We have a trip planned to NYC mid Sept until mid Oct 2013. We have an apt booked. We will need specific dates. When should we buy our airline tickets? Thank you.

Purchase your tickets when you see a good price. How do you do that, you ask? Monitor prices on sites like Kayak and and sign up for "fare alerts" on your airline(s) of choice's website(s). When you see a price you can live with, don't delay, book your ticket.

Now, since you have specific dates you need to travel you may want to book your flight sooner than later as no one can guarantee when you'll find the lowest fares to any given destination for specific dates and whether those fares will be available on the dates YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL. Generally speaking, though, you should find competitive fares and seat availability 3 to 4 months from your planned dates of departure.

Thank you. I think we'll start shopping around late May or June.

Not something that you asked - but you should be aware that almost all apartment sublets are illegal in NYC - and a high number of them are scams. You really need to do very significant due diligence to make sure you aren;t some of the people wandering the streets with your luggage looking for a place to stay.

If you provide the information people can help you figure out if it's a scam or just illegal - and so what your level of risk is.

Thank you, nytraveler. We went through vrbo and had a family member check the apt out for us. It sounds like it is on the up and up. They drew up a contract for us, also there are a number of very positive reviews listed. I'm hoping all will go as planned and am looking forward to visiting NY - it has been a long while since we've been there. There are so many things we want to do: I'm sure we'll hardly touch the surface in a month.

What NYTraveler is saying is that, while the apartment is on the "up and up" it's still illegal to rent such apartments even when the owners aren't trying to cheat you. Most people have no problems, but keep an eye on the listing in the coming months just to ensure that the authorities haven't shut them diwn, as they are increasingly trying to do.

I travel New York and California quite a bit, generally using United since I have a frequent flyer account there. If I see a fare of less than $350 (roundtrip), I book. I usually shop for fares on Tuesdays--they are often lower if booking on that day.

Thank you, Doug. I admit it does confuse me that renting an apt is illegal in NY, especially when there are 100s to choose from on VRBO. The apt that we are renting is specifically a vacation rental; it is not a sublet.

aprilliacs: Thanks for the advice. $350 sounds like a great deal. We'll start looking soon. On Tuesday!!!

If your rental is for more than 30 days, it's legal. You mentioned mid-Sept to mid-Oct so assuming that is the case.

Our apt is for 4 wks exactly, alas, only 28 days.

"If your rental is for more than 30 days, it's legal." Not true, although it may have a better chance of being legal. Even though the state law makes rentals of less than 30 days illegal, a rental of more than 30 days may still be against the rules of the apartment building without the approval of the the managing agent or board of directors if it is a co-op/condo.

Hopefully the OP will have no trouble.

Annetti, the fact that it's a "vacation rental" is not relevant, since then it's likely operating illegally as a hotel.

I understand the concept "illegal," but admit I am confused that there are 100s of apts listed on VRBO for NYC. Why are so many offered and so blatantly if it is illegal? What gives? There are tons of reviews for the various apts, as well. Nowhere, have I read a disclaimer by VRBO. Also, I have seen other Fodorites recommend their VRBO apt choices for NYC.

annetti-I don't think you will see many Fodors recommending NYC apartment rentals since the law went into effect in 2011. I think it passed in 2010 but there was time for implementation. You are not going to see any disclaimer from VRBO and obviously people are still trying to rent out their apartments. They are valid rentals in that the owners are not scamming you for a place that doesn't exist. But they are not valid by the law and if the apartment/condo or co-op residents complain you could be thrown out and have no recourse.

There are tons of posts about this subject on Fodors. Here is one that someone posted about the actual law.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...nt-rentals.cfm