Vacation Rentals by Owner

Absolutely fabulous!

Guest: Carol (CT)
Date of Stay: 02/23/12 Review Submitted: 02/27/12

What a fantastic apartment. It has tons of character and was clean and well-equipped with everything you may need for your visit. The beds were extremely comfortable and it was an unexpected bonus to have free access to high speed internet in the apartment. The location is just perfect for what we needed. Walking distance to hundreds of restaurants, ice cream stores, convenience stores and amenities. Especially enjoyed stocking up on groceries from the nearby Trader Joes. Finally, the landlord is friendly, responsive and helpful. Will definitely come back again, and strongly recomend the place. Carol (Connecticut) travelling with 2 teenagers.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great

Guest: Marrion (Chicago,IL)
Date of Stay: 01/23/12 Review Submitted: 02/01/12

Great safe location close to attractions, restaurants,grocery store, and other amenities.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car.

A great place to stay!

Guest: Danny Fitz (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 01/23/12 Review Submitted: 01/29/12

Spent a week in Manhattan and absolutely loved staying in the upper west side! Everything you ever need is only a block away. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to enjoy their time in NYC. I can't wait to come back again and I would definitely stay here again. Great times indeed! Cheers!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Return visitors

Guest: Georgia (Statesboro, Georgia)
Date of Stay: 12/08/11 Review Submitted: 12/12/11

Location, location, location. If I were buying a flat in NYC, I would really really look at this neighborhood. The Dakota is one block over on Central Park West. Levain's Bakery is on 74th at Amsterdam. Patsy's Pizza at 74th at Columbus. We love Columbus Deli at 72nd. Trader Joes on Amsterdam. Natural History Museum is an easy walk to 81st at Central Park. You could just stay right in the neighborhood. Or, the 1 2 or 3 trains to Times Square to anywhere. Just perfect. Thanks again, Craig. I'm sure we'll stay again... unless we buy!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Thanksgiving in NYC

Guest: Carrie (Houston)
Date of Stay: 11/20/11 Review Submitted: 12/11/11

This was a trip of a lifetime. The location of the apartment was unbelievable and the quiet of the neighborhood was appreciated. We did not want to stay in the hustle and bustle of the downtown crowd. We wanted to visit all that NYC had to offer but retreat to a quiet place to sleep when the night was over. This apartment was FANTASTIC. Yes it is small, but so is everything else in NYC. You must be able to climb stairs to get to the apartment, but nothing extreme. We had plenty of room as a family of 4, including a teenage boy (13) and girl (11). I felt very safe and even let me kids walk to the Starbuck’s and local grocer by themselves. The subway is one block away as is Strawberry Fields in Central Park. We never had any trouble getting to where we wanted to go on the subway and used it for 100% of our transportation. Craig was amazing in his responsiveness and his patience with all my questions. I would recommend this to anyone.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great location with reponsive landlord

Guest: Dave (Overland Park, KS)
Date of Stay: 10/14/11 Review Submitted: 11/17/11

Craig had good tips as to where to eat; shop; events going on in city that we appreciated; He was very responsive; coffee maker broke and he brought a new one the next day; provided umbrellas which came in handy; Went above and beyond when my earring fell down the sink drain. He had the super come get it out of the drain! Loved the large amount of sheets and towels; we stayed a month and didn’t have to do laundry for the linens the entire time. Very well located, by 2 fast subways; lots of fun little restaurants nearby. We did not eat a bad meal while in NY Loved the Triad theater nearby. Saw 4 performances there; reasonably priced and quality shows. • Patsy’s Pizza 73rd & Columbus is good • Arte’s – good brunch • Pappardella – good Italian place The apt. was plenty warm when the weather turned cold. As a matter of fact we ran the AC at night because we wanted it to be cooler. Beware that there are a lot of stairs inside apartment and extra stairs to get to it since it is really located on the third floor (not good for elderly people). By our standards this is a very small place (700 sq. ft.), but by NY standards it is typical.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Women's trip to NYC

Guest: Flaming Fury (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 10/05/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

Craig was great to work with. He responded promptly to our questions and needs. The neighborhood is delightful and convenient for shopping, subway access and touring. We ran out of time before we ran out of things/places to visit. We enjoyed Trader Joes, GiGi's Diner, Alice's Tea Room and Tip Top Shoes. Next visit will include The Arte Restaurant.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great location with unintrusive but most accommodating host

Guest: Avi (Israel)
Date of Stay: 09/19/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

Thrilled that we found Craig's apartment. Unbelievable location close to Central Park, restaurants ,entertainment and public transportation. We never met Craig but he was always available and most accommodating on the phone. Problem we had with aired was dealt with immediately and to the best of our needs. Apartment can sleep 6-7 if double beds are shared, otherwise not suitable for more than 4 people.laundry located in the basement, but an abundant amount of towels and sheets were available. I definitely intend using Craig's apartment again if he will have us. We saved at least $500 over 5 nights if we compared to the cheapest hotel accommodations in the neighborhood. Strongly recommend .

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

amazing apartment

Guest: AnnaJohanna (sweden)
Date of Stay: 09/16/11 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

Very good contact with owner. Answers quickly and is very helpful. Great location, only good thinks to say.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Fantastic New York experience!

Guest: Angus (Sydney, Australia)
Date of Stay: 09/01/11 Review Submitted: 09/16/11

I stayed here with a couple of friends a few weeks ago. We were visiting from Australia. It was a great apartment - we really felt like we were living in new york, except it also had all the conveniences expected in a hotel! Amazing location, right near the Dakota Building and Central Park. The apartment was clean, the owner was very prompt in all communication and very helpful (we arrived after 11pm on our first night and Craig was great arranging access to the apartment for us late at night). There were absolutely no problems at all with the apartment and I have already booked it again for my next New York adventure in a few months!!! You will not regret staying here. Perfect for small groups of friends wanting a real Manhattan experience together.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great location. Disappointing place. Great potential.

Guest: Iowa Mom of 4 (Marion, Iowa)
Date of Stay: 07/27/11 Review Submitted: 04/19/12

Our first impression of the apartment was it took five minutes just to get the street level door unlocked. It took MUCH longer to get the apartment door unlocked. I honestly worried we'd been sent the wrong key. It finally opened but I was never able to get the key to work in that lock again. So when we were not there the only lock on the door was the doorknob lock which didn't seem very secure. Our second impression was a stuffiness and overpowering incense smell that never did air out. The place was dark and dusty, floors unswept, and rugs not vacuumed. I do feel like the pictures make it look brighter and airier than it felt. We turned on fans full blast and made the best of it though because it's NYC! Having been to NYC before I knew this location was ideal. And it is. You are 1 block from the closest subway that will take you everywhere you want to go! And we were in easy walking distance to a grocery and restaurants. Also we were pleasantly surprised at how quiet the apartment building was! We only saw 2 other people in the building during our stay. The place is small--but ample. 2 kids in the loft, 2 kids on the air bed in the living room and we took the bed upstairs (no door, just around a corner). The tiny kitchen was comical to the kids and they had fun prepping dinner on the glass table in the living room to make do. Internet and cable were also nice. I just would have liked to have felt more welcomed when we arrived. Instead it felt like the last tenants might have just hauled their bags out five minutes earlier. Other VRBOs I've stayed at think of little extras to show they are happy for your business...things to make you feel at home and welcome. Just a little bit of effort and attention could have made this apartment a winner. Hopefully it receives some TLC and a jolt of hospitality and becomes it's best potential.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers

New York Trip

Guest: S.L. (Texas)
Date of Stay: 06/05/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

Best location in NYC. Easy access to the 72nd and Amsterdam station and easy access to the 72nd and Central Park West station. Enough room for 5 women. The owner was very pleasent and accomendating. Thank you, it was a great trip!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

We liked it a lot.

Guest: Lynne (Suttons Bay, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 03/08/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/11

We stayed here for four nights, 2 adults & 2 teens, it was perfect for us. Great location, clean, not fancy but comfy, and with some panache. We liked it a lot. We would stay there again.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Christmas in NYC - What a trip!

Guest: Birthday Girl (Texas)
Date of Stay: 12/07/10 Review Submitted: 12/21/10

Just spent 4 nights with my husband and two adult children in NYC and had a wonderful time. The apartment is convenient to public transportation and many restaurants. We found it to be small but very accommodating. This Texas family will be back.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great deal

Guest: malibu (los angeles)
Date of Stay: 12/01/10 Review Submitted: 12/14/10

Great location! One block from Central Park. Everything you need is within a block. 2 subway lines. Very convenient for a group of friends. Not recommended for older people. Could need a little work done to it to make really great. The owner was really easy to communicate with. Would stay there again.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

A perfect apartment for a family visit to NYC

Guest: Miri (Israel)
Date of Stay: 09/11/10 Review Submitted: 09/16/10

We are a family of 5, who stayed in the apartment for 4 nights on September 2010. The location is perfect - a short walking distance to central park, the Museum of Natural History and two subway stations. The apartment is not large, but is conveniently designed to create the impression of a real home with many rooms. There is everything you may need, including useful NYC travel books and a nice library. There is no dining table, but we knew it in advance and did not plan on fancy cooking. For microwave food and morning cereal the living room coffee table was good enough, and sitting on the rug for a short time was a nice vacation experience.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Great Long Weekend in NYC

Guest: Caryn
Date of Stay: 09/06/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

Thank you for the great apartment that worked out perfectly for our long weekend in NYC. The location and apt worked perfect for our group of 4 ladies; shopping and eating our way thorough Manhattan.

Recommended for:

Love NYC

Guest: Andrew (Boston)
Date of Stay: 09/02/10 Review Submitted: 09/20/10

Older building as talked about in previous reviews but overall we found it to be adequate, clean, and great location. thanks Craig

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great Location - Brownstone needs TLC

Guest: California "Brownstone" Dweller (Oakland, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/04/10 Review Submitted: 08/25/10

The location is Terrific and the owner was kind enough to let us leave our luggage in the apartment for a latter in the day departure. If we were to do it over again, the upper West Side is still the place to stay in NY when visiting. We live in an older 1930’s home in California and we were looking forward to staying in a signature brownstone on NY's Upper West Side. We found it quite disconcerting upon our arrival to read the less than positive renter's review of 8/1/2010 on this site. That review can be used as context for my two sons subsequent comments, 16 and 20 years old regarding the state of the apartment. The twenty year old stated “Well it isn’t much different than living with my 3 male housemates in college…” My 16 year old who definitely is NOT the neatest kid not only commented on the lack of harmony in the furnishings but the smell. Based on 8/1/2010's comment regarding the closet, I took it upon myself to rummage through it to find a bottle of Fantastik and with it lifted off an indescribable amount of black buildup in the bathroom. Unfortunately, the extra ammonia did not eliminate the smell nor the mildew permanently stained on the shower curtain. Finally, my biggest point of concern is the multiple applications of tape, silicon, caulk and paint in the owners' unsuccessful attempts to plug gaping holes around the shower and tub. For an old brownstone it doesn’t take much imagination to contemplate the “wet rot’ that has more than likely permeated the floors and walls of the apartment and hence the probable smell my son was alluding to. Finally, from a safety perspective the stair rails are coming off the walls. My purpose for writing at this juncture is to advocate a plea for this brownstone gem – “please fix and take care of me.” It really has such potential to be quite lovely.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers

Mediocre at best

Guest: Naomela (Dartmouth, Massachusetts, USA)
Date of Stay: 07/25/10 Review Submitted: 08/01/10

We just finished a 1 week stay. My first impression was this was a dark dingy tired apartment. The fridge was broken and we needed to alert the owner to that fact. It took until Thursday to get a replacement (I called him early Monday with the news!). In fairness he did refund some money but only when I asked. The kitchen is hot and tiny with no where to prep food if we had cooked. The bathroom was fine with a great shower. The bedroom was a hot stuffy room without a door and we had to run 2 fans to stay comfortable. There was a bridge table in the closet to use for eating, but only 2 chairs.Most of the closets are so filled with "stuff" that they are not usable. The couch was uncomfortable. Nice size TV, DVD etc. While theoretically you could sleep 6 people it would be hard to image where everyone would sit when not sleeping, especially when the bed is set up in the living room. The loft for sleeping is a crawl to the bed, you cannot stand up. With some help and remodeling the apartment could be more comfortable but not as it is. The neighborhood is great. Cafe Rondo has great tapas and Arte a bargain early bird special.

Owner response: I do not want to refute the above review, however, I would like to elaborate on a few of the comments made. This space exists in one of the old classic New York brownstones, which people either love or hate. I just need to stress that you are not checking into a brand-new build with walk in closets and gourmet chef's kitchen. Anything within the apartment that is not up to par with the expectations of renters, I am very quick to accommodate in almost every instance within reason. The refrigerator was replaced within the earliest time frame possible, plus a refund was completed with the hour of her complaint. I do not want anyone to turn away from this space because it is truly a gem located a block from Central Park. The renter must understand that things happen, and when they do I am right on top of working it out. It rarely goes a week with out being rented. Bear in mind that people who write review feel their expectations were not met. Finally, if you are interested in this rental, please feel free to email me any questions you may have. Craig

Recommended for:Tourists without a car

Great place to stay in NYC!

Guest: Vance & jKaren (San Francisco, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/20/10 Review Submitted: 05/13/10

My husband and I stayed for 6 nights in April 2010, we had a wonderful time the apartment was clean and well appointed. Nice residential area, booking was simple and owners answered questions promptly. Great place to stay 1 block to Central Park had a nice run each morning. Try Alice's teacup for scones in the morning next door to the apt. A big plus subway on 73 st (at the end of the block).. Also great wine bar at 73 & Columbus (Wine and Roses Bar) !Wonderful, thank you!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great place to stay in NYC!

Guest: Karen & Vance
Date of Stay: 04/16/10 Review Submitted: 08/09/10

My husband and I stayed for 6 nights in April 2010, we had a wonderful time the apartment was clean and well appointed. Nice residential area, booking was simple and owners answered questions promptly. Great place to stay 1 block to Central Park had a nice run each morning. Try Alice's teacup for scones in the morning next door to the apt. A big plus subway on 73 st (at the end of the block).. Also great wine bar at 73 & Columbus (Wine and Roses Bar) !Wonderful, thank you!

Recommended for:

Location

Guest: apkoh1 (London)
Date of Stay: 12/31/08 Review Submitted: 02/15/09

Location of the apartment was perfect. close to the subway and shops and on a very quiet street. Apartment is not ideal for eating in as there isn't much of a dining area. Beds were very comfortable. Highly recommended. i would stay here again.

Owner response:two TV Tray tables were added for eating and a folding card table

Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Great Location / Decent Apartment

Guest: Bradford (Valencia Spain)
Date of Stay: 08/05/08 Review Submitted: 08/19/08

The apartment was clean and certainly can sleep 5 although 4 would be ideal but I would not say 6 because the sofa-bed was broken and one of us slept on the sofa as is. The location is great and this is certainly what gives this apartment its appeal. Just one block from the subway and close enough to walk to a lot of sites. We walked to Times Square several times and it was a very walk. Everything worked well and we were provided with sheets, cooking utensils, etc... The shower has good pressure which is a big plus! The biggest difficulty we had was that there was no dining room table or natural eating area at all. This makes eating with two children very difficult. So I would not recommend this for families traveling with children. But for couples or groups of four looking to sightsee and experience the city it's great.

Owner response:thanks the bed has been replaced with new air mattress

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, tourists without a car, sightseeing.