VRBO close to Manhattan?

[itchyfeet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchyfeet]

Planning a trip to NYC. We would like to stay in a VRBO that is outside Manhattan but would be easily accessible by public transportation. Since I am not familiar with the locations listed on VRBO, I need your help & expertise in selecting an area. TIA

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

MOst ads for places outside Manhattan should tell you what subways they are near. Some neighborhoods in Bklyn or Queens may be convenient enough depending on how close to the subway it is. I don't recommend the Bronx or Staten Island. Also wouldn't recommend anyplace that advertises be near a bus rather than subway into the city. When are you planning on coming? Be aware that at some point in the future the city is planning to shut down the L train for an extended time to make repairs necessary since hurricane Sandy. That will make commuting in from some of Bklyn's hottest neighborhoods (especially Wiilliamsburg) a lot trickier than the easy couple of stops in at the moment. Brooklyn Heights is super convenient and lovely, probably one of the more expensive neighborhoods in Bklyn, though.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Unless you're talking about New Jersey? I can help with New Jersey.

For example, Hoboken and Jersey City would let you use PATH for an easy trip into the city, and they both have buses, too. Edgewater (near me) has buses and a ferry.

What options are you seeing on VRBO?

[itchyfeet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchyfeet]

We will probably be coming Spring or Fall of 2017. We are open to staying in New Jersey--so wackymother please give info.
There are too many options on VRBO to list here. I'm primarily looking for a safe neighborhood with easy transportation into NYC.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Are you traveling with children? How many adults? Everyone in pretty good shape--able to handle stairs and walking?

[itchyfeet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchyfeet]

We are two active seniors. We would prefer only one flight of stairs for accommodation. No problem walking.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Then personally I would go for Hoboken. It's a nice busy little town, pretty safe with normal precautions, where you can walk around and visit lots of little shops and restaurants, or hop on the PATH and get to Manhattan. Or you can take a ferry. You can also take a bus to NYC to get to the midtown Port Authority at 42nd and 8th.

You want to be as close to Washington Avenue (the main drag) as possible. You can be between Washington Avenue and the river, or you can be a block or two inland from Washington Avenue, but that's as far as I would go. The PATH station and the ferry are at the 14th Street end of Hoboken, so the higher the numbered street, the closer you are to PATH.

See what you can find in Hoboken and pm me the links.

Downtown Jersey City is very chic and upscale now, but I just don't know Jersey City as well, and there are definitely iffy parts of Jersey City.

I like Weehawken, too, but no PATH trains there, and not nearly as much to do there. Basically, the farther you get from the river, the iffier the neighborhoods become. If you find Weehawken rentals on VRBO, send those too.

You do have to be careful about the precise locations.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I'm not a ton of help with Bklyn/Queens, but if you find something interesting and post it, we can let you know if it sets off any reactions good or bad. I would prob compare Bklyn Heights and Hoboken for prices - Bklyn Heights is a super easy commute to Manhattan (1 stop to the financial district), and you wouldn't have to switch train lines to get to many things you'll likely want to visit. I wouldn't gamble right now on anything on the L train into 2017 since plans haven't yet been finalized but by then something inconvenient may be in motion. BigFrank can probably help with Queens, too. Flushing near the 7 train could work but it's not as appealing as the other options imho. Astoria has reached "new hot neighborhood" status but I'm not sure about public transportation from there. Bayside is very nice if near the trains station, but it's a 20 minute ride on the Long Island Railroad to get into Penn Station and then you'd have to switch to subway to get to other locations (same is true of PATH train from Hoboken but I expect that LIRR may be more expensive). Also, keep in mind that commuting during rush hour to/from either New Jersey or Queens/Bklyn may be a tad unpleasant/crowded.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Just a tad?

Astoria I can help with there are two different train lines and most of the area is close enough to one or the other. If you have never lived near an elevated train you have no idea the amount of noise they make and the NYC transit system never shuts down. You do NOT want Long Island City although parts of it are gentrified a lot of it is still sleazy.

A bigger question in my mind is what is your acceptable commute time vs rental price? You should also consider Air B and B as a source for rentals.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I'm not a ton of help with Bklyn/Queens, but if you find something interesting and post it, we can let you know if it sets off any reactions good or bad. I would prob compare Bklyn Heights and Hoboken for prices - Bklyn Heights is a super easy commute to Manhattan (1 stop to the financial district), and you wouldn't have to switch train lines to get to many things you'll likely want to visit. I wouldn't gamble right now on anything on the L train into 2017 since plans haven't yet been finalized but by then something inconvenient may be in motion. BigFrank can probably help with Queens, too. Flushing near the 7 train could work but it's not as appealing as the other options imho. Astoria has reached "new hot neighborhood" status but I'm not sure about public transportation from there. Bayside is very nice if near the trains station, but it's a 20 minute ride on the Long Island Railroad to get into Penn Station and then you'd have to switch to subway to get to other locations (same is true of PATH train from Hoboken but I expect that LIRR may be more expensive). Also, keep in mind that commuting during rush hour to/from either New Jersey or Queens/Bklyn may be a tad unpleasant/crowded.

Brooklyn Heights would be great. Nice safe neighborhood, easy commute. But let us take a look at whatever you find, because I suspect that renters sometimes move the boundaries of "Brooklyn Heights" out quite a bit from where they really are.

[itchyfeet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close itchyfeet]

Thanks to all of you for your help. Right now I'm exploring areas to stay and only having been in NYC one time, I have no idea what the commute times would be. When I get to the point of booking something, I'll be back for more advice.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Okay. Just remember, even if you're staying pretty close to subway or PATH, you're looking at AT LEAST 20 minutes to get to midtown, often more depending on the vagaries of public transportation. Also, the subway (for example) costs $2.75 each way.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Thanks to all of you for your help. Right now I'm exploring areas to stay and only having been in NYC one time, I have no idea what the commute times would be. When I get to the point of booking something, I'll be back for more advice.

Just a consideration,many not stay right in Manhattan? Great deals are out ther.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Brooklyn Heights would be great. Nice safe neighborhood, easy commute. But let us take a look at whatever you find, because I suspect that renters sometimes move the boundaries of "Brooklyn Heights" out quite a bit from where they really are.

Good point! Probably true just about anywhere (like, when did Chelsea start to include the neighborhood around Penn Station??)

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Good point! Probably true just about anywhere (like, when did Chelsea start to include the neighborhood around Penn Station??)

A couple of years ago we stayed at the Doubletree Times Square South. In Doubletree's estimation, "Times Square" extends to 36th Street between 8th and 9th.