Approved vacation rentals by the NYCTT community

If you are planning to travel to NYC soon, you may look for vacation rentals in NYC. I’m going to give you a list of apartments already rented by travelers.
Actually, they shared their experience with Alex (Les Bons Plans pour un Voyage à New York). If you never heard about him, check it on “About us“.
Then feel free to leave a comment at the end of this article, or send me an email to nyctraveltips@gmail.com attaching:

1. Property ad: link of the vacation rentals
2. The address.
3. Location.
4. Apartment characteristics’: number of rooms, and how many persons are allowed.
5. Cost by night.
6. A quick review from the apt. Comfort, cleanliness, location.
7. A quick review about the owner: Availability, friendliness and courtesy.
8. And photos.

Why am I writing this post?

The origin of the article is linked the fact that a lot of people is afraid of renting an apartment in New York.

It is true that, with the rising of websites like airbnb, wimdu… it is very easy to get lost and therefore, fall into a trap!
If you’re still not confortable with vacation rentals, check this post about accommodation in New York City instead 😉

It will be helpful for future travelers if you share you experience and give all the info you can about the apartment you rented.

I also want to remind you that short-term locations and vacation rentals are allowed in New York City, but here are the conditions (New York State Multiple Dwelling Law):
– hosted short-term rentals—rentals where host is present in the unit—provided that the guest has access to all parts of the apartment or other dwelling unit,
– short-term rentals, whether hosted or not, in “private dwellings”—one-and two-family homes, or
– rentals of longer than 30 days.

The list of vacation rentals approved by the NYCTT community

Apt. approved by Juliette F.

1. Property ad: The Box House Hotel.
2. Address: The Box House Hotel, 77 Box Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222.
3. Area: Greenpoint in Brooklyn. There are a lot of stores, restaurants. The Hotel offers free Tours in old cabs around the neighborhood. The Metro is 10 minutes away (walking) Line 7 hunters Point Ave. and Vernon-Jackson; Line G Greenpoint Avenue station.
4. Category: We had the Loft Suite: 1 double bed + 1 Sofa bed (comfy).

5. Cost: $255 w/taxes per night. The total cost I paid with taxes was $3849.56. They took 20% of the total amount (refundable) 2 weeks before our check in. The nightly rate is based on double occupancy, up to 4 guests can sleep in the suite (there is a $25 charge per additional person after 2 guests).

6. Comments: Comfortable, clean, and well located. The apartment is very clean and comfy. There is a PC in the hall and a fitness center. It has all the facilities like a Hotel with the cleanliness and towels change and the advantage of being in an apartment with the possibility of using the kitchen.
7. About the owner: The crew is available at anytime, and very polite, they give you all information you need…

Conclusion: We only have really good memories, the negative points are just not important at all.
The Hotel was making some building works when I was there; I guess there will be more apartments in the future.

8. Pictures:

Apt. approved by Frank T.

1. Property ad: http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p918082
2. Address: 409W, 44^th St, New York, NY 10011, USA.
3. Area: Times Square and Theaters.
4. Category: Up to 6 persons.
5. Cost: Between $250 and $450 (it depends on the season).
6. Comments: The apartment is well located, 5 minutes from Times Square. Clean and quiet (view on the patio). A lot of restaurants in the neighborhood. Metro and Bus and WI-FI.
7. About the owner: The owner answers e-mails in the daytime. She is well organized. We arrive there around 10 pm, it was quite late, but as she lives in the building she gave us the keys. You have to check out at 11am, but you can store your luggage. 🙂

Apartment approved by Laureline.

1. Property ad: http://www.harmonycity.com/listing/132/
2. Address: 5^th ST. Felix St, Brooklyn 11217, New York.
3. Area: Brooklyn/ Fort Greene.
4. Category: Triplex for 6 to 8 persons, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 1 rooftop.
5. Cost: From $580 per night, about $116 per person (we were 5).
6. Comments: The apartment is close to Metro lines B, Q, 2, 3, 4, 5 Atlantic Ave/ Barclays Center. There is a lot of stores and Deli’s in the street. Cleanliness is acceptable but you can see that is not well done. The pictures from the agency or the announcement represent very well how the apartment looks like.
7. About the owner: A nice person and he is French, he is the agency manager. They are available and reachable very easily. The owner was there to give us the keys he lives in the apartment below this one. It is a plus if you need something from him.
8. Pictures:

 
Apartment approved by Ludovic.

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/956544?
2. Address: 2416 Bergenline Ave, Union City, New Jersey. 10 minutes away from Port Authority Terminal (by bus) just behind Times Square between 8^th St and 42 W (In rush hour it takes you 20 to 30 minutes, but it never bothered me). The Bus goes by the Lincoln Tunnel every 2 minutes 24/7 and the bus stops just in front of the apartment. You can spend about $6 round-trip or $5 if you buy the tickets on pre sale in 23 Port Authority.
3. Area: Safe area in NYC, ‘’barrio Latino’’. We went back to the apartment around 23h- midnight without any problem. Furthermore we had an amazing view all over Manhattan when going down on the bus stop. Just Perfect! There are a lot of stores, shops, and restaurants, pizzas, open 24/7. So NYC!
4. Category: 1 living room and 1 bedroom.
5. Cost: We spent $100 per night; it is not so expensive when you compare with other apartments in Manhattan or Brooklyn.
6. Comments: Very clean, a kitchen and a fridge with some food for breakfast, living room, bedroom (with sheets), 1 bathroom, TV, Wi-Fi, A/C. I need to tell you it is kind of noisy because the apartment is on the street side, but after 2 days we didn’t pay attention at all I guess you get used to it, we ended so tired after visiting NY that we just fell asleep in seconds.
   Parking: The owner has one parking spot but you need to ask where is it (there is not much room for parking, and they clean the streets every Tuesday or Friday, so you have to move your car… It is very annoying, but it happens in every big city).

7. About the owner: The owner is very flexible for schedules to check in and check out, she answers quickly you emails, text or phone calls.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Maryne.

1. Property ad: www.airbnb.com/rooms/997404/
2. Address: 394 Decatur Street, Brooklyn, New York
3. Area: Brooklyn Stuyvesant Metro A/C (Utica Ave.)
4. Category: Apartment for 4 people with one bedroom (2 big comfy beds), 1 bathroom, kitchen and a little patio.
5. Cost: From $115 per night.
6. Comments: Clean, quiet, well located (5 minutes from the Metro), typical Brooklyn neighborhood, safe… A nice neighborhood.
7. About the owner: Nice people, always available, we went to have an appetizer together and we met with some members of their family. Check owners’ profile here.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Sophie.

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/411918?
2. Address: Lincoln Pl., Brooklyn, NY 11213.
3. Area: Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn (Crown Height)
4. Category: A typical house of the area. You can rent the first floor. Verena and her husband live on the first floor.
5. Cost: $152 per night for 6 people.
6. Comments: It has 3 separated bedrooms, a kitchen, 1 bathroom and a living room. A terrace in the back. It has everything you need (Wi-Fi, hair dryer, TV, DVD, microwave…) It is located in a quiet street close to the Metro line 3, stores and shops (drugstore and supermarket 24/7). They gave us a two pairs of keys.
7. About the owner: Verena is available and answer immediately any email. Very flexible with check in and check out. Check her profile here.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Julie

1. Property ad: https://www.nyhabitat.com/new-york-apartment/vacation/15029
2. Address: 5th Avenue et West 125th Street (MLK Boulevard), New York, NY 10035.
3. Area: Harlem.
4. Category: 4 people. The apartment has only one bedroom but it’s very spacious. The bedroom is big with a Queen Bed. There’s a small corridor in between the linving room and the bedroom, but no doors. In the living-room, you’ll find a sofa-bed and another bed under it. The kitchen is small but with everything you may need. The bathroom is big, modern and well decorated.
5. Cost: In October/November, we paid $180 per night.
6. Comments: The apartment is very well located, 5 minutes away from the subway, with a bus stop across from the apartment. Times Square, Central Park, everything is minutes away. We stayed at this place during the NYC Marathon, and we could see the race from the window. The neighborhood is safe, even if you plan to come back late in the evening.

7. About the owner: Kevin is a very nice person. Our flight arrived several hours late and he waited for us 3 hours! His apartment is under this property, he’s always around in case you have a problem. He gave us tips to visit the city too!
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by David

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/1552242
2. Address: 37-24 28th st, Long Island City.
3. Area: Long Island City, Queens.
   The Neighborhood is quiet and safe. The apartment is in between 2 subway stations (N and Q trains).
   There’s a Dunkin Donuts by 36th Avenue, perfect if you want to grab a coffee before heading to Manhattan. There’s also a Subway and a grocery store.
   You’ll find several restaurants, 2 pizzerias and a laundromat.
   On the way to the 39 Ave station, there’s a small buffet restaurant with $12 breakfast.
   You’ll get to Manhattan in less than 15 minutes.
4. Category: small house for up to 6 people. There’s 2 large bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor. On the first floor, there are a kitchen and a small living-room with a sofa-bed and a 2nd bathroom.
5. Cost: $200 per night.
6. Comments: I was sleeping on the sofa-bed, to be honest I’m not sure it will be suitable for 2 adults, but perfect for 2 kids or teens.

7. About the owner: Jessica is a fantastic guest. She always answered my messages. She lives in the attached house in case you need her. We didn’t need to call her, everything was perfect and as described on the ad.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Carole

1. Property ad: https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p760160vb
2. Address: 23 East 129 Street (in between Madison Ave and 5th Avenue).
3. Area: East Harlem, 5 minutes away from 125th Street (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 trains), Metro North.
   There’s a lot of restaurants near the apartment and a Pioneer (grocery store).
4. Category: Studio type apartment for 4 people, bellow the apartment of the owners. you’ll find a kitchen, a Queen size bed, a sofa bed and a bathroom. It corresponds to the description on the ad.
5. Cost: $150 per night + $270 as a guarantee.
6. Comments: I loved this place. It’s very clean, spacious, quiet, perfectly furbished and very well decorated.

7. About the owner: Jennifer and Ken live above this apartment. The entrance is separated. We met Ken the day we checked in. He is very nice. They answer quickly to their messages. You can do the check-in and check-out without them, it all work with a code to get the keys.
8. Pictures: I don’t have any, but it’s exactly the same as in the ad.

Apartment approved by Sophie

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/775280?
2. Address: 156W 132nd Street, New York, NY 10011.
3. Area: Harlem.
4. Category: Duplex for up to 6 people, with a small yard.
5. Cost: $360 night (all included).
6. Comments: The apartment is lovely and very well decorated.

7. About the owner: Marie is a nice person, well organized, she answers during the day. She always had something nice to say. She’s French and lives in New York since 2009. She lives in the apartment above. The check-out is at 10am, but you can leave your luggage during the day.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Julien

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3513303
2. Address: 390 Hooper St – Brooklyn – NY 11211.
3. Area: Williamsburg / Union Avenue and Metropolitan Avenue.
4. Category: A big room for up to 2 people.
5. Cost: $40 per night + airbnb fees.
6. Comments: Clean apartment, private room in a very nice apartment. The bed is very confortable, fully equipped kitchen. Small bathroom shared with the owner.
   20 minutes away from Manhattan taking the subway at Hewes St (J, M and Z trains), Lorimer St (G and L), 45 minutes away from JFK.
   Quiet neighborhood with a lot of restaurants, bars, deli… There’s a Starbucks at the corner of Metropolitan St.

7. About the owner: Megane was very busy, she’s not always home but she answers quickly her phone, e-mails, sms. She is very nice.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Krys

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5661276
2. Address: 534 West 50th Street New York, New York 10019.
3. Area: Hell’s kitchen (10/15 minutes away from Times Square).
4. Category: Apartment on the 4th floor, no elevator.
5. Cost: $160 per night, up to 4 people.
6. Comments: Apartment with one bedroom in the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, with restaurants, bars. There’s a spacious bedroom, living-room, perfect for up to 4 people. You’ll find a kitchen, bedroom with a Queen size bed, sofa bed in the living-room, heaters in the room, linen included. 10-15 minutes walking distance from Central Park and Times Square.

7. About the owner: Steve answers quickly to your requests and very nice. 100% approved.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Stephanie

1. Property ad: https://fr.airbnb.com/rooms/22729984
2. Address: 134th et 2256 Adam Clayton Powell.
3. Area: Harlem.
4. Category: up to 4 people (2 couples or 2 adults + 2 children), one room as bunk beds.
5. Cost: ?.
6. Comments: The apartment is very well located in Harlem. The living-room is pretty big, you have access to the fully-equiped kitchen, bathroom, bedroom with large storage spaces.
   The rental is on the 3rd floor of the building, the bedroom is quiet.
   You can walk to Central park and the subway Station 125 St is 5 minutes away.

7. About the owner: Bertin is a nice person.
8. Pictures:

Apartment approved by Caro Des Bons Plans

1. Property ad: https://www.airbnb.fr/rooms/256078
2. Address: 43-34 40th St, Long Island City, NY 11104.
3. Area: Sunnyside, Queens.
4. Category: I rented a private room but now I can see that Cristina rents the full apartment and lives in the same building.
5. Cost: $150 for 3 nights.
6. Comments: The apartment is a bit small but perfect to spend the night and have breakfast. It is very well located, less than 5 minutes away from the 7 train station 40St – Lowery St. In fact, you’ll be in Manhattan in less than 20 minutes. It’s a pleasure to take the subway at this location thanks to its view over Manhattan!
   You can easily grab a cup of coffee in the neighborhood at Dunkin Donuts, 7 Eleven. There’s also a CVS Pharmacy.
   I’ll recommend this vacation rentals for 2 couples or a family with two young children.
   Please note that there’s no elevator.
7. About the owner: Cristina is adorable and helpful, I love her dog Bessi, nice and chill (she never barked!).
8. Pictures:

Basic tips to choose a vacation rentals

If you do not find an apartment you like in this list, I’ll give you some tips to rent an apartment in New York:
– Compare the rates: an apartment 50% cheaper in the same area may be a scam.
– Never send or make a payment of the total amount directly to the owner: Always make it with through the website for your own safety, prevent frauds and phishing.
– Don’t make any reservations on websites like CRAIGSLIST. This website has a lot of ads, and a lots of scams, and because they don’t offer a safety payment, you can easily be a victim of a fraud.
– Read the comments: they have to be recent and positive.
– Never hesitate in sending emails to the owner if you have any doubt, and see his reaction.
– Finally, use websites you can trust. I give an advantage to NY Habitat, a bit more expensive than other companies. However, they verify their listing and make sure the owners comply with the law.

Map of the vacation rentals verified by NYCTT

Conclusion

Share with us your experiences when renting an apartment in New York City, so that I can keep on working on this post and publish a list of safe vacation rentals.
In addition, you can read more information about the neighborhoods of New York City and choose a place according to your taste and budget.