"3. Expand your search beyond Manhattan. Consider other boroughs (The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) and other areas within proximity to Manhattan. The Tri-state area which is defined as the populated areas of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut that are still within commuting distance of Manhattan are well served by public transportation. By expanding your search beyond Manhattan, you increase the number of members you can swap with. People living outside Manhattan may also be more receptive to your offer since they receive fewer inquiries."
A few areas of Brooklyn and Queens that are close to Manhattan and/or near a subway or Long Island Rail Road stop can be very nice. These include Park Slope, Williamsburg, and Cobble Hill in Brooklyn; and the Queens neighborhoods of Little Neck and Douglaston. But much of Brooklyn and Queens is either unsafe, very inconvenient via transit or both. It is very difficult for a visitor to New York City to know which areas outside Manhattan are convenient and safe.
And I do not recommend Staten Island or the Bronx at all. Both are too far from anywhere you want to visit, both have very rough neighborhoods, and the housing stock there is prized primarily for its cheapness, not its beauty or build quality. Commuting in to Manhattan with all of the rush hour workers from New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut is hectic, crowded, slow, inconvenient and often expensive.
It is worth making an exception for certain areas: Greenwich, Connecticut, which has large, gorgeous homes and is not too far from Manhattan; parts of New Jersey like Hoboken or Jersey City which are on a subway line into Manhattan and have undergone gentrification recently; and perhaps Riverdale, in the Bronx, which has frequent express bus service into Manhattan and some nice housing stock.
There are also situations where the inconvenience of being outside Manhattan is counter-balanced by other needs. If you have a very big family you are unlikely to find a large enough apartment in Manhattan and may prefer the big houses in New Jersey. Home owners outside of Manhattan should also keep in mind that many swappers want to visit family members, who may be their neighbors.
Even Staten Island, which is probably the most inconvenient part of the New York City area for visitors, could be your choice if you want to visit cities further south. It can be a grueling hour and a half trip from the Southern tip of Staten Island to downtown Manhattan. But it is a pleasant hour and a half jaunt from Staten Island to Philadelphia.
Sometimes the suburbs are superior to the city. But not if your main goal is sight-seeing or shopping. You will find almost every area outside Manhattan to be relatively inconvenient. I recommend seeking a swap far outside Manhattan only if all other options are closed. After all, there is a reason that hotels in Manhattan average $400 per night: they are right where a visitor wants to be.
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