Vacation Rentals by Owner

An Extraordinary Find on the Upper West Side

Guest: barbara (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 04/18/12 Review Submitted: 04/25/12

Three of us spent four blissful nights at this beautiful two-story apartment in April. Everything about our experience was perfect. The location--a half-block to Central Park in one direction and a half-block to Columbus Avenue with lots of great shops and restaurants in the other direction--could not have been better. Though the pictures on VRBO capture the charm and beauty of the apartment, they do not quite convey how spacious it is. Plenty of room for two couples to have their own zones of privacy. And the attention to detail was amazing. Fresh flowers in every room, wine chilling in the fridge and yummy pastries sitting on the counter. Sheila and Bill were the consummate hosts. We can't wait to return.

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

Wonderful weekend in the city

Guest: Bill and Barbara (Lexington, VA)
Date of Stay: 03/30/12 Review Submitted: 04/05/12

Two couples stayed in this wonderful town house this past weekend. What a gorgeous home and comfortable place to stay. Everything we possibly needed was provided and the owners were most helpful with shopping and restaurant tips. We may never be the same after cookies from LeVain Bakery! Thank you Sheila and Bill for making your home available to us. We felt like locals for a weekend and hope to return soon.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great apartment

Guest: Dennis S. (Seattle, Washington)
Date of Stay: 03/20/12 Review Submitted: 04/09/12

WE were four adults stayed for a week in March perfect location half block from central park two blocks to subway .More great restaurants than we could eat at very close by.The apt. was good size very large by N.Y.. standards. There is a great kitchen if you want to eat in. Great communication with owners Very clean and a very quiet neighborhood.WE will be back next March and hopefully apt. will be available.My brother and his wife were greeted by Bill at the apt. and said he was very helpful and a very nice man.Apt is larger than it looks in photos. Many museums within walking distance.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Beautiful, comfortable and clean in a prime location!!!

Guest: B and Y (San Antonio, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/10/12 Review Submitted: 03/17/12

We returned today from our seven night stay at this lovely townhouse on the Upper West side of NYC. Having traveled to NYC before, we knew we loved the area, so finding these accommodations for this price was a treasure. The pictures are accurate, BUT the place looks even more beautiful in person. It is impeccable in decor and squeaky clean. The apartment is furnished with gorgeous antiques and rich textiles, yet manages to be comfortable and homey. Bill and Sheila are warm and welcoming and see to it that you are familiar with their home and the area. They greeted us late at night with a bottle of wine, fresh flowers in the rooms and the best cookies ever from a bakery down the street. The location is prime. It is really a half block to Central Park, where my hubby ran each day. The subway is right around the corner and it is a pleasant, short walk to Columbus Ave and Amsterdam Ave where we found plenty of places to eat and shop. Every morning we picked up some toasty bagels just up the street. We walked to the American Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Center. It was so nice to step out each day from the townhouse and feel like we belonged in this upscale, residential neighborhood. We chatted with people on the street who were walking their dogs and really felt like we fit in and weren't just tourists! We had a fun, busy week, but this home was a true highlight of our trip. It was so wonderful to come back in the middle of each day and relax, read and gear up before we headed out again. One of the bonuses of the apartment is all of the reading material. Stacks of books and magazines everywhere! In fact, I was wondering about the history of the Dakota Building right around the corner and sure enough, they had a book on it! All in all, this place is amazing and it exceeded all expectations! You will not find a place this nice and large for this price in the city. I can't say enough good things about Bill, Sheila or their lovely home.

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

Annabelle

Guest: Annabelle (California)
Date of Stay: 11/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/15/12

I have had two occasions to stay in this attractive townhouse. On my second visit I immediately felt at home as I walked through the door. The photographs only give you a glimpse of the lovely furnishings and appointments that make this such a unique home. Sheila and Bill provide lists of local restaurants and attractions as well as maps of the city. The proximity to Central Park, The Natural History Museum and Lincoln Center make the location ideal for all interests. The gracious owners, Sheila and Bill, are very attentive and make themselves available to personally assist in everyway. I would recommend this property to anyone who wants a uniquely elegant yet homey experience in NYC. It is my hope to return soon.

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

Five star rating!

Guest: Susan (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 10/28/11 Review Submitted: 11/10/11

We just came home from a fantastic trip to NYC. Sheila and Bill's beautiful home was definitely one of the high points. The apartment is even more beautiful than the pictures show. Every room is a decorator's dream and the location could not be better. Columbus is just steps away, lined with great restaurants, wonderful bakeries and trendy boutiques. A short subway ride will get you anywhere in the city. If you are looking for an apartment on the west side you can stop now. You won't find anything more charming or in a better location than this. We have already put in our reservation for next year!

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

A wonderful two weeks in West Side Townhouse

Guest: Della (South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/30/11

We stayed in this West Side townhouse for first two weeks of October, 2011. The photographs on the website are accurate. The property is beautifully maintained. The town house is spacious, elegantly furnished and decorated and very comfortable. The owners are hospitable and responded quickly to any questions we had. They met us at the town house and went over rules and expectations, all of which were reasonable, as well as how to operate the coffee maker and washing machines! And they left us with written material which we could refer to later. The written material also included suggestions for local restaurants, grocery, bakeries and wine shops: very helpful. The location was perfect for accessing Central Park, the subway (2 blocks away), buses, and Lincoln Center. We had never stayed on the West Side before but found the neighborhood feel combined with the proximity to the higher density commercial areas a perfect location. We will return to this area and we hope this townhouse.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

I don't believe it'd be possible to find a more beautiful or more convenient place to stay in NYC

Guest: Janette (South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/25/11

I don't believe it would be possible to find a more beautiful or more convenient place to stay in Manhattan. Location is perfect, just half a block from Central Park, 2 blocks from subway stop, walking distance to everything that matters: Lincoln Center, the Met Museum of Art, the best delis and best fresh produce in Manhattan, too many excellent neighborhood bistros to sample them all. The apartment is exquisitely appointed and decorated. The owners are there to greet on arrival and to show the ropes, and are always within cell phone or email reach if you have questions. They are charming and generous. Best of all -- and I speak as someone who has often stayed in Manhattan -- I swear this must be the QUIETEST street in the city, as well as the prettiest and leafiest.

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

AUSTRALIANS in New York City

Guest: Aussie Girls (Austrailia)
Date of Stay: 05/17/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

. The apartment exceeded our expectations with good sized rooms and beautiful decore. Sheila and Bill are gracious hosts who anticipated our needs, both on arrival and throughout our stay. The location is superb with easy access to local shops and restaurants. We enjoyed shopping at the local supermarkets e.g. Fairway & Zabars and found the food to be of excellent quality with great choice. Taxis were readily available on Central Park West and Columbus with only a short walk to the efficient subway system. Several museums are close by and can be reached by a walk through the park. Strolling home from an evening at the Metropolitan Opera was a pleasure. While conveniently located, entering the ground floor apartment after a tiring day of tourism was like coming home to a quiet suburban neighbourhood; a cosy retreat from the crowds and action of New York. We were fortunate to have spent 11 nights in this apartment and relish the opportunity to again visit New York, and stay in this delightful home.

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

Upper West Side story

Guest: Richard & Sally (London, UK)
Date of Stay: 05/05/11 Review Submitted: 05/27/11

We were so looking forward to our stay in this wonderful looking apartment and it was even better than we had hoped. The apartment is very comfortable and impeccably decorated and furnished with great taste. The location was perfect for us - not just the 2 minutes into Central Park but also the number of subway stations close by which took us everywhere and also the proximity to so much more - the museums, the Lincoln Centre (the Upper West Side Apple Store!). Our grateful thanks to Sheila and Bill for making our stay in NYC so enjoyable.

Recommended for:Age 55+, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Fabulous Upper West Side townhouse

Guest: Christy (Colorado)
Date of Stay: 03/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/17/11

From the moment we were greeted by Sheila and Bill (extremely late at night, and in a horrible rain storm), until the time we departed my friends and I were treated to amazing warmth and hospitality from the gracious owners of this wonderful townhouse. Despite the late hour, they spent considerable time familiarizing us with their home, and making sure we were settled in comfortably. The home itself exceeded our expectations, and Bill and Sheila went way above and beyond to ensure our stay would be everything we had hoped. We enjoyed the amazing location - half a block from Central Park, and very close to several wonderful restaurants and stores. Our group was in town to celebrate a milestone birthday, and wanted to spend the weekend "living as New Yorkers." This townhouse could not have been more perfect for that, and Bill and Sheila provided information that helped us enjoy NYC to the fullest. Owners - Excellent; Townhouse - Excellent; Amenities - Excellent; Location - Excellent! I highly recommend this amazing home, and look forward to my own return visits.

Owner response:These guests could not have been more gracious and lovely-- a perfect match for our apartment. We thoroughly enjoyed meetiing them.

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

Comfortable Elegant and Convenient

Guest: C and B (Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/30/10 Review Submitted: 01/04/11

I don't know if there is anything new I can add that has not been said so very well in past reviews. My husband and I and another couple spent 4 nights in this lovely home and we were delighted with the thorough and warm welcome from Sheila. The location was wonderfully convenient to the Park and subway. The home was so comfy cosy it was hard to get motivated to leave in the mornings, to see galleries, museums, plays and all the other fascinating points of interest in New York. The personal appointments to the home for our use from the kitchen, bathrooms, living areas and bedrooms were all top drawer!! We felt quite spoiled and were very sad to leave. Cheers! C and B P and C

Owner response:C&B and their friends were absolutely lovely and THE most considerable guests. We'd love to have them back anytime and, would love to be here to hang out with them!

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

December trip

Guest: mara (Pittsburgh)
Date of Stay: 12/10/10 Review Submitted: 01/27/11

My husband and I had the most wonderful time staying in this beautiful home!!! Everything was gorgeous, clean and so comfortable. The neighborhood was perfect. There was so much to do in walking distance. It was great being so close to Central Park. We felt like New Yorkers for the weekend. We will definately stay there on our next trip!! What a perfect getaway!!!!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Sensational Home

Guest: Toni (Jupiter, Florida)
Date of Stay: 12/02/10 Review Submitted: 12/09/10

Thanks to our hosts Bill and Shelia for the absolutely perfect accommodations. Their home is immaculate, well appointed and the location is within walking distance to Museums, subways, great restaurants, shops and Central Park. I would recommend this property to friends and relatives without hesitation.

Owner response:Toni, her husband and friends were a delight to meet. It makes us happy to have people come and really enjoy themselves in our apt. and in NYC.

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

Amazing townhouse and location

Guest: Annabelle (California)
Date of Stay: 10/14/10 Review Submitted: 11/30/10

I had the pleasure of staying at this location this fall. From the moment I walked in, welcomed by Sheila and Bill, I felt at home. This is a beautifully appointed townhouse that is definitely a home. On my first morning it was so nice to wake up and make coffee without having to run to the grocery. The kitchen offers anything you could possibly need and has a wonderful window treatment. The owners were so considerate of my possible needs...closet space, hair dryer etc. The list of neighborhood restaurants, groceries and local haunts was helpful as well as subway directions and maps to many popular locations. The short walk to Le Pain Quotidien in Central Park for breakfast was one of my favorite ways to start the day. I recomment this townhouse 100%. You are really experiencing living in NYC. The owners are amazingly welcoming...you will love them and their home.

Owner response:Ann was simply a delight to be with. She is exactly the kind of guest one dreams of—warm, considerate, treated our home with the respect she treats her own home. We would welcome her back any time.

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

Great location and apartment on Upper West Side

Guest: Barbara (Berkeley, California)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/23/10

This apartment is in a great location - near several subway lines, right by Central Park, in a terrific neighborhood with lots of interesting shops and restaurants, and an easy walk to Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History, among other attractions. You probably won't want to spend all of your time sightseeing, however, because this is a lovely apartment to spend time in. The decor is sumptuous, and all of the amenities are first rate. We spent a week here and really started to feel like locals. The owners were quite easy to deal with. I recommend this apartment wholeheartedly.

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

Review

Guest: Blue (Australia)
Date of Stay: 04/28/10 Review Submitted: 06/29/10

Really enjoyed staying in this unit, we felt a bit like millionaires for a few days. The location was ideal and we would recommend it to anyone who is going to New York. Very close to Central Park and underground stations. Also supermarket close by and lots of restaurants, including a nice Italian restaurant/take-away in the same street. The owners were very helpful and very generous.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing.

Guest: Anne Robinson (Brisbane, Australia)
Date of Stay: 03/14/10 Review Submitted: 03/14/10

We could not recommend this apartment highly enough. We had the pleasure of staying for 10 days in January. Extremely comfortable and luxuriously appointed, this apartment would satisfy the most discerning traveller. Sheila and Bill are delightful to deal with.

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Guest: susanmik (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 01/27/10 Review Submitted: 01/27/10

What an amazing apartment!! We had a terrific stay and can't recommend this home enough! The apartment was beyond all of our expectations in every single category. It is very elegantly appointed and extremely well maintained. Its proximity to all of New York's finer landmarks - as well to as all of one's daily "fixes" such as bagel shops, grocery stores, coffee houses and superb restaurants by the dozens - make the location simply perfect. The owners have done a wonderful job making this home both spacious and cozy as well as both elegant and homey. While we felt instantly at home, we also recognized we were in a very special place. Again, we could not give this fantastic home a higher recommendation. It is a wonderful place.

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Guest: Lisa B. (Lago Maggiore, Switzerland)
Date of Stay: 08/16/09 Review Submitted: 08/16/09

Simply, positively, without reservation, one of the most beautiful, elegant, comfortable and luxurious apartments in New York City. Add in the fabulous location on a picture perfect tree-lined street steps from Central Park (no exaggeration), around the corner from the subway, and short walking distance to Lincoln Center and the Museum of Natural History and you have the perfect deluxe vacation home in New York City. And I haven't even begun talking about the delightful, available, considerate and couldn't-be-friendlier owners, Sheila and Bill. My husband and I have stayed at this property several times (and shame on me for not writing these comments earlier!) and we simply cannot find anything but positive things to say about our experience there each and every time. The quality of the furnishings, design, and amenities are beyond that of a 5 star hotel...and the layout of this very friendly home is spacious and cozy at the same time. We have eaten out, ordered in, and prepared full gourmet meals (kitchen is a dream for cooks) while staying here, each an easy and equally pleasant option. The bedrooms and bathrooms are gorgeously fitted out and the design elements throughout the entire apartment could be out of a magazine, it is truly that beautiful. Sheila was marvelous from the very first communication to the last - prompt with email responses and ever-ready to provide suggestions, solutions and advice. We have stayed at VRBO properties for many years and in many different locations, our stays here at Sheila and Bill's beautiful Upper West Side home have been our favorite by far. We highly recommend this apartment to those looking for a luxurious, beautiful and affordable alternative to the highest level hotels in New York City. Thank you Sheila and Bill for providing such a wonderful home-away-from-home when we come to your enchanting city...we look forward to many more visits in the future. Lisa & Frits

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

What an experience!Our heartfelt thanks to Sheila & Bill for helping us enjoy our recent visit to New York city.Our group of four had been looking for accommodation in a central location, where we could hopefully live like “locals” – and we were certainly not disappointed. Not only were we in an enviable position in the Upper West Side, less than a minute’s walk to Central Park and the Natural History Museum, and close to a choice of restaurants and great local shopping including Fairways and Zabars, we also had the good fortune of enjoying your immaculately presented home. Everything we needed was at hand, including the use of a gourmet kitchen, full sized renovated bathrooms, a large fireplace and central heating. Spacious and well appointed living areas, tasteful furnishings and warm tones all heightened the appeal of the home, and sometimes, as we heard the envious comments of people passing by, we thought we even looked like locals; enjoying our beautiful self-contained apartment in a fantastic neighbourhood.Thanks again for sharing your home with us – it will last in our memory for a lifetime.Best regards, and warm wishes, Cheryl, Marjorie, Melissa and Justin

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Guest: Justin Bowden (-)
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

What an experience!Our heartfelt thanks to Sheila & Bill for helping us enjoy our recent visit to New York city. Our group of four had been looking for accommodation in a central location, where we could hopefully live like “locals” – and we were certainly not disappointed. Not only were we in an enviable position in the Upper West Side, less than a minute’s walk to Central Park and the Natural History Museum, and close to a choice of restaurants and great local shopping including Fairways and Zabars, we also had the good fortune of enjoying your immaculately presented home. Everything we needed was at hand, including the use of a gourmet kitchen, full sized renovated bathrooms, a large fireplace and central heating. Spacious and well appointed living areas, tasteful furnishings and warm tones all heightened the appeal of the home, and sometimes, as we heard the envious comments of people passing by, we thought we even looked like locals; enjoying our beautiful self-contained apartment in a fantastic neighbourhood.Thanks again for sharing your home with us – it will last in our memory for a lifetime.Best regards, and warm wishes, Cheryl, Marjorie, Melissa and JustinCheryl, Marjorie, Melissa and Justin — Australia

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Guest: John & Eileen Belak (Pittsburgh, PA)
Date of Stay: 07/29/09 Review Submitted: 07/29/09

Our family enjoyed an amazing vacation, last Thanksgiving weekend, in this beautiful home. Sheila and Bill could not have been nicer to work with and their home is exquisite! It is so beautifully decorated yet very comfortable. As an added bonus, the home is conveniently located near Central Park, subways and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. On Thanksgiving morning, we casually walked to the end of the street to watch the parade with our two eight-year-old children. What a thrill! To then cook dinner in the gourmet kitchen, and later eat together in the elegant dining room, made us feel like we were in a movie. It was a special trip we will never forget. There are also some terrific restaurants nearby. We did a lot of fun sightseeing in NYC and it was comforting and relaxing to "come home" here each night. We have many happy and special memories from this trip!

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Guest: Anna & Mark Savoy (-)
Date of Stay: 07/13/09 Review Submitted: 07/13/09

We can say, without a doubt, that this was our most favorite trip ever. Not because it was our first trip to NYC, but because of this apartment, and it's owners. You will find no better location and we've never been more comfortable in any hotel, no we have not. Sheila and Bill made us feel so comfortable, they met us at their apartment on arrival, which has never happened on all of our VRBO rentals. And we've been using VRBO and HomeAway for a couple of years now. I just can't say enough - the trip was perfect, the apartment was perfect, Sheila and Bill are the most perfect hosts. There is no place we know of, of all the places we've stayed, hotels, homes, apartments, none compare with the "Georgian Townhouse" and our New York experience. No regrets, lovely, lovely, lovely!

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