Travel advice please London - Syracuse, NY

hethmar

Many thanks tea.

M4RKM

Where do you want to sightsee? New York City, or around Syracuse itself?

If you want to go to NYC, the easiest thing might be head to NYC, then hop on a jetblue flight up to syracuse.

And there are no direct flights to Syracuse from the UK. You'll have to change at any of the big airports around the area, which you can either do on the same day, or maybe get there on the 29th, and fly up on the 31st. Then stay in Syracuse, fly back to NYC or wherever on the 2nd, and fly back home on the 3rd - 4th August.. (Quick Search for that kinda idea came up at £576 all in with Delta!)

Tell us what you think of that idea.

I disagree with the whole "the connection times are horrendous", as i've found flights that leave LGW at 9.50am, and get to Syracuse at 5.30pm, so a grand total of 12 hours, just shy of 3 hours to get into the US, and then across the airport to your next flight, which is comfortable!

If you can work out a definitive plan, then we'll find you the flights at the best price!

M

hethmar

Bless you. Thats an idea I hadnt thought of. Many thanks for that. Yes, may be that would be good. A couple of days in NY and then get an internal flight to Syracuse. Id love to be able to hire a car from there on but I dont think my nerves are up to driving over there on my own. I cant do motorways over here any more - god knows why, I just seemed to lose my nerve one day and only do local roads now.

Im just wondering if my sister or one of my sons would like to come with me, which would make it all a bit more fun.

M4RKM

i'm a young 'un still, but, after a flight into the USA, that first night, trying to stay awake til at least 11pm so I adjust to the time zone is a bit of a killer, so, i think if you head into NYC, have a nice evening meal, and get ready for the next day, of sightseeing and hustle and bustle would be great fun (i'm only saying that, because i LOVE New York City).

A few days there, then heading upstate, will show you 2 sides of coin really, The amazing beauty that there is upstate, but also the amazing city that New York actually is.

It'd take you about 45 mins to an hour to get from the airport to Manhattan, but also, doing it this way, isn't going to tie you down to a certain airport to head to Syracuse to. You'll gain some flexibility, and therefore might be able to get a bit of a cheaper price.

What I'd suggest is nail down exactly what you want to do, do you want 2 nights in NYC, then head up, but then from there once you're done head straight home, or another night in NYC or near the airport maybe to split up the journey a bit.

Depends what your overall budget is, because NYC is not cheap, but it is wonderful!!

As for driving, well, in NYC you don't need to, everything is so easily accessible via public transport, however, upstate might be a totally different thing.

M

hethmar

Many thanks, you have opened up a different line of thought for me, which is just what I needed.

Im now wondering if Boston would be a more interesting stay over for me (as you say, you are still a youngster ) as Im interested in the historic rather than the loud.

Much food for thought now, many thanks indeed.

Moonchild

Having lived in the States (albeit in the South) driving in the US is an absolute doddle compared to here. Interstates are rarely as hectic as motorways here, there are always smaller roads you can take which are often open and empty.

I hate driving, especially in London and on Motorways, but in the US it's almost a joy.
It's a great place for dealing with any driving fears.

If you do your NY stopover first you wont be tired from your flight, and after arriving in Syracuse, you'll find driving a lot easier. Go for it.

M4RKM

oooh.. .Boston is beautiful, as is Washington DC.. i've done a day trip to both, and planning Boston again for a day when across in the States in September!

As i've said... tell us a near definitive plan, and we can do some searching around for flights!!

hethmar

Not sure of definite marky - will speak to sis and sons to see if I can get someone to come with me.

In meantime, Ive done one of those, find flights things and they all seem to be mid 400 - mid 500 but thats with me going there in one jump rather than stopping off, which no doubt will cost even more. I wish they had got married in June or September!

Oh moonchild, Id love to regain my confidence and drive on "big roads" again but can imagine being frozen with panic and in bear country or something - lol.

Teahfc

If you are flexy on time why not fly to Boston have a couple of days looking at the sites then take the train to Utica. 8.5 Hours and great views !
Get collected at Utica (20 miles from your destination) then do the wedding and see everyone.
Get Train from Utica to New York (4.5 hours ) ariving on a friday as Friday and saturday are cheaper hotel wise to stopover .

total cost on the train $89 about £55.

Get an open Jaw ticket with Virgin fly to Boston and back out of New York to Heathrow !

You see 3 parts of the USA and attend the wedding !

see the Visit new York thread for all hotels etc :beer:

It is worth a train trip

M4RKM

actually, sometimes the cost of stopping off, if you book it through one carrier won't be that much more than if it is just one flight..

Most websites give you an option of a Multi City trip, which you put in start and end points, and dates.

You can also use shortcodes for airports, so i'll explain them as well

LON = All London Airports
LHR = London Heathrow
LGW = London Gatwick
BOS = Boston
NYC = All New York Airports
JFK = John F Kennedy Airport, New York
EWR = Newark Liberty Airport, New Jersey (very near new york)
SYR = Syracuse

So when you're searching around, you can use these codes, as no doubt you'll be shopping around, and it gets tedious having to type in the full place name each time!

M