Are they reputable? I have just found them while searching for cheaper stay options. 2 of us, 6 nights and what I have been matched with looks good (in the pictures) and is about $1,000 cheaper than the hotel route.
Any opinions/knowledge is most welcome
thanks in advance
Manhattan Getaways....?
Two major guidebooks, both with attached forums, recommend manhattangetaways. You might look to those sites for travelers with experience with manhattangetaways lodgings.
Manhattan Getaways....?
Hi,
i%26#39;ve found a deal with them too, and i%26#39;ve seen that they are also recommended by Frommer%26#39;s, that should be a good source, but i%26#39;m wondering if someone here had any dealing with the company?
Thank you!
Why not ask on the frommers forum if they%26#39;re the ones recommending them? I don%26#39;t remember hearing about them. You should also know most apartment buildings in NYC are NOT zoned for short term vacation rentals so many of these are likely to be illegal sublets. If you%26#39;re interested in a hosted apartment situation (staying with someone in their apartment) I have heard of
citylightsnewyork.com
on this board, but no one has mentioned them in a while.
Have you read the pages on vacation apartments in New York on the FAQ? They%26#39;re here:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1563270鈥?/a>
The long and short of it is that it%26#39;s not a good idea--it could leave you standing on the curb if you get get caught in an illegal rental, and it removes housing stock from the market, which, in a city with a 1% vacancy rate, drives up already high prices and forces lower-income residents out.
The owner of Manhattan Getaways promoted him/herself as a legal and legitimate alternative here:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10700-k1592079鈥?/a>
But that kind of self-promotion makes me automatically skeptical.
Bear in mind that in any building classified as Type A--permanent residence--it is illegal to rent out apartments on a daily or weekly basis. So if, after reading the FAQ thread, you are still interested in pursuing this, I suggest you contact the Manhattan Getaways folks and ask them to provide the building classifications that show that the apartments are not being rented out of residentially zoned buildings for fewer than 30 days.
hi, thank you for your answers
I did read the two threads, and was a little worried too, but the company is listed basically everywhere, from Frommer%26#39;s site to a NY Times online article, and i checked the USA Chamber of Commerce too, the company seems to be registered in 1996, so it%26#39;s quite old for a ';scam';.
Nevertheless, not finding anyone (i mean people, not companies or journals) on the net talking about them scared me a little, and when i don%26#39;t find anything on TA i%26#39;m even more scared!
They asked me to fill a form with my details and my credit card number for a 300 $ deposit, and to pay the balance upon arrival in check or traveler%26#39;s check...
Have you already agreed on an apartment? Have you seen photos of it? Have they confirmed it%26#39;s available for your dates? Or are you being asked to provide a deposit without knowing where you%26#39;ll be? If you%26#39;re willing to share, I%26#39;d be interested to know when you%26#39;re coming and what they%26#39;re offering that%26#39;s such a good deal.
At least one of those in the photo gallery is also listed on nyhabitat.com. You might check that site out and compare to manhattangetaway%26#39;s price.
Well here%26#39;s the ';story'; (happy to contribute here): I found their website, compiled an online form asking how many people, dates, smoking or not, and stuff, and the owner, Judith Glynn
(i think i can post the name because it%26#39;s clearly stated on the website, and if you google for it you%26#39;ll get PLENTY of results)
replied me with a mail the next day, and gave me a link to a page where i could check 4 or 5 proposals, and told me that if liked one of the proposals, i should mail her back and she would double check the availability of the apartment or the room. There was 3 aparments and 2 b%26amp;b rooms in the page.
I choose an apartment on 9th street, with two double bedrooms, for 300 $ / night for 5 nights, and she replied, after a few hours, telling me that the apartment was available, and mailed me their policies and a .DOC file called '; Credit Card Authorization';.
On the file, there%26#39;s my authorization to let Manhattan Getaways to charge my credit card of 395 $ as a partial payment for the apartment at XXX 9th Avenue (there%26#39;s the number but i%26#39;ll not mention it here), and that the balance ';is paid directly to the hosts upon arrival in cash or traveler鈥檚 checks';
Then there%26#39;s the form i should compile, with credit card number, expiration date, the three numbers on the back of the card, my name, billing address and signature.
It%26#39;s told me to fax or scan the signed paper , then they will charge me the advance payment and the process will be confirmed.
Well that%26#39;s all. About the cancellation policy, if you mind, it%26#39;s 50$ for cancellation, plus a two night fee or 25% of the booking (the greater applies) if the cancellation is made within 10 days or less
';There was 3 aparments and 2 b%26amp;b rooms in the page...
I choose an apartment on 9th street, with two double bedrooms, for 300 $ / night for 5 nights..';
So you%26#39;d be paying $300/night for an apt. with 2 bedrooms for 4 people or more? Or are you staying in someone%26#39;s apt. while they%26#39;re there? What about cleaning fees or security deposit? I personally wouldn%26#39;t do this, but you will have to make your own decision. I would get a quote from nyhabitat.com if you%26#39;re set on an apt.
the apartment is ';free';, nobody here but me and my friends, and no deposit, but in the module it%26#39;s seen that i authorize my credit card to be billed for damages etc too
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