to figure out how to get more regular (every 2 or every 4 weeks) clients...

UPDATE: Thanks everyone. I think I've since received sufficient great responses (see further, below). If anyone wants to add other options, feel free to do so, but for now I think I'm good. ;-)

++++++++++++++++++++++

Hey everyone. If I want to host a small gathering in my home (say for 25 people) but I don't have quite enough plates, silverware, shot glasses etc (and I'm not interested in buying/using paper or plastic...I want nice, elegant dishware, etc.)...and if I also could use a few extra chairs and a folding table...does anyone know if there are place in NYC (Manhattan) where I could rent such stuff?

I'm sure such options exist for rich folk wanting to do a really large and/or upscale catered type event...but I'm looking for something more basic...almost along the lines of Housing Works type customers/mentality....

Thanks!

I am currently retired and recently started my own small housecleaning business, for a bit of extra cash. While I mainly serve Astoria and LIC - since that is where I live - I'm now expanding to other areas, such as UES, Midtown and Hudson Yards. However, because I travel via public transit, from Astoria, I can only accommodate clients who live within Walking Distance of either the N/W or #7 subway lines.

For first-time customers with a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment, my fee is $200 - and then $175, for any subsequent cleanings. (Folks with larger apartments can DM me for pricing).

1. I will come to your home with all my own homemade, natural cleaning products. (The only things you'd have to provide are a toilet cleaning brush, a broom/Swiffer/vacuum and a wet mop/wet Swiffer.)
2. A basic top-to-bottom cleaning includes dusting all ceiling/wall corners, ceiling fans, furniture, etc.; dry-mopping/vacuuming all floors; cleaning all mirrors throughout the home; cleaning bathroom toilet - including outside/base of toilet, bathroom sink - including surface area around sink, bathtub/shower - including any glass doors; cleaning stovetop; wiping down front of fridge and dishwasher; cleaning microwave, inside and out; wiping down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, light switches throughout the home; scrubbing inside of kitchen sink; wiping down kitchen counters; and, finally, washing all floors. If interested, I can also burn Japanese incense, while I am cleaning.
3. I will always reconfirm each of our appointments, 1-2 days beforehand. A cleaning for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment typically takes me 2-3 hours to complete - sometimes a bit longer, depending on how long it's been since the place had a thorough cleaning - and I will always keep you updated on how much more time I expect I'll need, to finish the cleaning.
4. Following are links to Reddit clients' reviews of my services....

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1ptb27c/comment/nvmy5so/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1ppf07o/comment/nw1omn2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1mmmjnc/comment/o0lle62/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1uoxl7f/comment/oy5r7rr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Please DM me with any other questions, and/or to arrange a cleaning.

Thank you!

I am currently retired and recently started my own small housecleaning business, for a bit of extra cash. While I mainly serve Astoria and LIC - since that is where I live - I'm now expanding to other areas (i.e., parts of UES, Midtown East/West and Hudson Yards). However, because I travel via public transit, from Astoria, I can only accommodate clients who live within Walking Distance of either the N/W or #7 subway lines.

For first-time customers with a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment, my fee is $200 - and then $175, for any subsequent cleanings. (Folks with larger apartments can DM me for pricing).

1. I will come to your home with all my own homemade, natural cleaning products. (The only things you'd have to provide are a toilet cleaning brush, a broom/Swiffer/vacuum and a wet mop/wet Swiffer.)
2. A basic top-to-bottom cleaning includes dusting all ceiling/wall corners, ceiling fans, furniture, etc.; dry-mopping/vacuuming all floors; cleaning all mirrors throughout the home; cleaning bathroom toilet - including outside/base of toilet, bathroom sink - including surface area around sink, bathtub/shower - including any glass doors; cleaning stovetop; wiping down front of fridge and dishwasher; cleaning microwave, inside and out; wiping down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, light switches throughout the home; scrubbing inside of kitchen sink; wiping down kitchen counters; and, finally, washing all floors. If interested, I can also burn Japanese incense, while I am cleaning.
3. I will always reconfirm each of our appointments, 1-2 days beforehand. A cleaning for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment typically takes me 2-3 hours to complete - sometimes a bit longer, depending on how long it's been since the place had a thorough cleaning - and I will always keep you updated on how much more time I expect I'll need, to finish the cleaning.
4. Following are links to Reddit clients' reviews of my services....

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1ptb27c/comment/nvmy5so/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1ppf07o/comment/nw1omn2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1mmmjnc/comment/o0lle62/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1uoxl7f/comment/oy5r7rr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Please DM me with any other questions, and/or to arrange a cleaning.

Thank you!

I am currently retired and recently started my own small housecleaning business, for a bit of extra cash. While I mainly serve Astoria and LIC - since that is where I live - I'm now expanding to the UES. However, because I travel via public transit, from Astoria, I can only accommodate UES clients who live within Walking Distance of either the Lex & 59th or 5th Ave stops, on the N/W line.

For first-time customers with a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment, my fee is $200 - and then $175, for any subsequent cleanings. (Folks with larger apartments can DM me for pricing).

1. I will come to your home with all my own homemade, natural cleaning products. (The only things you'd have to provide are a toilet cleaning brush, a broom/Swiffer/vacuum and a wet mop/wet Swiffer.)
2. A basic top-to-bottom cleaning includes dusting all ceiling/wall corners, ceiling fans, furniture, etc.; dry-mopping/vacuuming all floors; cleaning all mirrors throughout the home; cleaning bathroom toilet - including outside/base of toilet, bathroom sink - including surface area around sink, bathtub/shower - including any glass doors; cleaning stovetop; wiping down front of fridge and dishwasher; cleaning microwave, inside and out; wiping down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, light switches throughout the home; scrubbing inside of kitchen sink; wiping down kitchen counters; and, finally, washing all floors. If interested, I can also burn Japanese incense, while I am cleaning.
3. I will always reconfirm each of our appointments, 1-2 days beforehand. A cleaning for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment typically takes me 2-3 hours to complete - sometimes a bit longer, depending on how long it's been since the place had a thorough cleaning - and I will always keep you updated on how much more time I expect I'll need, to finish the cleaning.
4. Following are links to Reddit clients' reviews of my services....

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1ptb27c/comment/nvmy5so/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1ppf07o/comment/nw1omn2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1mmmjnc/comment/o0lle62/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1uoxl7f/comment/oy5r7rr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Please DM me with any other questions, and/or to arrange a cleaning.

Thank you!

I'm planning to take the Astoria route ferry to Wall St, and from Wall St, the ferry to Rockaway. I assumed I'd have to buy a ticket from Astoria to Wall St, and then another from Wall St to Rockaway. But the ferry site seems to say that you can get a Free Transfer to any other line, so long as it's all within a 2-hour window.

Is that really true? Anyone know? Thanks! I rarely use the ferry system, and just need to be prepared, as my connection time at Wall Street is a bit tight... so just wondering if I need to buy a ticket for my connection, or not.

Thanks!

What a whacky, quirky show. I love the concept!

Whomever came up with the alien character...their appearance...face. ..body...how they walk (when in the alien mode)...it's spectacular.

I also love how the alien's character (as a human) naturally doesn't quite get certain humor, social mores, etc.

In addition to the alien - and mind you, I'm only at Season One, Episode 6 - my other favorite characters are...the little boy (and how he engages with the alien...the little boy is terrific!)....the female bartender....and the local sheriff. OMG, his lines are hysterical, and he delivers every line with perfection.

Such a great show!

Review on Majestic Elegance

Overall thoughts on all-inclusive aspect and general location of hotel

I'd never stayed at an all-inclusive resort, prior to this, and this is mainly because I always had the sense it would not be my kind of thing, particularly when it's in the kind of place where those staying there often say they would not feel comfortable exploring the area beyond the resort, and on their own...either because of a language barrier...because of valid - and often times invalid - concerns about safety...and/or the fact that many of these resorts may be located in remote areas, with nothing else in the vicinity, except for other similar resorts.

In this vein, Majestic Elegance, and my stay there, was pretty much what I expected. (The ONLY reason I went there is because my niece decided to have a destination wedding in Punta Cana, with M.E. as the recommended hotel for all the wedding guests...) The resort was right on the beach, and beyond the hotel grounds, it was mainly a strip of somewhat crumbling back roads, connecting one all-inclusive resort, after another. I would not recommend this hotel for a 'discerning' traveler and/or a foodie, nor would I recommend Punta Cana, as a whole, for travelers looking for an authentic, immersive experience, where they want to learn about the local culture, or have meaningful interactions (i.e., not staged or curated experiences) with the locals. Any interactions I had or observed between visitors and locals in Punta Cana felt mainly transactional...the locals are all there to smile and cater to the visitors. (Perhaps there are other parts of Punta Cana that are not this way, but where M.E. was located, it seemed we were surrounded by nothing by resort workers, and other tourists.... but no 'regular' Dominicans, and who were not a part of the immediate hospitality industry.)

Hotel room

I understand there is a more 'elite' part of the M.E. hotel...a 'club' of sorts. We did not stay there. We were in the 'family' section of the hotel, which apparently caters to families with children. While it was just myself (middle-aged) and my mother, in our particular room, and while we certainly saw plenty of families with children, thankfully, we never felt like we were in a hellscape surrounded by screaming kids. ;-) I heard from some others that they could hear sounds coming through the walls, from other rooms, but we never had that issue.

We stayed during the end of June/early July, and the cost for our room (with a King-sized bed and a separate living area, with one very long balcony - with table/chairs - that extended the entire length of our room) was $2000 in total, for the two of us, for a 5-night stay. Of course, this included all meals/drinks, use of hotel amenities and beach access.

The room was certainly spacious enough, and the bed, quite comfortable. The rooms included heavy drapes for blocking out the sun, and both rooms had doors to the balcony. While there was a TV in both the bedroom and the living area, we never watched any TV. We also never used the jacuzzi, in the bedroom, though it was certainly a nice option to have.

There were two A/C panels, one in the bedroom and one in the living area. They were a bit hard to control, temperature-wise, as the AC always seemed to come out very cold, even when we turned the temperature up higher. We even had a maintenance guy come out to try and help us with it, but, even with our conversing in Spanish, I suspect he wasn't really able to fix it...that they just say things like '...give it another try in 15 minutes...it should be better...blahblah....'. So what we ended up doing was typically just having ONE of the AC units running, with the other turned completely Off. When showering - and not wanting to then exit the shower into a freezing room - we'd temporarily shut both ACs totally Off. When leaving the room, we might just pull all the drapes closed, to block the sun, but yet try to keep the cool air in the room. At night, we'd turn on the AC in the bedroom and just sleep under the light covers provided.

As for the shower, it was just OK. Water pressure and temp was good, but there was just one teeny shelf on which to keep your shower toiletries. Even with the shower door closed, water often spilled out onto the floor outside of the shower. So we learned to put the floor towel outside the shower, and well beyond the shower door, so that it wouldn't get wet.

Bottled water was plentiful, and always could be replenished for our room.

The view from our room was nice, looking down at the meandering 'river' pool, palm trees, etc.

There was a fair amount of closet space and hangers, though some of the closet rods were 7-8'(??!) high from the floor, AND had those irritating hangers that can only be partially removed from the rod (to prevent people from stealing entire hangers). As a result, it was a real chore, anytime we wanted to try and hang/remove our garments from the closet.

Hotel staff

Hotel staff were all great, but it definitely helps if you speak Spanish, particularly if you are having some type of issue. Naturally, with the exception of staff at the front desk, or the concierge, etc., most of the other staff (housecleaners, maintenance, restaurant servers, buffet staff) speak limited English.

Food

There were at least three 'restaurants', and two places that are more or less 'buffets'. We never went to the French restaurant, so I can't comment on that one (except to say that it appears to be the only formal restaurant there that offers outdoor seating. It looked very nice...the setup....)

As for the Italian restaurant, they seemed to always have a crudite type table setup, which any diners can avail themselves of. It had an assortment of cheeses, breads, cured meats, and some veggies. It was decent.

As for the menu items, one night my mom got their 'Roasted Tomato Soup', followed by a pasta dish with a pomodoro or something sauce...a tomato sauce. What she realized was that....the tomato soup was not only quite bad but...her pasta dish was topped with the exact same sauce that made up her supposed 'soup'.

I got lasagna, which was quite bad, and the taste reminded me of when I used to eat Stouffer's frozen lasagna when I was young (before I developed a better palate for food....)

Another night, I got penne in a pesto sauce, with some pieces of chicken. It was quite decent.

Their 'cannoli' was quite bad...not a real cannoli shell...just some type of soft pastry.

One night, we went with a bunch of other family members to their Japanese/hibachi restaurant. I'd had a bad feeling, and my instinct was correct. The 'sushi' was pretty lame. And as for the whole hibachi thing? I'm not a fan of a cook performing - like a circus dog - for a group of clueless tourists (which, TBH, much of the rest of my family are...). I was cringing at the lame jokes...the bad food that was being cooked up for us... And at the end, we were offered 'fried ice cream'. It was Not fried ice cream. Rather, it was ice cream that was topped with some type of partially cooked dough. Overall, an awful dinner experience.

For breakfast, we usually went to Flavours, a cafeteria-style buffet, and which I believe is also open for lunch, and maybe dinner. I believe that the other buffet-style restaurant, See & Sea, may also be open during all mealtimes; I know that it certainly was open, for lunch, and it stands to reason that since it's right ON the beach, most beachgoers get their lunch, here, vs at any of the other restaurants/buffets.

Overall, Flavours seemed to have better offerings, and a wider range of offerings, vs See & Sea. That said, however, both places generally had the same food, day after day. I found the pastries, pancakes, etc. to be of poor quality. Items labelled as 'sausages' at Flavours, were in fact...kielbasa or else....mini hotdogs(!!) A papaya juice, which was held in a glass pitcher (which made me believe it might be fresh-squeezed) was horrid. Some days, Flavours had an area with cooked pork, or chicken, or ham. The cooked pork and chicken were pretty decent, though at other times the chicken was a bit dried out. Plantain was sometimes not that good. (Imagine not having good plantain in the D.R.??)

We finally figured out that we had to find just a few food items that appealed to us...that would provide us with enough sustenance...and then just focus on eating those same items, every day.

The ambiance at Flavours feels like a glorified cafeteria/mess hall, for the most part, while See & Sea feels more like a casual beachside buffet restaurant (due to the fact it's all open on the sides)...

Pool/beach

While we never used the pool, it always looked very clean. We never saw any debris in the pool. The style of the pool is meandering...like a winding river...extending from the main property/lobby, all the way down towards the beach. They really did a nice job, designing the pool.

The pool has many distinct sections/areas, with plenty of space for everyone, so it never looked crowded. We also noted that there appeared to be plenty of lounge chairs and stationery thatched-roof 'umbrellas'.

The beach was absolutely gorgeous, and again, had plenty of available lounge chairs and stationery thatched-roof 'umbrellas'. Waitstaff came around, often, to take drink orders.

One thing to be aware of, regarding the beach... you will be constantly bombarded by folks trying to sell you things... a tour...a ride... hair-braiding...massage...jewelry....sunglasses. Unless you think you will be actually interested in any of this, just give them a shake of your head, say 'no thank you', and immediately go back to whatever you were doing. For if you hesitate for even one minute, or engage with them any further, they will treat you like hot prey, and they will think that all they have to do is keep you engaged, and that you'll eventually succumb to them.

Hotel amenities

In addition to the pool, beach and dining options, there is a spa, a fitness center, and a very large outdoor performance theater. The hotel also has a very nice open lobby, just beyond the check-in area, where you can relax on couches...have a drink...enjoy the breeze. Also, just beyond this same area is a small outdoor bar, with a small stage and some tables/chairs. Some nights, there might be a singer, etc., but it was very laid-back.

The hotel spa seems to offer the standard massages, etc., but it's somewhat hard to locate the spa, itself. Basically, you have to walk towards the outdoor performance theater...the French restaurant...and the fitness center...then follow the signs for the Spa...which will essentially take you around by the front/main entrance (for vehicles and arriving hotel guests), but on a ground level that is BELOW where vehicles would first arrive to the hotel. After you pass the main hotel building on your right, you will see tall, wild grasses and a wooden bridge/walkway, ahead of you. Follow that pathway to the spa.

As for the fitness center, it was pretty basic, but fine...some treadmills, handweights and a few Nautilus type machines.

Regarding the outdoor performance theatre, it's quite spacious, and appears to hold at least a few hundred people. They seem to offer 'Vegas' type shows, even though not quite of Vegas quality. One night, we saw some acrobats....

Kukua Beach Club (as a wedding/reception venue, and from the POV of a Guest)

The platform for the wedding nuptials and the folding chairs for the wedding guests were all set up on the sand. And while there was a bit of a 'walkway', onto the sand, note that wedding guests sitting in the chairs Will get sand on their feet/in their shoes.

While there appeared to be a few beach security type men standing off in the distance, more towards the property line and the water, note that we still could observe some random people on the beach - but way back towards the water - and some people in the water. I actually thought this made the wedding a bit more interesting and quirky...the fact that we were on an apparently public beach... That said, the nuptials were rather short, and before no time we all were making the short walk back to the wedding reception area, where there would first be a cocktail hour.

Just outside of the open-air room (where the reception was to be held) was a small pool or two...a few large outdoor cabana 'beds'.... a few high-top tables and chairs...and perhaps a few seats with cushions and tables. (I think this particular wedding had 75 guests or so, in total. I'd say that the outside seating - including the couches - could accommodate maybe 15 people, tops, at any one time, who may have wanted to sit.

There was a small, tropical style bar set up in this outdoor area. It was very cute. Nearby were bathrooms, that were pretty basic, considering it was a beach club. However, I did notice a problem with this outdoor Women's bathroom.... Once you entered the stall, while you could Push the door closed and then adjust the latch to lock the door, once it was time to Open the door, you had to Pull the door open. However....there was NO HANDLE with which to Pull the door open. So I actually had to reach up to the top edge of the door (which was about 6' high...and I'm only 5'2") and then I had to PULL the door open. Not good. What if I weren't able to reach the top of the door?? I would have had to call out to someone, or else maybe crouch down and try to pull the door open from the bottom.

As for the food, I've no idea if all the food were provided by Kukua Beach Club...whether they use a specific caterer...or if there are a number of caterer options (perhaps depending on the wedding planner that the bride/groom might use). Either way, the hors d'oeuvres were quite good. Skewers of grilled chicken with pineapple were downright sublime, as were some type of spring rolls filled with guacamole and mango! The shrimp was also quite good. The only problem however, was that no wastebaskets were anywhere to be found, so most people had to just leave their used napkins, empty dishes, etc. wherever they could find a spot... even on top of the bar counter....

The open-air room for the dinner was beautifully decorated and well laid-out with all the tables and chairs. At times, however, some of us felt quite warm (this was in early July around 600p) in the room, though most of the time we could tell that the AC units were really working hard to blast cooler air onto us. For the meal, we had a caesar salad with chicken ('decent'), penne pasta with some type of tomato sauce and cherry tomatoes (pretty good), red snapper (pretty good) and a piece of beef along the lines of beef tenderloin (it was a bit tough/fatty....not that tender...)

Dessert included cups with 3 churro sticks which you could drizzle with warm butterscotch or chocolate (very good) and some skewers with fresh fruit (quite excellent).

After dinner, folks went back outside, where a small, circular dancefloor was setup (which many of us said reminded us of the movie Saturday Night Fever). While functional, it was pretty small, and could hold maybe 15-20 people, max, side by side. I think it made more sense when some people simply danced on the cement, alongside the dance floor.

All in all, I'd say this made for a very nice beachfront wedding venue.

Hey everyone. I am currently retired and looking for housecleaning work, if anyone reading this is in need of a housecleaner. PLEASE NOTE: because I would be travelling to the UES via the N/W train, I can only accommodate UES clients who live within Walking Distance of Lex and 59th.... or 5th and 59th.

For first-time customers with a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment, my fee is $150 - and then $125, for any subsequent cleanings. (Folks with larger apartments can DM me for pricing).

1. I am a certified 'clean freak'...obsessive, some might say. I will come to your home with all my own homemade, natural cleaning products (which could be a combination of any the following: water, lemon juice, plain white vinegar, castille soap, isopropyl alcohol, lemongrass essential oil, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide), cleaning rags and sponges. (The only things you'd have to provide are a toilet cleaning brush, a broom/Swiffer/vacuum and a wet mop/wet Swiffer.)
2. A basic top-to-bottom cleaning includes dusting all ceiling/wall corners, ceiling fans, furniture, etc.; dry-mopping/vacuuming all floors; cleaning all mirrors throughout the home; addressing bathroom toilet - including outside/base of toilet, bathroom sink - including surface area around sink, bathtub/shower - including any glass doors; cleaning stovetop; wiping down front of fridge and dishwasher; cleaning microwave, inside and out; wiping down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, light switches throughout the home; scrubbing inside of kitchen sink; wiping down kitchen counters; and, finally, washing all floors. If interested, I can also burn Japanese incense, while I am cleaning.
3. I will always reconfirm each of our appointments, 1-2 days beforehand. A cleaning for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment typically takes me 2-3 hours to complete, and I will always keep you updated on how much more time I expect I'll need, to finish the cleaning.
4. Following are links to Reddit clients' reviews of my services....

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1ptb27c/comment/nvmy5so/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1ppf07o/comment/nw1omn2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1mmmjnc/comment/o0lle62/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Please DM me with any other questions, and/or to arrange a cleaning.

Thank you!

Hey everyone. I am currently retired and looking for housecleaning work, if anyone reading this is in need of a housecleaner. PLEASE NOTE: because I would be travelling via public transit, I can only accommodate clients who live within Walking Distance of the N/W or the Q101.

For first-time customers with a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment, my fee is $150 - and then $125, for any subsequent cleanings. (Folks with larger apartments can DM me for pricing).

1. I am a certified 'clean freak'...obsessive, some might say. I will come to your home with all my own homemade, natural cleaning products (which could be a combination of any the following: water, lemon juice, plain white vinegar, castille soap, isopropyl alcohol, lemongrass essential oil, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide), cleaning rags and sponges. (The only things you'd have to provide are a toilet cleaning brush, a broom/Swiffer/vacuum and a wet mop/wet Swiffer.)
2. A basic top-to-bottom cleaning includes dusting all ceiling/wall corners, ceiling fans, furniture, etc.; dry-mopping/vacuuming all floors; cleaning all mirrors throughout the home; addressing bathroom toilet - including outside/base of toilet, bathroom sink - including surface area around sink, bathtub/shower - including any glass doors; cleaning stovetop; wiping down front of fridge and dishwasher; cleaning microwave, inside and out; wiping down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, light switches throughout the home; scrubbing inside of kitchen sink; wiping down kitchen counters; and, finally, washing all floors. If interested, I can also burn Japanese incense, while I am cleaning.
3. I will always reconfirm each of our appointments, 1-2 days beforehand. A cleaning for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment typically takes me 2-3 hours to complete, and I will always keep you updated on how much more time I expect I'll need, to finish the cleaning.
4. Following are links to Reddit clients' reviews of my services....

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1ptb27c/comment/nvmy5so/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1ppf07o/comment/nw1omn2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1mmmjnc/comment/o0lle62/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Please DM me with any other questions, and/or to arrange a cleaning.

Thank you!

Hey everyone. I am currently retired (after a career with a professional services firm) and am looking for housecleaning work, if anyone reading this is in need of a housecleaner. PLEASE NOTE: because I would be travelling to the UES via the N/W train, I can only accommodate UES clients who live within Walking Distance of Lex and 59th.... or 5th and 59th.

For first-time customers with a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment, my fee is $150 - and then $125, for any subsequent cleanings. (Folks with larger apartments can DM me for pricing).

1. I am a certified 'clean freak'...obsessive, some might say. I will come to your home with all my own homemade, natural cleaning products (which could be a combination of any the following: water, lemon juice, plain white vinegar, castille soap, isopropyl alcohol, lemongrass essential oil, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide), cleaning rags and sponges. (The only things you'd have to provide are a toilet cleaning brush, a broom/Swiffer/vacuum and a wet mop/wet Swiffer.)
2. A basic top-to-bottom cleaning includes dusting all ceiling/wall corners, ceiling fans, furniture, etc.; dry-mopping/vacuuming all floors; cleaning all mirrors throughout the home; addressing bathroom toilet - including outside/base of toilet, bathroom sink - including surface area around sink, bathtub/shower - including any glass doors; cleaning stovetop; wiping down front of fridge and dishwasher; cleaning microwave, inside and out; wiping down all doorknobs, cabinet handles, light switches throughout the home; scrubbing inside of kitchen sink; wiping down kitchen counters; and, finally, washing all floors. If interested, I can also burn Japanese incense, while I am cleaning.
3. I will always reconfirm each of our appointments, 1-2 days beforehand. A cleaning for a studio or 1BR/1BA apartment typically takes me 2-3 hours to complete, and I will always keep you updated on how much more time I expect I'll need, to finish the cleaning.
4. Following are links to Reddit clients' reviews of my services....

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/astoria/comments/1ptb27c/comment/nvmy5so/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1ppf07o/comment/nw1omn2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://www.reddit.com/r/longislandcity/comments/1mmmjnc/comment/o0lle62/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Please DM me with any other questions, and/or to arrange a cleaning.

Thank you!

Hey everyone. I've never used a storage facility before, but so long as I use a big/reputable one, such as Manhattan Mini Storage, have most folks found that their clothing (esp any wool items) and their original/expensive artworks kept OK...that the humidity and ambient temperatures were well-controlled enough, that everything remained in good condition?

Thanks!

Hey everyone. I'll be staying at Majestic Elegance in Punta Cana, and just trying to get a sense of what to expect. I know it's near the water, as well as other hotels (like many being 'all inclusive' type place...perhaps gated?)

I'm interested in walking around a bit ...exploring... is there any commercial area nearby, within walking distance, or perhaps a local bus? Maybe most local folks ride the 'gua-gua'? To be clear, I'm pretty adventurous and I'm fluent in Spanish, and I'd prefer not to be 'imprisoned' at the hotel. (I'm only staying here because a niece decided to have a destination wedding here...)

Thanks!

Many of us, here, recognize, and have previously discussed, how rampant and ingrained 'car-brain' is among a certain segment of Astorians. I think what also foments this mentality is the fact that so many drivers have little to no experience as a pedestrian...and in a neighborhood such as Astoria. So many drivers literally drive Everywhere, always reaching for those keys.

Many drivers have no clue what it feels like to be a pedestrian - much less a short-statured and/or elderly and/or very young and/or wheelchair-bound one - crossing the street IN the crosswalk, WITH the Walk light, and to have the operators of 2-Ton Machines speeding thru turns (often times, intentionally hitting the gas in order to 'BEAT' pedestrians thru the crosswalk).... or when drivers literally Inch Up to us with their deadly machines (essentially telling us to 'hurry the hell up, before I hit you').

Today I was In the crosswalk, with the Walk light, and the driver of a turning vehicle was coming at me, too fast for my comfort. So I put out a hand as if to say 'um, you need to slow down...' Well, would you believe the driver had the audacity to cackle after me 'What, do you think I didn't SEE you??', as if pedestrians are never hit in the crosswalk, and in the full light of day??

So basically, this driver was so irritated that I indicated that they needed to slow down, that they felt the need to yell at me. They didn't stop to consider 'Gee, maybe I WAS taking that turn a bit too fast....' or 'apparently I made that vulnerable flesh and blood pedestrian nervous, as they saw my massive SUV coming at them...' Noooo.... instead, they felt imperious, that a pedestrian dared to suggest they were driving in a threatening manner.

I wonder how these same drivers would feel if another driver behaved that same way to one of their own family members, while they were in the crosswalk....