Everything & Anything New York City

kezby_2k

OK... So I've been looking at a few dates...
2-6th September (This year), for flights (Direct from Birmingham to Newark) and stay at the Iroquois (4/5 stars, depending on where you find it!), which is in midtown, is coming up at £566 per person. 2-7th September for the same details is £620.
I stayed at the Iroquois last time I went, and would be MORE than happy to go again - Its within walking distance of all my favourite buildings, including Grand Central, Chrysler building, etc.
Does this sound like a good deal?
I have asked the oracle, but thought I'd get any more info from the rest of you
Only problem is, I'm now DYING to book it already, and I have to wait a whole 12 hours to find out if my boyfriend can get the time off work!

kezby_2k

Expedia... it says 'Includes flight and hotel, taxes and fees'.
I booked through expedia last time and didnt get charged any extra, although that time I did book hotel and flight seperately.

cooking-mama

natsplatnat wrote: »

Hi All!

Have been looking online and notice that there are 'NYC passes' that you can buy in advance to skip queues and get into places discounted / free.

Are these a con? Are some a con and some real and if so is there any one in particular you would recommend. Want to get loads of bits in when I'm out there (May) but would like to do it as cheap as poss. (Info already stored in my suffering brain for the travel / subway pass for the duration!)

All answers and info gladly and welcomely received!

Nats x

Ive been wondering about these too..we're going for 1 week in July,are they worth buying?..someone at work gave me leaflets for something called "Loops tours"..vary from 1 day to 3 days,are these simply "bus passes"??
2 adults.1 12yr old,planning on as much sightseeing as possible,all advice appreciated.
PS,If these loop tours are worth buying,should we buy online before we go,or wait until we get there?

M4RKM

A guide to "New York Pass etc"

The New York Pass, the City Explorer Pass, they all shout about how much money you're going to save, and list loads of savings, and queue jumps in their blurb. I've not had first hand experience of these passes, but I've heard a lot of reports about them, especially that the queue jumps don't work, you still have to queue to get in the attraction, but not to get tickets.

Also, I've read peoples trip reports, that state that people went running from here to there, and (and this is the crux of it), "Went to **Tourist Attraction** because it was free with my pass"

In no sense, is any attraction "Free" with a pass, because you've had to pay hard earned money for a pass, and all you're doing is cutting down the average cost per attraction.

The first and foremost thing anyone should do, is actually think about the attractions they want to see in New York. Museums, Tourist Attractions, and do some research, into locations around Manhattan (google maps, nyc-map.com), then you can organise them into logical days to do things, as they are all close together. Trying to do more than 3 things in a day is probably doing too much, as you'll be rushing around, and certain museums do require many hours of admiring the art etc.

Anyway, onto the monetary example. I've just gone onto the New York Pass website, and found this

Empire State Bldg, New York Skyride and Madame Tussauds would cost you $84.00.
1 day Pass is $75.

I'm pretty sure Madame Tussauds isn't on most people's must do lists. Also, the New York Skyride always gets poor reviews, and is very expensive. But anyway, let me split the costs down, on individual attraction, taken from the website of each place respectivley.

Empire State = $20 (inc tax)
Madame Tussauds = $30.49 (all access inc tax), (includes online saving, which New York Pass don't take into account, and quote $35)
Skyride $29.50

So that's only $79.99, not the $84 that NYPass say... But hold on a cotton picking second. That's not all the discount you can get by just choosing what you want... Lets get a bundle ticket for skyride and Empire State which is only $39.50

So now, to do all 3 attractions that New York Pass say will cost $84, but through them will cost $75, actually will only cost you $69.99. And also, you can split them across 2 days, rather than rushing around on one day, and appreciate the beauty of New York City.

They list is the full entry price, so MoMa is $20, Top of the Rock is $21, but you can get a combo ticket for $30, which again, New York Pass fail to mention, thus lulling you into a false sense of security. Overall, I don't think it's worth it. You end up going to places that you probably wouldn't and just become a mad tourist running around, and you lose what I feel NYC is about. Wandering around aimlessly getting lost..

M

mommame

Hi,can anyone help me please,my son is planning a trip to new york shortly but has been told he needs a credit card when checking in.
For several reasons he does not have one.
Can he use a prepaid on or any other idea's to get round this?.

mommame

Great that's all he was worried about that he would not be allowed to use a prepaid one.
Thanks for your help M4RKM ( hard to write that lol)

rpstdavids

Just received the weekly Top 20 TravelZoo e-mail.

This week they have an offer for a 1 bedroom suite at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel for $159 plus tax. Dates are available up until 7th July.

I've just booked 4 nights in May, taking my Mum for a treat. The total with tax was $760, a bargain for New York.

Hopefully others will find the offer useful:

http://uk.hotels.travelzoo.com/us-hotels/748754?utm_source=top20_uk&utm_medium=email_top20

The rate is also cancellable (is that a word?), as long as you give 24 hours notice.

rpstdavids

Also forgot to mention that the above offer includes a full daily breakfast for each guest.

thatsfabulous

M4RKM wrote: »

Anyway, onto the monetary example. I've just gone onto the New York Pass website, and found this



I'm pretty sure Madame Tussauds isn't on most people's must do lists. Also, the New York Skyride always gets poor reviews, and is very expensive. But anyway, let me split the costs down, on individual attraction, taken from the website of each place respectivley.

Empire State = $20 (inc tax)
Madame Tussauds = $30.49 (all access inc tax), (includes online saving, which New York Pass don't take into account, and quote $35)
Skyride $29.50

So that's only $79.99, not the $84 that NYPass say... But hold on a cotton picking second. That's not all the discount you can get by just choosing what you want... Lets get a bundle ticket for skyride and Empire State which is only $39.50

So now, to do all 3 attractions that New York Pass say will cost $84, but through them will cost $75, actually will only cost you $69.99. And also, you can split them across 2 days, rather than rushing around on one day, and appreciate the beauty of New York City.

They list is the full entry price, so MoMa is $20, Top of the Rock is $21, but you can get a combo ticket for $30, which again, New York Pass fail to mention, thus lulling you into a false sense of security. Overall, I don't think it's worth it. You end up going to places that you probably wouldn't and just become a mad tourist running around, and you lose what I feel NYC is about. Wandering around aimlessly getting lost..

M

Ohhh the sky ride, its shocking :eek:
If anyone is thinking of getting a pass dont take this into concideration when adding up money you will be saving as its not even worth doing.
I have done it ( my friend wanted to do it) Really bad, I only wish i'd have known in advance he wanted to go on it so i'd have read all the bad reviews on trip advisor before hand. Waste of money!!

Philippa36

We went in 2007 with friends and 2 of them got the 7 day pass. They spent every day rushing from one odd museum/tour to another trying to fit in as much as they possibly could - half of which they would never have done if it hadn't been 'free'

A total waste of money and the one thing they liked the most was the 'freebie' from the Hard Rock Cafe shop!

I'd rather spend my money on the things I really want to see.