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

thatsfabulous

I think thats a nice time to go. We went Oct last year and it was very pleasent. We are going November this year as hoping to catch the being of the christmas festivities. Would have loved to go in Dec but i think it would be too busy and cold.

cashbackproblems

greenface wrote: »

which hemsley there is at least three . What do you want or like how old (ish) are you do you have kids . are you looking to shop and eat or wander and drink personally point your body in any directions and you will find things to see and do . Im from Merseyside and New Yorkers tend to do what i do best and thats talk non stop (although i was called Irish on more than one occasion)get into the local scene and find a good bar or restaurant thats busy but not mad, smile and get chatting then you can find out where best to go next stop or next night.Thats my philosophy for anywhere when away (was in newquay wales and asked as we went from pub to pub to foody only to find the best place to go was the boozer we are staying in ) (good night though) (full of welsh though) (good lookin sheep though) (apart from dai's had a limp)(wasnt very fast)




dont knock the new yorker that much it isnt that bad Friends stayed there recently and it is iconic to new york hotels covered in history and has been through a upgrade from the seedy days of new york past

The Helmsley opposite madison sq gardens and the UN building.

Just me my brother going we are both under 25, im sure we'll take it as it comes once we'r there!

Savvy_Sue

pcg2001 wrote: »

I plugged in your dates and got 122 usd for holiday inn express fifth avenue. It also has free breakfast, and I think internet. This is a GREAT rate, since it should be 329 according to the website.

We stayed in one of those on our trip last summer, and TBH I wouldn't have wanted to PAY for that breakfast ... It really wasn't anything to write home about.

M4RKM

HI express breakfasts are awful.... i stay in enough of them in the UK to know this.

However, walk outside, find a deli, and get a bagel, an eggandcheeseonaroll (yes, pronounce that all as one word when you're ordering) and a coffee for about $2 - $3... more so if you're in the tourist trap of midtown though....

M

randomtask_2

ajdj wrote: »

My partner and I are thinking of booking to go to New York at the end of March. We went this January so hoping it will be a little warmer this time.

We are thinking of doing 4 nights in Manhattan and 3 nights in Brooklyn.
Planning to stay in the Chelsea area as we loved it around there. We walked everywhere last time, and plan to do the food walking tour in Greenwich Village, a ferry trip to Statue of Liberty and TOTR as these are the things we didn't do this year. We are both foodies too, so love the choice of restaurants in Manhattan.

Based on the sort of things we like, wondered if you had any tips for must see things in Brooklyn? I've read that the shops and restaurants around Park Slope are nice so we would probably opt to stay around there. Prospect Park also looks worth a visit, but i'm a little worried about having enough to fill 3 days. Also a bit worried about our last day involving a lot of travelling as we would be flying in and out of Newark. Any help/opinions would be helpful!

Brooklyn to Newark airport is quite a journey. Is there any way you can get flights that depart from JFK? It's so much easier to reach from Brooklyn. Otherwise, could you sandwich Brooklyn between your time in Manhattan, as transit from a hotel in Chelsea to Newark is far less time consuming.

As for things to do in Brooklyn, Park Slope is nice for smaller boutiques, bars, cafes and other eateries. 5th and 7th Ave are the main streets to check out while the brownstone buildings give the area plenty of character. Also walk around Brooklyn Heights. Much like parts of Manhattan, you can easily walk around the streets of Brooklyn for ages, especially if the weather's nice.

Prospect Park is huge and worth a visit - it contains a zoo, the Museum of Art, or you might be able to rent a pedalo, and there may be free events on, so check the prospectpark.org site nearer the time of your visit to see what's in the calendar.

Williamsburg is definitely something to look into - lots of variety as it attracts a mix of people - hipsters, ethnic groups and bohemian types. Full of bars with happy hours and pretty decent brews, some nice restaurants and a fair few galleries and art studios, so there's plenty going on in the vicinity if this is your type of thing. Personally, I'd be looking to be in the area by late afternoon when the bars begin to open. It can feel a bit quiet during the day, but as the bars fill, you'll see lots of people out.

Also go to the DUMBO area and check out Jacques Torres Chocolates - the best in NY!!

HGLTsuperstar

Quick question - how much for the message board outside the Hershey Store and can you arrange it there and then or do you have to book ahead?
Thanks

phatbear

A couple of years ago I had a message put up for my good lady for her 40th birthday and it cost the massive sum of $5, you just need to go to the little desk in the middle of the shop and write your message down and they will type it up.

However depending on how busy they are their is no guarantee it will be up their straight away, we waited about 10 mins for our message, another issue make sure you read what they type in as our first message was wrong, only a spelling mistake but no biggie.

Oooh and you get 15 mins

pcg2001

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

We stayed in one of those on our trip last summer, and TBH I wouldn't have wanted to PAY for that breakfast ... It really wasn't anything to write home about.

Fair enough. However for 122 usd per night I am sure the cost of breakfast can be factored in and it is still a bargain, right?

As for the hampton inn, I have read you can collect a breakfast bag if you prefer instead of eating in the breakfast room, so even if the breakfast is not good, you end up with some water, fruit and munchies to keep you going through the day. At least in the Hampton Inn where I am staying, they have free coffee all day available. I haven't stayed there, but given these little extras at a 2 star, it does seem like a value for money "hotel". I will let you know how I get on with hampton inn.

Savvy_Sue

markymoo wrote: »

HI express breakfasts are awful.... i stay in enough of them in the UK to know this.

However, walk outside, find a deli, and get a bagel, an eggandcheeseonaroll (yes, pronounce that all as one word when you're ordering) and a coffee for about $2 - $3... more so if you're in the tourist trap of midtown though...

In our defence, we were by this stage in the middle of nowhere in New Jersey rather than in NY, or we would certainly not have eaten more than one breakfast there.

pcg2001 wrote: »

Fair enough. However for 122 usd per night I am sure the cost of breakfast can be factored in and it is still a bargain, right?

Very probably, I just wouldn't want anyone else to book at a HI Express thinking that the breakfast clinched the deal.

fordy

Ok, really upset here, please help

I came this close <> to booking on expedia last night (1am actually). £699 for 5 nights in september including flights at the Wyndham Garden Times Square.

Then i re read for the hundreth time the itinerary page and the small print under the hotel details.

"The price you selected DOES NOT include any applicable service fees, charges for optional incidentals (such as minibar snacks or telephone calls) or regulatory surcharges. The hotel will assess these fees, charges and surcharges upon check-out."

Im taking this that I will be hit for occupancy tax @14.25% per day plus whatever else New York State wants to charge on top.

I phoned expedia just now to enquire and they said normally what I pay them includes these taxes, but to be sure I should PHONE THE HOTEL MYSELF!!!! How could they not know?

I dont even think phoning the hotel would guarantee not paying extra on top. This is some offer through expedia that they wouldn't have any knowledge of and is far cheaper than their actual room rate.

Any ideas please.

thanks

David