It is difficult, but far from impossible. It takes a bit of luck, a little knowledge and a lot of work, but apartments for long stays or vacations are out there. The links below will lead you to some help with finding apartments in Manhattan.

NYC Vacation Rentals
Some New Yorkers travel for part of the year and rather than let their apartment sit empty, they make it available for daily, weekly or monthly guests. These may be apartments that are set up for rental - or the empty nests of New Yorkers on vacation themselves.

This alternative to hotels has been popular in Europe for years and is starting to catch on in Manhattan. It's a great way to get the real New York experience when you visit.

A break from restaurant food can be nice - even in New York. Breakfast in your pajamas and midnight snacks... without room service menu and price are very nice.

NYC Unfurnished Apartments
In New York, these may be rentals, co-ops or condos. All have their advantages and disadvantages. Rents are high, there are really no low rent areas in Manhattan and even the outer boroughs reflect the cost of living in New York.

You'll hear plenty of stories about bargains, but they are difficult to find. No fee lists are for sale, but if you decide to go that way be careful. Many of them are an expensive way to get listings that are available in the local papers. For Manhattan apartments brokers fees can run into the hundreds or higher, but for an easy way to get an apartment without the stress, it may be the best way to go...

Furnished or Corporate Apartments
New Yorkers may live outside of the city and only use their apartments when they're in town. Often furnished apartments are sublets although many corporate apartments are set up for business use and are not leased to long term renters. They are a good solution if you are in the city for only a month or two and need a place to call home while you work or study.

One friend was posted to Europe for two years and rented out her fantastic studio while she was gone. There are also places that let out single rooms, like the "Y"... these places are generally more expensive than shares, but do provide more privacy. Make sure that cooking is allowed if you don't plan on eating all of meals in restaurants. Eating out in New York can take a big bite out of your budget.

Long Term Sublets
Some New Yorkers have found a great apartment and hate to let it go when they can't use it. Sublets may be the result of someone moving in with a significant other - but wanting to keep their apartment just in case. They may be rental units that are leased by someone who will be out of town for a short while or even permanently, but are keeping the city apartment -- just in case. Remember when you sublet an apartment - the space will be yours only until the primary lease holder wants it back.

You'll hear plenty of horror stories about sublets with good reason. Sublets are legal in the city only if the landlord agrees to let the tenant sublet. Most of the sublets you'll find are not approved by the owner of the building and that puts you in a situation of having a nice apartment at reasonable rent (by New York standards), but being in danger of losing the place if the owner wants you to vacant. You have no legal protection when you enter into an illegal sublease agreement.

Roommates/Shares
One way to get an affordable apartment in the city is to split the rent.

A $2400 rent split three ways makes more sense than trying to swing the rent for a studio at $1600/mo when you are starting out. There are plenty of pitfalls in this arrangement, but when it works out well, it can be a fantastic experience. The best rule for sharing is to be formal about it and get everything in writing. Who pays for utilities and who buys bathroom supplies can be the undoing of the best roommate arrangements. Make sure when you enter the agreement that cleaning responsibilites are defined.

Living with a neat freak or a total slob may be funny in TV comedies, but in real life it makes your daily routine a nightmare... unless your habits match or your favorite hobby is cleaning for everyone you live with. If you love classical music and live with a hip hop crew, you won't be happy with the arrangement. Get a cell phone and use it instead of the apartment phone to avoid arguments about which phone calls were made by each roommate. If you iron out all of the difficult problems before you move in, you'll be less likely to regret the decision.