Hello

Am I better with renting an apartment in NYC for a week or staying in a hotel? I know 250$ doesnt buy me alot in the Big Apple in May but just wondering which would be better for 2 persons. My experience of NYC hotels is not thatgood and thought of trying the flat option. Any ideas/advice/tips please? Thanks.

If you plan on saving money by cooking meals in the apartment then it makes more sense. And a week is certainly long enough. You just need to be sure that you get a legitimate rental (rather than those Craig's list apts - some of which don;t exist).

Check the rental agency carefully to be sure they have a local emergency phone number in case there's any problem. And ask about the apartments you're interested in - and people can tell you about the neighborhood if not the building.

Also realize that in private rentals most are illegal and many are in walk-up buildings (up to 5 flights of stairs) and don't have any services. (The corporate rental companies with concierge service would, I think, be beyond your budget.)

It's really difficult to find a legal rental and scams on vacation rentals are rampant. I suggest you contact nyhabitat.com a reliable agent and see what they have within your budget.

At the same time start looking at hotels. There are a number of apt/hotels like the affinia.com group, radiocityapartments.com
nycsalisbury.com
Murray Hill East Suites (they don't have their own website) that offer the benefits of an apt. with the convenience of a hotel.

Whether they'll meet your budget (hotel tax is 15% over what's posted on most US websites.

The Park South is usually available on quikbook.com for under $250/ Their smallest rooms are small, but it's a good hotel and they include cont. breakfast.

Hello, I also wanted something more than a 100sf room with no ammenities. These people have been a great help to me. Maybe Mclaurie will pull up my post for you, I don't know how, or you can search "Alcove Studio West" to hear all the great advice I was given. Good luck and I'll continue to check to see what pops up here.

Maybe I have just been lucky, but we have booked short term apartment rentals in Manhatan via craigslist several times without a problem. None were dingy walk ups, or in dicey areas. Have also used www.metro-home.com and were pleased.

You have just been lucky Seamus. Hundreds of people have been scammed on apts. in NYC. For phil2brx, I still say there are loads of apt. style hotels now that will give you the best of both worlds and if you don't go that route, use an agent. It's a lot simpler. The Milburn is an apt/hotel on the upper west side with studio and 1 bedroom suites that's very well priced.
http://www.milburnhotel.com/

It would be interesting to hear what your bad hotel experiences have been.