NYC apartments through CitySonnet.com
 

hey everyone,
has anyone dealt with Citysonnet.com before for booking self contained apartments?
I found them on About.com (http://gonyc.about.com/od/hotels/a/apartment_rent.htm) saying they are reputable and all their apartments are legitimate. they offerred me an artist loft in Grenwich village for only $150 per night but before I book I wanted your opinions .
http://citysonnet.com/hosts/ka16/
there are a couple of reviews on the site.
can it be trusted?
thanks
angela

No.
Illegal.

Yep, starrs is right. Illegal. Get a hotel. What is an artist loft?

why would about.com list them then? see this link, are all the companies not to be trusted? we can't afford $300 + a night http://gonyc.about.com/od/hotels/a/apartment_rent.htm

Renting an apartment for less han 30 days in NYC is illegal. There are scams all over the internet. Look at St Mark's hotel. Not fancy, lots of stairs, great neighborhood, cash only, but less than $300 a night.

Renting apts for less than 30 days in NYC is illegal - unless it is a private home and the individual owner is renting it.

There are MANY listed on the web (along with all sorts of other things that are illegal - do you think child porn is legal???). Many of theses apts are scams - but even if they exist you are subject to removal from the apt if neighbors complain - since you are there illegally.

If you really want to pursue this (and I most strongly suggest you go for a hotel instead) suggest you email the company and ask directly how this apt rental is legal under the laws of NYC and state. If they don't have an answer - then it's up to you if you want to take a chance.

(Oh, and this apt is NOT in the Village - it's in Chinatown - a completely different area.)

One very modestly priced hotel is the Jane - the rooms are tiny but so are the prices.

I understand the wish to get something cheaper than an expensive hotel in NYC, but apartment rentals for under 30 days are illegal in almost all cases. Some of these companies got a lot of press when they were first introduced. If you look at the press clippings for this company, for example, you will see they date back to 2011, before the current law was passed and when such rentals were a legal gray area. Now they are not.

Having said that, thousands of people rent AirBnB and VRBO-listed apartments without incident. If everything goes right, then you can usually get by without running afoul of the law. But let's say someone reports the landlord for renting out the illegal apartment between the time you book and when you arrive. Let's say the owner decides not to tell you and doesn't want to return your money. Then you're out of luck. You can't get restitution for an illegal payment, and you can't dispute a credit card payment when the transaction is prohibited by law.

The short answer is when things go right, then no problem. But when things don't, as they sometimes don't, then you will not only lose your money but have to book a very expensive last-minute hotel during a busy season. My advice is to think very carefully about doing this and make up your own mind.

Go BACK to your link and click around. Radio City Apts is a HOTEL, but it's an apartment hotel. You're better off googling that: apartment hotel or suite hotel or similar.

Fact is, NYC has restrictive laws regarding this type of rental. The laws are being challenged but they won't be overturned by the time you visit.

(P.S. that CitySonnet apt is NOT in Chinatown, not even close - it's north of Houston for land's sake).

the laws will not be overturned at all. It is to the benefit of the city and all locals that rental apts be given only to city residents - we are trying to keep the middle and working class people in the city and allowing rental apts to be turned into tourist lodging will not do so.

NYC has had very strict rent laws since WWII, started due to severe housing shortage, and are a fixed part of long-term public policy. This is not going to be changed to create more illegal lodgings for tourists when there is a huge number of hotels, hostels and even BnBs for them to stay in. And it is certainly not going to be changed to gove greater profits to companies conducting illegal businesses.

There are numerous all suite hotels for people who want larger than a basic room and/or kitchen facilities.

Sorry - while illegal subletters are rarely caught it is possible. And the number of people who are scammed and arrive to find no place to stay is NOT small. There was a poster her a couple of years ago who went ahead and rented despite advice to the contrary - and the "onwer" checked out I beleive the week before the visit wa supposed to happen.

And we had two young women from Italy in tears in front of our building claiming they had sublet an apt there. This is a co-op and subletting is NOT allowed - but even worse the apt did not exist and they had wired money to someone for whom they had only a PO box and an email address. They were out their payment and had to go to Travelers Aid to advise them on finding lodging they were not prepared to pay for - having already spent almost $2K for a 2 bedroom apt for a couple of weeks. (They though they were safe since they found the building on google maps.)

One could argue that it is good to follow the law even if one has no trouble as a result of breaking it.

Well, that's my attitude - but a lot of people seem to think that these regulations are onerous, unfair and can be ignored with impunity - and really shuoldn;t exist or be applied to them.

thanks very much guys! I will take your advice I think. OR if I don't need to make payment to book I can book a hotel that offers last minute cancellations and if everything is ok with the apartment can cancel without being charged. or it might be too much hassle!

where would you stay if you had to choose between these two hotels.
Hotel 17, 17th street- looks like 3 blocks to nearest subway, not sure what the area is or if there is much nightlife, bars and restaurants around the hotel .
http://www.expedia.com.au/New-York-H...&evar34=2783.0

OR

hotel 31, east 31st street Midtown. near madison avenue and empire state building, this one seems to be the better location in terms of proximity to subway and distance to major attractions. I am a keen shopper whether it be department stores or bargain hunting/outlets (not upscale designers), is there much shopping walking distance from these locations?

http://www.expedia.com.au/New-York-H...&evar34=2783.0

thanks in advance!!

I would probably go with hotel 31 even though it is only close to the 34th street stores of which Macy's is the only huge one.

jubilada, I like the way you think.

I think the 31st street location would be a good one. I stay close to there at the LaQuinta and am happy with that location. I noticed that your link is to a shared bath room. Just wanted to make sure you are aware of that before you book. Have a great trip!

Hotel 17 is closer to more good bars and restaurants, but both are about the same distance from the subway. Hotel 31 is closer to Macys, but it's easy to get there. But if you are talking about the rooms with shared baths, I'd choose neither. I'd get a hotel that's a tad further away but closer to the subway.

These are both ok hotels, but they offer few comforts and very small rooms. But I've made my recommendation already.

When is your trip and what is your nightly budget, including tax etc?

According to her other thread they are in NYC from Nov 27 for 7 nights.

And their budget is $180 per night. Getting a room with a private bath in Manhattan is very problematic. The only thing I could find was a double with shared bath at the Newton.

The Newton would be a great location. I'd go with that one.

Thanks for your feedback, I'll check out hotel Newton. Im tossing up between location vs bathroom I e newton is not as well located as tthe other ones I've mentioned but has shared bathrooms (most reviewers said they were clean and not much of a wait)
What would you choose?

I'd never chose a shared bathroom if I could afford a private one.

The Newton only has a couple of rooms with shared bath - and you share with only one other room. Not sure about other options.

I wouldn't do it either - but the OP has a limited budget at the most expensive time of year. And the other choice is Long Island City versus Manhattan.

All the ones you have posted have been shared bathrooms.

The Newton may be the best location - of the three you have posted. Close to the subway, lots of restaurants nearby and in a great neighborhood.

Hotel Newtown is located on corner of Broadway and West 96th Street. looks like there is a metro stop right underneath the hotel. is there much to do at night in the area or would one need to catch a cab or subway at night ? (not sure how safe this is)
thanks

It is one if the safest parts of NYC and is a fabulous area. It's a real neighborhood. The subway is right there as is the bus that runs down broadway. A few blocks to Central Park. A couple of blocks to riverside park and the 91st street flower garden. It's near where I stay in an apartment where families have lived for generations. Absolutely lovely area. Great restaurant choices within a block or two including my favorite Thai restaurant next door.

Hi again.
this was the reply for the City Sonnett guy about the studio loft in grenwich village.

"do want to point out that the studio loft you would be renting is private section of a larger loft residence, not its own private apartment. Both you and the the owner who has the rest of the large loft use the same entrance into the space from the public hallway.
As lofts are large in NY, they can, and are often, divided internally. That is why there is not formal kitchen in the space-just a microwave, small fridge, etc -no stove cooker or oven.
I just want to share this. It is not a hard sell on our end-not our style- its important that you be comfortable."

Is it considered legal if they rent part of a larger apartment?

would grenwich village have what we need in terms of good nightlife and connection with Midtown?

thanks

book the Newton already!

(It is just as illegal to rent out part of an apartment as it is to rent out the whole thing)

The Newton is in a mid/upscale residential area with all of the avenues lined with restaurants - inexpensive to moderate - or every possible ethnicity. It is 3 blocks from Central Park and an easy walk from all of the museums that line the east and west sides of the Park - or one can take the 96th st crosstown bus to get to the east side museums/Museum Mile.

NO - this is NOT legal. You are just renting a room in someone else's apartment and wold have to deal with whatever they and their friends are doing in the other rooms. Note the renting company did not say it is legal.

<i>Is it considered legal if they rent part of a larger apartment? </i>

No.

" public hallway"

Not a private residence.

NYC is very safe, probably safer than Sydney. And New Yorkers ride the subway in large numbers until at least 1am on week nights, a bit later on weekends. It's not at all necessary to limit yourself to a hotel or neighborhood where everything is within walking distance. In fact, that's not what a tourist should do at all. You really want to get out and enjoy the city at all hours. This is one reason proximity to the subway is more important than a central neighborhood.

You seem stuck on Manhattan even at the cost of your own comfort. Ok. The Newton is in a Vibrant residential neighborhood with dozens of restaurants within easy walking distance, a supermarket on the corner, a drugstore next door, and a popular theater as well as my gym across the street. You are about three express subway stops from Times Square or a bit longer on the local train.

Sorry not to address the safety issue.

First, New York is the safest large city in the country.

Second this is an area of mixed housing and while some of the brownstones are moderate the people living in multi-million $ co-ops and condos on the avenues - never mind the ones worth tens of millions on Central Park West and Riverside Drive would not be living in an area that isn't safe.

No place in NY is close to all the sights - since what you want to see is in an area two miles wide and 9 miles long - plus islands in the harbor. You will have to take subways many places (cabs can be problematic since you tend to be stuck in traffic - esp at that time of year). And I believe Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the first gridlock alert day - when the city requests people not bring their cars into the city - to make the traffic disaster worse.

thanks again for your supplies. I will go with the Newton. I hope its easy enough to reach the sights on the east of manhattan , staten island ferry and the shopping on the east side, as there are only 3 metro lines within walking distance. but you are right its not worth the risk to book the apartment/loft.

Suggest you get a detailed map of the subway system. North of 59th street they go only north and south - either east side or west. Starting at 59th St there are a number of crosstown options and connecting lines that let you go everywhere.

Actually the Newton is on top of the 3 broadway lines - 2 local and one express (1, 2 and 3) - and is 3 blocks from the lines that runs along Central Park West (A, B, C and D).

To get to the Lexington Ave line (4, 5 and 6 trains)on the east side you could take the 96 St crosstown bus. But for midtown and downtown sights it's easier to just take the broadway line downtown and connect at one of the many stations with multiple lines.

For the eastside museums I would walk through the Park if the weather is nice - or hop on bus at 96 or 86 St - based on which musuems you want to visit. The Natural History Museum, Planetarium and NY Historical Society are on the WEST side of the Park - a pleasant stroll from your hotel.

The irony here is that the Country Inn & Suites Long Island City is actually more central to all the sights in Manhattan than the Newton.

If you are choosing strictly on the basis of neighborhood, then Hotel 31 is your most central hotel. But it's not the best hotel on your list; the Newton is better.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is that transportation in NYC is not only subways. Buses are very important, especially for the east side, and a lot of tourists forget that or don't even try to ride them except on 5th Avenue. From your hotel, there's a bus one block away on 96th Street, that will take you to the east side a few blocks walk from the Metropolitan Museum. That's a much faster way to go from west to east.

Hopstop is great for planning subway, bus or walking routes

There are museums along Fifth Ave starting with the Museo del Barrio (105th St) an the Museum of the City Of NY (103rd St) and headed downtown past several others, including the Guggenhaim until you get to the Met, which runs from 80th to 85th Sts.

But doubt you will be able to see them all. For the Met and Natural History do visit the web sites in advance, since they are huge and can take days if you try to see everything.

THERE IS NO METRO IN NEW YORK.

The train system is the Subway. The buses are buses. If you ask about the Metro, people will assume you are either talking about Metro-North (a commuter rail) or talking about some other city.

Oh - and agree that Metro will just get you stares - except for Metro North - which is a suburban train system - not Manhattan.