Well, we're back and we had an ABsoLUTEly wonderful time in NYC. We stayed 5 nights at the Lucerne (Deluxe Junior Queen Suite) booked on quick book. Loved the city..loved the hotel. We had only one problem; hurricane Katrina was hitting south Louisiana (where we're from) as we were hitting the city. So, needless to say, our trip was somewhat surreal--while waiting for the Staten Island Ferry, calling our kids at home and hearing that the roofs of two sheds were blown off, while waiting for the Tenement Museum tour to begin, calling our daughter at school in MS and hearing that she and her roommates were in a closet under mattresses as trees were falling on their house. The rest of our trip was like that--seeing the sites while worring about the kids and home.

I am so glad I booked our flights out of B'ham, AL because we wouldn't have made it out of New Orleans. The info from this board helped so much to make our trip enjoyable. Thank you, everyone! I've not felt right to come here and relive all that we did on our trip when life all around me is still so unsettled for so many.

So....we've decided that we need to go back and do it right the next time. And we're going to take three of our (20something) kids with us. I'd like to stay a week, and I've been researching but I think it may be a bit early to rent something for May, 2006 (when we'd like to go).

So my question is..do you think it possible that I can find something to rent this early? ....Actually, I've found a couple of places that COULD work, but there are other options that would be much better. The problem is that these places won't let me know until about a month before we'd like to head up there. Are weekly apartment rentals difficult to find? Do you think I should grab what I can now?

Thanks for any info and opinions.

nyhabitat.com has a lot of rentals and many of them can be booked this far ahead for a single week. I realize that most agencies aren't too cooperative in confirming a place for a one week rental this far ahead.

Thank you Patrick. I just sent a request form to nyhabitat.com earlier tonight. I think I'll also call them tomorrow. In searching Fodor's I came across a post of yours with links to three possible rentals. I had already picked out two of the same so I felt as if I was on the right track.

Unfortunately, the apartment with the view of the Empire State Build. is booked April and May. The Big Apple apartment would be too snug for us unless my daugher backs out. That would leave four of us and maybe we would fit then.

Also..thank you for the J.J. Hat Center recommendation. My husband found what he wanted. The salesman was from B'ham (as am I). But his mom was from Jamaica--what a combination! Great place, great people.

Have you tried VRBO.com ?

SusieQQ..Yes, I've tried VRBO.com and actually there are two possibilities that would work. I'm trying to decide if I should commit to one of them or wait and chance that something I'd, seemingly, prefer will be available later. A gamble, I guess.

Any idea what you'd do if renting from VRBO and a problem developed during your stay (broken air or heat..etc)? A question to ask before renting I guess.

Thanks for the suggestion!