Apartments vs. Lofts

Do you desire a carefree sort of living situation in which immovable walls and preset distinctive rooms do not define your space for you? Do you feel the need to have every aspect of your life set into a pattern? Do you crave the wide-open floor plans of a loft style apartment, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing a full, panoramic view, or do you prefer the structured living style of a more traditional apartment? If you're unsure of the direction that your living arrangements are heading, continue reading to hear the best (and worst) of loft-style and traditional apartments.

To sum it up, a traditional apartment has definitive rooms separated by floor-to-ceiling walls and accessible through doorways with or without a door. The square footage of such a home varies upon the number of rooms, such as a one or two bedroom with or without a den or office. Bathrooms are always separate and are not included in the overall square footage.

On the other hand, a classic loft-style apartment is one grand space with an average living space of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. High ceilings (with windows to match), worn wooden floors and exposed building elements such as brick, pipes, beams and duct-work with cavernous spaces beyond the reach of the average resident are just a few of the aspects that lure tenants to the city-life, industrial-chic abode.

The historic Soho district of New York City is the proud address of the creation of the loft apartment. Stuck with large manufacturing buildings that couldn't support modern technology, the building owners of the 1950's risked losing everything if these colossal buildings remained unoccupied. The art community of the area was struggling to find affordable studio space that was large enough to house their apparatus and spread it out so the atmosphere could compliment that necessary of an artist. The combined efforts lead to the loft-housing boom, as the artists couldn't afford both an apartment and a studio to work. A series of pulleys and trap doors were installed to hide any domicile items of the resident when a nosey landlord would come around, as it was slightly illegal to live in such a building.

Even though the classic loft apartment is converted from an old manufacturing or warehouse building, more and more contractors are actually meeting the growing demand of loft apartments by creating these buildings from the ground up. These new-fangled reproductions are referred to as "hybrids".

Both a traditional and loft apartment come in different shapes and attributes, with or without fireplaces and such details. Secured video entry, in-house fitness center and a pool are a just a few of the luxury items that may or may not come with your apartment, no matter which style you choose.

Finding a NYC Apartment, No Broker Fees

When people speak of New York City, of its bright lights, cosmopolitan vibe and constant hustle and buzz, they're most likely thinking of Manhattan. Not to diminish the importance or the far bigger land space of the other boroughs, but Manhattan is the shining star of the city when it comes to densely packed and eye-popping sights, sounds and attractions. For vacationers anyway, this is where it's at.

Nothing compares to your first time in Manhattan. Movies, TV shows, famous photographs and glimpses of the New York Times have all probably acquainted you with the general idea of the city, but the gritty, vibrant atmosphere and overwhelming size of it all, from the skyscrapers to the personalities, must be experienced firsthand. Your gaze will fly from the shops to the high-rises and from people's faces to the brilliant billboards, but at the same time the business-like flow of the foot traffic will keep you moving. The last thing you'll want to do is stand out like a sore thumb, so don your blackest and most fashionable attire and keep yourself from openly gawking.

You may not be able to help showing a sense of wonder from time to time though, which is just fine. There will be plenty of other tourists alongside you as you take in the traditional scenes; the Empire State Building, the United Nations, Central Park, Bloomingdale's...the list of must-sees is as long as the subway line and you'll need every minute of your vacation to see it all. In case you haven't figured it out yet, this isn't going to be the kind of trip that involves a lot of lounging around; Manhattan requires energy and your full attention, and you'll probably find these pretty easy to give.

Catch a Broadway show (savvy travelers can pick up half-price tickets the day of), eat a giant sandwich at an authentic deli, watch the street performers at Washington Square Park, and shop (or window shop) to your heart's content at all the stores you've so far only heard mentioned in magazines. Wander from downtown to uptown, Greenwich Village to TriBeCa, Chinatown to Little Italy. Plan a schedule but don't be surprised if you end up straying from it; there is always something unexpected that will catch your eye, like an old record store or a cozy bench in the park that will tempt you to pause and experience a corner of the city that isn't mentioned in the guide books.

This cultural capital is brimming with big-time museums and intimate galleries, so if you're in the market to buy or just look you'll certainly have the chance. MoMA was just recently remodeled, and packs in several floors of well-known pieces that you've probably seen represented on t-shirts and coffee mugs but never with your own eyes, until now. You'll repeat this experience again and again while you're here, "so that's what it really looks like..." Chances are you'll be repeatedly thrilled, and glad you're finally getting to see the real Manhattan.

You'll certainly work your legs as you walk around the city, which gives you the best views, but taking a cab and hopping on the subway should also be given a whirl. Unless you're coming from another metro area, these novelties will add authenticity to the whole trip. Nothing introduces you to a city better than chatting with a cab driver, and sitting beside the commuters as you speed underground will be the best people-watching experience of your life.

To sink into the culture even more, consider doing something unconventional; instead of reserving a hotel room, rent a vacation property. You may think these exist only on the beach or in the woods, but contemporary apartments and posh condos are scattered throughout the city and allow visitors to live like locals. With a view from the top and all the amenities you need to feel cozy and taken care of, Manhattan Vacation Rentals provide an elegant and convenient experience that will only add to what is certain to be an amazing trip.