I am looking at an apartment rental in Chlsea for next Dec. for a week. Apt. is at corner of 9th and 30th, second floor. Apt. has double paned glass on all windows and is described as a residential location.

I can see on my NYC map that this is not far from Port Authority, but close to Penn Station and Times Square. Will someone who is familiar w/this area give me an idea of what it is like for a week's stay? Are there markets and dining nearby that we can walk to? Safe? Any things I should ask?

Thank you in advance.

Well - 9th avenue is a major truck route - and this address is a couple blocks south of the main post ofice - so I would expect lots of truck traffic 24/7. You're not far from Penn Station (no benefit) but a little further from Port Authority - also no benefit.

It's perfectly safe - but if you have other choices in areas that are more residential I would go for those.

emd, I wouldn't really consider this Chelsea. Real Estate agents want to call it that. It's really the garment district. And I think that street (30th) is the truck route into the Lincoln Tunnel.
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I also think the main post office is across the street. I wouldn't stay there.

What are you looking for (size, area, budget)? If you want to be near Chelsea, there are some vacation rentals in Zeckendorf Towers at 1 Irving Place (14 st.) I think furnishedquarters.com has some and someone mentioned getting one through newyork.craigslist.com

I figured there was something wrong, and it must be the street noise. Because it is nice, 2 bedrm, kithcen, terrace, and only $300 a night w/fees included.

I need a 2 bedrm that will sleep 4 (need 3 beds or 2 beds and sofa bed as I have teen girl and boy), kitchen though it can be small, one bath but one and a half would be much better. Would like a neighborhood where we can walk and eat but eating close by is not essential- being fairly close to subway is important so we can get around.

Would like to spend no more than $400 a night, but we are talking btwn Christmas and New Years so I realize I will likely have to go up.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was really hoping you both would answer as you've both helped me on NYC trips before, and I've never rented an apt. there. I looked at Habitat NY where Patrick used to rent his apts. for his trips, but the locations are foreign to me.

www.apartments2book.com is a agency based in London that someone on another travel board found. Many of their NYC apts. are in well known apt/hotels like the Beacon and some of the Affinias, but by all accounts, their prices are often less than the hotels' own websites. With a $400 budget, I'd think you could find a 2 bedroom from them. You have nothing to lose by asking them. These places have the added convenience of daily maid service.

The Salisbury is a popular (but not fancy) all suite hotel on west 57th st. near Central Park that has huge 2 bedroom 2 bath suites. I believe you have to phone for the 2 bedrooms. Their website though is nycsalisbury.com

The time b/w Xmas & NY is surprisingly not terribly expensive, esp. if you're not staying for NYE. There are also a lot of NYers that go away and might rent their apts. via vrbo.com or newyork.craigslist. But frankly, if you can get a 2 bedroom suite in a hotel at your price, why wouldn't you do that? Best of both worlds.

Wow, mclaurie, that certainly sounds good, but I distinctly remember people here this past Christmas not being able to find any regular and decent hotel rooms that were under about $400. A two bedroom, two bath suite at that time seems pretty unrealistic to me. A quick check with Affinia only showed one possibility at around $500, and Salisbury shows their 2 bedrooms starting at $489 but I think that is only for two people, add $60 for two more.
And don't forget to add the 18% or so tax for hotels (not apartments). That's another $75 to $100 a night.

Perhaps I'm being optimistic, but it's worth a try. I'll also mention, emd, if you & dh don't need sleeping privacy, a lot of the one bedroom suites have 2 queen beds in the bedroom and a queen sofabed in the living room, so you would have 3 beds. Best Western Hospitality, Affinia 50 and the Kimberly are all around 49/50 st. and 3rd ave where there's a subway, a crosstown bus and lots of restaurants. I see one bedroom suites for some of those under $400 on regular websites like hotels.com, travelnow.com etc., but they all have 2 bedrooms as well.

All 3 of these are available through apartments2book (on that website, #1 is Affinia 50, #3 is the Kimberly and #4 is BW Hospitality).

Check affinia.com. Many of their hotels have suites with kitchens. I know the shelburne has a 1 bedroom suite with 2 queens in the bedroom and a pullout sofa in the living room. I've been i nthis suite and it's quite roomy. They also have a 2 bedroom suite. All their rooms have some for of kitchen or kitchette.