Wheelchair and family

I want to tavel to New York with my family (wife, 2 sons 16 and 20) and want to stay in self catering accommodation.

I use a wheelchair and need full access.

I have found places inManhattan that have a roll-in shower but are way too expensive, and one in Jersey City (Candlewood Suites). And one scam that I nearly fell for -

www.alwaysonvacation.com/details/United-States_New-York_Manhattan-_94810.html;sid=42mdtZRzb2lGNNGKoRR0H7YzI4ph5FSQHzg=

Managed to find ph number of the super who said there is no such apartment, and that he%26#39;s had people arrive with their luggage to find out they%26#39;d been scammed..

My questions:

- a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment in Manhattan that has wheel-in shower, and costs nothing (joke)

- is Jersey City a realistic base to explore NY

Thanks.

Wheelchair and family

The problem with Jersey City is the question of how you are going to get back and forth across the river.

Here is what the Port Authority says about the accessibility of the PATH trains:

';Accessible services for passengers with disabilities

Customers with disabilities are advised that elevator service is available at seven of PATH%26#39;s thirteen stations. These stations include five terminals - 33rd Street and the temporary World Trade Center Station in New York, Journal Square, Hoboken and Newark in New Jersey as well as Exchange Place and Pavonia/Newport Station in New Jersey. ';

Notice that missing from the list are most of the stations in Manhattan, other than the two terminals.

Will you find that good enough?

Wheelchair and family

I think the best option would be a suiite hotel. The www.Affinia.com group are 7 all suite hotels. Contact them to find out which of them might have wheel in showers in rooms.

The San Carlos, the Kimberly and the Beacon are other suite hotels that might work. The Embassy Suites downtown advertises wheelchair accessible public spaces, (which frankly I think is law) but not sure about rooms. This is a lovely all suite hotel and good for a spring/summer visit, but not so good for winter.

The Loew%26#39;s Regency has what you want, but it%26#39;s a pricey hotel.

loewshotels.com/en/鈥uites.aspx

You might also contact Big Apple Greeters, a volunteer org. that has good accessibility info (but not a list of hotels!)

bigapplegreeter.org

I know that the Affinia Manhattan has some bathrooms that are designed for people in wheel chairs. I have stayed in a one bedroom suites which had two bathrooms. One bathroom which was just off fromt he bedroom had a tiny bathroom and the other bathroom which was in the living area had a bathroom that was huge where you can wheel your chair to the toilet and has a shower area that you can also wheel your chair into.

Thanks.

The prices of the suites you mention are above my pocket.

Time I think to compromise and go for a sublet tht I have to transfer into a bath.

What are some reputable sublet sites?

Just asked my spouse the architect - first you need to know that, relatively speaking, NYC is an old, densely built city, with a tendency toward smaller living quarters.

You are LESS likely to find a decent wheelchair-accommodating situation in a typical Manhattan sublet. You would need to find a sublessor who is living in an apartment that has already been retro-fitted for wheelchairs. (If you go this route, ask for photos. Don%26#39;t take people%26#39;s word for it.)

Currenlty, whenever someone renovates their apartment (if they do it legally and file the job with the City Dept of Buildings), all altered doorways and bathrooms must be changed to accommodate a wheelchair (2 ft, 10 inches). (NOTE: this is not neccessary if you%26#39;re just changing the tiles or doing ';cosmetic'; changes.) Otherwise, everything can remain status quo.

Since most hotels are newer, you%26#39;re MORE likely to find wheelable space in hotel rooms. The newer the hotel, the better your odds, not only because the laws changed, but because society (and designers) have ';evolved'; more. ;o)

What about trying Priceline? There are strategies for getting low prices here:

www.betterbidding.com

Yes, It%26#39;s the same here in Sydney. I work in a disability organisation (SCI Australia www.sci.org.au) and give the same information as that to people visiting.

There seems to be no similar disability service that can give comprehewnsive specialist traveller information for NY.

There are no fully accessible sublets here, but some serviced apartment hotels.

I thought there might be a chance in NY. C%26#39;est la vie.

Have you contacted the Big Apple Greeters as I suggested? They may have some info for you. Contact them about their access program

bigapplegreeter.org

I also agree that a hotel is the best option.

Yes, and they%26#39;re great but not providing the same as I do for Australia.

And sorry all, I gave the wrong URL. IT is www.scia.org.au.

http://www.mta.info/mta/ada/stations.htm

gets you accessible info on metro stations.

Holiday Inn Manhattan downtown hotel has rooms up to the Americans with disabilities standards.

Have you considered Youth Hstelling? I know it sounds bizarre but if all you want is an accessible place with a clean bed it%26#39;s an option.

Your sons would probably love it. It almost costs nothing - 28 euros pp pn and you could have a dorm for 4 and use it as s family room.

Try hostelbookers.com/hostels/鈥?/a>

Or ask us to find you a place: katalantravels.com

Yes, I did try Hostelling International but their private family room doesn%26#39;t have an accessible bathroom, and feedback on the place makes it and the area sound unpleasant and creepy.

Seems it is used as a hostel for homeless and displaced, rather than just a travellers facility.

I regularly refer people to the Sydney Central Youth Hostel as it has accessible pribate rooms and is more a travellers place.