4/5 BR Rental Apartment in New York City?
Sep 21st, 2009, 08:36 AM
#21
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I would NOT RECOMMEND the apartment on 123rd St, that is NOT A GREAT AREA OF THE CITY especially for tourists who don't know the area, and a VERY BAD place at night. To get there you would be taking the subway and walking around that area at night would be iffy at best.
I can say that comfortably because I live just north of that area, and bus through there a couple of times a week.
PLEASE take our advice and try some of the suite hotels in the city. There are so many scams on apartment rents in the city, and apartments with 4 or 5 bedrooms are unheard of. Most apartments are 1,,2 or 3 bedrooms at MOST.
I'd suggest the Affinia Dumont on E 34th ST as a good option for you, it's close to transportation, there are grocery stores and restaurants around the corner, as well as a bakery and bagel shop and breakfast/deli spots. The subway is 2 blocks away and the 34th ST bus stops almost infront of the hotel. I'd suggest calling the hotel and see if you can get a better rate, since you need 2 rooms.
I can say that comfortably because I live just north of that area, and bus through there a couple of times a week.
PLEASE take our advice and try some of the suite hotels in the city. There are so many scams on apartment rents in the city, and apartments with 4 or 5 bedrooms are unheard of. Most apartments are 1,,2 or 3 bedrooms at MOST.
I'd suggest the Affinia Dumont on E 34th ST as a good option for you, it's close to transportation, there are grocery stores and restaurants around the corner, as well as a bakery and bagel shop and breakfast/deli spots. The subway is 2 blocks away and the 34th ST bus stops almost infront of the hotel. I'd suggest calling the hotel and see if you can get a better rate, since you need 2 rooms.
Sep 21st, 2009, 08:40 AM
#22
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PS I should add, if it were me, I would split up into several suites at a hotel like the beaconhotel.com or the Eastgate Towers. You will likely wind up with more bathrooms, more space and more privacy for those older folks who might prefer some downtime and naps.
Sep 21st, 2009, 08:56 AM
#23
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With your budget in mind, I'd sugget checking The Ace Hotel, on 6th and 29th St. They have very reasonably priced suites and you can add on rooms if needed. I toured the hotel recently and loved the boutique feel of the hotel. It's not well known yet and has only been opened a couple of months.
Sep 21st, 2009, 09:47 AM
#24
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Just a few other thoughts:
>I absolutely agree that there are too many outright scams on NYC vacation rentals to take a chance on something unknown.
>If the apt. exists, it may still be an illegal sublet either due to city zoning codes or building rules. Most coops and condos don't allow rentals for shorter than 30 days to protect the other tenants in the building. Rental buildings don't either. If you're asked by a prospective landlord to "just say you're my family" beware. You'll be expected to pay for the rental (and cleaning fees) upfront and if neighbors complain and you should be asked to leave, you're out of luck, not the renter.
>apt. rentals don't provide much flexibility requiring payment upfront and there are typically cleaning charges on top. Remember, you also don't get daily maid service.
Only consider private rentals that you have personal recommendations for. That brings us to the ones I posted about. In both cases I know people who have rented them and have been satisfied. Why then do I still suggest splitting up into several hotel suites?
1) 2 bathrooms shared by 8 adults is too few. YOu may manage at home when everyone's on a different schedule but on vacation, it will be a pain.
2) the apt. in Manhattan has no elevator. It may not sound bad, but dragging suitcases, shopping and groceries up those stairs can get very old very quickly.
3) Some of the bedrooms/bathrooms require walking through someone's elses room to get to them. This is fine for a family with kids maybe, but 8 adults who are paying for a vacation?
It's been common for the Affinia group to run sales on travelzoo.com , travel-ticker.com and their own website. There was recently a sale on the 2 bed/2bath suites at the Eastgate Towers for something like $269/night. I think it's likely you could see something that would greatly reduce your costs. I've seen sales on studio suites for as little as $169/night. If you got 4 of those, you'd have 4 bathrooms and lots of privacy as well as kitchens if you wanted to take turns cooking.
I will add most if not all the hotels SusieQQ listed are suite hotels or have suites. That was her point.
>I absolutely agree that there are too many outright scams on NYC vacation rentals to take a chance on something unknown.
>If the apt. exists, it may still be an illegal sublet either due to city zoning codes or building rules. Most coops and condos don't allow rentals for shorter than 30 days to protect the other tenants in the building. Rental buildings don't either. If you're asked by a prospective landlord to "just say you're my family" beware. You'll be expected to pay for the rental (and cleaning fees) upfront and if neighbors complain and you should be asked to leave, you're out of luck, not the renter.
>apt. rentals don't provide much flexibility requiring payment upfront and there are typically cleaning charges on top. Remember, you also don't get daily maid service.
Only consider private rentals that you have personal recommendations for. That brings us to the ones I posted about. In both cases I know people who have rented them and have been satisfied. Why then do I still suggest splitting up into several hotel suites?
1) 2 bathrooms shared by 8 adults is too few. YOu may manage at home when everyone's on a different schedule but on vacation, it will be a pain.
2) the apt. in Manhattan has no elevator. It may not sound bad, but dragging suitcases, shopping and groceries up those stairs can get very old very quickly.
3) Some of the bedrooms/bathrooms require walking through someone's elses room to get to them. This is fine for a family with kids maybe, but 8 adults who are paying for a vacation?
It's been common for the Affinia group to run sales on travelzoo.com , travel-ticker.com and their own website. There was recently a sale on the 2 bed/2bath suites at the Eastgate Towers for something like $269/night. I think it's likely you could see something that would greatly reduce your costs. I've seen sales on studio suites for as little as $169/night. If you got 4 of those, you'd have 4 bathrooms and lots of privacy as well as kitchens if you wanted to take turns cooking.
I will add most if not all the hotels SusieQQ listed are suite hotels or have suites. That was her point.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:15 PM
#25
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Thank you so much for all your replies.
I take them very seriously, and I am already working on a plan b which will include just a few nights in a NYC hotel and otherwise staying in hotels in the countryside.
I have learned that we should avoid a location on 123rd Street (the first apartment) and, considering the second offer, I have also learned to mistrust an offer which requires a 50% deposit to confirm the reservation. (This smells for scam, right?)
However, two questions still remain:
1) Some of you say that there are outright scams on NYC vacation rentals and that VRBO does not check the quality of offers. However, VRBO or rather the parent company Homeaway offers a guarantee against fraud. What do you think about this guarantee? It costs just 59$ and seems to offer 100% protection.
http://guarantee.homeaway.com/
2) There must be a market for non-fraud rentals, because there some interesting offers on VRBO (at very reasonable rates) which are already booked (a scam would take my money anyway). In some of these cases, a family has bought a brownstone and has temporarily moved to another location, and since they intend to come back, they lease the brownstone as a short-time rental. This should be legal - or is it not?
Thank you all for your care. How are preventing us from a possibly ruined vacation.
I take them very seriously, and I am already working on a plan b which will include just a few nights in a NYC hotel and otherwise staying in hotels in the countryside.
I have learned that we should avoid a location on 123rd Street (the first apartment) and, considering the second offer, I have also learned to mistrust an offer which requires a 50% deposit to confirm the reservation. (This smells for scam, right?)
However, two questions still remain:
1) Some of you say that there are outright scams on NYC vacation rentals and that VRBO does not check the quality of offers. However, VRBO or rather the parent company Homeaway offers a guarantee against fraud. What do you think about this guarantee? It costs just 59$ and seems to offer 100% protection.
http://guarantee.homeaway.com/
2) There must be a market for non-fraud rentals, because there some interesting offers on VRBO (at very reasonable rates) which are already booked (a scam would take my money anyway). In some of these cases, a family has bought a brownstone and has temporarily moved to another location, and since they intend to come back, they lease the brownstone as a short-time rental. This should be legal - or is it not?
Thank you all for your care. How are preventing us from a possibly ruined vacation.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:19 PM
#26
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traveller, yes, vrbo offers protection against fraud. So if the apartment doesn't exist or is double-booked, etc., you would get your money back. But that won't get you a place to stay for 8 people in NY, just a headache. (By the way, I've used vrbo very successfully in other locations, but I wouldn't even consider it in NY).
As for the brownstone, I guess it depends how long each "short-term" rental is for and how often they do this. Again, they are not licensed for transient occupancy (if they were, you'd have to pay about 16% tax on top of the charge - do they charge this?)
As for the brownstone, I guess it depends how long each "short-term" rental is for and how often they do this. Again, they are not licensed for transient occupancy (if they were, you'd have to pay about 16% tax on top of the charge - do they charge this?)
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:33 PM
#28
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emd3 recommends this property:
>>>Check bedandbreakfast.com. There are several places there that call themselves bed and breakfasts that offer large apartments in NYC. IN particular, look at "Homeinthebigcity" property on that site. It is a 5 bedrm, 3.5 bath triplex apartment, sleeps 12 (3 kings, 6 twins). Rents for $600-750 a night.
>>>Check bedandbreakfast.com. There are several places there that call themselves bed and breakfasts that offer large apartments in NYC. IN particular, look at "Homeinthebigcity" property on that site. It is a 5 bedrm, 3.5 bath triplex apartment, sleeps 12 (3 kings, 6 twins). Rents for $600-750 a night.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:38 PM
#29
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Take a look on www.hotwire.com also, or if you are up to it, bid at www.priceline.com.
At least look at www.betterbidding.com to see what the priceline and hotwire hotels that have been won/bought for your dates are.
At least look at www.betterbidding.com to see what the priceline and hotwire hotels that have been won/bought for your dates are.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:49 PM
#30
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It looks like the beekman towers is offered at hotwire for $202/night. You can decipher the possible names of the hotels by using the lists at www.betterbidding.com.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:54 PM
#31
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1) The issue of renting an apt. is not about vrbo or any other particular website. It's about the folks who prey on unsuspecting visitors who can advertise on any website. The guarantee is not worth anything. Read the fine print. By the time they get finished listing what's not covered, you have no guarantee and you still have no place to stay. http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._New_York.html
2)There's a huge market for vacation rentals b/c many people like you don't realize the dangers and don't realize they're not kosher in NYC. What appear to be reasonable rates are either in marginal areas, marginal buildings, not as advertised or downright scams. In some cases bait and switch may be used. (Oh that one's not available for your dates but I have a much nicer one. Oh, btw, that one is also more expensive).
If someone owns an entire brownstone and chooses to rent it out while they're away, I suppose in certain instances it might be legal but people who own an entire building are not likely to rent to strangers for an affordable sum unless the place is lacking in location or amenities or both.
If you're seriously considering hotels "in the countryside" (you do realize there's no "countryside" very close to Manhattan?) you should seriously consider renting that house in Maplewood for part of the time and staying in Manhattan for the other part. If you stay "in the countryside" you'll need to rent cars.
2)There's a huge market for vacation rentals b/c many people like you don't realize the dangers and don't realize they're not kosher in NYC. What appear to be reasonable rates are either in marginal areas, marginal buildings, not as advertised or downright scams. In some cases bait and switch may be used. (Oh that one's not available for your dates but I have a much nicer one. Oh, btw, that one is also more expensive).
If someone owns an entire brownstone and chooses to rent it out while they're away, I suppose in certain instances it might be legal but people who own an entire building are not likely to rent to strangers for an affordable sum unless the place is lacking in location or amenities or both.
If you're seriously considering hotels "in the countryside" (you do realize there's no "countryside" very close to Manhattan?) you should seriously consider renting that house in Maplewood for part of the time and staying in Manhattan for the other part. If you stay "in the countryside" you'll need to rent cars.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:55 PM
#32
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You might also check The Inn on 23rd. This is a comfortable B&B. We have stayed there several times and often are staying amidst families. There is a library which is comfortable for big group seating at breakfast.
Sep 21st, 2009, 12:58 PM
#33
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And going to the calendar of wins at betterbidding, you can see that many 4* hotels are being won under $115.
good luck.
( Don't forget that when staying outside Manhattan you must calculate additional travel expenses for your group).
good luck.
( Don't forget that when staying outside Manhattan you must calculate additional travel expenses for your group).
Sep 21st, 2009, 01:15 PM
#34
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If you want a B&B, look at a very nice one located on W147th St. It is on a quiet tree line, national landmark street. It's the Harlem Landmark Inn. There are 2 subway lines around the corner which will get you to midtown in 20 minutes or less. The block is safer than 136th ST and closer to the subway.
Since you are new to New York, I still say STAY DOWNTOWN (below 96th St) it will be easier for you to get around, you won't be wondering in any areas that are unsafe at night, and you will be a bit less likely to have problems.
Since you are new to New York, I still say STAY DOWNTOWN (below 96th St) it will be easier for you to get around, you won't be wondering in any areas that are unsafe at night, and you will be a bit less likely to have problems.
Sep 21st, 2009, 01:42 PM
#35
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From emd3's recommendation, I found this one:
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/new-y...sregistry.html
Do you think this is o.k.?
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/new-y...sregistry.html
Do you think this is o.k.?
Sep 21st, 2009, 01:51 PM
#36
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As previously state, if any rental, apartment or brownstone, does not ask you to pay 16% tax on top of the charge they are not licensed for transient occupancy. You just might get away with renting such a place, but then again you might not. Neighbors have been known to report such rentals to the authorities which could result in you getting kicked out.
Sep 21st, 2009, 02:12 PM
#37
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Read that web site carefully. You can rent any number of bedrooms and breakfast is served in the kichen/dining area between 8 and 10. There is also a living/common room. What does all that mean? To me it means that it is a shared apartment.
Sep 21st, 2009, 03:15 PM
#38
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I have used bedandbreakfast.com many times w/success in other places, but never for NYC. So please don't think I was specifically recommending them for NYC. I happened to be looking on their website over the weekend because someone gave me a (nice large) gift certificate to use on that website and I have several trips to NYC coming up in the next few months. So I was looking at the NYC offerings myself on that website, and I recalled that one large place when I read your post.
Sep 21st, 2009, 05:05 PM
#39
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A couple of points:
A family that owns a brownstone - which even in a marginal area is worth several million dollars is extremely unlikely to want to rent it to random strangers for a few nights at a time for a minimal amount of money. They might rent it longer term - but would want full information on the people, their income, references and at least 2 months deposit in advance. People living in it who have lost their incomes and desperate for cash might do so.
Second - the "countryside" is at least 1.5 hours from the city - if not more. Closer than that is suburbs (the NY greater metro area is almost 20 million people) and neither is doable without rental cars.
A family that owns a brownstone - which even in a marginal area is worth several million dollars is extremely unlikely to want to rent it to random strangers for a few nights at a time for a minimal amount of money. They might rent it longer term - but would want full information on the people, their income, references and at least 2 months deposit in advance. People living in it who have lost their incomes and desperate for cash might do so.
Second - the "countryside" is at least 1.5 hours from the city - if not more. Closer than that is suburbs (the NY greater metro area is almost 20 million people) and neither is doable without rental cars.
Sep 21st, 2009, 05:54 PM
#40
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Can I ask something while we are on this topic? While I was checking bedandbreakfast.coms's website I noticed places in Jersey City, Newark, Brooklyn, and Staten Island It is illegal to rent in those places like it is in Manhattan?
