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

golly99

Hi, going to NYC for our honeymoon in September for 1 week- I've provisionally booked a room at the Casablanca hotel (can cancel if I can find anything better)- that currently comes in at $339 (£206) inc breakfast, but would really like to stay at the Marriott Marquis as it looks a bit more flash!...but that's coming in at £235 room only via the Thomson website and £266 inc breakfast. Want to include breakfast in the rate - was just wondering if there are any deals around to get the Marriott hotel at a bit more reasonable price? Interested in staying in Midtown/Times Square. Tried the official Marriott website, but coming out at £271 room only rate (not seen any discounts I can use to get this down further).

M4RKM

the majority of hotel in NYC don't include breakfast. If they do include breakfast, you'll get just a crap continental, and it's kinda pointless as you can venture out of the hotel, and get breakfast cheap...

have you checked out travelzoo to see what deals are around, as there are some good prices on things like the W hotels (starwood) so you might be able to get a bargain, if you remove that requirement of breakfast, which in my opinion is pointless and NOT worth it

Also, check tripadvisor for hotel reviews.. marriot marquis comes in at 59th and the casablanca comes in at 2nd out of 420 hotels in NYC... I personally wouldn't change to a lower TA review rated hotel

one final note, is that your $339 that you've booked, you haven't said where you've booked that, or if that rate includes tax, which some websites it might not...

golly99

Hi, thanks for your reply - i understand what you mean and I know most are room only basis but I know some do a continental type which is all we are after so that's why places like the Casablanca fits well. I regularly check Travelzoo both there is nothing available at the moment (such as the Starwood offers). That rate quoted is exc tax as well - it adds all the taxes on the hotel website when you're ready to book. Will keep an eye on travelzoo and any other hotel offers which come up.

M4RKM

you've never had a continental breakfast in new york.... hmm... trust me.. it's not worth it.. .there will be a deli around the corner where you can get a fresh bagel w/ cream cheese, and coffee for $2, so you really don't need a breakfast included..

M

gregg1

markymoo wrote: »

you've never had a continental breakfast in new york.... hmm... trust me.. it's not worth it.. .there will be a deli around the corner where you can get a fresh bagel w/ cream cheese, and coffee for $2, so you really don't need a breakfast included..

M

Have to say - the continental breakfast we had at our hotel was pretty good - croissants, fruit, cereals, muffins, bagels, toast etc plus juice, tea, coffee. It certainly saved us time and we were able to get an early start and set us up till lunchtime. Glad we had that option to be honest.

becky_rtw

I think breakfast is a very personal thing - one of my fav bits of NY is going out and sitting on the sidewalk (in a cafe not on the pavement ) and grabbing some pancakes, OJ and coffee and watching the world go by - although its not so good in the winter months I grant you

However, cost wise it will usually be cheaper to grab a breakfast out than to have it 'added' to your room only costs if you see what I mean!

pcg2001

Any experiences with using a Solo card in NY? I have some balance in one and was thinking of withdrawing the cash when I get there at an ATM.
TIA

golly99

Have to agree with Gregg1 - always find much more convenient to pop out the room having some cereal/toast/tea etc and get out and about - always find trying to find somewhere and then the waiting around for service etc adds a lot of time which could be spent site seeing! Sounds like either the Casablanca which I've already booked or somewhere like the Giraffe which is the same chain of hotels will be what we're going for unless any good Travel Zoo offers come up in the meantime!

becky_rtw

Doesnt it just work as Maestro??

You do get charged a fee and a conversion fee though - surely its better to get the cahs out here and change it into $s

gregg1

golly99 wrote: »

Hi, going to NYC for our honeymoon in September for 1 week- I've provisionally booked a room at the Casablanca hotel (can cancel if I can find anything better)- that currently comes in at $339 (£206) inc breakfast, but would really like to stay at the Marriott Marquis as it looks a bit more flash!...but that's coming in at £235 room only via the Thomson website and £266 inc breakfast. Want to include breakfast in the rate - was just wondering if there are any deals around to get the Marriott hotel at a bit more reasonable price? Interested in staying in Midtown/Times Square. Tried the official Marriott website, but coming out at £271 room only rate (not seen any discounts I can use to get this down further).

We stayed at Hotel Metro, 45 West 35th St which is 2 blocks from Macy's and 1 block from the ESB. The breakfasts were brilliant BUT there were major building works going on outside our hotel window which spoilt things for us somewhat. However, if the building works have finished (and it was 12 months ago) it may be worth you taking a look at the website.