sfunky67

We did a trip to NYC in 2007 with a group of 40-year olds, and stayed at the Flatotel. It is a former apartment building that has been converted into a hotel. It's not the Ritz Carlton, but was very roomy with 2 separate bedrooms, living room, dinette and kitchen. We had a corner apartment with a great view of the city. We stayed in what they called "unremodeled suites" at the time, but it looks like they may have all been remodeled by now. They do have 2,200 square foot suites that might work for you. It is in a great location close enough to walk to the theater district. Here is their website: http://www.flatotel.com/

cathies

Hi Seamus, I just realised that I only looked at one of their buildings and forgot that the home page showed they have others. I'll check again.

NYtraveler that's a good idea. I'll discuss it with the other girls. I'll also check out all the other advice. At this stage none of the places I've looked into are showing availability for Sept/Oct 2010. When we find somewhere that looks promising I'll email the place direct. I am hoping to book early as we know what we want is a bit unusual.

Thanks again everyone, I knew I could rely on Fodor's posters for good advice.

lincasanova

How about 5 hotel rooms on Priceline?
read up at www.betterbidding.com and www.biddingfortravel.com

you could go 5* with your budget

nytraveler

The trouble is you're unlikely to get so many rooms at the same hotel - esp if you want one to be a suite so there's some place to gather. Also, tht time of year Priceline may not have tht much availability.

doug_stallings

I think most hotels are not showing availability yet because you're trying to look far too soon. No hotel that I know of books more than a year out to individual travelers. Groups are booked that far in advance at negotiated rates, and then regular bookings are taken starting about a year out (sometimes less for some hotels).

I think you know by now that there are no 5-bedroom apartments or condos in NYC for rent by the week for less than about $50,000. And I don't mean that it will be difficult, but I mean NONE. Do concentrate your search on a hotel where you can book a suite with a small kitchen and a few other rooms. That is quite doable; however, your budget for the fall high season is pretty small, and I really doubt you'll find 5 separate bedrooms in any combination with a kitchen for that price.

Anonymous

This group actually might be able to use Priceline, using the common strategy of booking a cancelable backup alternative. You can bid on up to 10 rooms simultaneously, though of course as the total number of nights and rooms increases the potential to win something decreases. However, if they want group accommodations for the sake of camaraderie, then it's not a consideration.

cathies

Hi all, we don't need 1 x 5 bedroom apartment - sorry if my original post read that way. We want 3 x 2 bedroom apartments/hotel suites or 2 x 3 bedroom apartments/hotel suites. Doug_Stallings you are right in that I can't search online for those dates - they aren't showing up yet. But some general suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again, Cathie

doug_stallings

I think we've made all the viable suggestions there are to make. You need to check one of the cheaper suite hotels and book a suite with kitchen and then a few regular rooms. That is doable. However, your price range is probably far too low to get everyone their own separate bedroom. It's as simple as that. There are also some apartment-hotels or apartments for rent in Manhattan, but they are few and far between.

But you want to go in the height of the high season and you want to pay a price that's less than the price of a cheap room in a cheap hotel right now (i.e., in 2009, when we're in the midst of a deep recession and travel and hotel rates in NYC are way down). By next year, I expect rates will begin to return to their norm, which is far higher than $200 for the kind of place you want to get. I think that's the crux of the problem.

Anonymous

One final factor to remember is that in NYC, a 2-bedroom suite will cost more than two single rooms.

mclaurie

If you really have to have an apt., this place will sleep you all but I don't know how comfortably.
http://www.vrbo.com/115235
I sure would prefer some nice suites in a nice hotel for that kind of money.

ghee

We want to have an apartment a kitchen because it will be much easier to feed a five year old than eating in restaurants. Any one ever stay at a private apartment?

vjpblovesitaly

As stated above, most short term apt rentals are illegal in NYC. Look at the apartment style hotels, particularly those recommended on the other thread you made this query on.

stupid

May I suggest Radio City Suites Apartment between 6th and 7th Avenue on 49th street. We travel to NY only in January after the crowds have left for the season. We stay only at this location because their rooms offer kitchens. They have two bedrooms, one bedrooms, and standard rooms and their prices are quite wonderful because you are 1 block from Times Square and 1 block from Rockefeller Center and a block from the subway system. We eat in and use our money for plays an such. Would not stay anywhere else. Have stayed at Affina properties and found them not close to the action. If you need more info please respond with specific questions. Radio City has their own website which allows you to select which type of room you would like. By the way, our last group in January numbered 15 women.

mclaurie

Poster NeoPatrick has stayed in "private" apartments several times but they were usually for a month and always studios or 1 bedrooms. Since there is no such thing as a 5 bedroom apt. which means you'd want multiple apts. in the same building, a suite hotel or a b & b with apt. type rooms would be your best bet. A lot of the b & b's don't allow young children (ie 1871house.com) so we're back to suite hotels. Affinia.com offers the most selection. In their group, the Benjamin, Affinia 50, Affinia Gardens, Shelburne Murray Hill are imo the nicest/most recently renovated. Other suite hotels to consider are the San Carlos, the Alex and the Beacon.

cathies

Hi stupid and mclaurie, thank you both for you suggestions. You've both been very helpful. I'll definitely check out the places you have suggested.

mrsgo

Contact the Marriott Hotel chain. They have a great solution for you....new too! midtown! Have fun and be sure to see Toys R Us in Times Square, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, take a water taxi, enjoy a Big Apple double decker bus tour, spend a day at Ellis Island, ....How many days do you have? Sandy G

cathies

Hi Sandy, we think we will have 5 days, not quite sure yet. I'll look into your suggestion as well, it sounds good. If you have any other suggestions as to what we should see and where we should go I would be very grateful. I do want to go to the Museum of Modern Art, which sounds wonderful. When I was in Paris I spent an entire day in the Louvre and loved it. MOMA sounds just as good. I'd also like to spend some time in Central Park, explore some of the interesting neighbourhoods (Chelsea etc), eat out and of course, see a Broadway play. I go to regular tap dancing classes and have threatened the other girls with taking my taps and "tapping my way down Broadway", however they have threatened me with a fate worse than death if I do!! We are 5 women in our 50s who have all been friends for ages and are very excited about our trip. So far we are planning to fly Sydney - San Francisco, stay there for 3-4 days, then fly to New York for 5 days, then on to Boston for 3-4 days and then home again via Hawaii to unwind. We know it will be rushed, but we can only abandon our husband for just so long!!

japw82

Hi Cathies,
Look at the website below. It is a B & B with 6 bedrooms and full kitchen. You may want to call or e-mail the owner to see if you can rent all the rooms for your dates in NYC. They may even give a discount.
http://www.ivyterrace.com/

japw82

Here is a website that lists B&B's in NYC. You might find a property that will meet your needs.
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/manhattan-new-york.html

cathies

japw82, Ivy Terrace looks just like what we want. I've emailed the link to the other girls and I will email the owner ASAP. From their calendar it appears to be available for our dates, which have just recently changed to May of next year as that suits the work pressures of some of our group.

Thanks so much for the tip and for the link to the B&B site. Cathie