daschmo

Researching NYC B & B's as an alternative to hotel accomodations for June trip with sister. Any positive or negative experiences - please share. Also, would love to hear about any great boutique style hotels you loved. Mid-town/Central Park East or any close to subways but not too far from the center of life.

doug_stallings

There just aren't that many legal B&Bs in NYC, but there are some places that people on the forums have recommended over the years. Same with boutique hotels. In terms of location, I think most any place in Manhattan will be quite convenient---except perhaps for the Financial District or Upper East Side, both of which are more trouble to reach than other areas.

nytraveler

It would help to know how many you are and what you're looking for. B&Bs are usually modest and often have stairs versus elevators. Boutique hotels usually require a much bigger budget and have complete hotel services as well as special extras.

When are you coming to NYC and what is your budget?

(And agree that Upper East side is less convenient than many other areas - except to Museum Row on Fifth Ave.)

daschmo

As I said in my first post, my sister and myself only will be traveling to NYC in June..probably in the middle of the month for 5-6 days. We're young minded and in our mid-50's. I have at least 4 star expectations and typically will do careful research before booking anywhere. I know wherever we stay in the city will cost us royally so not really setting a budget. We're trying to find a unique lodging experience instead of your run of the mill high rise hotel. Realizing this is vague, I'm simply seeking ideas for charming, possibly quirky places to stay - maybe a B & B, an off the charts cool small hotel or someplace simply different.

ellenem

Ace Hotel is new and quirky, conveniently located.

nytraveler

B&Bs are typically for the budget minded - simple, with few amenities. It sounds more like you want a boutique hotel.

One European style boutique style with a good location is the Elysees in midtown east. They have a double double room - 2 double beds available for random rates in June for about $450 per night including taxes - with advance purchase now. This is a good location for MoMa, Rock Center and Fifth Ave shopping. Only a block from the subway and hop the Madison Ave bus uptown for designer shopping and a host of museums. Also quite a few upscale/traditional restaurants in the area.

millie2112

there are few legitimate B&B's in NYC.
I stayed in Wyman House on the UWS. There is also "Country in the City", also on UWS.
MY experience was a positive one, and I would not see any reason not to stay there again.
We had a lot more space than we would have in a hotel. Australian's are quite partial to B&B's rather than hotels.

emd3

Not setting some kind of upper budget in NYC...well, I can think of some really excellent places with no money considerations. I stayed at the Greenwich Hotel (DeNiro's boutique) in Tribeca last spring and liked it very much. It is $500-600 a night. But hey, you get to eat and drink all the snacks and liquor in the minibar for that rate, no extra charge. That felt pretty cool.

For something more modestly priced, what about the Michaelangelo? It is more traditional and European in style, larger rooms, and I love those little TVs in the bathrooms. Great location for June, close to Central Park, museums, theaters. It used to get more recs on this board. It still consistently gets 4 and 5 star reviews all over the internet. I like it.

If you will need two beds, that is a rub. Not all luxury and boutique hotels in NYC have two bedded rooms.

You must have some budget in mind, some number you would not go over per night. And do you like newer styling or more traditional?

emd3

Look at the Affinia Manhattan, and there are other Affinia hotels). Lots of living space and a kitchen. Good location also. Not boutique but you will definitely feel like you have your own spacious place to catch up w/your sister but not be in each other's faces constantly for 5-6 days.

mclaurie

Just lost a loooong post to you. Will try to recreate it.

B & b's in NYC are really a legal way to rent an aparrment in a small building. They often don't include breakfast except sometimes for the first morning and most are set up for couples or a couple with a child so as someone else said, finding 2 beds will be tough. If charm is your object, here are some of the more charming options

1871house.com
www.wymanhouse.com
countryinnthecity.com
innnewyorkcity.com
west-eleventh.com
gvhabitue.com
This is one that can set up with 2 beds, but it's really a basement flat.
http://www.edgeblur.com/agardeninchelsea.html

There are loads of non-chain type hotels. On the upper east side (if you intend spending time at the museums) the Mark and the Surrey are both really lovely and recently renovated just off Fifth ave.

In the Gramercy area, the Giraffe, the Gramercy Park hotel (uber cool) and the new Gansevoort Park are all very nice.

In midtown near Grand Central, the Kitano is Japanese owned with some unusual features including a jazz club and some nice townhouse suites.

The Greenwich in Tribeca is gorgeous with a wonderful European feeling interior courtyard. Here's a nice list of other boutique hotels http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...b-b-search.cfm

If you're looking for English country elegance, the Lowell is considered a hidden gem.

daschmo

Great info from my replies. Thank you so much.
As passionate as I want to feel about a June NYC vacation, how do I avoid the bedbugs? This is such a fear that I'm about to abandon my research.

doug_stallings

Bedbugs are much talked about but seldom experienced, even during this so-called "epidemic". It should not even enter into your mind as a concern when planning your trip.

nytraveler

Of all the many people here who have been to NYC only one reported having bedbugs in their room. If the city were packed with them there would be fewer tourists - and I'm still falling over them.

Do realize that's it not that hotels HAVE bed bugs - it;s that guests bring bedbugs into the hotel with them - they - or the next guest then reports it - and the hotel sanitizes the room. You can check the mattress on your bed if you want to be sure there are no bugs in your room - but do it before bringing luggage inside.

We have client and coworkers from other offices visiting us all the time (at least 40 people over the last several months) and they have stayed in a variety of different midtown hotels - and none has had any problem with bedbugs.

doug_stallings

In all my years of traveling, I have never experienced bed bugs nor have I personally known a single individual who has ever experienced bed bugs in a hotel.

However, there are a lot of people out there who are having problems with bed bugs, and I suspect most of those claims are true, though I suspect some are not.

Having spoken to many hotel managers, I know that most large hotels in NYC have experienced one or more infestations with bed bugs. But large hotels have stringent remedies and deal with these problems immediately. Smaller hotels have more problems because it's harder for them to take rooms out of their system and still accommodate reservations. But my point is that as large as this problem is, it's still an isolated event and not something you should really be worrying about on a daily basis.

mclaurie

If you're that concerned about bedbugs, I wouldn't consider a b & b. None are 4* and none offer daily maid service and clean linen every day. Go for a newish modern hotel with lots of amenities. Gansevoort Park, Setai, Cassa, Andaz Fifth Ave. are some newish midtown options.

emd3

mclaurie, unfortunately it doesn't mater how clean they are and if they offer fresh linen every day. That has nothing to do with bedbugs. I know, as I got them at a nice clean hotel where they change the sheets every night in NYC last month, and am just now getting over the ordeal. Newish modern hotels can have them too. Click on my posts and you'll see the one about my ordeal. And believe me, it is not made up. I have been posting on fodors for many yrs. and I don't make things up.

And Doug, if you read this, you can now say you know of at least one person who did get them, in NYC. I LOVE NYC but this took about a month out of my life, really. It has been BRUTAL.

So it is really easy to say that as large as the problem is it is an isolated event. But guess what. When it happens to you it isn't so isolated and it becomes very real and can take over your life for weeks. Believe me, I will be concerned about it and going through the bed bug prescreening room routine on every stay I have in any hotel from now on.

Bowsprit

Another bedbug discussion? They're here; deal with them or stay home. There's no other choice, really.

For a charming B&B stay in the West Village near fantastic restaurants, shops, bars, etc. consider Abingdon House.

Here's the link: http://www.abingdonguesthouse.com/

doug_stallings

Agreed Bowsprit. I have nothing else to say on the subject.

Abingdon Guesthouse is the kind of unique accommodation the OP was looking for, and it is a nice location. I can't remember if anyone mentioned it, but Inn at Irving Place is another. but it is really expensive.

emd3

The OP brought this subject up, not me. If the OP is concerned about avoiding bed bugs, then the OP would be wise to do a thorough inspection of any hotel room before staying in it. I wish I had, and I will in the future. Not being concerned about it is what got me about 35 bites, some with welts the size of a quarter, with the intense itching for 3 wks. There is good info online about how to do a room inspection.

And here is some really good advice from Bowsprit from another recent thread:
"Do an inspection. We also remove the headboard from it's velcro attachment on the wall and inspect the back of the headboard too. My sister in law found bed bug casings at a top rated Cape Cod B&B so they're everywhere."

nytraveler

No - they're NOT everywhere. But they can be anywhere. A friend of mine and her family were attacked at a 4* Disney property.

You just need to check.