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New York City B&BsJudy Babcock WylieThe cost of a hotel room in New York City averages well over $150 per night. This includes private bath. But it does not include the right to sleep in a red velvet canopy bed once owned by Liberace. Nor does it include tea and homemade cookies served at a family table as a cat purrs nearby, or a personal guided tour of the neighborhood by a genial host. For these pleasures, you must book a bed- and -breakfast accommodation. These start at a little more than half the average hotel rate: $80 and up per room per night, and roughly $550 per week. New York is bursting at the seams with good bed -and -breakfast values: there are literally hundreds of B&B lodgings in the city. Not to be confused with bed- and- breakfast inns, these are the old fashioned kind of B&B where you stay in a spare room of someone’s home. The only way to find them is to contact one of several referral agencies for B&Bs in New York City. Most hosts do not want their addresses or names published for security reasons, so bookings are done exclusively through these agencies. Some hosts list with more than one agency. “We have everything from funky to fabulous,” says Leslie Goldberg of Bed and Breakfast Network of New York, which represents 200 hosts. “From lofts in Soho to penthouses on the Upper West Side with wraparound terraces and a greenhouse, we have them.” When you call a bed- and- breakfast agency in New York for a reservation, expect the agent to get personal. You’ll be asked why you’re coming to New York, what you particularly hope to see, how long you’ll stay, what area of the city you prefer, your budget and whether you want a private bath. Is a view important to you? Do you want a terrace or a fireplace? Do you want a building with a doorman? Another important issue is whether you want to stay in a place with a resident host or if you prefer an unhosted apartment where you will be alone, which is sometimes available. Some B& Bs are truly elegant. One we saw recently, located in a brownstone on the Upper West Side, had a view of the river and three pretty rooms, including a kitchen stocked with breakfast goodies and a bowed window with plenty of soft cushions. Another option is a contemporary suite on Third Avenue owned by an advertising executive. This apartment has been featured on a magazine cover. Many styles of accommodation are available, from simply comfortable to smashing, with prices that vary accordingly. Remember, this is not Vermont. There will be no rushing stream outside your window. But for warmth, excitement and value, booking a New York B&B is a smart move when you’re bound for the Big Apple. Try these B&B agencies to find your special home in New York: Abode Bed and Breakfasts, Ltd Bed and Breakfast Network of New
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