I'm meeting a friend who's flying in from Germany to "walk the city" with me for 5 or 6 days in late August. I remember walking in NYC is like walking around the world, in terms of international experiences through so many residents from so many nations.

I searched for cheap rooms via airbnb, craigslist, etc. Deciding what's a scam (asking for $ to be sent by Western Union wiregram or similar insecure method), and what's legitimate seems tricky to me. I found a site called manhattanbnb.com and related site, KingKongbnb.com and booked a room in a Bowery Loft for $120/night. There's a kitchen and bathroom shared by the 4 rooms in the loft. I've paid with a credit card through google wallet, so if the place turns out to not exist, my card will protect me from loosing the money, and I'll need to find other accommodation after I arrive, not a favorite way to enter a destination on a low budget. There's guy with whom I connected through tripAdviser.com who'll give me feedback after his stay this week.

Any FTers out there with experience to share who have booked rooms through manhattanbnb.com or KingKongbnb.com?