Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great value for the price and location

Guest: Susan P.
Date of Stay: 05/03/12 Review Submitted: 05/21/12

We used this rental for a family vacation for 4 people for 3 nights in May 2012. We had very good communication with the owner and the payment and check-in processes were very easy. The price was very competitive and definitely much cheaper than the two hotel rooms we would have needed. The location of the apartment was great; it was a few blocks from Times Square and a 10 minute walk away from Central Park or Rockefeller Center. In addition, it was located next to a street full of restaurants and stores in case we needed anything immediately. The apartment itself was a functional place to sleep and get ready in the morning, which is what we needed it for. It has a queen bed in the downstairs bedroom (no separate door), a full sized bed in the second bedroom and a full-sized pull out sofa in the living room. The pull out sofa was a bit hard but that wasn't unexpected. The kitchen was small but we weren't really using it. It was great having 1.5 baths! The apartment itself is a bit worn-looking, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked for the price and location. We did get a lot of street noise and could hear everyone coming into the apartment building; the provided fans helped block some of the noise but it did still interfere with our sleep a bit. Overall this property is a good choice for the budget-conscious travelers that need at least 3 beds and want to be around the Times Square area.

Recommended for:

Great Location

Guest: jennifer v.
Date of Stay: 04/21/12 Review Submitted: 05/13/12

We needed a place to stay with our 4 kids and couldn't afford a hotel suite or 2 hotel rooms which is required for a family of six. I was thrilled to find this place and thought it would be fun to introduce the kids to authentic NY apartment life. Vanessa was efficient via emails and provided helpful information to enhance our vacation. We arrived on a Saturday and since the banks were closed, didn't have the entire balance. Vanessa was understanding and told us to not worry about it. She came the following day to collect it. The location was amazing and was surrounded by wonderful restaurants. This was its strongest feature. My husband and I slept downstairs in what seemed to be a converted basement. It had a door/wall adjacent to the boiler room and we heard sloshing fluids and loud clanking sounds on and off throughout the night. So, even though the bed was comfortable, we didn't sleep very well. Vanessa was quick to respond when I had a question. It was a good place to stay in a great location.

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Awesome NY Experience!!

Guest: Dominic M.
Date of Stay: 02/25/12 Review Submitted: 03/21/12

This Apartment is located right in the heart of Hells Kitchen. We walked to Times Square and the Theatre District. There is a great neighborhood market right around the corner and the neighborhood restaurants made us feel like we had lived there for years. You can stay in hotels if you want but to us, this is the only way to go! It had all the amenities we needed and the owner was right there to answer her phone when we had questions. Trust her recommendations for eats too! Great Times

Owner response:Thank you, Dominic!

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Excellent

Guest: Diego M.
Date of Stay: 02/18/12 Review Submitted: 04/02/12

El departamento está muy bien ubicado, es limpio y cómodo y amplio. Tiene todo lo que se puede necesitar y me parece ideal para una familia.

Owner response:Gracias, Diego!

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Lovely central appartment

Guest: Shelagh O.
Date of Stay: 02/11/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

Great little appartment in good location. We stayed with our three teenage children and it worked very well. Daughter slept on sofa bed and boys had small double on ground floor. We had nice big room in basement with en suite toilet and sink. Loads of places to shop and eat locally- great thai and chinese restaurants and every other type of food available within 5 minute walk! Close to Times Square and easy walk to Central Park. Definately recommended. Vanessa looked after us well. Thanks

Owner response:You guys are gold-star guests! Thanks so much and hope to see you again soon!

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Location, location, location!

Guest: Patty K. (Seattle, Washington)
Date of Stay: 01/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/07/12

What an absolutely perfect location. We are three moms who each brought a daughter for a long weekend in NYC. The rental arrangements were painless. We were greeted with a cheerful apartment, centrally located and a perfect home base. Time Square/Theatre district is 3 blocks away and Rockefeller Center is 5 blocks away. Vanessa provided an information packet with recommendations for restaurants, nightclubs and activities which proved to be exactly as described. The apartment was neat and tidy and the half bathroom downstairs gave us the extra space needed to handle six adult women, all getting ready to go out. The kitchen was well equipped, and the apartment was cozy. We loved the warmth that the hardwood floors offered and the little lights around the window added a nice touch. Throughout our visit, we felt safe and secure. We recommend this place and will come back for a return stay. Thanks Vanessa!

Owner response:Looking forward to your next visit, Patty! :)

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Location, location, location!

Guest: Patty K. (Seattle, Washington)
Date of Stay: 01/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/07/12

What an absolutely perfect location. We are three moms who each brought a daughter for a long weekend in NYC. The rental arrangements were painless. We were greeted with a cheerful apartment, centrally located and a perfect home base. Time Square/Theatre district is 3 blocks away and Rockefeller Center is 5 blocks away. Vanessa provided an information packet with recommendations for restaurants, nightclubs and activities which proved to be exactly as described. The apartment was neat and tidy and the half bathroom downstairs gave us the extra space needed to handle six adult women, all getting ready to go out. The kitchen was well equipped, and the apartment was cozy. We loved the warmth that the hardwood floors offered and the little lights around the window added a nice touch. Throughout our visit, we felt safe and secure. We recommend this place and will come back for a return stay. Thanks Vanessa!

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definitely recommend it!

Guest: Luiza O.
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/11/12

We spent 12 days in the apartment, for christmas and new year. The location for a new york's first timer is amazing. You are a few blocks from times square, central park, and very close to theather district! The apartment was great too, low cost for what it offers in terms of location, and Vanessa is always available to respond to any questions and help if you need it. We had a problem with the boiler one day, but thats a building problem, and the pipes in the large bedroom are loud sometimes, but nothing to take away your sleep after a day walking in NY. I definitely recommend it!

Owner response:Ciao Luiza, you guys are awesome!

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Location is Best Feature

Guest: Andrea B.
Date of Stay: 12/15/11 Review Submitted: 02/07/12

It is noisy, and the spiral staircase makes getting luggage downstairs inconvenient, but there are 2 discrete living areas because of it, each with a full bath, which is very nice. The kitchen is tiny, but well-equipped. There are window air-conditioners, but they are old and in need of replacement. The location of the apt. right inside the front door of the building is very convenient, but as others have said, it is noisy. Ah, well. It's the "city that never sleeps," right? The real advantage is in the neighborhood itself. There is a Thai restaurant next door. Walk up to the corner of 49th and 9th, and there's a convenience store, coffee shop (good coffee and baked goods), Duane Reade drug, and next to that, the Amish Market, an upscale grocery. We had a good experience with the owner/agent, except for a problem with checkout time. We had requested a later checkout and were still in our pj's when the maid arrived 15 minutes before normal checkout. She was very nice though, and went to the laundromat with the linens right before we came. The next tenants arrived before 11 also, but they were accommodating and left their luggage and went out until we were able to get our stuff together and vacate. I had let Vanessa know, but she didn't notice the note I tagged on our itinerary. I should have made it bolder, and she should have looked closer, so it's kind of a co-fault deal. Finally, I know most people don't spend any time "at home" in New York, but we like to combine activity with down time, and there is no place to sit. The sofa is a rock and the chair you see at the bottom left of the picture is only a little better. The whole place is a bit shabby compared to what you see in the pictures, but I will (and already have) recommended it to friends with the caveats you see in this review. For the price and, again, the location, it's a good choice overall.

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The location is PERFECT!!!

Guest: Andrea (Grand Bay-Westfield, NB)
Date of Stay: 11/21/11 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

This review is long overdue – sorry Vanessa! My husband & I, along with my sister & brother in law stayed in this apartment Nov 21-28, 2011. It’s certainly not a modern contemporary looking apartment by any means but it suited us just fine and the price is very reasonable for what you are getting. We were in NYC to explore & had no interest in sitting around an apartment all day. It’s not a huge apartment but the layout was great. Bottom line, it was clean & had everything we needed from towels to dishes…even umbrellas! Upstairs there’s a full bath, a bedroom with a double bed, a small but efficient kitchen (who goes to NYC to cook their own meals anyway?!!) and a living room with tv & stereo. Downstairs is like its own little separate apartment with a queen bed & a half bath. You'll hear the clanking pipes and you might hear people walking through the building hall. However, that wasn’t a big deal to us. It was kind of charming in the end! Pack earplugs & you’ll be fine! What you will get with this apartment is a FABULOUS location! I’m a small town girl so I was a little bit nervous about walking around NYC. Not once was I nervous coming or leaving the apartment even at night. We walked everywhere plus you are also close to a Subway stop if you needed to go further. Not only is it close to attractions (we could walk to Times Square, Radio City, Rockefeller Centre, Central Park, 5th Avenue etc, etc) it’s a stone’s throw away from a drugstore (Duane Reade), a supermarket (The Amish one) & a liquor store. It also has a bunch of fabulous restaurants nearby. Vanessa will provide you with a little booklet of information regarding things that are in the area. This booklet was extremely helpful for us with planning out first trip to the Big City! We tried the 5 Napkin Burger & the quaint little Thai restaurant not right next door to the apartment but the one just a street over (forget the name) & both places are excellent! Another perk to this apartment is Vanessa. We booked the apartment almost 10 months in advance & she went out of her way to accommodate us with regards to flight arrival & departure times & storing our luggage. Also, any concerns we had, she quickly addressed them. We got to meet her our first day and she’s the type of person who you feel like you’ve know forever! Vanessa – you are awesome! Thank you soooo much for everything!!! I’ve already been recommending this place & I hope to get back myself someday!

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

Perfect spot for us

Guest: Dawn O.
Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 12/17/11

We were thrilled to stay in this place. It was just what was advertised and so close to everything that we wanted to see in the city. We loved feeling like we actually lived in NY. The apartment was clean, but could have used some minor repairs - bathroom door hinges, toilet flusher, boiler makes a really loud sound when it comes on. Vanessa was very helpful and organized. She arranged check in and check out so that it was smooth and easy. The list of recommendations for restaurants and things to do was very helpful. We would definitely stay in this place again. Thanks Vanessa!

Owner response:Thanks, Dawn! You'll be happy to know the bathroom flush is all fixed and door is being worked on. Boiler is up next... :)

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This is New York !

Guest: John N.
Date of Stay: 09/29/11 Review Submitted: 10/27/11

We stayed 11 nights in beautiful New York. This apartment has anything you need to have a comfortable stay in the city that never sleeps. With a wife and two teenaged daughters I loved the fact that the apartment had to bathrooms! The location was perfect; easy access to the Subway system, close to Central Park and Times Square. Vanessa (the owner) was very helpful when our flight was 4 hours delayed. John-Arne Nyland, Norway

Owner response:Thanks, John-Arne. I'm just happy you made it after the delayed flight!

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Fantastic Apartment & Fantastic Location!

Guest: Rebecca G.
Date of Stay: 09/12/11 Review Submitted: 09/20/11

Where do I begin on describing the best 30th Birthday trip anyone could ask for to NYC! I highly recommend this Apartment to anybody that wants to stay close to all major attractions that NYC has to offer, 10 mins walk to Times Square and a huge choice of restaurants just around the corner, basically if you want to experience city living this is the place to stay! 5 of us stayed here, we had plenty of room and will be back! Thank You Vanessa for your excellent communication which made our trip hassle free!!

Owner response:Thanks Rebecca! Glad that your 30th was a memorable one in NYC. :)

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

Great app. Hell's Kitchen

Guest: Robert v.
Date of Stay: 07/23/11 Review Submitted: 08/15/11

What a nice appartment for our party of six from the Netherlands! We had a great time in NYC. Everything went well for our cheque in and out. Vanessa told us exactly what to do. We had fun in the app. wich is just right for a stay in the City that never sleeps ( what we did after walking a lot off blocks! ) But the app. is right next to everything you want to vist, Broadway ( go see Spiderman! ) Time Square and Empire State etc. We saw a lot and rested in the app. Neighbourhood is perfect, not to loud. Hopefully we get a change to get back to NYC, and then we'll contact Vanessa, cause she has the right place for a good week in Nieuw Amsterdam. Thanks for good care Vanessa. Groeten uit Holland, Robert.

Owner response:Thanks, Robert!

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

California Resident

Guest: Angie (Bakersfield, California)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/26/11

We just arrived back in California on Saturday after staying 7 days at this apartment. It was a true NY experience and the location is amazing. It was away from the hustle and bustle of times square, but was a short walk to times square, restaurants, theatres, and museums and the subway, which we used every day. Vanessa is extremely nice and helpful. If you want to feel like a resident of NY for a week, this is the place to be. We followed a recommendation for BBQ at Daisy Mays and it was amazing. Thank you Vanessa for your hospitality. I would definitely recommend this rental to a friend.

Owner response:Angie, I'm so happy you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for taking great care of the place; hope to see you back in NYC again soon!

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

nice property

Guest: Cass. (Dublin, Ireland)
Date of Stay: 06/02/11 Review Submitted: 06/16/11

This property is very centrally located, in easy reach of many touristy attractions. There are a lot of nice places to eat nearby, and it is adjacent to the subway, which makes it very easy to travel around the city. Although near some busy areas, the apartment is quiet and comfortable. I would recommend it to a friend, in fact my son and girlfriend, are already planning to return next summer.The apartment is clean and well maintained.

Owner response:Thanks a million, Sean. Perhaps I'll see you again soon at the Brazen Head!

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

Perfect with the best location

Guest: Nic B. (Stockport UK)
Date of Stay: 05/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/03/11

Myself, my husband and my parents stayed in the apartment for 10 days and had a fantastic time. Vanessa met us at the apartment and was absolutely charming, very friendly and very approachable. The apartment was very clean and well stocked the only quibble we had was the front door being slammed, but a pair of ear plugs soon sorted that out! The location of the apartment could not be any better, it's close to everything! It's in walking distance of Times square, central park, restaurant row, broadway, the Intrepid and the empire state building etc etc. I would definitely recommend a stay in this apartment.

Owner response:So happy you enjoyed experiencing "city life," Nicola! And we're working on getting that door fixed to make it close more quietly. :)

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

The Perfect getaway place.

Guest: cheryl (Ottawa, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

We were there for the weekend and loved the apartment. We were 2 women so we each had our own room. We could walk to the best restaurants, theatres, times square and close to a subway stop too. The beds are so comfortable and the place was very clean. We felt very safe in this neighbourhood.

Owner response:Thank so much for the note, Julie. Definitely let me know when you're ready for another getaway!

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

Home away from home!!! Fantastic location!!!

Guest: Julie and Cheryl (Ottawa, Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/20/11 Review Submitted: 05/23/11

Vanessa, thanks again for your hospitality! Your place was PERFECT, and we felt like we actually lived in NY. The suggested restaurants were wonderful (Hell's Kitchen in particular) and we were able to walk around to many sights - Times Square; Central Park; Restaurant Row and Broadway play. The layout of your pad was great, and we had everything we needed (and more!!!). We will certainly book with you again next time we get to NYC for another girls' weekend!

Owner response:Love Hell's Kitchen! So glad you ladies enjoyed the NYC experience. Come back soon!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Great Location!

Guest: Colorado Resident (Fort Collins, CO)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11

We were out for our son's graduation and wanted a central location with easy access to various places in Manhattan. We really liked the close proximity to the subway lines and it was very easy to grab a taxi as well. There were a lot of restaurant/grocery/drug options close by and street fair on 9th Avenue over the weekend was added surprise. My husband and I also had our son stay with us a few nights, so 2 bedroom worked well. Our daughter also came by several times and we were all 4 comfortable in the living area. Baths were small, but clean and worked well for us. We did not cook, but kitchen was convenient for storing leftovers and drinks. Vanessa was very responsive and friendly - we called with a few questions and she got right back to us. We have recommended to other folks here in Colorado.

Owner response:Thanks for the review you guys. Also glad you enjoyed the street fair over the weekend!

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

I Wish It Was as Nice as It Sounded

Guest: constant traveler (southwest)
Date of Stay: 05/03/11 Review Submitted: 05/14/11

Location is good, central to most everything. Loved the nearby Coffee Pot Cafe. Apartment is not maintained (some outlets, appliances, etc. didn't work right; broken woodwork; tile in bathrooms and floors broken and dirty; pieces of flea market furniture rickety and broken; raw plasterboard over shower ceiling. Filthy (dirt and dust in every corner; upholstered furniture was nasty and smelly, the walls were absolutely horrid and needed painting. We stayed there 10 days and had to ask for clean sheets and towels (which were replaced) It is a cute place in an old building and could be wonderful but I would never stay there again--don't even like to think about it.

Owner response:Of the 26 guests who have reviewed this apartment, this is the ONLY 1-star. Out of over 100 combined reviews across three properties I manage, this is the ONLY review that has less than 3 stars in over three years.  The imperfections of the apartment are embellished, inaccurate, and frankly -- rude. I was nothing but polite, honest and as accommodating as possible with these guests (even after they destroyed property and did not take responsibility for it). To have such a misleading and malicious review posted is dishonest and hurtful.

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Apartment with its little mistakes

Guest: Sabi (Switzerland)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/11

We are 4 young people who rented the apartment for a Week in April. Vanessa wasn't available to gave us the keys so we had to arrange us in another way. Everything worked. The apartment wasn't really clean, it looks a bit dingy, also the dish wasn't really clean. Me and my boyfriend got the downstairs bedroom and also this bath. The bed sheet wasn't also not very clean, so that we asked Vanessa for a new one, and she changed it the day after. During the night it was loud and we woke up a few times because of the pipe in the room who made a few very loud bangs, most at 6.00am was the first of those bangs, sometimes during the night. During the rest of the week we acclimatize to this bang and could sleep better. But it was very very cold in the room downstairs, so that we slept with sweater and socks an 2 t-shirts. After two nights like that we started to warm up the room with the hair-dryer so that the room became warmer. In the bedroom upstairs it was the opposite, they had to warm and couldn't cool down the room during the night because the air conditioner was too loud. Also you get woken up in the morning because the neighbours are very loud, they are slaming the doors and walk trough the whole house. All in all the apartmant was okay for one week, because we have been there only for sleeping, but there are some things which weren't really comfortable. The best at the apartment was the bearing, it was really close to everything and you could do anything around the apartment.

Owner response:I am very sorry the apartment did not meet your expectations, Sabrina. Honestly, I am a bit baffled by some of the comments, but should future guests have similar issues, I do hope they would notify me immediately so I could correct and make their stay as comfortable as possible.

Recommended for:Sightseeing

LOVE NEW YORK

Guest: Kristen (New Zealand)
Date of Stay: 02/26/11 Review Submitted: 05/03/11

We had a fabulous time in New York the apartment was in a great location for all we wanted to do and dealing with Vanessa was easy. We LOVE New York!

Owner response:Thanks for the love, Kristen!

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

Great Holiday

Guest: Shaz (Australia)
Date of Stay: 02/16/11 Review Submitted: 02/25/11

I rented this apartment from Vanessa for one week with my husband and a close friend. The apartment was nice. Vanessa is amazingly helpful with tips on where to go and things to do in the neighborhood and around Manhattan. The apartment does have a few quirks. The "den" as I got to calling it (the downstairs bedroom) is where me and my husband slept. It has it's own toilet but there is a pipe that runs through the ceiling. This pipe lets off loud bangs randomly throughout the day and night. It wasn't a constant thing but did wake us up a few times. Vanessa was not available to meet us on arrival but made sure we had no problems receiving the keys and checked in every couple of days to ensure everything was going well. I would recommend this as a place to stay for it's location and friendliness of Vanessa.

Owner response:Thanks for the review, Sharon. And sorry about that pipe -- call it NYC apartment living charm!

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

The real charm of NYCity life

Guest: Sergey (Moscow, Russia)
Date of Stay: 02/04/11 Review Submitted: 02/25/11

Vanessa ,thanks a lot for your hospitality, we stayed in the apartment for four days and would like to stay more if circumstances allow. The location is great! walking distance to Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park and many other places. A lot of restaurants around, one of them I would strongly recommend to all Chinese cuisine lovers as I am - Thai's restaurant just next door - incredible, fantastic food at a very affordable price. Vanessa is charming, very helpful person, ready to answer any questions, apartment is very neat and clean, definitely will stay this apartment again. Thanks again Vanessa!

Owner response:Sergey, thanks so much. I look forward to seeing you in Moscow one of these days!

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

Perfect!

Guest: Rosie (Bellflower,Ca)
Date of Stay: 01/20/11 Review Submitted: 02/25/11

This location was perfect! It was close to pretty much everything... subways, 5th Avenue, time square, central park and MoMA. I was really nervous about staying at a place other than a hotel simply because it was my first time considering to rent a home. I am truly happy my group and I stayed at this location. Vanessa was very helpful and she made sure we had everything we needed. The property was clean, well maintained and it felt like home and since were staying here for five days that was a major concern for us. New York was beautiful!! Thanks Vanessa for allowing us to stay in your home it was a memorable experience.

Owner response:Come back anytime, Rocio!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Great Location

Guest: Mick (San Francisco)
Date of Stay: 01/05/11 Review Submitted: 01/20/11

This is a Great Location for an Active Family with Young Teen Agers. You are close to Times Square, Rockerfeller Center, Lincoln Center for Perfoming Arts Central Park, Columbus Circle, Museum of Modern Art, the Natural History Museum the Metropolitan etc etc etc We walked everywhere. The apartment is in an historic old building and is updated and comfortable and the kitchen is very sufficient for making simple at home meals which we did ofter (Manhattan is EXPENSIVE!!). The apartment outfitted with everything you need like extra blankets and pillows etc. It is compact, like most Manhattan apartments, but there are two bathrooms. Nice spiral stairs down to a basement bedroom. Which allows privacy for the grown ups. Has nice hardwood floors and is charming in its old age and period features. Beware the clanging pipes for the steam heat in winter..but actually you get used to them and it is strangely charming after awhile. But Once again Great for Teenagers. And we love the Hell's Kitchen Neighborhood and instantly felt like locals. Yeah Coffee Pot, the local coffee stop. Another nice thing about the apartment you can live like you really live in Manhattan. Vanessa who manages the property is endlessly helpful and will answer all your emails and inquiries instantly.

Owner response:Thanks a million, Mick! I heard you had quite a trek over the Brooklyn Bridge in the snow!

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

great location !!!!!

Guest: marroyons (Madrid, Spain)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 12/26/10

Apartment very well equipped, very comfortable and conforms to that indicated by the web. Very well located with a short-distance transport that take you to the most representative of New York and located in a beautiful area, few minutes walking in Times square or Rockefeller Center. Apartment very highly recommended. Vanessa very kind and very professional treatment.

Owner response:Thanks, and I'm still waiting on those photos. :P See you in Madrid!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

True New York Experience!!

Guest: Dawn (Jefferson GA)
Date of Stay: 11/19/10 Review Submitted: 12/13/10

We brought our two teenage daughters to New York for their Christmas and had a wonderful trip. We all loved the apartment and the location was great!! It was just a short walk to Time Square and convenient to anything you needed. Having the half bath was a big help when everyone was getting ready! Vanessa was always a text away to answer any questions. Staying in the apartment really added authenticity to our New York trip. We would definitely stay there again. Thanks Vanessa!!

Owner response:You're so welcome, Dawn! Glad to hear you and the girls enjoyed it.

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

Holidays in the heart of Manhattan

Guest: Name3000 (Russia)
Date of Stay: 11/10/10 Review Submitted: 11/22/10

Great place to enjoy the scent of city that never sleeps. Very good location, close to subway and Times Square. Every day you can go on Broadway shows or spent time in restaurants and cafes - everything is in the neighborhood. Little minus - noise. But it's everywhere in Manhattan. The apartment is clean and has all you need. And Vanessa is so helpful and pleasant person, that you'll want to return. Irina

Owner response:You ladies are awesome and I hope to see you again soon. :)

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

great stay in Hells kitchen

Guest: Anna (Stockholm, Sweden)
Date of Stay: 10/27/10 Review Submitted: 11/28/10

We want to thank Vanessa for a great time in New York in her apartment. It has a great location if you want the full NYC experience this is just in the middle of it. The apartment has a great layout giving you lots of space to feel like home and not crammed up in a hotel. Vanessa is a great host and made sure we were happy as well as sorting everything out (keys etc) based on our schedule and not hers. Thanks a lot, we’ll be back ?

Owner response:Thanks so much Anna!

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

Location, Location, Location!

Guest: Karen (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/03/10 Review Submitted: 10/17/10

We (my mother, mother-in-law and myself) stayed here for six nights in early October. It was great to find a two bedroom apartment in a NYC neighborhood that is so well located. It was a 10 minute walk to Times Square and less than 10 minute walk to three different subway lines. The apartment is very well situated if one wishes to take the Gray Line bus tours, go for a walk in Central Park, go shopping on 5th Avenue or see some Broadway shows. There are numerous restaurants in the area and even a grocery store around the corner if one wants to eat in. It was great to have a well stocked kitchen (plates, glasses, pots, toaster etc.) and I have to say that the downstairs bed was one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in while traveling. Vanessa was wonderful! She is super friendly and responded promptly regarding all accommodation inquiries and any local questions I had prior to our trip. I would defiantly stay here again on a future visit.

Owner response:Thanks so much for the review, Karen! Looking forward to having you back sometime soon. :)

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

Cant beat this location, will come back again!

Guest: Paulo from TX (US)
Date of Stay: 09/02/10 Review Submitted: 09/23/10

We spend 5 days/4 nights over the labor day weekend on this property and here are my comments about it: Pros: 1. You can beat this location!!! it is exactly 5 blocks away from time square (10 minutes walk). A thai restaurant, a convenience store and a grocery store right on the corner of the apartment; On the same corner is 9th avenue where you can get tons of restaurants for any kind of budget!! 2. Vanessa, the person responsible of the apartment is the friendliest, kindest and nicest person you can have as a host! She was always ready to answer our questions (we booked 6 months in advance so we contacted her very often), she did follow up on our arrival time ans she was right there when we arrived to the unit after a long flight. 3. The apartment is very very quiet even being on a first floor!! After long walking days, that's exactly what we wanted! both bedrooms are interior bedrooms which make them really dark and quiet, just perfect to rest!! The living room is really bright and that's everything you want to be bright in the mornings. 4. Nice small kitchen equipped with all the necessary items for light breakfasts and storage of groceries and cold drinks. 5. Internet and cable in the unit so keeping track of email and watching some local news before bed was not an issue. 6. Again, Location location location!!!! Now some few Cons but nothing major: 1. The apartment has a weird distribution: the bigger room is downstairs from the main entrance and the apartment layout is a little bit tight; it is king of a rectangular distribution but we were ok with it, it is just weird distribution. 2. The second bedroom's bed is not exactly a queen, it is more like a double; fine for two regular size people (I slept on that room with my wife with no problem) but it is not exactly a queen; however, the downstairs room (the bigger room) is in fact a very comfortable room with tons of space! 3. There is only 1 full bathroom; the downstairs bathroom does not have a shower; I believe that was on the description so not an issue but if there are more than 3 people, taking a morning shower is kind of slow. We loved this unit and we hope we can go back again; Thanks Vanessa for everything, you were great!!

Owner response:Paulo, you are awesome! And I am not sure how you did it, but you kept the rain away for the US Open. :) Regarding the upstairs bedroom, you are correct -- the bed is a double and NOT a queen. Hope to have you back soon!

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

GREAT APARTMENT

Guest: super mom (Ontario)
Date of Stay: 08/22/10 Review Submitted: 09/03/10

My 3 daughters and I stayed in this apartment from August 22nd to August 25th. Vanessa the owner was like a personal travel agent. She made herself available constantly through email or by phone for the many questions we had regarding restaurants, tours, attractions etc. All of the many recommendations that Vanessa made were superb. The apartment was clean, spacious and very, very central to everything. We would definitely stay here in the future. It was a pleasure dealing with Vanessa and staying at her wonderful apartment.

Owner response:So happy you ladies enjoyed your stay! Please come back and visit soon -- I'm thinking you should make it an annual trip! :)

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

Best of times in NYC

Guest: Stephan (Germany)
Date of Stay: 08/06/10 Review Submitted: 09/06/10

We stayed with 5 persons in Vanessa's appartment, and everything worked out perfectly. My parents stayed in the basement bedroom with an own small bathroom, my girlfriend and I stayed at the 2nd bedroom, and my sister slept on the couch, which is really comfortable. Everybody had his privacy, it worked out great. The appartment has free WiFi, and all TV-channels you actually need (noone travels to NYC to watch TV!). Staying at a appartment is the best possible way to explore a city like New York (it was my 5th time in NYC), especially having an own kitchen is great. You couldn't ask for a better location, it is a 5-10 minute walk to Times Square and a 2 minute walk to the next subway-station. A bunch of cool restaurants, pizza-places, coffee- and breakfast-places, and small supermarkets are right around the corner on 9th or 10th Av. Even though the appartment is right in Midtown of Manhattan, we didn't have a any problems with noise, the street is really quiet. Vanessa is an extremley nice and helpful person, she met us at the appartment when we arrived in NYC, gave us a tour through all the rooms, answered all my emails pretty much right away (thanks to Palm and Iphone, ha ha), and pretty much answered every single question we had. Thank you Vanessa!

Owner response:Thanks so much, Stephan! It was lovely to meet you and your family. So happy you all enjoyed your stay and hope to see you in NYC again soon!

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

Great New York Base at the right price

Guest: Aury (Scotland)
Date of Stay: 07/17/10 Review Submitted: 08/11/10

When I was looking for flats to rent in New York for me, my husband and my parents, I originally selected 5 properties, including this one and Vanessa's other property in New York. We chose this one because of the Duplex layout and second restrooms. This is a great setup as both couples could have their privacy. The second fantastic positive point of this property is the location. It is 5 minutes walk to 2 subway stations, and under 10 minutes to Times Square! The property was clean when we arrived, and has air conditionning and plenty of hot water - although since we were there in July, we were mostly taking cold showers! There is also WiFi which is always handy to have. My parents, who had the bedroom in the basement, which is sort of open-plan with the staircase going downstairs, complained a bit of noise in the building at the week-end. I guess you're going to get this pretty much everywhere in New York. Apart from that, the street is very quiet and we didn't get any noise during the week. The main bathroom is perfectly formed. The kitchen is a bit on the small side, but we never cooked and always ate out (lots of restaurants nearby and a coffee shop for breakfast round the corner!) so it didn't bother us. Vanessa the owner is fantastic. She helped us a lot when we had questions on certain things (taxi, rooftop restaurant etc...) and was very friendly during all the time we were in touch with her (we booked the flat in February for our July trip). We regret that we didn't get to meet her! The flat is exactly as the pictures show and as described. I would stay there again, and recommend it to everyone I know! Thank you Vanessa! :)

Owner response:You are so welcome. And I am still laughing about the photo you sent. Loved it! Come back soon!

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

Great place to stay, just blocks away from Broadway/Times Square!

Guest: Jennifer (Durham, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/09/10 Review Submitted: 06/27/10

We are so glad we found Vanessa and this apartment! My family of 4 (including 2 teenage daughters) recently visited NYC and had a great time! This apartment is centrally located only a few blocks away from Broadway and Times Square. The owner, Vanessa, is great. Lots of contact prior to our visit to ensure everything was in order. The apartment is spacious and clean and exactly as advertised. Plenty of room. The front door lock was a little tricky at first but once we got the hang of it, there was no problem at all. Highly recommend this apartment to anyone visiting the city. It's in a great, safe neighborhood with lots of great restaurants nearby. I can't say enough about it...it was perfect! Highly recommend and when we go back we will stay here again!

Owner response:Thanks, Jennifer! So glad you enjoyed your stay and hope to see you again soon.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

Great value but not for really young kids

Guest: Rob, Rachel & Liam (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Date of Stay: 05/15/10 Review Submitted: 01/03/11

We spent 10 days in this midtown apartment. The apartment is set in a local neighbourhood, with heaps of shops near by. The apartment is on the ground floor, which is great for not having to carry your bags up flights of stairs, however the downside was the noise level. We found that the noise was constant, not only the street noise but at the time of our stay we had heaps of internal noise of people coming home at all hours and the front door loudly slamming. As we had a young toddler with us, it was very difficult for us trying to get him to sleep and we were often woken up with loud noises of people entering and leaving the building at all hours of the night. There is a large spiral metal stair case which is unsafe for little children as the parents retreat is downstairs and it would be difficult for a toddler to navigate the stairs at night. That said, it is better value than any hotel in NY and certainly has great proximity to all of Broadway and Times Square. If you are a young couple travelling and don't have young kids or have teenagers it would definitely be a place to stay as it was very close to everything. If you have children under 5 this is probably not the best option as the spiral staircase and noise from traffic did make it difficult for our boy to get to sleep. Vanessa was certainly very helpful and did everything she could to assist including dropping off a gate for the stairs and she is a wealth of knowledge on the local things to see and do. You certainly feel like you are living like a local in this spot and that did add an experience that you could not get at a Hotel.

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

Great Apartment

Guest: Mother/Daughter Adventurers (Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/02/10 Review Submitted: 04/13/10

We had an excellent stay in this beautiful apartment on the Lower East Side. Excellent accommodations for 6 people. All amenities. Pictures are very accurate. Owners were very hospitable and helpful. Easy access to Times Square by cab, subway and tour bus. Would definitely stay here again and recommend the apartment to my friends and family.

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

Home away from home

Guest: Girls from Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Holland)
Date of Stay: 03/06/10 Review Submitted: 03/25/10

We stayed for 5 nights in this wonderful apartment. When we arrived we found it just the way it is described! Two wonderful bedrooms, a cosy living room and a well stocked kitchen. The 1,5 bathrooms are superb if you stay with friends or as a family with children. Before we arrived we had a lot of email contact with the owner and she was so helpful with answering all the questions we had. Her friendliness makes us want to come back and stay in this wonderful place again! The apartmentbuilding is fairly quiet and yes, no stairs was very handy after long days of shopping and walking the streets of NYC. We were pleasantly surprised by the very good restaurants in the neighbourhood. We enjoyed a good Italian lunch, a superb French diner and of course breakfast in a real American diner, all within a few blocks on 9th Avenue. The Amish store around the corner offers a large (and very healthy) supply of groceries to make a wonderful breakfast, lunch and diner. The fact that Central Park is just 6 blocks away, gave our friend the opportunity to put on her running clothes, start the day with her 10 km round and be back around 8 o clock to have breakfast. I would definitely recommend this property, also to a family with children. The sepreate bedrooms made it a comfortable and cosy stay in NYC. Thanks!

Owner response:So glad you enjoyed your stay, ladies! AND that you brought the sunshine with you. :)

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

Guest: Eugenio 1 (Guadalajara Mexico)
Date of Stay: 02/08/10 Review Submitted: 02/08/10

Just came from a wonderfull family vacation in Vanessa´s apartment. Besides the obvious advantages on location, the space, the convenience of the 1.5 BR is outstanding. But beyond all is the exceptional hospitality of Vanessa and the care she puts in everything! We will be back! E

Owner response:Thanks so much Eugenio! I hope you make it back to NYC soon. Otherwise, I'll see you in Mexico. :)

Recommended for:

Guest: WannabeaMainer! (OKC, OK )
Date of Stay: 12/09/09 Review Submitted: 12/09/09

We consider ourselves greatly blessed having met Vanessa on-line thru VRBO/Home-Away, then in-person upon arrival in NYC and communicating with her as needed throughout our recent 10-day vacation to enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Situated just west of 9th Avenue and 49th Street, her near-perfect apartment is 3 short NYC blocks from Times Square and conveniently located near numerous theatres and fine restaurants as well as within walking distance to Circle Line and Gray Line city cruises/tours, and much, much more! The building-controlled heat was very toasty on cool nights. On not-so-cool nights, the fan(s) and A/C unit kept the apartment comfortable while also eliminating the predictable street noise of near-midtown Manhattan. The apartment boasts a very clean interior with wonderfully-comfortable beds (nice linens) and sofa, and no shortage of REALLY HOT water for numerous guests. The kitchen is small but servicable, however, cooking was limited to stove top as there was no microwave. This is a new rental apartment for Vanessa when we were there in December 2009. There is service for 8 of essentials--including dinner and salad plates, bowls, coffee cups, glasses, wine glasses, utensils, and quality pots/pans. Ample cleaning products and daily essentials were provided as well! TV (basic cable) and DVD/CD player are nice, but when in NYC who has time for these?!! Yet, if you enjoy holiday football games you will need to visit one of the nearby sports bars. The only distractions were the accumulation of trash outside the apartment building, lack of dining table (although a coffee table stands in, if required) and the bath enclosure tile is smeared with adhesive or grout (however, even this is clean). Beds can comfortably accomodate up to 6; however, couch is comfortable only for 3 with no other chairs at this time. Vanessa provided exceptional service and overall we would rate this 4-5 star accomodations for the value provided. If you're looking for near-perfection, this is a unit worth considering! Vanessa is not only an excellent landlord but now a NYC friend. Can hardly wait to visit again!

Owner response:Thanks so much, Elaine. You'll be happy to know we've added a table with two chairs to the living area and microwave to the kitchen! :) Hope to see you back in NYC soon.

Recommended for:

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

I recently stayed in this apt with my family and had a fantastic time. It's centrally located near Times Square, but in the quiet, safe neighborhood nearby. Great restaurants and coffee shops everywhere. The subway is a few short blocks. About the apt-- wi-fi included, beds were comfy and cozy, 1.5 baths?! Unheard of in NYC. Oh and the host is super nice and friendly. Knows a lot about the area. Highly recommend any of their apts.

Recommended for:

Centrally Located near Times Square Yet Quiet & Safe

Guest: Nicole Price (Santa Monica, CA)
Date of Stay: 12/02/09 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

I recently stayed in this apt with my family and had a fantastic time. It's centrally located near Times Square, but in the quiet, safe neighborhood nearby. Great restaurants and coffee shops everywhere. The subway is a few short blocks. About the apt-- wi-fi included, beds were comfy and cozy, 1.5 baths?! Unheard of in NYC. Oh and the host is super nice and friendly. Knows a lot about the area. Highly recommend any of their apts.

Recommended for:

Near-Perfect Apartment!

Guest: Rick and Elaine Miller (Oklahoma City, OK)
Date of Stay: 11/24/09 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

We consider ourselves greatly blessed having met Vanessa thru Home-Away, then in-person upon arrival in NYC and communicating with her as needed throughout our recent 10-day vacation to enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Situated just west of 9th Avenue and 49th Street, her near-perfect apartment is 3 short NYC blocks from Times Square and conveniently located near numerous theatres and fine restaurants as well as within walking distance to Circle Line and Gray Line city cruises/tours, and much, much more! The apartment boasts a very clean interior with wonderfully-comfortable beds (nice linens) and sofa, and no shortage of REALLY HOT water for numerous guests. The kitchen is small but servicable, however, cooking was limited to stove top as there was no microwave. This is a new rental apartment for Vanessa when we were there in December 2009. There is service for 8 of essentials--including dinner and salad plates, bowls, coffee cups, glasses, wine glasses, utensils, and quality pots/pans. Ample cleaning products and daily essentials were provided as well! TV (basic cable) and DVD/CD player are nice, but when in NYC who has time for these?!! Yet, if you enjoy holiday football games you will need to visit one of the nearby sports bars. Vanessa provided exceptional service and overall we would rate this 4-5 star accommodations for the value provided. If you're looking for near-perfection, this is a unit worth considering! Vanessa is not only an excellent landlord but now a NYC friend. Can hardly wait to visit again!

Recommended for:

Guest: eleanor langston (Medina, Ohio )
Date of Stay: 11/16/09 Review Submitted: 11/16/09

I had the most amazing experience in NYC and it was due to Vanessa. She was extremely accomodating to our needs (first time in NYC), the apartment was enormous and extremely clean, she met us at the apartment and shared with us all the fabulous things to do in the neighborhood. Like the best ever burger was only a block away, or better Thai food here then in Thailand (really), blocks away from times square and we can get downtown or to central park in only 20 minutes. Now I can say with out a doubt that "I heart NYC" and I feel I owe it all to Vanessa. I only wish all my travel experiences were this lovely.

Recommended for:

Most Amazing Experience in NYC

Guest: Eleanor Langston (Medina, OH)
Date of Stay: 11/08/09 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

I had the most amazing experience in NYC and it was due to Vanessa. She was extremely accomodating to our needs (first time in NYC), the apartment was enormous and extremely clean, she met us at the apartment and shared with us all the fabulous things to do in the neighborhood. Like the best ever burger was only a block away, or better Thai food here then in Thailand (really), blocks away from times square and we can get downtown or to central park in only 20 minutes. Now I can say with out a doubt that "I heart NYC" and I feel I owe it all to Vanessa. I only wish all my travel experiences were this lovely.

Recommended for: