Anything & Everything New York (PART 2) - [please search thread before posting]

pcg2001

indiegirl wrote: »

OK I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I'm going over to NY next week for a few days with work at short notice. I'm going to be a lone female traveller and am not 100% certain (having never been before!) what I can do in the evenings on my own.
I'm not sure I want to be wandering the streets but likewise I won't want to be sat in my hotel room twiddling my thumbs!

Can anyone suggest any 'safe' options for me so that I may at least get to see something in the evenings? Is it safe catching a cab to places / shops - I'm staying on E 50th St so I think it's quite central (I hope!), I'd like to get to Bloomingdales at least!

Hi, I don't know your location, but the one thing that immediately popped into my mind was going to shows. There are many offers through May at travelzoo http://shows.travelzoo.com/new-york-shows/ and at broadwaybox.com, so if that is your thing, check them out. One money saving tip would be go by public transportation and return by taxi, unless you happen to be staying close to the theatres location.

M4RKM

indiegirl wrote: »

OK I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I'm going over to NY next week for a few days with work at short notice. I'm going to be a lone female traveller and am not 100% certain (having never been before!) what I can do in the evenings on my own.
I'm not sure I want to be wandering the streets but likewise I won't want to be sat in my hotel room twiddling my thumbs!

Can anyone suggest any 'safe' options for me so that I may at least get to see something in the evenings? Is it safe catching a cab to places / shops - I'm staying on E 50th St so I think it's quite central (I hope!), I'd like to get to Bloomingdales at least!

Manhattan is NOT like the movies..

New York City is the safest city in the whole of the USA, and probably safer than Milton Keynes.

The Subway system is perfectly safe, and runs 24/7.

you're on E50th Street, so 9 blocks away to bloomingdales, is either a 15-20 minute walk, $2 subway fare, or about $10 in a taxi cab.

"Night" time, in the city that never sleeps, is probably about after 3am. So to be really honest, if you're working while you're out there, you'll be wandering the streets, midafternoon..

You can do ANYTHING you want to do...

Top of the Rock is great at twilight, get some good photos.
Go see a show/movie
Go to a bar and soak up the atmosphere...

loads you can do, being a solo traveller stops you from nothing.

M4RKM

Lady_S wrote: »

...and because we plumped for Virgin we also got to prebook our seats for the flights.

Aaah.. the beauty about Virgin/BA is that you can't choose your seats.

Delta, you can choose your seats as you book
Continental, you can choose your seats as you book
US Airways, you can choose your seats as you book

Yeah, ok, you get the option of prem economy, but at 6'4, i can survive in Cattle class, i personally don't think it's worth the money..


M

M4RKM

twinkler wrote: »

Thank you marky moo. I hadnt looked there for flights (new to all this).

Have only ever flewn with easyjet - not sure why wanted BA or Virgin - direct flights where my only real must have as only there for a short while and want o make the most of it!

The prices you fund sound great - far better than i got - do you think its worth waiting until Sept time or not?

The 3 month rule is my made up rule, on the basis of that each of my holidays to NYC, the flight has been booked in this 3 month before window. Yes, the prices i've got have always been very competitive.

However, I've never gone in December!

If you're happy with the prices (and they are cheaper than what you've already seen) then go ahead and book, but only on the promise that you'll never ever look at flight prices again before you travel

It is always worth checking the airlines own website, Delta, KLM, Northwest, Air France, they do a lot of codesharing, so it's worth searching those sites individually.
Also, I know delta don't charge anything for booking a flight, (no CC fees), and they charge in UK £.

BA do charge a % CC fee, and that isn't factored into the price that I've given earlier

M

uzubairu

I went to New York in January 2006 on my own, as my hubby couldn't go at the last minute.

I had a great time and like markymoo says, I felt very safe and used the subway system for the 6 days of my holiday with no worries.

Plenty to see and do, and do it in your own time and pace.

Just got back today from a 6 day trip to New York.
Great weather and we stayed at a lovely hotel called the Beacon (75th and Broadway).

We used the subway daily and had plenty to do and didn't want to leave.

stefingos

I have to disagree with you MarkyMoo

1. I pre-booked my seats on my recent flights with Virgin (check out seatguru to find the best seats to pre-book). However it wasn't at time of booking, it was a week after when I received my e-ticket by email, then I simply logged onto their website and pre-booked my seats.

2. Having just had the pleasure of flying Virgin Upper Class (using my air miles), I can safely say that it is worth it and I would do it again (miles permitting!) - I had to go to a client meeting on return into LHR last week and the flat bed allowed me to sleep for most of the flight back from NYC. So in my opinion premium economy or Upper Class is worth it if you can stretch to it.

-Stefingos

jcartlidge

Twinkler,

I am pretty much going exactly the same time as you apart from coming home a day later. Our plan is to leave early on the Saturday to ensure a decent amount of time in NYC so our flight times are very specific.

So far I have found flights with Virgin, BA, Delta and AA that suit our requirements. I am going to apply Marky's 3-month rule on this occasion.

Now the lesson... When i checked the flights costs shortly after they were released the flight costs were £330 each, now they have jumped up a little. Like many havesaid, if you like the price, book. Then never check the costs again. Ever. My hope is that they will come down with promotional fares within the 3-month window (only problem is specific flight times required)

Good look with your search.

jaycat62

jaycat62 wrote: »

Hi,

My partner and myself are going to NY next year after our Civil Partnership. I have a couple of questions to ask please.

After reading the thread, I am unsure whether to book now with an agent, or do it ourselves, if we do, do we risk leaving it 3 months before? We don't want to mess it up being such an important time for us.

Also has anybody found it makes any difference to fly Friday rather than Saturday? We'd prefer to fly out Friday, but if it's easier or less hectic....

We are looking to stay in Greenwich too, as alot of people here seem to think it's a good place.

Thanks for your help, great and very helpful thread too.

Any ideas gratefully received please.

Thanks.

twinkler

Thats so weird, fancy us going at the same time.

I was leaning towards just booking them and not checking again until i recieved a mother of all tax bills this morning which has eaten up my 'flight' money.
Guess i shall be using the 3 month rule thus giving me time to save!
Sometimes i wonder why im self employed.

Lady_S

markymoo wrote: »

Aaah.. the beauty about Virgin/BA is that you can't choose your seats.

Delta, you can choose your seats as you book
Continental, you can choose your seats as you book
US Airways, you can choose your seats as you book

Yeah, ok, you get the option of prem economy, but at 6'4, i can survive in Cattle class, i personally don't think it's worth the money..


M

You get to book your seats with Virgin, you don't with BA.

It is horses for courses, I couldn't personally cope with a flight of that length and being in cattle. I am claustrophobic and not the littlest person. Hence, I pay the extra and enjoy the space because of it.

Everyone has different priorities, mine is comfort over price.