New York Times Home Exchange

Question

I am going to be staying in New York for six weeks later this year. Do you have any suggestions on where to stay for that long a period without breaking my wallet? Megan Harris,Palestine, Tex. (Aaron Meshon)

Answer

New York is a tough town to find cheap accommodations, for short or long stays. As for not breaking your wallet, that can be relative. For some, the hotels recommended in Denny Lee's article "10 New York Hotels for Under $250 a Night" (Dec. 11, 2005) may be a bargain. Or maybe you'd want to stay in a bed-and-breakfast, as explored by Fred A. Bernstein in "The B & B Option Is Put to a New York Test" (July 30, 2007), with rates as low as $75 a night. Both articles are available from the Times archives at nytimes.com/travel.

Your best bet for a six-week stay, though, is probably to be found by scouring the New York listings in Craigslist (www.craigslist.com), under "sublets/temporary.""It's especially good if you're willing to take a sublet bedroom in a larger apartment, which could be a chance to get to know some New Yorkers," said Seth Kugel, who writes the Weekend in New York column, "but there are also some full apartments and studios that pop up there." Mr. Kugel successfully used the Craigslist route for his article "Cheap Digs, Cheap Eats. And Still Under Budget," about seeing the city on $250 or less a day (Dec. 5, 2004).

Sublet.com and Subletinthecity.com also have many New York listings.Instead of just browsing Craigslist or similar sites, you could put up a posting explaining what you're looking for (and that you are a decent, respectful person). Posting in the housing section of Craigslist is free, and through your posting you may reach someone who's just about to add a sublet to the listings.Keep in mind that not all sublets are legal, however, and if they aren't, your protections against eviction and money loss are greatly diminished. One way to protect yourself is by having the renter sign a generic rental agreement. You can print one out from legal-kits.net/freeforms.

Another possibility for short term New York housing is to not pay anything at all, through a home exchange. Travel guide writer Rick Steves made an enthusiastic plug for home exchange on his April 21 radio podcast (ricksteves.com/radio), interviewing Nicole Feist, author of the blog Home Exchange Travels (homeexchanger.blogspot.com). Ms. Feist, who has happily swapped for homes around the world 31 times, recommends HomeExchange.com as a reputable site, as well as Knowyourtrade.com which rates various home exchange clubs. In August she's launching CHECTravel.com, a site to help people make safe and secure home trades. Craig's List also has exchanges listed under the "housing swap" category. Who knows? You just might be able to swap your home with a Manhattanite eager to explore the Texas Railroad Museum, eat at the 100-year-old Eilenberger's Bakery or party during Palestine, Texas's annual Oktoberfest. - DAVID G. ALLAN

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