Moving into Bethlehem, PA need advice. (Allentown, Sandy: extended stay, for sale, apartments)

[ravindra.g.rao]

Hello,

I have been in Sandy Springs Atlanta, GA for about 2 years. I will need to move to Bethlehem on work. My wife will stay back in Atlanta as she could not get a transfer from her school. I am now looking for a studio apartment. I am ready to share as well. My work location will be Valley Center Parkway, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Could somebody please suggest a nearby location which is either walkable or has public transit to my work location? I will be moving during the first week of October.

Thank you.
Ravindra.

[flyonpa]

LANTA - is the bus system -> http://www.lantabus.com/

But you will need a car, unless you want to be a prisoner in your apt. There are no apt with in walking distance (and not something you are going to want to do in the winter),

[Kefir King]

Like fly said, you will NOT survive without a car in the Lehigh Valley unless you are under house arrest.

[ravindra.g.rao]

Thanks for your suggestions! So, car it is and that expands the area of search for a bed Any suggestions on localities where I can find low cost homes/rooms? My company has reduced my salary citing the lower cost of living but when I went through a few web sites looking for rental homes, I find almost the same and in some cases more than in Sandy Springs.

[toobusytoday]

The area around where you will be working is actually a good area to live. There are some links at the top of this page that has some renting information. I would try Craigslist first. craigslist: lehigh valley classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events Also look at the off-site housing info for Moravian college. You would want to live in some of the same area's as those students.

Stay out of center city Allentown! While you may want cheap, I'm sure safety is also a concern. Check out the crime map at the top sticky before you pay for anything.

I would be surprised that someone would think that a Northeastern city would be cheaper then a city in Georgia. I would argue that one.

[knb23]

Having just moved to the area from an Atlanta suburb, I would counter the decreased cost of living too-- that is ridiculous! I would say the area is similar in cost to Atlanta, if not higher. I looked at rentals priced for what I could get a fairly snazzy high-rise apartment for in Atlanta that kind of made me want to cry with how rundown and awful they were.

I would check Craigslist daily-- that is where I found all of the properties that ended up in the running for me. I was put in contact with a few realtors through my job, but that was kind of a flop.

Best of luck-- you'll find something! Just watch out for scams online and don't sign a lease until you can come up and visit the place in person.

[PacoMartin]

I think you can use a little bit of imagination and try and manage without a car.

The route 215 bus on Lanta goes up Schoenersville Rd. If you stop at the bus stop at 40°39'8.21"N & 75°24'47.23"W you can walk the 150 yards to center of Valley Center Parkway. This bus stop is directly in front of
Extended Stay America - Allentown - Bethlehem
3050 Schoenersville Rd.
Bethlehem , PA 18017

The Parkway is about 1 mile long, but if I knew exactly where you worked I could tell you how far you have to walk.
LANTA - Route215
The bus ride would be 15 minutes, but you would have to leave by 5:30PM every day. The first bus in the morning leaves at 6:45 so it should cover a normal working day, but if you work at night, you will have to do so from your laptop at home.

Bus Route 215 will take you to downtown Bethlehem, which is a decent place to be without a car. You have a range of places to eat from bars with good cheap food to some of the most upscale restaurants in the Valley. Route 215 will also take you to the airport, where you can rent a car when you need to get away.

Sample Cheap bar good burgers: Joe's tavern in downtown Bethlehem

Sample High end Restaurant in downtown Bethlehem - Tapas on Main.