NDL Forum

So I am booking our hotel/accommodations for NY City for Labor Day and I heard about this site called HomeAway.

I think Weasel used something like this when he went to Europe.

You basically rent someone's house or apartment versus staying in a hotel.

Anyone ever done this with success or any issues?

I am a very skeptical person and scared to get ripped off with shit like this.

i use it when I travel sometimes. go to places with reviews.

Good stays in these places you have gone?

How do you normally pay, Paypal or something?

I personally used airbnb.com, I have colleagues that have used vrbo.com though and speak highly of it as well (looking at the vrbo website they say its from HomeAway, so there ya go).

I thought it was awesome. Got full apartment/condos for the price of booking a single hotel room. Searching for/using the airbnb site was super easy, couldnt have asked for smoother communication or transactions

Cnasty wrote: How do you normally pay, Paypal or something?

I used CC

I don't think I could do that, too weird for me lol.

shel311 wrote:I don't think I could do that, too weird for me lol.

Average hotel prices for "nice" hotels in NY City,$300 and up a night.

In looking at these apartments and townhouses in Central Park and Manhattan and average price is like $175-$200.

I am with you and skeptical but I will deal with it for 4 nights.

It looks as though the owners dont stay there at all and its a hotel of sorts.Not like they leave and you live there for a week and they come back and live...Idont think

I will be checking for bed bugs, hidden cameras,and other shit.

This is my buddies place http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental ... 81#summary Every time I've used it, its been good. Almost every place brings a cleaning crew in before stays.

I used Airbnb/vrbo/away on all my trips for at least 3 yrs now. I've never had an issue.

homeaway is a public company. its not like its some small scam biz. just look for people who have alot of reviews, email them with questions, etc. you'll be fine

just be sure you're renting full units. those sites also rent out rooms within houses/condo's/apts for extremely cheap. so like I can rent out my extra bedroom in my condo for like 100 bucks a night (you obviously wouldn't want something like that)

and this type of stuff should be put in the travel section for others to see in future

Yea Isaw some dorm room type set ups.

Some of the condos/apartments look really nice.

I just can't justify spending $300+ a night for somewhere just to sleep and shower basically with how much we will be doing daily.

And no one ever goes to the travel section so wanted more people to see here. Once I get some replies we can move.

Cnasty wrote: And no one ever goes to the travel section so wanted more people to see here. Once I get some replies we can move.

lol, do you still check the boards by going through each section top to bottom?

Is there anyone else who still does that

old skool

Nah, not anymore.

Do you still get pissed when you close your browser and miss all your posts?

I can hear the communication now with one of them people.

Yes sir it's yours for the weekend....enjoy... but don't mind those hidden cameras in the bathroom or bedrooms....They have not worked for months now.....

I don't think it's any more 'weird' than staying in a hotel room that people pass through everyday

Weasel wrote:I don't think it's any more 'weird' than staying in a hotel room that people pass through everyday

Anyone ever carried one of those black lights and checked out the hotel rooms? just asking

We've used homeway to book houses all over the country. We rarely stay in hotels any more. Of course, as I type this I'm in a hotel, but pay no attention to the irony.

Look for reviews and communicate with the owners. Only had one time I wasn't 100% satisfied, and it was a small issue. We got a place in Battery Park for our last NYC trip that was unbelievable, and since we usually have large parties, the price is split. We booked a large house/complex in Hawaii last year for nearly 20 people. Loved it.

Cleaning charges and taxes can be a bear. Watch out for those.