Do B&Bs exist in NYC?
 

My friend's mother is coming to visit in a couple of weeks. She is very English and outgoing, and has asked if there are any Bed & Breakfast places that I could recommend in New York. I don't know of any that resemble the British version. Anyone know a hidden gem?

Yes, there are a few.

Go to www.PAII.org and do a search. They are more common downtown and UWS and UES.

Thanks, there are a few places that look interesting on the website. I guess B&Bs aren't as popular as hostels and hotels!

Manhattan just isn't a great place for B&Bs because of the lack of single family homes or the extreme expense of the few that do exist.

Brooklyn, on the other hand, has quite a few.

You're right. But they're only staying for two nights, so Brooklyn seems a bit far. My overwhelming experience with trying to find places to stay for guests in Manhattan is that they are overpriced and underwhelming. I have yet to find the perfect place to send my guests. The search continues! :)

I like The Exchange Hotel downtown, Best Western Seaport, Salisbury Hotel Midtown, Shelburne Murray Hill, and the Park South Murray Hill.

They are all moderately priced hotels that could charge more.

There are quite a few "b & bs," a townhouse building with rooms or apartments that rent on short stay basis. They are really an alternative to regular hotels and don't necessarily mean that you're more likely to socialize with other travelers. They include:

jacksbandb.com
wymanhouse.com
abingdonguesthouse.com
http://www.west-eleventh.com/
1871house.com

Then there's something called "hosted" apartment rentals in which only 1 person/couple/group at a time stay in someone's apartment with them. Citylightsnewyork.com is one agency that does the hosted apts. Have heard raves about one particular apt/host who's an English woman who lives in Murray Hill (east 30s).

For socializing, Bevy's Soho Loft is maybe more interesting.
http://www.sohobevy.com/

Precisely - there are very few B&Bs in Manhattan because there are so few privately owned houses. Most that were built as that have long since been divided up into apartments. And almost all that remain are owned by the very wealthy (a modest townhouse will run in the nighborhood of $3/4 million) not interested in sharing their home with strangers.

lotuselyse:

You don't have a lot of time to find a place if your friend's mother will be here in a couple of weeks.

We enjoyed our stay at The Inn on 23rd Street www.innon23rd.com See reviews on www.tripadvisor.com Only 14 rooms so don't delay.

Sandy

Thanks for all of the recommendations guys! I have passed some of the websites along so my guest can get an idea of things. I will let you know how it goes!