New York Habitat Blog

Famed for being the gritty scene of mobster crimes and their illegal activities, the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, within the Midtown West-Chelsea district, is now a thriving, diverse and fast-paced complement to the New York City Midtown area. In the 90s Hell’s Kitchen was rebranded as Clinton to give it a more friendly feel. As the epicenter of business and entertainment, Midtown is the heart of New York. Located directly to the west, Clinton is an accessible and lively neighborhood to rent an apartment within the big city action.

About Clinton / Hell’s Kitchen

Times Sqaure New York

Roughly spanning between 43rd Street and 57th Street and from Eighth Avenue to the Hudson River, Hell’s Kitchen is a vast area bordered by many famous New York City landmarks and locations. To the north, just above 57th Street, is the Upper West Side neighborhood and the west side entrance to Central Park. Marking the southern border of Clinton is Madison Square Garden, to which Chelsea, another famed New York City neighborhood, is found below.

One of the great benefits to the Clinton neighborhood is greatly benefited with its close proximity to the world’s biggest and brightest stage — the Broadway Theatre district. With numerous theaters, playhouses, concert halls and performing venues, Broadway is illuminated with talent ranging from the well-known, award-winning to the undiscovered, next-big-thing. With its notable past and quaint charm, Hell’s Kitchen serves as a popular neighborhood for living among actors, singers and directors.

In addition to its pristine location, Clinton is also the place where every imaginable transportation vehicle convenes in New York City. As the Hudson River runs along the western border, the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood is home to many of the city’s biggest seaports in which cruise ships and ferry boats dock regularly. The Port Authority Bus Terminal, located between 40th and 42nd Streets on Eighth Avenue, provides access to cross-country buses. At 31st Street and Eighth Avenue, Pennsylvania Station has Amtrak, Long Island Railroad and New Jersey Transit trains running in and out of the city all day long. Furthermore, the Lincoln Tunnel, the busiest tunnel crossing in the world, connects New York City to New Jersey and allows for easy travel to areas just outside the city. Not to mention the Eighth Avenue subway line that spans the entire west side of Manhattan, including the eastern boundary of Clinton.

Accommodations in Clinton / Hell’s Kitchen

New York Accommodation: 2 bedroom rental in Midtown West (NY-12179)

If you’re looking to stay in the city for only few days or for a few months, New York Habitat has plenty of accommodations in Clinton.

• This studio rental in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-11802), located at 48th between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, is in a prewar building and is spacious enough for up to three people.
• This two-bedroom vacation rental in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-12179), on 55th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, accommodates up to six guests with a large pull-out sofa and two king-sized beds.
• This furnished studio apartment in Midtown West-Chelsea (NY-11538), at 45th Street and in between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, is in the heart of the west side and within walking distance of Times Square.

With over a hundred listings to choose from, New York Habitat has accommodations in Hell’s Kitchen that are ready and waiting to please.

Plus Clinton is easy accessible for events at the Jacob Javits Center including:

• The New York Auto Show
• The Toy Fair

Ever stayed in the Clinton neighborhood on a trip to New York City? We want to hear all about the best places to eat, explore and discover in the area, so please leave recommendations in the comment section below!

New York Habitat is proud to release our 1st Paris Furnished Apartment Rental Market Report. The report covers the Paris market with information about furnished apartments, vacation rentals our company has to offer. The report is available at the Paris Furnished Apartment Market Reports section of our website.

“Since 1996, New York Habitat has been housing urban tourists as well as an international clientele of mobile professionals,” says New York Habitat President Marie Reine Jézéquel. “In 2007, we have been focusing on servicing the needs of international universities needing temporary housing for their students in Paris, France. Because average rental prices in the French capital are ranked second in Europe after London and because Paris is the 10th most expensive city in the international market¹, New York Habitat has decided to help students really in a crunch for housing. Using our international expertise, we can be a tremendous help in this ever-rising market. ”

Paris Furnished Apartment Market Report

The market report contains statistics and analysis about the first halves of 2005, 2006 and 2007 in Paris. It includes information about the following market statistics:

• Price ranges by apartment type or neighborhood
• Percentage of apartments rented by type
• Percentage of apartments rented by neighborhood
• Average length of stay
• Average price by apartment type

The Paris division of New York Habitat has created a Furnished Apartment Rental Market Reports section, where all Paris market reports beginning with this one will be accessible. We plan to complete the 2nd half and full- year 2007 Paris Market Reports in January 2008.

Our goal is to provide timely information about the Paris furnished apartment rental market so that our current and potential clients, owners and other real estate partners can be kept abreast of the latest market trends in Paris.

We anticipate that you will find our Paris market report informative and encourage you to comment on the blog about any questions or items you would like to see in future New York Furnished Apartment Market Reports. You can also e-mail the market report team at marketreport@nyhabitat.com

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¹Isabelle Rey-Lefebvre “En dix ans, les loyers ont bondi à Dublin, Oslo, Londres et Paris,” Le Monde, May 22, 2007.

The South of France may not be known as cowboy country, but indeed the area known as the Camargue is full of horses, bulls and those who breed them. Aside from its ranches, this area is particularly interesting because Camargue, a huge nature reserve, is actually an “island” enclosed by the Rhône and the Mediterranean, giving the land its characteristic salt marshes and rice-growing fields.

South of France Accommodation: 2 Bedroom Rental in Arles, Camargue - Blue Coast (PR-815)

Staying in New York Habitat’s 2-Bedroom accommodation in Arles, Camargue (PR-815) puts you right at the door of this incredible natural land. This apartment is available for daily or weekly rentals, and is an excellent place for two or three people to stay while discovering France’s “Blue Coast.”

In the middle of the historic center of Arles, you’ll find this second-floor apartment in a pre-war building. The living room has a decorative tile floor, marble fireplace and is simply and comfortably furnished. You can take your morning coffee at the round dining table, while enjoying the light from the two living room windows that face the quiet street.

If you are looking for a large accommodation, try out this 4-Bedroom Vacation Villa in Arles, Camargue, Blue Coast (PR-760) which features a balcony and gardens. This house is just 15 minutes walk from the center of Arles and can accommodate up to 6 people.

Staying in a vacation apartment right in the town of Arles is a definite advantage, since there are sights you would not want to miss: Saint-Trophime church and cloister, the 10th century Montmajour Abbey and the Roman Amphitheater are all vestiges of this former capital of Roman Gaul. The town also has no lack of cafes, restaurants, bakeries and shops as well as streets to stroll.

South of France Accommodation: 2 Bedroom Rental in Arles, Camargue - Blue Coast (PR-815)

Visiting Camargue, you’re likely to spot black bulls and wild white horses, and birds—pink flamingos, herons and egrets—among the salt marshes. As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the wildlife here is prolific and many areas lie untouched by man. Tour companies give jeep or barge cruises or you can ride on horseback through the plains. The ranches in the area also give tours where the “gardians,” or cowboys, teach groups about ranch traditions.

Arles and the Camargue are both unique in their traditions, nature and history. New York Habitat’s vacation accommodations in Arles, Camargue give insider access to this “wild” slice of France.

Sure fromage and vin deserve to be together, but what’s a better pair than travel and literature? A good book enhances a trip and is often a better travel guide than anything Lonely Planet has to offer. New York Habitat has something for the Parisian and bibliophile in all of us, with plenty of Paris accommodations steps from France’s best English bookshops.

Paris Accommodation: 1 bedroom rental in Saint Germain Des Pres (PA-3457)

New York Habitat urges visitors to bypass the Dan Brown paperback on CDG newsstands. Paris is known for the quality of its English-language bookshops, stores offering more charm and literary range than the big chain stores stateside. Two literary standouts are Shakespeare & Co. in the shadows of Notre Dame cathedral, and Berkeley Books of Paris in the 6th arrondissement. New York Habitat has several accommodations within a short walk of both bookish hangouts.

One book worth a read on your next Paris vacation is Suite Française. The novel, written by Irene Nemirovsky, paints a vivid picture of life in France during the Second World War.

The book begins on the eve of German invasion in a city fraught with confusion, anxiety and disbelief. Parisians are under mass exile from their apartments and all but a stubborn few are heading south. While the less-fortunate walk out the gates of Paris on foot, the rich sit in a line of traffic, their cars packed with valuable cutlery and aristocratic heirlooms. The book moves to the occupation of a small Provincial town, a place where the line between patriot and collaborator is blurred. German soldiers and French townsfolk live suspiciously side by side and eventually garner feelings of resentment, reconciliation and even love.

Paris Accommodation: 3 Bedroom Rental in Quartier Latin (PA-3594)

Nemirovsky’s prose is nothing if not beautiful. Even in the ugliest of settings the author’s words and metaphors strum in harmony. Nemirovsky herself lived during the war and in 1942 was arrested, sent to Auschwitz and murdered for being a Jew. Her work, Suite Française, remained hidden and unknown for 64 years.

Pick up a copy of Suite Française at Shakespeare & Co. and head to your New York Habitat apartment just around the corner. There is:

• A large three-bedroom rental in the Quartier Latin for the globe-trotting family (PA-3594)
• A two-bedroom accommodation charmer for smaller groups in Sorbonne (PA-3233),
• An elegant one-bedroom apartment for couples or solo travelers in Saint Germain des Pres (PA-1045)
• A quirky one-bedroom apartment in the heart of St. Germain des Pres (PA 3457) down the street from Berkeley Books of Paris

What is your favorite book to read while traveling? Comment Below.

As the epicenter for America’s greatest and most prevalent social movements, Manhattan’s East Village remains a vibrant hub that serves as an inspiration for and facilitator of cultural outpourings. Possibly one of the most famed neighborhoods in New York City, the East Village is bound by 14th Street to the north, Avenue D to the east, Houston Street to the south and Third Avenue to the west.

New York Accommodation: Studio in East Village - Lower East Side (NY11967)

Staying in an East Village apartment puts Manhattan’s best shopping spots right outside the door! Enhancing the already rich atmosphere , the East Village is home to some of the most unique and diverse clothing boutiques, thrift stores and antique shops in the city. Ethnically diverse restaurants are prominent in the area, plus there are plenty of nightclubs and hotspots. The East Village is considered one of the biggest contributors to American arts and with plenty of theaters, rock clubs and cafes, it is easy to find undiscovered talents. For relaxing and unwinding, Washington Square Park and Tompkins Square Park are pleasant retreats to escape the bustling city.

A studio apartment rental in the heart of the East Village:

This studio apartment rental in the East Village (NY-11967) is situated within a pre-war brownstone located on 6th Street between First and Second Avenues. Able to comfortably fit up to three guests, the place features a twin bed and a double pullout futon. The apartment is fully furnished and complete with a flat screen TV plugged into an entertainment system, including a DVD player, VCR, stereo and cable. The kitchen provides all modern appliances and includes a complete set of cookware and utensils. If traveling with a larger group, NY Habitat also features this studio apartment rental in the East Village (NY-4062) and this studio apartment rental in the East Village (NY-11966) located within the same building.

New York Accommodation: Studio in the East Village (NY-4062)

Why is this studio apartment rental in the East Village a Hidden Gem?

With tons of natural light streaming in from numerous windows and a skylight, this studio apartment rental in the East Village (NY-11967) is a hidden gem because of its open and bright space that perfectly complements the aura of the East Village. Set in a quiet neighborhood within a posh, pre-war historical townhouse, the apartment is the perfect accommodation during a stay in New York. With so many restaurants and stores, there is hardly a need to venture out of the neighborhood. But if in the mood to explore, the apartment is conveniently located close to several subway stops that offer service on the V, F, R, W, and 6 trains.

Ever stayed or lived in the East Village? Know of exceptional restaurants, stores or nightclubs? Please leave all thoughts and suggestions in the comment space below!

Paris has one of the world’s best public transportation systems. That said, this is a walking city. Visitors hopping on and off the Metro—skipping from one monument to the next—miss the nuances that make Paris so enjoyable. Likewise, staying in a bland hotel room does not allow you to experience the true feel of the neighborhoods of Paris in the same way as staying in an apartment. At New York Habitat, we’re committed to helping clients live like the real Parisians who bike about the city without the worry of a missed train or sore walking feet.

Bike along the Seine in Paris, France

Thanks to the efforts of Parisian mayor Bertrand Delanoe, tourists can have the pleasure of traveling around the city on brand new bicycles.

The massive public initiative titled Velib aims at cutting automobile congestion and pollution throughout the city. Under the plan, tourists may borrow bikes from one of 750 pick-up stations around the city and drop them off at any other station within 30 minutes; keep the bike longer and a small fee is applied. Joining the program is inexpensive: 1 euro a day or 5 euros for the week.

With so many pick-up stations, nearly all of New York Habitat’s Paris Vacation Rental accommodations are very close to the popular, shiny new bikes.

Paris Accommodation: 1 Bedroom Rental in Ile Saint Louis, Marais - Les Halles

Picture this Seine-side bike ride:

• Start out by waking up in this wood-beamed, one-bedroom rental apartment on the iconic Ile Saint Louis (PA 2745), pick up a Velib bike at the neighborhood station on Boulevard Bourdon, and peddle your way onto the docks of the Left Bank.
• Ride your way along the river and make sure to keep your eyes on the road as you admire Notre Dame and the Louvre across the Seine.
• Cross the river as you arrive at Les Invalides and drop your bike off at the Avenue Dutuit station just off the Champs Elysees (only the bravest, or craziest, would attempt to ride along the Champs).

Voila! From your accommodation on the Ile Saint Louis to lunch on the Champs Elysees.

If you have a favorite bike trip in Paris, let us know by commenting below.

You can find out more about bicycle programs in France via our article “Bicycle through Paris, Marseille or Aix en Provence” and more about Velib in Paris on the Jaunted Pop Culture Travel Blog.

Not only do the bikes provide a wonderful way to see Paris, but—after all the exercise—visitors can indulge guilt free on foie gras, wine and Camembert at lunch.