Would you stay in Queens?

We are currently searching for apartment accommodation for our trip in the summer (2 adults and 2 teenagers, so we need more than a hotel room). We%26#39;ve been looking on all of the websites, with no success so far. We did come across a townhouse in Queens which is 10 minutes by train from Penn Station. Does anyone know if this is a good option? What%26#39;s it like for getting back later at night etc?? Any advice much appreciated.

Would you stay in Queens?

Have you read this thread from the FAQ on apartment rentals?

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1563270鈥?/a>

What agency have you used to find this apartment? As you can see from that link, vacation apartment rentals are not nearly as common in NYC as they are in Europe and many of them, consequently, are scams or are illegal rentals. There are some reputable agencies, though--nyhabitat.com, for instance--so you just need to proceed cautiously.

Do you know where in Queens this house is? And how much do they want for it?

Would you stay in Queens?

It sounds like you might be talking about the Woodside townhouses which we%26#39;ve now confirmed are legit. in this thread.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1783586鈥?/a>

I think 10 mins. may be optimistic to Penn station and I think it%26#39;s a bit of a walk to the train. I also don%26#39;t quite understand if it%26#39;s just the LIRR train (a commuter train that may cost more than the subway) or not. But....I guess I%26#39;d ask what prices are you finding for accomodation in Manhattan and how long are you staying? I think this place is ideal for larger families who have a hard time finding large enough space in Manhattan, but for a family of 4 (and in the summer when prices are usually not too bad) I think this is a bit of a schlepp every day. If you%26#39;re staying for 2 weeks, I can see the benefit of the space, kitchen etc. and maybe even a trip or 2 to the beach on the LIRR (going in the other direction). But for a 1 week or less visit with just 4 of you, I%26#39;d opt for in Manhattan.

It has come up on a couple of sites. www.holiday-rentals.co.uk. It%26#39;s only $750 dollars for the week which is why I thought it might be worth a look. Looking at all of the private accommodation is more than overwhelming, so also considering somewhere like Affinia or Embassy Suites. NYC Habitat have also given us a a couple of options though. Thanks for the advice.

I would avoid private rentals unless you%26#39;re really really sure they%26#39;re legit. NY Habitat and the suite hotels are a much safer option. If the price savings on this Woodside place is going to make a big difference in your trip, then go for it; otherwise stay in Manhattan. $750 for a week is very very good. Are you sure it%26#39;s the same place?

It does look like the same place as the owner mentioned in the earlier thread was called Grace - same contact as on the website. I think for this trip, as we have the kids with us, we%26#39;ll end up opting for the safer option of a suite. We just like the idea of something a little different to the standard hotel. So now, all I have to do is decide which suite is the best to go for!!

Thanks again.

I too have to agree with going for a suite in NYC rather than dealing with questionable rentals. I have read too many stories of people who end up being ripped off by these fake apartments to recommend any of them, legit or not.

Have you checked out the accomadations at Radio City Apartments? It is very popular on this forum and I don%26#39;t recall anyone posting a negative word about them after their trip.

Good Luck and I an truly glad you chose the suite route instead of an apartment in Queens.

It doesn%26#39;t look like there are any rooms available at Radio City for our dates. (Thanks for the tip though!). I%26#39;ve sent them an e-mail anyway on the off chance that they have rooms free that are held back from their internet reservations.

Thanks

The Salisbury, the Beacon, the Milburn, Best Western Hospitality, Murray Hill East Suites are some other budget suite hotels that may be cheaper than the Affinias or the ES. Keep in mind though that Embassy Suites includes a free full cooked breakfast and is in a nice spot for a summer visit, 1 block from the water and a nywatertaxi.com stop.

Have you contacted www.apartments2book.com in London? They have contracts with many of the suite hotels and sometimes get better prices than you could get directly (not always). Here%26#39;s a cheat sheet for the hotels on their website

1=Affinia 50

2=Affinia Manhattan

3 San Carlos

4-Best Western Hospitality

5=the Blakely

6=the Belvedere

7=Radio City apts.

8=Eastgate Tower

9=Murray Hill East Suites

10=Milburn

11=Beacon

12=Lucerne

16=Benjamin

18= 46th b/w 2nd %26amp; 3rd

19=the Larchmont (not suites)

20=Riverside Towers (terrible)

27=the Manhattan Club

29=Elysee

30=the Buckingham

34=Bedford

Grace IS the owner of the Woodside Town houses. It is really a close walk to the subway and Railroad. You should not be taking the railroad to Manhattan. It is a waste of time and money. ( and you have to worry about the schedule) I am the one who went and checked the place out. Follow the links to read my report.

The Long Island Rail Road journey from Woodside to Penn Station is indeed ten minutes. However, as rdglady notes, it is pointless to do this since the subway (which is cheaper,a nd which lets you make free connections to subway lines in Manhattan) is right there. However, THAT trip is not ten minutes, but is instead about twenty minutes to Times Square. It should also be noted that the trips do not count the walk to the station, or the wait for the train. That being said, staying in Queens can be economical -- but I would prefer a real hotel, and I would prefer something a little further west,a nd closer to Manhattan.

I have never understood why there is not a proper hotel in Woodside -- the location would be excellent.