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

gregg1

hearts wrote: »

Thanks for that Greg.
I will try the Boathouse then , thats asuming I can manage to book when I get there. We will probably go for dinner. I think I will try the River cafe too. What the hell, I probably won't be back again soon so may as well make the most of it.
We like any food really. I want to try Chinatown for a meal also.
LOL only there for 5 days, it seems I'm going to spend most of it eating;-)

I would certainly book the River Cafe before you go as it books up way in advance. They have a website where you can find the telephone number. Personally I would also try and book the Boathouse before you go as well. Enjoy!

realised

Thanks for all your replies..

I've been telling my boyfriend we dont need a car and he is just like yours KK22.. Will not listen to anything I say

*shakes head* Still have a few months to convince him otherwise but I'd really like to get the hotel booked before everyone starts booking for Xmas.. However, We're going from the 9th-17th so hopefully it wont be that bad!

M4RKM

it's bad already, you need to be booking something soon, December is one of the busiest months of the year..

best thing to do, is work out the maths for him. maybe tweak the figures slightly so by renting a car works out more expensive than staying only in Manhattan...

M

M4RKM

hahahaha! this is awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xopwmval2jY&feature=player_embedded

kezby_2k

realised wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies..

I've been telling my boyfriend we dont need a car and he is just like yours KK22.. Will not listen to anything I say

*shakes head* Still have a few months to convince him otherwise but I'd really like to get the hotel booked before everyone starts booking for Xmas.. However, We're going from the 9th-17th so hopefully it wont be that bad!

Sounds like a nightmare! Just a thought... who would be doing the driving, him or you? I reckon he'd have one go at driving through manhattan and then give up!
What exactly do you plan to do in New York? If you give a list of the things/places you and your boyfriend want to experience, I'm sure someone here would be able to plan out your trip a little bit (I'm more than happy to give it a go, although I've only been once!) - And then depending on this plan, you may be able to plan your trip without any need for public transport! It's kinda a compromise... your boyfriend doesnt need to take public transport, and you dont have the hassle of arranging a car!
Honestly, I'd really try and put him off the car idea if at all possible...
As Markymoo says, it'll take a long time to get anywhere, cost you a lot more in car rental, and you have the added hassle and cost of finding somewhere to park everywhere you go.
I can understand why he might not like public transport, I'm not the biggest fan myself, but NY public transport is a million miles away from even London public transport...
I only used the subway once or twice when I was there, we got cabs around most of the time, which was nice because we got some really lovely cab drivers who told us about the area, reccomended places to eat, etc etc - I'd say getting a cab is an experience in itself!

Or maybe you could put it to him that you rent a cab for one day... Or maybe even rent one to pick up when you land there, and for the day after.... and see how you get on with that. You could say to him that if he's comfortable driving around the city for the first day, that you'll be happy to rent a car for the rest of the week. By calling his bluff like that, he'll be happier, and I'd put money on him realising VERY quickly that a car is not the way forward, as it were.

EDIT - Forgot to mention, the calculation markymoo has used is a very good idea - By all means, look for cheaper hotels outside of Manhattan, but make sure you've got an estimate of how much it will cost to hire a car, and if possible, the parking, and factor these into the equation. You'll probably find the cost of all of that will equate to a nice hotel in Manhattan. Another point is, do you both drink? Because if you rent a car, and want to go for dinner or something in Manhattan, one or both of you wont be able to relax and have a drink if you want one...

M4RKM

for working out how much parking is going to cost, I can recommend you use - http://www.iconparkingsystems.com/ExpressParking.asp?reloaded=true - and get some quotes... examples in midtown, for a day (9am-10pm) is around $42 when prebooking. Also, this parking garage shuts at 10pm..

by no means cheap!

set

Hi

I always find Virgin website expensive, the flights are uaually quite reasonable though. Speaking of New York Sale, me and husband alwayys wanted to go to NY, never seem to get to it though, been to florida 3 times and we still havnt seen everything we want to see!! Anyway I was just wondering if and where to look for cheap, and I mean as cheap as poss for a break to NY in Jan 2010, we can fly from Manchester from sun 3rd Jan and need to be home no later than sunday 10th jan 2010. Would like to stay in the heart of everything, ok ok that mean shops he he. Any help would be great thanks.

Sarah

M4RKM

the "heart" of everything is an island called Manhattan. It is 12 miles long, and about 4 miles wide. This is where all the tourist attractions are located.

They are scattered around the city, and there really isn't a way to be "near" to everything. Shopping locations are scattered around the city too.

You really need to think about exactly what you want out of a hotel, and a budget too. Budget is the key to where you'll end up staying. I always advise people to avoid Times Square, because all it is a load of flashing lights, with not much else nearby, unless you're going to a number of Broadway shows.

There are loads of great locations to stay in NYC, but, without a budget, and some kind of idea of what you're looking for, I could recommend the wrong thing, be in the wrong area, as I've recommended something quiet and peaceful, when you actually want hip, with great nightlife, or vice versa.

M

set

Hey thanks for the reply. Im 35 husband is 30, we dont want nightlife. We want abit of everything the usual tourist attractions and shopping! Would also like the quiet stuff too. We are not big drinkers so really not bothered about bars etc but love our food and coffee he he, I want to see steam coming out of drains, yellow cabs we are open to anything. As for buget, like I said as cheap as poss but I do like a nice hotel, doesnt have to be 5 star so again open to anything really.

Thanks very much for your help

M4RKM

I'm probably not the best person to answer this question, as my holidays are centred around beer and food. But, we've got the food thing in common.

If you like good food, and different foods, you cannot stay in Times Square, avoid it. The restaurants around there are chains, and they cater for the tourist with no sense of adventure IMO (yes, all this is my opinion)

Hilton Garden Inn Tribeca, Hampton Inn Soho, Cosmopolitan Hotel Tribeca. All these are easy to get around NYC, and then you've got GOOD restaurants close by. Soho is a lovely area to wander around loads of shops, and restaurants. You will have to hit the subway to hit the "Tourist" attractions, but the subway is easy to use.

The benefit of staying in areas like this, is that they are quieter at night, and much prettier than say Times Square, or Midtown East, the latter having many hotels, and big businesses, but not much else...

Steam comes out of many drains, and as it'll be bluddy freezing in January, you'll definitely see it. Yellow Cabs, they are everywhere, again, you can't avoid that kinda thing, well I say everywhere, but between 4pm and 6pm when you need one most, they'll be doing a shift change.. Honestly the subway is quicker to use at that time of day

Hope that's some kind of help if a little vague..

M