New York City Travel Forum

Can anyone recommend a suite or apartment between 34 and 59th Midtown please. This is for 4 adults for 5 nights. Kitchen facilities would be great too.
With thanks

www.affinia.com has several properties

Have you checked VRBO.com or Homeaway.com? Both are great sites for rentals and we've had good luck with them.

Do by all means risk your $$$ by renting from *unvetted* people on vbro or homeaway.

Sorry but as I said, we've had really good luck with them, as have many other people I know. I wouldn't rent from a poster who didn't have rental reviews - and lots of them - but those who do have been genuine, in our experience.

goodfish, you may have had wonderful experiences elsewhere, but the laws are different in NY. Most of the short-term apt. rentals are flat out illegal, or are scams. Sites like VRBO just list apts., they do not vet them. If you have time to read about some unlucky tourists who thought renting apts. in NYC was a good idea, here's a link:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1563270-Renting_a_vacation_apartment_a_collection_of_posts-New_York_City_New_York.html

There are lots of apt. type hotels with cooking facilities. Some have double room suites that would accommodate four adults (though I can't imagine four people sharing one bathroom!). Have a look at the Affinia Group, as already mentioned. Also look at the Salisbury, Beacon, Radio City Apts. Another idea is Jack & Judy's B&B on the upper west side. It's not a "true" B&B, because you're renting a (legal) apt. in a beautiful brownstone. I'm not sure they rent for only five days, but it's worth checking.
http://www.jacksbandb.com/

We rented through VRBO for NYC and didn't have any negative issues at all. I don't know what your concerns are - all I'm saying is that we've done it, done it in NYC, done it in other places, know others who have also done it, and all went well. I'm speaking from experience and just trying to help another VT'er with a question. VRBO/Homeaway have worked very well for us. As you also posted a site where rentals can be obtained, it's obviously not illegal to rent apartments in NYC.

We also have friends who post their rental properties on these sites.

Another comment: I grew up in a home with 4 people and one bathroom. We made do - easily. Many people in this world have far less.

Sorry, but I'm feeling attacked here, by persons who've never actually worked with the websites I'm listing. All I'm doing is trying to help - and using firsthand experience to do it. We've had several articles in our city paper recently about the increase in apt./home rentals - through the websites I've listed plus others - vs hotel rooms. Is there a chance you may be ripped off? Sure, but we've also been ripped off by hotels that delivered filthy rooms, over-bookings, broken equipment, etc. When you travel, you take chances. I tend to trust in the goodness of humanity and I'm rarely disappointed.

goodfish, I beg your pardon if you feel insulted. It was not my intent, and I feel terrible that you think I have attacked you in some way. I would never do that.

I just wanted to point out that the laws are different here, mainly to protect tenants from being tossed out because their landlords can make more money by renting to transients/tourists. There's a reason it's illegal. And I understand that a lot of people list their apartments as a way to make some money. In this economy, sometimes it's the only way to pay the rent. But also, perhaps because of the economy, there are so many thieves who list fake apartments, and while some people -- like yourself -- have good experiences, others aren't so lucky, and end up losing their money and without a place to sleep. And even if it isn't a scam, tenants are on the watch for transient renters, and one call can get the tourist tossed out, and lose the tenant their apartment too.

It's not only a risk that a tourist won't have a place to stay. When they lose their money, there is no legal recourse for them, because they're breaking the law to begin with. A lot of these scams are run from overseas, using paypal (which doesn't insure you aren't being scammed), so it's tough to shut them down.

By the way, I grew up in a family of five with one bathroom, we had no problems either. I guess at this point in my life, I would choose to not share a bathroom with three other adults on a vacation.

I'm sorry too - didn't mean to get my hackles up and I must mentioned that you, 10028, gave me some very helpful advice before we visited NYC and I was so grateful for your help. :)

Let's just say that we both mean well! The properties we've rented have appeared to be either second homes that an owner doesn't use much, or were purchased as investments for the express purpose of additional income. Yes, a renter always needs to proceed with caution and we've booked only those that had enough reviews ("vetting") to appear legitimate. We're both speaking from experience - you as a native New Yorker, and I as having used the rental services mentioned.

I do find it interesting, however, if rentals truly are illegal in NYC, that the Powers That Be haven't shut down the very well-known sites that offer them? Really, the popularity of apartment/home rentals is on the rise and there has been a fair amount of print about this subject recently - none which indicate that it's in any way illegal. I would NEVER encourage anyone to engage in behavior that breaks the law. Hmmmm..... Anyway, we're getting off-topic here, I suppose. Original poster, I do hope you find what you're looking for - let us know!