Is this a safe area in NYC for an apt. vacation rental?
 

Checking out whether to stay at a hotel (Affinity Hotels are my top choice so far) or stay at an apt. Will be staying for 3 nights Wed-Fri in the middle of the month (just my sis-n-law and I). First, is renting an apt ok for a short period (is/is it not legal) a good way to save money? We won't need a concierge but I am worried about sketchy neighborhoods/areas. I've rented houses in NC for vacations, which has worked really well for me in the past.

For example, here is one place I inquired about:
http://tinyurl.com/yz9xl7x

This renovated, fully furnished 2 bedroom is in the heart of lower Midtown on 8th Avenue between 30th and 31st Street. Located in a walk up building one flight up.

Also, is that a decent price ($200-$295/nt)? My price point is up to $300.

Any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated. No hostels though/don't want to share a bathroom either.

Thanks!

I suggest that you stay with a place like Affinia. Most short-term apt. rentals in NYC are either illegal or fraudulent. There are a lot of discussions on this over on the NYCity forum on Trip Advisor. Check them it out.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum..._New_York.html

p.s. NYC is the safest large city in the USA.

That area is safe but very un-appealing to say the least. It's right near Penn Station. Not really residential, not really the heart of anything, not really anything of any character.

Un-appealing is right! There is a LOT of traffic right there with lots of backups of cars and trucks dealing with Penn Station, the Main Post Office, some Lincoln Tunnel access roads, and the like. There are many better locations for the price.

Renting an apartment in NYC is not ok, esp. just for a few nights. They're mostly illegal and you also set yourselves open for a various scams (place doesn't exist at all- bait and switch where you're told the place you saw online is flooded but they have another place --yeah right- person who takes your money doesn't actually have access to the apt. you saw online etc. etc.)

Agree the area of that place is pretty dreary and a walk up is so unnecessary. Prices for hotels fluctuate greatly by date so when you're coming (the middle of which month?) will make a big difference. If you like the Affinia hotels, there's a special on travelzoo.com for the Affinia 50 but it's not cancelable. You might find good pricing on quikbook.com too. But frankly for just 2 of you for 2 nights, I don't think you really need an Affinia hotel (with kitchen etc.). Go for the nicest hotel at the cheapest price you can find. If you're coming for something special and you tell us where/what, we can point you to a specific area that would be best.

Everyone---this is exactly what I wanted to hear---no wonder I love Fodors!

SIL and I will be taking the train from DC to NYC Nov. 18, leaving from Newark (flying out) on the 21st. Again, price point is up to $300. Yes, while a kitchen is not necessary, I'm sure I can get a mini fridge from any hotel to keep beverages/snacks cold.

We are coming just for the fun of the city---real tourist stuff. I hear mixed reviews on the hop on/off bus tours. I didn't realize there could be long lines for them as another poster had suggested on another site.

I want to eat like there's no tomorrow. All the places I've seen on TV/movies (like Katz Deli looks yummy). We love shopping and will probably hit the flag stores like Macy's but we're up for some fun places like Chinatown or other street-type vendors/markets.

I don't mind being centrally located, as I figure we'll hit one section of the town (like Upper East Side), then concentrate on another part of town for another day.

What I don't want is to be in an area/hotel where when the area shuts down because the workers go home, it's dead. We want to feel safe walking (we'll use our heads)
back to the hotel at night and not feel scared looking over our shoulders.

I don't mind having an intense/full schedule as we can sleep on the plane on the way home. I want to get as much out of my trip as possible--and hopefully in the future health/opportunity and funds will allow us to return!

Any itenirary suggestions are welcome---remember Wed, Thur, Friday for fun!

Thank you all for your help!

Based on your comments, I'd look at
>the Affinia Gardens (special on travelzoo or cancelable on quikbook). It's on the edge of midtown and the upper east side. You can walk to Bloomingdales, midtown shopping, lots of restaurants, Central Park.
>the Beacon and On the Avenue both on the upper west side
>the Hampton Inn Times Square North in midtown west near the theaters

If you want a tour, kingofnyc.com for a bus tour or Real NY Tours which uses combo of subways and walking are better options esp. at that time of year than hop on/off. If you plan on going to the theater, buy tix now. Many shows are on discount on broadwaybox.com in the left column. The Radio City Xmas Spectacular will be on by then and is a lot of fun. You can buy discount tix by using a link from the left side of broadwaybox.com or try promo code DM50save.

I just got back yesterday from a stay at the San Carlos Hotel - East 50th Street (between 3rd and Lexington). It is a wonderful "Suite" hotel in a great neighborhood. I am very fussy about my hotels and this fit the bill.

Check out their "Special Promotions" on the left side of the web page. I had an "Executive Suite" for $310 per night.

www.sancarloshotel.com

The San Carlos is located across the street from the Affinia 50. I had several online conversations with people on Trip Advisor and they much preferred the San Carlos to the Affinia.

The rooms at the San Carlos are all updated with small modern kitchens and the hotel is spotless.

Good luck.

Hotels Researched---Thoughts anyone?
Nov. 18-21, need 2 beds, safe area, but need it to not be "abandoned" after workers leave for the day. Restaurants/bars/shopping close enough by would be good. Will probably do a lot of walking and subway action to sightsee. Will not do any shows though.

I like the ones with **

On The Ave: No rooms avail.
The Beacon: $262, but only 1 queen and a pullout. Don’t want to spend that much to have one of us sleep on a couch PO.
San Carlos: $329

**Affinia Dumont: $285
Affinia Gardens: $339
Affinia Manhatten (across from Penn): $250
Affinia Shelbourne: $254

Hilton Garden Inn Times Square: $297

The West-Eleventh (under $300)
**Park South $229
**The French Quarters Guest Apartments: 3 nights at $897

I just thought---should I have started a new thread with new/title? Or is it nicer to see a story line continue? I hope to post a travel journal after our trip (on a new thread of course).

The Affinia Manhattan is still a location near Penn Station, still an unappealing neighborhood.

All the rest on in nice enough neighborhoods where you will have foot traffic at all times.

If you're interested in shows, I'd see no need to stay at French Quarters which is a block away from Times Square (46th bet 8th and 9th). I suppose the price is appealing . . .

The West-Eleventh is in charming Greenwich Village and may be quieter car-traffic-wise than the other locations but still have tons of restaurants, bars, and boutique shopping. All the other locations are in midtown.

Try the Milburn Hotel on 76th and Broadway on the Upper West Side. They have small kitchens (fridge, microwave, sink) with a terrific market a block away (the Fairway). It's a great location, with reasonable prices, free breakfast, and very nice staff. It's my favorite place to stay in NYC.

Good thing you've switched to hotels:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-176555-2.cfm

You have some nice choices there at decent prices. Of the ones you *'d French Quarters is in the Time Sq/Theater district area, which certainly won't be quiet and isolated, but is very touristy and congested. Not a bad place to stay, given you are a tourist, but I think the other hotel locations, more midotwn east/Murray Hill area, is a little nicer of an area, and walkable to neighborhoods with lots of restaurants and transportation options.

A few years ago we had some family visitors stay at the Shelburne. They were all very happy there, and I beleive since then, it may have been renovated. I know you didn't have it *'d, but you may want to reconsider. The location is also good (in the same general area as some of your *'d choices).

I would book something that is cancelable. If something comes along better, you can always change.

I just googled around. The Shelburne was renovated in '08. It was decent before the renovation, so probably even nicer since. The rooms are a good size. The 1 bedrooms had a decent kitchen and the studios had a functioning kitchenette.

Never, ever rent an apartment in NYC for a few days. Bad idea! Even worse...a walk-up!!!! The Milburn is good choice. It is on small side street but good neighborhood. Close to subway and bus, lots of inexpensive restaurants very close. Very safe area and not a tourist center.

Thanks everyone for the postings/ideas.

I know, I just read about the lady who got scammed out of $500 for renting an apt. I am glad I dropped that idea because I was ready to close the deal on one.

I'll do some more checking and make a hotel choice probably by this weekend.