New York Habitat Blog

As we make our way into summer, you’ll want to spend more and more time outdoors on your next Parisian vacation.  We here at New York Habitat are going to be highlighting some of the great outdoor parks and gardens in Paris so that you’ll already have some places in mind before you go.  These spots are all great for strolling, picnicking, or just sitting and people-watching, a favorite pastime of Parisians! 

Le Louvre

This week, we’ll be looking at le Jardin des Tuileries.  This park is actually located at the western edge of one of Paris’s most visited sites: le Louvre!  The garden used to be bound within the Tuileries Palace, which was part of the larger structure that we know as le Louvre, but the western side was destroyed in the late nineteenth century.  The garden area itself was first designed in the seventeenth century by the renowned French landscape architect, André Le Notre.  Evidence of his work can still be seen in the alleyways that run throughout the garden.  Le Jardin des Tuileries is a wonderful place to sit and relax, especially by the large fountains in the park, after a long day at le Louvre, but it also contains two small museums itself, including le Musée de l’Orangerie, which contains Monet’s famous waterlillies. 

New York Habitat has many vacation rental apartments near le Jardin des Tuileries.  The two listed here are but a small sample.

This 1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Opera - Le Louvre (PA-3889) is near le Jardin des Tuileries.  The apartment features exposed stone and beautiful woodwork.  Modern amenities in the kitchen and bath blend nicely with the traditional French features of the space as well.  The large windows let in tons of sunlight and allow beautiful views of Paris below.

Paris Vacation Rental 1 Bedroom Opera (PA-3889)

If you need some more room, look at this 2 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Opera - Le Louvre (PA-3436) .  This apartment has very modern décor but is still able to retain its French charm with its sunny balcony and floor to ceiling windows.  Both these apartments are just steps from le Louvre, le Jardin des Tuileries, and the heart of Paris!

Le Jardin des Tuileries is a perfect way to spend a beautiful summer day in Paris.  Its central location makes it easily accessible from wherever you are and it’s the perfect spot to just relax and soak up some Parisian atmosphere.  A nearby New York Habitat vacation apartment rental could make a visit to le Jardin des Tuileries a daily occurrence!

To learn about the other parks on our list, see: 

• #3 Le Champ de Mars
• #4 Le Bois de Boulogne 
• #5 Le Bois de Vincennes

Have you been to le Jardin des Tuileries?  What was your favorite thing to do there?  Please share your ideas with us in the comments section.

London Apartment Studio Vacation Rental in Chelsea (LN-762)

Earl’s Court is one of the most brilliant places to stay in all of London. Home to the renowned Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre, a short walk from the museums on Cromwell Road, and a few tube stops from the summer happenings on South Bank, this area once well-known as a backpacker’s paradise has grown into the destination of choice for families, short-stay tourists and international travelers of every stripe. What hasn’t changed, however, are the budget-conscious values that Earl’s Court offers—including a wide range of exciting and affordable New York Habitat vacation rentals.
To make the most of your travel budget, walk from your New York Habitat flat in Earl’s Court to the nearby Natural History, Victoria & Albert, and Science Museums—each of which has free admission. Keep costs low by avoiding entrance fees for “special exhibits” and taking advantage of the museums’ regular collections instead, which are amazing in themselves and have more than enough on offer for everyone. Also keep an eye out for free talks, tours and events, which range from late-night Fridays with DJs to “explorer tours” that allow children to become dinosaur detectives or hands-on wildlife experts.

Another way to save on entertainment is to sightsee your way from Earls’ Court to Soho (which will take you past Museum Row, Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Harrod’s and Buckingham Palace). Then settle down to watch the free Rushes Soho Shorts programs of films that take place in a variety of venues and cinemas around the area at the end of July. Lots of talent, no cost—and air-conditioned comfort!
 For an “authentic English” experience near Earl’s Court, head to Riley’s for some snooker. For the low price of one game (and bragging rights), a local will be more than happy to teach you how to play. It’s similar to pool or billiards, but the best part is that a single game can last well over an hour—pound for pound, the greatest value for your British pound!  

While Earl’s Court is teeming with inexpensive ethnic eateries, another way to cut costs is to stop by the local Waitrose grocery, which slashes prices on some fresh food items an hour before closing. Take these bargains back to your New York Habitat vacation rental and enjoy a home-cooked meal! Some suggestions for your stay are:     

London Apartment Studio in Earls Court (LN-542)

 · A comfortable, fully serviced studio in Earl’s Court, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-293) that comes with a pull-down double Murphy bed, a bathtub and walk-in shower, and laundry/dryer. This vacation rental is on the fifth floor of a period mansion block with elevator, conveniently located between Old Brompton and Cromwell Roads. It’s the perfect place for one or two people.  

 
· A sleek and well-kept  studio in Earl’s Court Kensington-Chelsea (LN-762) close to many attractions on West Cromwell Road. This vacation accommodation comes with a double bed, laundry/dryer and minibar, and is in a building with elevator, outdoor pool, gym and coffee shop. You may just want to skip some sightseeing and spend more time here instead!
  
 
· A contemporary and nicely furnished studio in Earl’s Court, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-542) on a quiet residential street just off Cromwell Road. This rental accommodation comes complete with a laundry/dryer, double bed and luxurious Frette linen, as well as daily maid and weekly linen service. What more could you ask for in a flat?

Check out our other Low-Cost London neighborhoods:

Mayfair

Traveling smart means stretching your money without skimping on any of London’s most exciting attractions—and a stay in a New York Habitat vacation rental in Earl’s Court can help you to achieve that!

Let us know your budget tips in the Earl’s Court area with a comment below.

Mention a summer music festival and the first thing that usually comes to mind is free love, muddy campgrounds and a sea of tents and eager revellers. Americans normally associate the summer music festival with the fields of rural Tennessee, the outskirts of a typical college town or a certain town in upstate New York. However, rarely do images of skyscrapers, urban ferries and an overall cosmopolitan setting enter one’s thinking. Yet these are exactly the images festival goers will find at the second annual All Points West Music and Arts Festival. The festival has a line-up that rivals that of the country’s best know summer festivals and it takes place in New Jersey’s Liberty State Park, just across the Hudson River from the shimmering Manhattan skyline (and hundreds of New York Habitat Accommodations).

New York Vacation Rental 1 Bedrrom Midtown West/ Chelsea (NY-11454)

The All Points West Music and Arts Festival enters its second year without skipping a beat. This year’s offering includes three days of music headlined by the likes of the Beastie Boys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tool, MGMT and Coldplay. And while the bands on stage will be getting plenty of attention, it is the city of New York that will take center stage. Liberty State Park has some of the area’s finest skyline views, with downtown Manhattan looming across the river. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to watch the Statue of Liberty proudly stand guard in New York Harbour while the lights from Manhattan skyscrapers reflect off the calm Hudson waters.

Unlike some other American music festivals, the All Points West event does not allow campers on site. Staying in a New York Habitat apartment during the festival is a great, mud-free option. Here are a few New York Habitat accommodations available during the festival, from Friday, July 31st to Sunday, August 2nd.
-This studio rental apartment in Battery Park (NY-9990) will have you home and in bed after the festival in a matter of minutes, you might even be able to spot your apartment from Liberty State Park.
-This 1-bedroom rental apartment in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-11454) accommodates two guests in a comfortable and convenient setting. The proximity to everything central Manhattan has to offer is exceptional.

It was a beautiful day in May when we decided to give you a little tour of Greenwich Village - home to a community of people who arguably changed the world.  This small area below 14th Street and west of Broadway has been home to rebels, nonconformists, beatniks, bohemians and starving artists for over 100 years now.

This is the closest you’ll get to a Parisian feel in New York.  You’ll find tightly packed low-rise brownstones with tiny gardens, second hand stores, tons of cafes and restaurants… and lots of history.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.  Click above to watch this video: Video Tour of Greenwich Village.(3:25)

Starting in the late 1800s, Greenwich Village became the epicenter of art and music in New York.  Artists and musicians from all over flocked to the Village where they found camaraderie, inspiration and affordable housing.

After the Second World War, the Village was taken over by the Beat Movement.  Beatniks, with their bohemian “live and let live” lifestyles, spent their time in the many coffeehouses, jazz clubs, and poetry reading forums of the Village.  The paths of many famous musicians writers and actors passed through the eclectic streets of Greenwich Village including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Allen Poe, and Mark Twain.

Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park:
A great place to start our tour of Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park.  It is home of the famous Washington Square Arch, which was built in the late 1800s to celebrate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration as president of the United States.

The park is a meeting place for both young and old.  You’ll find impromptu live music, playgrounds, street performers, chess tables and more.  Surrounded by the New York University campus, this area is young and alive with an almost carnival atmosphere.

The interesting thing about Greenwich Village is that the starving artists were the ones who brought charm and appeal to the area.  Ultimately the very appeal they created started attracting wealthier New Yorkers, which drove the prices up and, eventually, caused most starving artists to relocate elsewhere in the city.

Luckily, the charm remains strong in the Village and it’s a great place to rent a furnished apartment during your next trip to New York.  We have furnished apartments to suit any taste sprinkled throughout the Village.

For example, we have this beautiful studio in the heart of Greenwich Village (NY-12568).  It’s just a couple blocks away from Washington Square Park.  With plenty of room for 2, it features a fully equipped kitchen and a small balcony with a view of the Empire State Building.

Another great option is this Greenwich Village one bedroom apartment (NY-14167) in the heart of the action on Bleecker Street.

So if you’re looking to get a taste of how Dylan or Hendrix lived, skip the hotel, and find a vacation rental to live like a true Villager in Greenwich!

MacDougal Street:
MacDougal Street is a one-way street about 6 blocks long in Greenwich Village.  It has been the subject of many songs and poems. It’s been frequented by numerous famous individuals including Bob Dylan, Matthew Broderick and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Cafe Wha? - at 115 Macdougal Street
Located at 115 Macdougal Street, Cafe Wha? is a club in Greenwich Village that has been home to various musicians and comedians. Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The Velvet Underground, and Kool and the Gang are just a few of the many icons that have found their beginnings at the Café Wha?.

Mamoun’s Falafel – 119 MacDougal St
Back in the 70s, the starving artists knew that all they needed to eat was 25¢ .  Because a quarter was all it took to get a Falafel at Mamoun’s on MacDougal St.  Today, the prices have gone up, but the falafels are still amazing.

Greenwich Village

West 4th Street Courts:
At the West 4th Street Courts, also known as “The Cage”, you will find some of the finest street ball players in the country.

The Speakeasy - 106 Perry Street
In the time of Prohibition back in the 1920’s, secret bars known as speakeasies sprung up all over the city.  Many were located right here in Greenwich Village.  American author Henry Miller opened a short-lived speakeasy in the basement of his home at 106 Perry St.

Sex and the City - 66 Perry Street
Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment in Sex in the City may have fictitiously been located in the Upper East Side, but the apartment is actually located right here in Greenwich Village. If you want to see the house of Sarah Jessica Parker, the real Carrie Bradshaw, and her husband Matthew Broderick, take a stroll down Charles Street, you might see them cleaning their sidewalk.

The Friends Building - 90 Bedford Street
If the names Joey, Monica, Chandler, Ross, Rachel and Phoebe mean anything to you, make sure you visit the corner of Bedford St. & Grove St. in Greenwich Village to pay homage to the “Friends’ Building”.  This is the building where the Friends supposedly lived in the hit sitcom we all know and love.  In fact, before the producers decided on the title “Friends”, the working title of the show was “Once Upon a Time in the Village”.

Narrowest House in NYC – 75 ½ Bedford St
Coming in at nine and a half feet wide, you’ll find the narrowest house in NYC at 75 ½ Bedford St.  The Pulitzer Prize winning poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived there for a short while.

Well, that’s all we could fit in for today.  But there’s tons more to see and experience in Greenwich Village.  If I’ve missed some of you’re favorite Village must-sees, be sure to leave them share them in the comments below.

And don’t forget, one of the best ways to experience Greenwich Village is to live there. What better way to live there than by renting a vacation rental apartment from New York Habitat.  Visit our website at www.nyhabitat.com where you’ll find hundreds of vacation rentals and furnished apartments of all shapes and sizes the Village and all over New York City.

There are any number of picturesque towns and villages throughout the South of France to use as a base for your travels throughout the region. But, how would you like to stay in a hilltop fortress town in Provence, population 22, which has been inhabited for eight millennia? 

Provence Vacation Rental 4 Bedroom in Les Baux (PR 248) "La Dame à la Licorne"

Les Baux de Provence, at the foothills of the Alpilles Provençal mountain chain, is set in white rock on a promontory, which is how it got its name (“baou” means rocky spur in the local dialect). Controlled by Celts, the Lords of Les Baux, the Masons des Comtes de Provence and finally Louis XIII, this stunning piece of French history is 45 minutes south of Avignon and just 10 minutes from Saint-Rémy de Provence.

The view from the old castle is amazing and the Cathédrale d’Images, set in a former stone quarry, offers wonderful exhibitions. Listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages In France,” Les Baux de Provence has a strong Roman heritage and is also the landscape of famous painters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne and Matisse, who came here to capture the extraordinary light and color of the region.

Standing among the old mansions, historic monuments and ruins of the Cité des Baux, New York Habitat’s exclusive hosted 3-bedroom in Les Baux de Provence (PR-248) offers exceptional panoramic views of the surrounding hills and the village from its windows and terraces, as it is one of the highest in the village.

What makes this apartment a Hidden Gem?

The house has an historical and cultural heritage that the owner perfectly knows how to keep alive. There are many things to discover in this family house, as well as among the narrow streets of this fascinating and timeless village that formerly belonged to the Grimaldi of Monaco.

Provence Accomodation 4 Bedroom Chateau in Les Baux (PR 248)

The first bedroom is known as “La Dame à la Licorne” and boasts a large window overlooking the village and the “Val d’Enfer,” providing light in the whole bedroom. “La Suite” has a master bedroom and another room with a balcony, which can be used either as a second bedroom or as a study and reminds us that all the houses of the village has been built against the roc itself, in the authentic troglodyte tradition of this village.

And finally, the third and unexpected guestroom is located on the top floor of the house: “Le Bijou.” A large French window gives access to a private terrace with one of the most beautiful view of the Cité des Baux.

For more information about the Chateau de Baux check out:

Chateau de Baux website

Each July 14, France celebrates Bastille Day, or the Fête Nationale. In Paris, the national holiday is celebrated with a grand parade in the morning, a dazzling fireworks display in the evening and dance parties well into the night. What could be more festive? Download the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise” to your iPod and head to Paris for this year’s festivities.

Paris Vacation Rental 2 Bedroom on the Champs Elysees (PA-3586)

Bastille Day commemorates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789. The prison uprising was the first major step towards the French Revolution and ultimately French democracy. Today, all across France, and especially in Paris, you’ll find French revelers celebrating their history and independence.

In Paris, the holiday is kicked off with a military parade that starts at 10 a.m. at the Arc de Triomphe and continues down the Champs-Élysées all the way to the Place de la Concorde. Cadets from the École Polytechnique, Saint-Cyr, and the École Navale march in the parade, as well as the fire brigade. Aviators from the Patrouille de France also fly overhead. Those looking for a good view, and a glimpse of President Sarkozy, should plan on arriving at least two hours early – or even the night before!

The fireworks are shot off from Trocadero, across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower. Crowds gather early at the Champs de Mars to picnic and claim their spot for the spectacular display, which starts around 10:30 p.m.

The festivities continue all night long in the restaurants, clubs and pubs. Expect champagne to be flowing! Want to experience the national holiday to its fullest? Stay in one of New York Habitat’s conveniently located apartments near the Champs- Élysées, including:

-This airy 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Arc de Triomphe - Champs Elysees (PA-41). The eclectically furnished apartment features two balconies and a superb view of the Arc de Triomphe just a five-minute walk away.

- This contemporary 2-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Champs Elysees (PA-3586), located on a mostly residential street in an elite district. The spacious apartment is just a short distance from Place de l’Etoile and its majestic Arc du Triomphe.

There’s no better way to experience French culture than to take part in the country’s most important national holiday. And it’s not too late to book your ticket to Paris for this year’s raucous celebrations.

Have you ever been in Paris for the Fête Nationale? Share your comments with us!

New York City is gearing up for the nation’s 233rd birthday. Whether you want to see America’s largest Fourth of July fireworks display, Coney Island’s world-famous hot dog eating contest or the view from the top of the Statue of Liberty’s reopened crown, NYC is the place to be for this year’s Independence Day celebrations.

New York Apartment - 1 Bedroom in Chelsea (NY-12827)

Since 2000, Macy’s annual fireworks extravaganza has been launched from the East River, between Manhattan and Brooklyn. But this year, the pyrotechnics show is returning to the Hudson River to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage to America. On Saturday, July 4th, six giant barges will line up between 24th and 50th street on the Hudson to set off the spectacular 26-minute display. Over 40,000 shells will explode across the Manhattan sky at an astounding rate of more than 1,500 per minute.  The show starts at 9:00 p.m.

During the day, you can take part in one of the many Fourth of July festivities going on around the city. Since there’s nothing more American than a good hot dog, why not head out to Coney Island for Nathan’s International July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest? The annual competition, reportedly in its 94th year, takes place in front of Nathan’s Famous Corporation’s original restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues. Last year, more than 40,000 fans gathered to see the culinary confrontation and more than a million watched the televised coverage on ESPN!

Visiting the Statue of Liberty is another fantastic way to celebrate the nation’s birthday, especially this year since the federal government recently announced plans to reopen the crown for the first time since the September 11th attacks. The crown will reopen on July 4th as a gift to the nation. Visitors must climb a narrow 168-step spiral staircase to reach the top and access will be limited to 10 people at a time. Ticket information is available at the Statue of Liberty National Monument Webpage

With so much going on in New York City this Fourth of July, you will want your very own apartment to call home. New York Habitat has many conveniently located vacation rentals including:

New York Vacation Rental - 2 Bedroom in Chelsea (NY-11133)

This 2-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Central Park - Midtown West - Chelsea (NY-11133), located on Central Park South. The historic building offers round-the-clock concierge staff, a full-service business center, onsite fitness center and health spa, valet parking, multilingual staff and laundry services.

This exquisitely furnished 1-Bedroom Vacation Rental in Midtown West – Chelsea (NY-12827) located on the 23rd floor of a 34-story elevator building. Enjoy the modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an in-unit washer and dryer.

The Fourth of July is right around the corner. It’s time to make plans for the biggest bash of the summer, right in New York City.

Have you ever been in New York for the Fourth of July? Do you have a favorite place to view the fireworks? Please share your comments with us.