Vacation Rentals by Owner

Great apartment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 11/07/11 Review Submitted: 12/01/11

Best place I have stayed at in Manhattan. Very cute apartment, with full kitchen and a washer and dryer. Neighborhood is very quiet and conveniently located near Central Park and two subway lines. Owners are very nice and cooperative. Only negative is the couch and mattresses are very mushy and need to be replaced. Will rent again when visiting New York.

Owner response:Dear Jeff, thank you for your review. You are the first to have commented on the beds and sofa and we appreciate your input. We will address that situation right away. We are very pleased that you would like to return to our place when visiting New York.

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

Great apartment and location

Guest: jollycharla (Portland, OR)
Date of Stay: 07/28/11 Review Submitted: 08/11/11

Wonderful place to stay and a great layout for my family. The bonus was the full size washer and dryer right in the apartment, which is a rare find in NYC apartments and made our week's stay much easier. Quiet street, yet convenient to public transportation. Hope to stay here again when we return to NYC!

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

Perfect for a family trip

Guest: Wendy A. (California)
Date of Stay: 07/10/11 Review Submitted: 03/10/12

Wonderful location, quiet apartment, very clean and well-equipped kitchen. This was the perfect place for my husband and me and our 8-year old. The Upper West side is a great place to stay with kids (and without too!). Close to the subways and the park which was wonderful. We even met some nice neighbors walking their dog in the morning. Joe and Vera are wonderful and very helpful. I would highly recommend and would certainly stay here again! Thank you very much.

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

Great Location

Guest: Eric (Bend, OR)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/11/11

We spent 9 nights here during July 2011. Exactly as advertised and a wonderful location with subway, stores, central park and activities very close. Nice neighborhood that made us all feel welcome and comfortable.

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

Wonderful NYC Visit

Guest: Loved NYC (Greenville, SC)
Date of Stay: 12/18/10 Review Submitted: 01/01/11

My husband, our 2 teenage sons, and I stayed at this apartment the week before Christmas and had a great experience. Vera was extremely kind and accommodating both before and during our stay. The apartment was so much nicer than a hotel and we appreciated having a home away from home. The apartment was clean and comfortable and we loved having a kitchen, which allowed us to eat breakfast each day and a couple of dinners without having to go to restaurants. The laundry facilities in the apartment were a real help, too. The apartment's Upper West Side location is near to 2 subway stations, which made getting around the city easy, and we had no trouble finding a taxi to the airport on our departure day. Many restaurants (most of which offer take out and delivery), drug stores, and grocery stores are nearby and we found that New Yorkers are friendly and helpful. I have recommended this apartment to several friends and relatives. We had a wonderful time in this apartment and in NYC and would love to return soon.

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

Nice and Convenient NY Address

Guest: Family Traveller (Ottawa, Canada)
Date of Stay: 10/18/10 Review Submitted: 04/01/11

My wife, mother-in-law, 3 year-old, and I stayed at Joe and Vera's in October 2010 for a week. This is a long overdue report on a very nice stay. Vera was extremely responsive to all my inquiries from the get-go. Their place is nicely appointed and conveniently located just a half block from Central Park and 2 playgrounds, and the subway. Grocery stores are nearby. Prior to arrival, Joe and Vera provide a very convenient mini-tour guide of the neighbourhood, including restaurant recommendations. We tried 3 and all were tremendous. We'll surely make this our NY home again. Thank you very much.

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

Perfect for a family!

Guest: Bonnie in Atlanta (United States)
Date of Stay: 09/12/10 Review Submitted: 09/20/10

Just spent five nights at Vera and Joe's on W 94th Street. We had a wonderful time and the apartment was just perfect for our family, very clean and comfortable. 15 year old son and 9 year old daughter were very happy in the bunk bed. So much nicer than staying in a hotel. Two separate bedrooms, living room and a nice little kitchen were just like in the photos. It was a great place to "come home" to after a busy day in the city. Lovely, quiet street. We slept with the windows open. Easy walk to two different subway lines and just steps from a great little market and restaurants in one direction and Central Park in the other. Location could not be better. Also Vera gave great suggestions for where to eat in the neighborhood. We would definitely stay there again!

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

Perfect home-away-from-home for family (Ausralia)

Guest: LisaD (Melbourne, Australia)
Date of Stay: 09/04/10 Review Submitted: 02/13/11

My husband, two boys (13yrs & 11 yrs) and myself stayed in this apartment for a week in September 2010 and cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone else wanting the perfect base to explore New York. The photos and description were accuarte and the apartment was very clean with every amenity you would need. Whilst not huge, there was plenty of space to unwind after a hectic day. The location was great (much easier to get to via subway than the upper eastside), with the nearest subway station only 1 block away and Central Park 1/2 block (we spent hours exploring the park and had a lovely picnic with supplies from Zabars Deli - a must if you love food and kitchen gadgets. My husband had to drag me out of the place after 1 1/2 hours!). The little local deli across the road was wonderful for getting supplies for a lovely, easy dinner and the Mexican & Italian restaurants around the corner were very reasonale and had great food. Several supermarkets within EASY walking distance. The apartment is in the area where You've Got Mail was filmed and Zabars features in the film too (you can tell I'm obsessed with it) - great to watch before you go over. The best part about renting this apartment however, was all of the helpful tips and local knowledge from Vera. Thank you so much for our rather lenghthy telephone conversation and all of the invaluable information (I clutched my Streetwise Manhattan map continuously for the whole week). By the end of the week, we felt like native New Yorkers and can't wait to return sometime.

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

perfect choice

Guest: Joseph (Hungary)
Date of Stay: 05/24/10 Review Submitted: 06/29/10

It's not pig in a poke! :-) It's like on the photos and in the description. The apartman was very nice and comfortable and the neighborhood and the traffic is excellent. We received a guide from the owner, it was a great help. We tried most of the restaurants from the guide and we were very satisfied. So I can honestly say that I recommend this apartman to anybody who plan to visit NYC in the future.

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

Great Apartment!

Guest: Amy + 3 (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/23/10 Review Submitted: 05/06/10

This apartment was exactly as advertised, and Vera was absolutely wonderful to deal with. She sent us a little information package and the keys to the apartment a few weeks before our arrival date, and the instructions in the apartment for internet, phone, garbage, etc were great as well. Apartment is in a very safe area, and only a few blocks from a whole foods market, and the subway which is extremely convenient. The in-suite laundry was handy as well. There were four of us girls in our late 20's, early 30's, and we all had an absolute blast - the apartment felt like home. We had a little problem with the phone the first day or so, but Vera quickly responded to us via email on how to fix it and it worked immediately. She was so accomodating with our arrival and departure times (for storing our luggage) and the cleaning lady was also very sweet and worked around us on the last day (late flight). The best part of NYC hands down was the people - I think they are friendlier than Canadians, and Vera was definitely our first evidence of that. I would recommend this apartment to anyone, and have even given the info to a few of my friends who were thinking of a trip to NY. Thanks Vera, I may book the apartment again in the next year or two....we all had such a great time!

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

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 06/25/09 Review Submitted: 06/24/09

This apartment was perfect for our family of three for our week-long vacation. The location and neighborhood is outstanding. The apartment was so quiet, we slept with the windows open. Vera was responsive to emails and offered great neighborhood suggestions. The Sunday market on Columbus Ave, a block away, was a nice surprise. We hope to return to New York and would be delighted to stay in this apartment again.

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Guest: vanessa16 (-)
Date of Stay: 05/13/09 Review Submitted: 05/13/09

4th april 09 for 1 week. Two adults and three teenage boys shared this apartment. the boys thought the apartment was really cool. The location is excellent. The neighbourhood has a homely feel, often meeting the same people twice. Very close to excellent restaurants, food markets, pharmacy etc. Practically steps away from Central Park. Very closse to bus and subway. The apartment was very well equipped. Beds were very clean and comfortable. The living area was very spacious and the bedrooms were adequate. There was great storage for suitcases and shopping. Would recommend this apartment and the three boys are already asking when they can go back again. Vanessa and Mary

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/09/09 Review Submitted: 04/09/09

Our family feels very fortunate to have found this listing on vrbo. We completely enjoyed 53 W 94th St. during our visit to NYC. It was absolutely perfect in every single aspect. We enjoyed the neighborhood market and restaurants that Vera recommended. Following our busy days exploring the city Vera and Joe’s home was the perfect place to restore our energy for the next day of activity. The beds, pillows and linens were cozy and comfy. The kitchen was well supplied with everything we needed. My greatest appreciation was Vera's delightful willingness to help with every aspect of our stay. My only regret was that our family didn't get to meet her in person! We will definitely keep their name on file in case we ever travel back to the 'Big Apple'!

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Guest: Judy and Kathryn (Vancouver, Canada)
Date of Stay: 12/01/08 Review Submitted: 12/01/08

My daughter and I recently spent a “theatre week” in New York. We thoroughly enjoyed our comfortable and convenient home away from home in Vera and Joe’s apartment and agree wholeheartedly with previous comments. We especially appreciated the very comfortable beds, the spacious kitchen and full sized, deluxe washer and dryer. It is also worth emphasizing how very accommodating Vera was every step of the way. She responded promptly to our e-mails, answered all our many questions and led us through the rental process very efficiently. She genuinely wants you to have the best experience possible while discovering the vibrant city that is New York.

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Guest: Fisker family (?rhus Denmark)
Date of Stay: 10/27/08 Review Submitted: 10/27/08

We stayed - 4 persons - in Joe and Vera`s apartment in october. For the slow Danes New York is an amazing metropol with unforgetable impressions running from a football match in Giants Stadium over a nudlesoup in Chinatown to a quiet sunday music session in Central Park.After a hectic day programme we enjoyed being back in Joe and Vera`s apartment. We only need one word to discribe this apartment. MAGNIFICENT !Also the surroundings are exellent with Mani Market and Central Park just around the corner.But our best memories we have from our contact with Joe and Vera - they are fantastic people, who guide and help you all the way. They are very informative and meet you in a very obliging way. We will highly recommend Joe and Vera`s apartment. If you are going to NY this is simply the best.Fisker Århus Denmark

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Guest: Lillian2 (Edmonton, Alberta Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/06/08 Review Submitted: 03/06/08

I cannot say enough good things about our trip to New York. It is always a little unsettling to send money to someone you don't know and then hoping the product that you were promised is there when you arrive. You don't need to worry about that with Vera & Joe. They even had backup plans. The neighbourhood was safe, clean and we had a great time eating, shopping & meeting the people who lived there. We will definitely be back. New York was amazing from the friendly, courteous service to the exciting atmosphere. This apartment has everything you need right off Central Park and the subway.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/18/08 Review Submitted: 02/18/08

My wife and I stayed in the apartment for 2 weeks. It was fabulous. The apartment is extremely clean and quiet - and we had everything we needed to make us feel like "real new yorkers". The area is perfect - close to central park, the subways and great restaurants. Vera and Joe took care of everything - and were extremely responsive. We would certainly love to rent the apartment again during a future visit to NYC. Thank you!

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Guest: Marian1 (Sarasota, FL)
Date of Stay: 11/26/07 Review Submitted: 11/26/07

Our family stayed in the apartment Thanksgiving week and found the place and the location terrific. It is near trains and buses and you can easily walk across Central Park. We walked across it to the Metropolitan Museum. Having the wireless access,the washer & dryer, the dishwasher and enough heat made it a wonderful vacation. Many nearby restaurants and the wonderful market suggested by Vera contributed to my weight gain, again a wonderful vacation. The apartment was even better than the photos. And it was really clean when we arrived. The stairway lighting was really good. We certainly would stay here again.

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Guest: Kyoko Kawasaki Schmelz (Zurich, Switzerland)
Date of Stay: 10/16/07 Review Submitted: 10/16/07

The explanation on the web is honest and is exactly what you get when you'd stay at Joe and Vera's property on the upper west side. It is cozy, and is very close to all sorts of transportaion link (i.e. subway lines and cross-town and up/downtown busses) and the size of the unit is generous for the NY standard. Vera was very accomodating and responsive to our requests prior to/during our 2 weeks stay recnetly. We'd especially recommend the apt. for a young family of 3 to 4 as the extra bed room is something you don't get in the city very often. We'd certainly contact them of the availability for our next annual visit to the city. Johann and Kyoko (former New Yorkers from Switzerland)

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Guest: Jamie5 (California)
Date of Stay: 04/30/07 Review Submitted: 04/30/07

Joe & Vera: Our family stayed in your apartment in April and it was just perfect for us. It was very cozy and well-equipped with everything that we needed. We especially appreciated the wireless internet, voice over internet phone and in-unit washer and dryer. Thanks for your recommendations on places to eat and shop. The apartment location was very convenient and safe. We would definitely stay here again, as well as recommend it to friends. P.S. Thanks for helping us locate a Pack'N Play for our little baby!

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 03/27/07 Review Submitted: 03/27/07

We had week at this apartment in March and we were very happy. Pictures make it seem smaller than it is very roomy with high ceilings and good light. Kitchen is very well equiped. Great area of town with easy access to Central Park and two subway lines. Local markets and restraunts abound. We hope to be back soon.

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Guest: Tori (MN)
Date of Stay: 10/08/06 Review Submitted: 10/07/06

We spent a week in this apt in the summer of 2006. It was amazing how quiet it was, having the bedroom windows facing a courtyard instead of the street made a big difference. The neighborhood felt safe and we were never uncomfortable coming home late after a night on the town. There were plenty of options for groceries or dining out within very easy walks. It was easy to get to the subway or catch a cab nearby. The owners were very helpful with hints and tips via email. We do not hesitate to recommend this as a vacation rental.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/07/06 Review Submitted: 09/07/06

We stayed in this apartment in August. It was great. We loved being in a neighborhood close to the park. Wonderful location and very clean. Lots of restaurants and markets nearby.

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