Hi everyone. Just joined HE last year so still getting to know the ropes. Have already secured 2 GP exchanges, so delighted with that but my dream trip to NY is proving somewhat elusive. I do appreciate that this destination is super popular so any tips would be welcome ? We are hoping for a week in May and we can host for longer than that if needed. We are in beautiful West Cork Clonakilty.
Thanks Mari
Make your request personal, do not make it a long communication or a long duration stay. Be as flexible as possible. People who live in NY likely don’t have tons of vacation and do have lots of choices to spend it. units are smaller. consider something outside manhattan and on the train like. PATH , LIRR NJ transit or subway. PATH goes to Jersey City and Hoboken and is really frequent.
Apart from what has already been said, I would advise you to try to travel during the NYC school holidays.
Hello Mari,
My own motto is, if it does not come naturally, leave it. There are soooo many other wonderful places in the world!
I know, not helpful, but life should not be a struggle and a compromise, not vacations anyway!
Did you know Montreal has the 2nd largest (after NYC) St Patrick’s day parade in North America, and it is 200 years old 
In the current political climate, you may get lucky, many folks, Canadians at least, are no longer crossing our southern border (didn’t Ireland get hit, on St Patrick’s eve, with a 200% tariff?)
Sorry, not sorry, for going political on you on this forum (but my country is under threat of coercion and annexation, so it is hard to avoid)
Good luck to you!
Hi Mari,
If you stay open-minded and don’t limit yourself too much (flexible dates, accommodation type, location, exchange type, taking care of pets, cleaning fees, etc.), it’s definitely possible to find something great.
At the end of May, we finalized a five-day exchange in New York, and I’m still surprised by how easy it was (we are a family of five). We adjusted our travel dates slightly to fit the host’s availability.
Exchanges in such popular areas are always easier during holidays, long weekends and school vacations. If it doesn’t work this time, just try at another date.
Good luck!
Hi Mari - we travel to Ireland most years. I’m really not sure about this year, the political situation is so strange 
But at any rate, here is our listing. New York City and The Beach. We were thinking of possibly going to Ireland in June.
Have you found a place yet for May?
All the best,
Fran