Two readers tell their travel stories...
Antoinette Quigley has advice for MN in Waterford, who wants to rent a New York apartment
I have just returned from New York after renting a two-bed/two-bath apartment with six members of my family for four nights. This worked very well for us as we wanted to have a lounge area to gather together, and also a kitchen.
The apartment is on the 44th floor of the building and has amazing views of the city and the Hudson. The building has a 24-hour doorman and a gym,indoor pool and movie viewing room. The apartment is basically furnished with very comfortable beds and a large plasma TV. The kitchen is very well equipped. This worked out much better value than staying at a hotel. The apartment cost $1,975 for four nights, including taxes and cleaning.
I noticed on newyorkstay. com an apartment in the same building which looks like ours only with nicer furniture and for a similar price. This apartment only sleeps five, however, as it has one less double bed. It is titled “penthouse suite 2 br” and the location is 43rd Street and 10th Avenue. The apartment can be viewed on Tripadvisor/ New York under vacation rentals. It is titled “Times Square penthouse – sleeps 8”. There are many reviews about the apartment. The owner, Nicole Wallace, is very helpful and easy to deal with. She also has other apartments to rent. She can be contacted at nicole.m.wallace@gmail.com.
Margaret Richardson got in touch after her hotel internet booking failed
I recently booked two nights in the Barcelo Carlton hotel in Edinburgh through www.booking.com, having used the link from the Ryanair website. When I arrived last Thursday the hotel had no knowledge of my reservation. Luckily, the hotel wasn’t full and they honoured my booking but had it been a busy weekend I know it would have been a different story.
Ryanair used to use needahotel.com, originally an Irish company, and I never had a problem with it. I have no idea why or when it switched to booking.com but I, for one, won’t be using it again. I have emailed the website and await a reply and I intend writing to Ryanair, too.
It might be an idea to warn your readers or at least to see if there are others who have had the same problem.