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

HGLTsuperstar

uzubairu wrote: »

I'm off in 3.5 weeks with OH courtesy of the same offer/error and paid the same price (flying from Manchester).
Staying at the Beacon Hotel and can't wait to go.

Have a nice time.

OOH - we're staying 3 nights in the Beacon in early December. Please let me know what it's like. ALthough if its awful I'm not sure I want to know LOL!
But then who goes to NYC to stay in the hotel room anyway!

uzubairu

HGLTsuperstar wrote: »

OOH - we're staying 3 nights in the Beacon in early December. Please let me know what it's like. ALthough if its awful I'm not sure I want to know LOL!
But then who goes to NYC to stay in the hotel room anyway!

It's quite highly rated on Trip Advisor, so we thought we might give it a go.
I'll definitely give you an update.

becky_rtw

Thanks for the tip re: comedy club aussiedogga - am looking forward to that

$20 for all you can drink - BARGIN!!!

aussiedogga

becky_rtw wrote: »

Thanks for the tip re: comedy club aussiedogga - am looking forward to that

$20 for all you can drink - BARGIN!!!

No worries. Make sure you tip well early to ensure you are looked after. I suggest $5 or so each for your first drink, then watch the drinks flow!

GRIGGSY

Well when I started reading this thread I was in two minds about going to New York. Then as I read I got into the spirit and thought this is where I want to go, then one post got me thinking about why I wasn't sure - didn't really enjoy the hustle and bustle of it all in some way.
Any how I am considering going to New York for 7 nights for my 30th next month - I have approx 4 weeks to organise it. I spent 2 and a bit months in the Catskills in 2001 but didn't get to do much siteseeing in the city as I was working at a summer camp and then September 11th happened.

Last year on our way back from Orlando we timed our flights so that we could have approx 10 hours in New York where we paid $15 to a company at Newark to have our hand lugguge and continental had our main luggage due to going on a connecting flight to Edinburgh. We then got the train to NYC where we did an open top bus, got off at Ground Zero, took the Statten Island ferry, went to Macys (wooden escalator) Times square for all of two seconds and actually went back to the airport early due to being burnt and tired - we couldn't take our sun cream with us due to the security rules for hand luggage. There is still so much of the City that I would like to see and so I am considering this as a destination.
I had originally found a flight for £250 from Edinburgh direct to Newark, but rather than book it straight away I thought that I would look into hotels to ensure that I could find one which I liked which was in budget. As always the flight has now gone up to £469 (I only left it a couple of days) so I have looked on Expedia for some packages and have found a few. But I am struggling with the area to stay in. I know that a lot of people say not to stay in Times Square due to it being really touristy, but as this is technically my first real visit to New York I dont know if this will be the better option. I know that there is a really good subway system, but I was wondering what reasons those experienced travellers to NY dont stay in Times Square area? Is it just due to it being touristy and you no longer feel like a tourist IYKWIM. I have found a package for £775 for 7 nights accommodation and flight staying in the New Yorker Hotel which I think isn't too bad when I think that the flights are £469 alone.
I think I have rambled enough and not sure if I have actually put anything of real sense in this post :rotfl:

phatbear

GRIGGSY wrote: »

I know that a lot of people say not to stay in Times Square due to it being really touristy, but as this is technically my first real visit to New York I dont know if this will be the better option. I know that there is a really good subway system, but I was wondering what reasons those experienced travellers to NY dont stay in Times Square area? Is it just due to it being touristy and you no longer feel like a tourist IYKWIM. :rotfl:

Personally I cant see a problem with staying in times square, however you have to be aware that it will be very busy and can be very noisy too, a downside is everytime you step out of your hotel you will be thrown into the hub bub of everyone mooching about however you are nice and close to a subway so transport out of the area is never gonna be an issue, however if you've had a long day/night and fancy getting a cab back to the hotel you will probably get stuck in the slow moving traffic around the immediate area and thus the cab ride will be more expensive. If you can imagine staying in a hotel on piccadily circus but a lot louder and brighter then you may get a sense of staying on times square.

Some points of note is just because a hotel calls it self blah blah blah times square it doesnt neccearily mean its on times square it could just be very close to it.

If you find a good hotel for a price your happy with then I wouldnt worry too much about location as the subway system is so easy to use, however saying that I would say a big plus to any hotel is being on the same block as a subway station.

becky_rtw

I wouldnt want to stay in Times Square because it can be noisy and frankly by the time I turn into bed on holiday I want to sleep...also you can get more for your money (alright its NY so not much more) by staying a bit further out, but I agree with Phat if it sounds good and reasonable price and the reviews are good then go for it

GRIGGSY

Well I have found the New Yorker for £756 each including flights. It is about a 10min walk from Times Square and is near Penn station. Reviews dont look too bad on tripadvisor but I am still going to look around. Saying that I have found the Waldorf Astoria for £956 each - all I know is the name from the movies!

becky_rtw

I paid about £500 for mine (flights and accom) but that was the cheapest we could go without being in Hostel (yuck!) territory - flights with Virgin and staying at The Belleclaire on the West Side - reviews are good but we'll see what its like

uzubairu

Upper West Side/Central Park area is just wonderful.

Times Square would be just too much bustle for us (so we've never been tempted), and besides we love the fact that Central Park is so close as it is a great place to visit daily.