NYC Vacation Rentals...the REAL deal

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Short Term NYC Rentals

NYC Vacation Rentals can be tricky and some are legal, most are not. NYC Insider Guide gives you the whole truth and recommends some legal New York City vacation rentals and apartments. In 2023, NYC rolled out Local Law 18, the Short-Term Rental Registration Law, which requires hosts on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com and other platforms to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement.

Best Hotels for NYC Events & Holidays

NYC events and holidays bring in massive amounts of visitors, all of which want prime views and access to the July 4th fireworks, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, New Year’s Eve fireworks and more. Here are our top hotel picks for NYC’s most popular annual events.

NYC Vacation Rentals – the Risks!

While I personally know many people who have had great success with NYC vacation apartments, and all over the world, and many New Yorkers use vacation rentals when they travel, NYC is a different story. Unless you own the whole building, or the tenant stays in the apartment with you, a short-term vacation rental is illegal!

The short of it, is that unless the Landlord owns the entire building, it is illegal to rent or sublet a co-op, condo or apartment for stays less than 30 days. In 2023, NYC rolled out a local law that requires all short term hosts to register and be approved by the City.

All the vacation rental properties (Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway) offer money back guarantees. However, none of them authenticate whether the listing is illegal or not (I’ve asked them all!). Should the landlord, owner, doorman, superintendent, co-op board, condo board, building manager or NYC Department of Housing lock you out while you’re here, and they all have a legal right to do so, what will you do?

NEVER USE AirBnb in NYC!

The absolute WORST of them is AirBnb. You should NEVER use AirBnb (anywhere, really) but especially in NYC. They know their vacation rentals are illegal, they don’t hold their landlords accountable for anything in the description listing and they will not refund your money. Their job is to protect the people who list with them – not the customers renting.

I recently had a friend who did not listen to my advice and booked himself an AirBnb in NYC. He texted me right when he checked in with this, "Place is gross, super dirty. Dust balls everywhere including on the bed!" He immediately complained to AirBnb and left for a hotel. AirBnb did not refund him any money (this is their policy). You can read more here about AirBnb Stealing and Scams.

Recently, I saw this in a Facebook NYC Travel Group, "So we arrived and the air b n b is scary we nearly got attacked outside the door trying to get in and the kids are crying we need to get out of here. No money back from air bnb, didn’t know illegal, walking around hotels in 4th hotel now no availabilitycan anyone recommend a family hotel with interconnecting rooms…"

Still, I know some of you really have your heart set on vacation rentals, so here are some of the more reputable places to check.

Booking.com NYC Vacation Rentals

Booking.com does a great job of showing you rates for both Vacation Rentals and Apartment Hotels. Some of the more popular vacation rentals with good reviews include:

Booking.com

Murray Hill East Suites – great prices and location, rave reviews.
Radio City Apartments – NYC Insider Guide favorite
1 Bedroom in Heart of Nolita – Greenwich Village/SoHo
Sonder Battery Park – designed for long term stays

See All: NYC Vacation & Apartment Rentals on Booking.com

NYC Insider Tip: When researching a vacation rental, please check the address on www.streeteasy.com, a very popular website for NYC residents looking for housing that will provide detailed information on the actual building and sometimes the exact unit.

Suite Hotels in New York City

I highly recommend you check out one of our MANY suite hotels in New York City, which offer both business and leisure travelers more space, kitchens and multiple room suites, often similar to a NYC apartment vacation rental, and many times, they are very budget friendly.

Top NYC Suite Hotel Picks:

Radio City Apartments – a long time NYC favorite, ideal location, great for families
AKA Times Square Apartments – sophisticated studio, one and two-bedroom suites
The Premier Times Square by Millennium – Each room at The Premier is designed to resemble a studio apartment, boasting floor to ceiling windows, a sofa, stand alone shower, European Soaking Tub, and flat screen TV’s.

See All: Suite Hotels in New York City

How to Save on Hotels in New York City

Next, check out all our tips and dozens of promo codes to help save on NYC Hotels. Whether you are visiting NYC on a budget, or just looking to save a little on luxury, we share all our insight on How to Save on Hotels in New York City. And if that isn’t enough, here are more ways to avoid an illegal NYC Vacation Rental.

Cheap Budget Hotels in NYC – Clean, centrally located and under $100 per night? Yes, it’s possible! Not always, and you may have to make some compromises, like a shared bathroom, but these are my top picks for those on a budget.
Discount NYC Hotels are located in central Manhattan and start at $25 per night. These accommodations are open to public, but are not always listed on generic hotel travel websites or they may be listed as ‘specialty lodging’ and sneak right past you.

Recent Legislation on New York Vacation Rentals

More New York City Hotel Deals

Best Hotels for NYC Events & Holidays

NYC events and holidays bring in massive amounts of visitors, all of which want prime views and access to the July 4th fireworks, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, New Year’s Eve fireworks, Marathon finish line and more. Here are our top hotel picks for NYC’s most popular annual events.

NYC Hotels by Type

NYC offers hotels of every type you can imagine. Boutique hotels with cool features like pools, rooftops and gyms, to suite hotels which are more comfortable for families or those who want more apartment-type lodging, to cheap budget hotels with bunk beds, check out our top choices appealing to all budgets and tastes.

NYC Hotels by Amenity

Turn your NYC stay into your home away from home with our amazing hotel amenities. Get an in-room jacuzzi tub to soothe after a long day of sightseeing, check into a hotel with an amazing rooftop to watch our skyline twinkle at you while sipping a cocktail and dive into the nooks and crannies of Central Park with a free bike. We’ve hand picked all the best of the best – the places where New Yorkers check into for a stay-cation.

NYC Hotels Times Square

The best NYC Hotels Times Square chosen by a NYC local! If you want to be in the heart of Broadway, all the tourist action, Restaurant Row, lounge by a pool, check out the best views from a rooftop or splurge on the live NYE Ball Drop, we will show you the best places to stay.

See All: NYC Hotels Times Square & Broadway

NYC Hotels in Midtown

The best NYC Hotels in Midtown chosen by a NYC local! Finding good and affordable hotels in Midtown West NYC is a treat and you’ll be right near the Empire State Building, Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, Herald Square, Times Square, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Hudson Yards. Midtown East is one of the best hotel value spots in Manhattan and puts you in walking distance to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park, the NYPL, the UN, Grand Central Station, great NYC Shopping and much more.

See All: NYC Hotels in Midtown

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NYC Hotels By Attraction – I Want To Be Near…

How to Save on Hotels in New York City

Check out all our tips and dozens of promo codes to help save on NYC Hotels. Whether you are visiting NYC on a budget, or just looking to save a little on luxury, we share all our insight on How to Save on Hotels in New York City.

Save $$ on New York Concert Tickets

StubHub – best selection and seats in the house!
Ticketmaster Deals – lots of shows with 2 For 1, Me+3 and 4-Pack deals
American Express Ticketmaster Deals – for cardholders
Use Code NYCIG10 for 15% off ALL Tickets

Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, official, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official NYC Concert tickets.

NYC Concerts Shows by Month

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Bon Jovi, Jerry Seinfeld, John Oliver & Seth Meyers and more being announced daily.

NYC Monthly Concerts Calendar

Insider Guides to NYC Concert Venues

Our insider guides to Barclays Center, Madison Square Garden, Met Life Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre and lots of smaller, more intimate venues. Get discount ticket insider tips, hotels and dining information.

NYC Concert Venues