New York Habitat Blog

Over the years many customers have asked about the best deals and New York Habitat has responded with the all new Travel Deals page for New York Vacation Rentals. At this site you can find the latest sales, travel special and discounts for apartments in New York.

New York Travel Deals

Currently we are offering two promotions:

• New York Twitter Vacation Rental Specials: This promotion offers 2.5% off the price of select vacation rentals in New York. You can find all of the offers on our Twitter micro blog or on the New York Travel Deals Page
• Winter New York Travel Deal: With the travel market slowing down in the winter, many owners are looking to rent their apartments at special discounted rates. If you are looking for a great deal to come to New York consider a vacation between January 4th and March 26th. Some owners have discounted rates as much as 50%.

Remember to check out the New York Travel Deals page for the latest travel specials and if you are interested in an apartment in New York complete an apartment request form or call us at +1 (212) 255-8018 to speak to one of our agents. We will find the best travel deal for you whenever you want to come to New York.

Though London might not be everyone’s idea of a warm weather destination, there are plenty of ways to stay toasty this winter while heading out on the town. Of course, no one would blame you if you decided to stay in your comfortable New York Habitat vacation rental instead! But if you do venture outdoors, here are some suggestions.

London Accommodation: Hampstead (Ln-734)

Until the third week of January, the Somerset House hosts ice skating sessions in its gorgeous courtyard. With torch lights, a Christmas tree decorated by Tiffany’s and a tent serving hot buttered rum and hot cocoa, you won’t even notice the chill in the air. Lace up, take a few laps around the rink and rosy cheeks are guaranteed.

Come in from the cold and do a bit of shopping in London’s celebrated, long-awaited winter sales, many of which end around January 31. The crowds alone should keep you warm in Harrod’s and Liberty. Or with a record seventy-five percent off items at Selfridge’s, you can afford to layer on the clothing. The discounts get deeper as the weeks continue, but the selections will decrease, so grab those sweaters while you can.

From January 21 until April, The Whitechapel Gallery in Aldgate in having a retrospective spanning the last 150 years of photography from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The best part is that you’re only a few minutes’ walk from Brick Lane, home to some of the most delicious and least expensive Indian restaurants in the city. The spices should warm you right up and a nice, lingering lunch or dinner will give you enough time to talk about the exhibit before heading back out into the elements.

While it may seem counterintuitive, a trip to the Absolut Icebar off Regent’s Street is a good winter destination. Everything inside the minimalist, modern Icebar—the walls, glasses, seats and bar itself—is made entirely of ice and the thermostat reflects the minus five degrees temperatures of Sweden. One vodka-based cocktail comes with the price of admission—as does an insulated, hooded cloak, which is more flattering than it sounds. Don’t worry if seats made from ice blocks don’t seem too appealing: Customers are only allowed to stay in the bar area for forty-five minutes, so you don’t have much time to try to get comfortable. But afterwards, the streets of London will feel downright balmy in comparison!

Of course, the best place to get cozy is in your own New York Habitat vacation rental, such as:

• A spacious three-bedroom rental accommodation in Hampstead, Camden-Brent (LN-734) on the top two floors of a stucco-fronted period house on Belsize Square, a quiet area in north London. This penthouse conversion comes with two king-sized beds, two single beds, balcony, laundry/dryer, hardwood floors, a huge living room/lounge space and easy access to tubes and buses. 

• An ultra-hip two-bedroom vacation rental in Holland Park, Kensington-Chelsea (LN-593) on two floors of a mid-terrace house located on a quiet street. This flat comes complete with queen and double beds, laundry/dryer, roof terrace, walk-in wardrobes and a home theatre system with TV projector for those nights you feel like staying in.

• A fantastic first-floor studio in Covent Garden, Westminster (LN-494) conveniently located off Long Acre. This accommodation has a queen-sized Murphy bed, laundry/dryer, fully equipped kitchen and decorative fireplace. Past clients have raved: “Everything was just perfect,” “My sister and I really enjoyed the flat…and would definitely recommend it,” “The location could not be better, the flat was everything it said it was and even more!”

Winter is a great time to visit London—and to chill out or warm up in your New York Habitat vacation rental.

Let us know some of your favorite things to do in London in wintertime with a comment below.

Finishing our list of 5 day trips from Paris is the Loire Valley. Much like a trip out to Normandy, an excursion to the Loire Valley requires quite a bit of land travel. Nonetheless, there are few places in all of France that offer an authentic peek into the lives of yesterday’s French royalty and aristocracy.

Chateau Chambord

The Loire Valley is known throughout the country for its magnificent chateaus. While a visit to Versailles can often be overwhelming, stepping through the doors of one of the Loire Valley’s castles conjures images of royalty that are easier to grasp. The largest of the area castles is the Chateau de Chambord, an awe inspiring structure built for King Francois 1st as a hunting outpost. The area containing the Chateau de Chambord, Chateaux d’Ambroise, Chateau de Villandry and Chenonceau was recently named a UNESCO world heritage site largely for the architecture of its Rennaissance castles. The castles mirror French history and tour guides often amaze guests with stories about their near destruction during the French Revolution and survival during the two World Wars, often as military headquarters. Today, many of the area castles are privately owned however some, like the massive Chambord, are open to the public and attract thousands of tourists every year. The number of chateaus in the Loire Valley is truly dizzying and visitors hoping to fit the trip into one day will need to be modest in the number of castles they hope to visit. The Loire Valley can be visited by train, rental car, or one of the many tour-operated buses that leave from Paris daily.

As mentioned earlier, the beauty of Paris day trips is that visitors can get a taste of France outside of the capital without having to leave the comfort of their New York Habitat accommodation. Dozens of New York Habitat apartments are available year-round. Below are a few to get your search started:
- This classic 1-bedroom vacation rental apartment in Invalides, Auteuil – Tour Eiffel (PA-3179) features hardwood floors, a decorative fireplace and elegant furnishings.
- This studio duplex rental in Luxembourg, Montparnasse – Porte de Versailles (PA-3663) offers alot of space, hardwood floors and plenty of direct sunlight.
- This 1-bedroom apartment rental in Luxembourg, St Michel – St Germain – Notre Dame (PA-2894) features an amazing private garden space, a true rarity for Paris accommodations.

What’s your favoirte Chateau in the Loire Valley?

D-Day at Normandy

There’s plenty to do in Paris, and no one can be blamed for visiting France several times without stepping beyond the gate that is the peripherique. We continue our tour of close by attractions with a trip to the D-Day beaches of Normandy.

It is rare that one can discover a tangible piece of their country’s past on foreign soil. In France, there are numerous possibilities to find evidence of American presence during the Second World War in all corners of the Hexagon. Even in modern Paris one can find the pockmarked edifices of certain buidings from gunfire during France’s darkest hour. And despite the small memorials to American troops that dot this country, the grandest and most historically significant site for Americans in France is the D-day beaches in Normandy. A trip to the site of the Allied invasion of Normandy beginning on June 6th, 1944 is a must for any American, history buff or not. While glancing at the historic beaches sparks amazement, the most poignant part of the day for most visitors is a visit to the American cemetery, where the bodies of some 9,000 American soldiers lay in unmarked graves. A day trip to the military sites of Normandy also includes a visit to the Caen Memorial, the Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach Visitor’s Center and remains of the artificial harbor landing built by the Allies in June of 1944.

Though the events of World War II still have a very important meaning to the area and its French residents around the D-day beaches, the region is well worth a visit outside of the context of the war. Normandy’s coastline is a beautiful landscape of dunes, small-scale farms and green pastures. Squeezing in a visit to Normandy in one day is a bit of a challenge. Visitors will have to either rent a car or join up with one of the countless guided tours that head north each day. The ride takes over 2 hours each way and guests must drive between many of the memorial sites. Nonetheless, Americans visiting today’s free France often come away with a new appreciation for the sacrifices made by the WWII Allies after a visit to Normandy, one of the few sites in France where the heartbreaking evidence of battle is frozen in time. 

World War II American Cemetray in Normandy France

As mentioned earlier, the beauty of Paris day trips is that visitors can get a taste of France outside of the capital without having to leave the comfort of their New York Habitat accommodation. Below are a few to get your search started:

- This studio apartment rental in Ile Saint Louis, Marais – Les Halles (PA-2964) has an unbelievable central Paris location. Located on the River Seine’s Saint Louis island, steps from Notre Dame Cathedral, this accommodation has its own charming slice of Paris.  
- This 1-bedroom vacation rental apartment in Denfert Rochereau, Montparnasse – Porte de Versailles (PA-2851) features a working fireplace, a small balcony and hardwood floors.
- This elegant and stylish 4-bedroom vacation rental accommodation in Porte de Saint Cloud, Auteuil-Tour Eiffel (PA-3003) features hardwood floors, tasteful furnishings and has room for a family of five. 

Share your Normady expirence below.

For more than a decade the Bowery Ballroom has reigned as New York’s preeminent music venue. The downtown club attracts up-and-coming bands on the precipice of making it big, as well as established rockers who loyally return to the stage that launched their careers. For music lovers, it doesn’t get any better than this intimate venue.

Bowery Ballroom

Located just off the Bowery on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the Bowery Ballroom has an Art Deco interior and a rock ‘n roll vibe. Built in 1929 just before the Stock Market Crash, the onetime vaudeville hall cum retail store was transformed into a music club in 1997, and has been selling out shows ever since.

With a capacity of 550 people, the venue has near-perfect acoustics and good sightlines. On the main level, there is a raised stage with a wrap-around balcony above. The basement lounge is ideal for taking a break from the action, with leather banquettes and soft lighting. Each of the club’s three levels has a fully stocked bar, so concert-goers never have to travel far for refreshments.

The venue attracts a wide range of acts, everything from indie rock to electronica. Ticket prices are reasonable and shows often sell out quickly. Visit the Bowery Ballroom website   for show listings and ticket information. To avoid service charges, you can purchase tickets directly from the box office located at Mercury Lounge on East Houston Street (cash only).

New York Accommodation: Studio in the East Village (NY-14258) Pict

New York Habitat has hundreds of affordable apartments that are perfect for enjoying the downtown music scene, including the following:

- This conveniently located Two-Bedroom Vacation Rental in the East Village – Lower East Side – New York (NY-14337). The apartment is in the heart of the Lower East Side, a lively and artistic neighborhood with many restaurants, bars, clubs, boutiques and art galleries.

- This modern Alcove Studio Vacation Rental in the East Village – Lower East Side – New York (NY-14258). The apartment can accommodate up to six people, with a queen-size bed and two convertible sofas. Enjoy the flat-screen television and high-speed Internet access.

Have you ever been to the Bowery Ballroom? Do you have a favorite music venue in New York City? Share your comments with us!

Continuing our tour of things to do outside of Paris out next stop is Chartres. The small city of Chartres, with only about 42,000 residents, provides an interesting contrast to the bustle of modern Paris. Thanks to substantial efforts made by the city, and larger French community, the small Parisian outpost retains an Old World charm that can sometimes be glossed over amongst the modernity of Paris. Much like the Parisian Seine, the Eure River meanders through the heart of Chartres, with ancient bridges providing passage over its slow currents. Despite the countless charms of this small French city, the main tourist attraction is by far the Chartres Cathedral that is as massive as this city is petit.

Chartres Cathedral

The Cathedral Notre Dame de Chartres is one of Europe’s most noted pieces of Gothic architecture. Visiting the cathedral is best enjoyed by the most observant as the structure is filled with interesting details and the stories behind them, art enthusiasts could pass a few hours with just the stained glass. The cathedral dates back to at least the 13th century, after much of it was rebuilt following a large fire and was officially named a UNESCO world heritage site in 1979. As any structure this old and significant, the Chartres Cathedral has a remarkable relationship to the history of France. The cathedral was almost destroyed during the French revolution, used as a social club by Nazi soldiers during the German occupation and has been a popular site for pilgrims for centuries.

As with many trips heading West or South of Paris, a train ride out to Chartres starts in Paris’ Montparnasse train terminal. With a round trip of only about 2 hours, Chartres is an trip for guests eager to sleep at their adopted homes.

As mentioned earlier, the beauty of Paris day trips is that visitors can get a taste of France outside of the capital without having to leave the comfort of their New York Habitat accommodation. Dozens of New York Habitat apartments are available year-round, just a short train ride to the city of Chartres. Below are a few to get your search started:

- This studio apartment rental in Marais – Les Halles (PA-3662) is modern, bright and fully renovated. The hardwood floors and courtyard views make this a must-see couples or solo travelers.

- This tastefully artistic 1-bedroom rental accommodation in Marais-Les Halles (PA-421) features exposed wood beams, plenty of direct sunlight and the luxury of a washer-dryer combo machine.

- This large 3-bedroom vacation rental apartment in Passy, Auteuil – Tour Eiffel (PA-2709) can accommodate up to 6 guests at a time and is an ideal choice for globe trotting families.

Formerly known as Place Royale, the Place des Vosges was built under the reign of King Henri IV and used to be a favorite spot for duels. It is Paris’ oldest square and widely thought to be the city’s most beautiful. With its street musicians and art galleries, it is now a popular weekend destination in the heart of the Marais.

Place des Vosges

The elegant Renaissance plaza is composed of symmetrical brick pavilions resting over vaulted stone arcades. In the center is a public garden with linden trees, benches and playgrounds. Parisians come here to nap in the sun or watch passersby from the arcades’ cafes. Victor Hugo lived here in the Hôtel de Rohan-Guéménée, which is now the free “Maison de Victor Hugo” museum. Another free museum in the area is the Musée Carnavalet, which is devoted to the history of the capital and has spectacular gardens.
New York Habitat rentals in the vicinity include 18^th century apartments with exposed wooden beams. One of them even has a private garden filled with flowers

1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Marais - Les Halles (PA-1945)

1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Marais - Les Halles (PA-2282)

1 Bedroom Vacation Rental in Marais - Les Halles (PA-2286)

If you choose to live in the Marais for your next vacation, don’t miss another lovely square, an easy stroll from its more famous neighbor. Paved with cobblestone and shaded by mulberry trees, Place du Marché Sainte-Catherine might be less grandiose than Place des Vosges, but it has tons of charm. Sit on a bench here and you could be in a tiny village somewhere in France. Except that five minutes away is all the excitement of the Marais, with its mix of luxury shops, falafel joints and gay bars.

Nearby, the rue des Francs-Bourgeois is perfect for your shopping excursions and close to many New York Habitat vacation rentals. You will find designer boutiques like Barbara Bui, Paul & Joe, Zadig & Voltaire, as well as the Spanish shoe store Camper and the Japanese design brand Muji.

Any other tips about the Marais?