Renting an apartment in NY- safe?

We always rent apartments for New York as I find hotels to be way too expensive and very restrictive (times for breakfast etc).
We have always gone through Colby International and they have been nothing but professional and great to deal with.

We were very sceptical first time round, with very much the same concerns as yourself. We have never paid a damage deposit, the amount you pay is just that, if you wreck the place, the letting agents insurance has to cough up.
Our deposit was paid to a company in Liverpool so we knew if anything went wrong there was a UK office for us to go and smash up :-)

There is always a risk of turning up and there being no accomodation with all holidays, I know people who have gone on package deals with very well known companies who have turned up to be told its double booked! Can't get away from this one.

Never had to pay tax, its included in the price we are quoted as its a UK agent.
Some of the apartments that Colby have look a bit scruffy, we personally have stayed in Madison Ave Loft 2 which was gorgeous and in a great location for first timers and last time in the East Village apartment. I preferred the East Village one as it was more 'boho' with lots of little restaurants and unusual shops but its not for you if you want a quiet time, it can get very noisy at the weekend. The owner of the East Village apartment was very nice, he came round to check everything was OK the day we arrived, gave us his mobile in case anything was wrong and didn't want the balance until we were completely happy with the apartment.

We got back from NY last week after staying in a hotel and to be honest, it just wasn't as good as being in an apartment, but thats my own preference.
Happy to answer any other questions

This is who we booked through http://www.colbyinternational.com/

If you do a search you'll find loads of posts about apartments in new york. Here's one http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=277327&highlight=APARTMENT+NEW+YORK

ftbworried wrote: »

I booked it all! Thanks to Floyd, we booked accomodation through colby international- who were unbelievably helpful and nice. I would highly recommend them!:beer:

I booked my flights through ebookers.com £309 each inc taxes from Manchester to New York 12th decemeber-19th december with continnental airlines with decent flight times.

However, skyscanner said that flyglobescan fly from liverpool to new york and in Dec I could get a return for £260-280ish iirc. BUT, when I tried to book via their site I couldn't book beyond October. I rang them and the very (un) helpful person answering said that "we've taken down the winter flights off the internet". Obviously, but 'why' I asked....but she just said "Dunno, they might be back on next week".

If you can wait to book flights (I couldn't as I already booked accomodation and wanted to get a guarenteed flight), they seem very cheap.

All-in-all, I managed to get a week in New York for DH and I at Christmas time for £1183 inc flights. I don't think that's too bad. :T

Thanks to everyone on here that hepled.
FTB

Hi FTBWorried

Thanks for posting your update, very interesting!

I too have been looking at booking a week in New York at Christmas for all of us and recently found some good prices flying with Flyglobescan - however when I went back to check them again, I too found I couldn't see past October!

I'll keep an eye on the flight prices though during the next few weeks.

Have a great time!

Sally
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