ellenem

I just walked past the place. The entrance to 147 First Avenue is actually around the corner on 9th Street. It is a small lobby-ish looking place: floor to ceiling glass for both window and door, perhaps 10-foot by 10-foot space walls painted designer black with a white crystal chandelier and a modern tufted bench. It looks like something, but difficult to tell what. (I noticed two other people stop to stare at it, wondering aloud what it is.) There is NO signage identifying it as anything, except for a small paper sign on the door with "147." There was a keypad by the street door with a screen with alternating messages relating to the electronic door lock, but nothing that mentioned a hotel.

ellenem

If it wasn't clear, there were no human beings in the "lobby", nor was there even a desk or podium. There was some kind of standing sign or perhaps it was an electronic device, but it was facing away from the window. This is my new neighborhood mystery that I will be monitoring.

WillTravel

I could see extreme inconvenience resulting with a shutdown, if this is illegal, but surely if you pay with a American Express credit card, you would get your money back?

I really appreciate everyone's man/woman on the ground surveillance.

ggreen

I've been skulking on this thread for a bit. FWIW, every address in NYC can be searched on the Dept of Buildings BIS database (accessed from nyc.gov). Here's the listing for 147 1st Ave, Manhattan:
http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/Pr...O+&requestid=0

There is a C of O for 18 units, effective 5/4/12 - 8/2/12. It's not SRO restricted (whatever that means). If you dig into some of the complaints (like for the boiler under Violations-DOB), they appear to be categorized for a residential building...

Anyway, nothing really "jumped out" at me, but I don't have the patience right now to read it all!

Bowsprit

This should jump out: There's not a hotel there. There's a coffee shop there. The building above is empty with No signs of life. The empty space that can be seen from the street is empty. EMPTY. There's no hotel there no has their been any construction going on there. Nada.

bookit is located in Florida somewhere. They have no way of checking to verify if this is legit or not but they are accepting reservations for this hotel for rooms tomorrow night! Imagine the poor chumps driving up to that place tomorrow night!

There's nobody, nothing there. Nada. Zilch. If it's going to be a legit hotel it has a way to go yet to get there. If it isn't legit, it'll be shut down faster than you can type East village hotel.

There's enough doubt here to justify some due diligence on the op's part to first: contact bookit and let them know of the concerns expressed on this travel site, and second: book a legitimate hotel.

What's your budget, how many people, and when are you coming? You'll get lots of help finding the right place. If your budget is under $200.00 start checking rates for Long Island City hotels. Good luck!

There hasn't been a legit hotel opening, even a soft opening, in NYC that's 'quiet'. Never happen.

Bowsprit

I see it was also posted on another travel site that the building has a "numerical keypad thingy on the outside for guests to get in." which could speak to this being an apartment building. My guess is that the intent is to use this as an illegal hotel.

Aduchamp1

Across the street is a bad roast beef place, maybe they have a cot in the back.

Bowsprit

air mattress?

Aduchamp1

I am not sure I have only slept there once.

nytraveler

If you pay by credit card - and there's no way I would conssider anything else - the problem is that you are taking part in an illegal transaction, since it isn't really a hotel. Assuming you use AmEx I believe they would give you refund immediately. You might have a longer wait and more problems with another card.

BUT, if you are left standing there with not hotel - only you can find another place to stay on the spot - and who knows how much you would have to pay.

If it isn;t operational now and they are taking reservations for today - obviusly a big fat scam.

Still sounds to me like a failed condo (owner can't sell the units or doesn;t have enough money to finish them) that he is trying to collect on by using as a "hotel". I wold contact the booking ageny, explain this and ask for the 24 hour phone number and photos of the "suites". From the description above it doesn't sound as if the rooms have drapes, blinds - or probably furniture.

doug_stallings

Actually it seems not at all clear to me that you'd get your money back if you book an illegal hotel. Maybe, but if you knowingly book an illegal lodging, I'm not sure Amex would refund. It's not something I'd choose to do. You'd also be on the hook for an expensive hotel room booked at the last minute.

ekscrunchy

Are you set on the East Village, or do you want other recommendations for possible places to stay?

WillTravel

Ekscrunchy, I am making plans for a East Coast trip, but I am unsure if I am including NYC or not.
On previous visits, I stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel ($99 per night via a Facebook special), and the Fairfield Inn Fifth Avenue ($125 via a discount resulting from Marriott's Look No Further guarantee). So I am really cost-driven, but also want reasonable quality.
I was also thinking of trying a non-Midtown location.

With all the dire warnings about not getting one's money back - if you book this and cancel 3 days in advance, you are refunded all but $20. So if it's a matter of waiting and seeing, there is not a huge risk here, in my opinion. That said, I have not jumped to book this place, and that is in part due to the uncertainty of the service offered.

ekscrunchy

Take a look at this thread; you can read people's thoughts on the possible illegality and what it might mean for you if you book. Within the thread I give the link to the building owned by my friends in Harlem who rent apartments. You can decide if it looks good to you.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ent-needed.cfm


Here is another article that might be of interest, from this week's NYTimes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/re...apartment.html

WillTravel

Thanks ekscrunchy. I was thinking of trying AirBnB also, but not sure I have the nerve.

Bowsprit

Yeah, nothing like sleeping in a strange city next to strangers.....

Bowsprit

The NY Times article is the worst of its ilk. There's no such thing as 'technically illegal'. It's either legal or it isn't. Renting apartments for less than 30 days is illegal in NYC. Period.

The owner of the apartment, condo, co-op must be present while staying in an Air bnb lodging.

Aduchamp1

Yeah, nothing like sleeping in a strange city next to strangers.....

____

I will take your word for it.

ggreen

I don't know why Airbnb seems so strange to so many Fodorites. It's certainly more guaranteed than couch surfing - and that genre of travel exploded once the internet supported sites like couchsurfing.org.

Airbnb sends in their staff to review an apartment and take the photos for any offering that says "Airbnb verified". Secondly, the more reviews an offering has, the better one is able to suss out the situation (just like hotel reviews). And if you know someone who lives in the area, just have them meet with the host/see the space before you commit!

FWIW, the Airbnb host isn't always in the same apartment. For example here in brownstone Brooklyn, the owner might let out a garden apartment in his building that his parents stay in a few times a year and is otherwise empty. (This isn't me; I no longer live in a brownstone LOL.)

WillTravel

As posted on TripAdvisor, this place now has a website:

http://eastvillagehotel.com/

The price is much more expensive on that site, than it is using the BookIt promotion.