Travel Blog

NYC Hotels to Beware Of

January 29, 2009 | Posted in Deals & Discoveries

By Doug Stallings
Fodor's Editor

Many of us who live in New York have long warned travelers to avoid certain hotels in the city. Add three more to your list, all of which are on the Upper West Side of Manhattan: The Marrakesh, the Broadway, and the Royal Park. All three are illegal hotels that are actually what we call in New York SROs (Single Room Occupancy). In these hotels, you'll find many long-term, rent-stabilized tenants who live there permanently with other rooms being rented out by the night or week. This is a highly illegal and unsafe situation that tourists ought to avoid.

I've told many posters in our forums that virtually all short-term apartment rentals are illegal, and this story that recently ran on Fox 5 News explains why. It's useful listening. Regrettably, there are a lot of scams out there in NYC, and you need to be aware of them to have a safe trip to the city. Video below.

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