Everything & Anything New York City

KK22_2

For those wanting to get from Newark Airport to Midtown Manhattan, there is a bus service that runs every 15 minutes and is $25 return. http://www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp I have used this twice (return trips) and it is fast and efficient.

Also, once you have booked your hotel, use Google Street View to have a look around the immediate area where you can pinpoint a few handy places e.g. diner for breakfast, subway station, duane reade, etc.

GreenSaints

Hi M4RKM,

Thanks for your advice. I did do some Googling on Bed-Stuy after I posted - was slightly concerned when someone on Yahoo! questions asked if it was safe and the response was "Generally..........no" so I think we'll have to look elsewhere.

I have my eye on a few places (of varying budget, though our budget is still small for the length and time of year I guess)

+ Hotel 17 - standard double shared bathroom (through Expedia) £633.67 total (+7.32% CB)
+ The Verve - King room breakfast (through Booking.com) £617.45 not including taxes
+ Country Inn and Suites - King Guestroom breakfast, internet £612.01 total (+7.32% CB)

My_Fathers_Daughter

Quick question:

Are kids allowed in bars in NYC?

Not of course that we want to go out partying with our 11 and 2 year old in tow...but last time we were in NY we would 'do' a sight or 2 and then pop into one of the millions of irish bars for a quick drink whilst we got our bearings and planned our next move.

Can we still do this with the kids? Or are bars a no/go?

lotte8

Hey, I just wanted a quick heads up. I stumbled accross brooklyn suites classon avenue. Basically wondering if anybody knows the legality of booking here. I understand their are issues with renting apartments/suites for under 30 days in NY so just wanted to check it out before I took things any further.

Thanks.

M4RKM

Wow.. so busy.. so many questions... right.. where to start..

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

Quick question:

Are kids allowed in bars in NYC?

Not of course that we want to go out partying with our 11 and 2 year old in tow...but last time we were in NY we would 'do' a sight or 2 and then pop into one of the millions of irish bars for a quick drink whilst we got our bearings and planned our next move.

Can we still do this with the kids? Or are bars a no/go?

A bar only no. A bar/restaurant, probably, but sit at a table, and get table service.

GreenSaints wrote: »

Hi M4RKM,

Thanks for your advice. I did do some Googling on Bed-Stuy after I posted - was slightly concerned when someone on Yahoo! questions asked if it was safe and the response was "Generally..........no" so I think we'll have to look elsewhere.

I have my eye on a few places (of varying budget, though our budget is still small for the length and time of year I guess)

+ Hotel 17 - standard double shared bathroom (through Expedia) £633.67 total (+7.32% CB)
+ The Verve - King room breakfast (through Booking.com) £617.45 not including taxes
+ Country Inn and Suites - King Guestroom breakfast, internet £612.01 total (+7.32% CB)

Hotel 17 is in Chinatown, and that's Manhattan, so therefore that is my first choice. Walking distance to restaurants, nightlife, and subways.

The other two, well, they're around the corner from each other, and in Long Island City. You'll get bigger rooms, but you're not in Manhattan. Travelling time will be slightly more. It's tight on the money right now, but, Hotel 17 would swing it easily for me. Check hotels.com as well, as they are 12% cash back.

Check quikbook.com as there you wouldn't pay in advance and fully cancellable, and also hotelconxions.com in case it's slightly cheaper to prepay.

lady1964 wrote: »

Hi again,
We'd like somewhere we can get a good cooked breakfast, bacon, eggs, sausages, that type of thing, something that'll set us up for several hours while we walk and walk and walk!

My other question is about smoking. Are there wall ashtrays, do people use the street for their cigarette butts?

DeJa Vu.. i saw this post over on TripAdvisor... I'll answer it here. Ok, I'm not obsessed with breakfasts, and normally grab something to go. I prefer to have a small breakfast, because of so many places to eat, it means I'll have somewhere for lunch. And with restaurants and lunch, you can get really posh nice food, for a lot less money than dinner. That aside, you can grab something to go, (sausage, egg on a roll) for about $4, bagel with creme cheese for about $2, and a coffee for $1, from any deli nearby.

Yes, you could go to cafe edison if you wanted to, but do you want to waste 30 - 40 minutes of your day just on breakfast.

Onto the habit of smoking. As a reformed smoker (coming up to 14 months now), you cannot smoke inside anywhere. All Bars, Restaurants, Public Spaces are all non smoking. Outside bars there are ashtrays, however, because spaces are so limited in NYC compared to places in the UK, don't expect smoking shelters or anything like that. DO NOT throw your cigarette butt on the floor, respect the city you're visiting and put it in the bin (when extinguished). Don't stand in front of buildings smoking, because non smokers get annoyed, and be aware of your surroundings.

M4RKM

lotte8 wrote: »

Hey, I just wanted a quick heads up. I stumbled accross brooklyn suites classon avenue. Basically wondering if anybody knows the legality of booking here. I understand their are issues with renting apartments/suites for under 30 days in NY so just wanted to check it out before I took things any further.

Thanks.

Hotels are legal. Apartments are not. Yes, there are grey areas, but if you stick to this general rule, it's a good one to stick to. If you want to book an apartment, it's your call.

Some general points - the apartment you have talked about is classified as a family dwelling. This is NOT the classification of a Hotel, which is designed, and is safe for transient tourists - http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PropertyProfileOverviewServlet?boro=3&houseno=464&street=Classon+Avenue&requestid=0&s=A03C41B885B461E4F46BD08866A7430E

The Certificate of Occupancy also states it is standard apartment units, NOT HOTEL ROOMS. This building is designed and designated for families to live in permanently.

M4RKM

greenface wrote: »

M4rk great to see you back regular at the moment your knowldege and info is great and straight I am learning so much for my next visit still from here. after reading and contributing for nearly 4 years

Thanks! I've changed jobs, and am less stressed and have more time on my hands. I've also been to NYC twice since I was last here a lot. Got San Francisco and NYC in just over 6 weeks too!

M4RKM

lady1964 wrote: »

Hi M4RKM,

Thanks very much for your help so far, it's a great start.
Husband thinks we can get public transport from Newark to our hotel, I think we'll have 3 suitcases between us plus a hand luggage bag each, I would rather not get trains/subway after a long haul flight from London and think it would be cost effective in terms of ease and comfort to get a car - not to mention my back!!
As for likes & dislikes, my big like is shopping but I'm having to compromise and do less than I would probably like. Hubby would like to see Madison Square Gardens, not sure I do, but that's my compromise!
I don't like museums, nor does he so that's not for us.
The Beast speedboat ride looks good, but maybe too cold in February?
I like people watching, so happy to sit somewhere, have a drink (tea or cocktail, time of day dependent).
As we have only 2 full days, plus from mid afternoon on our arrival day and another half day before our flight back, I'm not sure at this point if there'll be much added to our plans already, but if there is, I'll be sure to come back to you for more advice!
Thanks again,
Lady1964

I knew I missed a post. With 3 suitcases, and you not staying in the immediate vicinity of Penn Station, I'd just prebook with Carmel or Dial 7.

See Madison Square Gardens? it's just a huge concrete monstrosity in Manhattan. Or is he actually wanting to see some sport there?

Never done the beast, never appealed. I'd much rather spend my money on a nice meal, or prop up a bar somewhere. You're on a tight schedule with only 2 days, because that day when you first get there, you'll be jet lagged. The morning before you head back to the airport, that's when I normally do my last minute shopping (I don't "do" shopping)

lotte8

M4RKM wrote: »

Hotels are legal. Apartments are not. Yes, there are grey areas, but if you stick to this general rule, it's a good one to stick to. If you want to book an apartment, it's your call.

Some general points - the apartment you have talked about is classified as a family dwelling. This is NOT the classification of a Hotel, which is designed, and is safe for transient tourists - http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PropertyProfileOverviewServlet?boro=3&houseno=464&street=Classon+Avenue&requestid=0&s=A03C41B885B461E4F46BD08866A7430E

The Certificate of Occupancy also states it is standard apartment units, NOT HOTEL ROOMS. This building is designed and designated for families to live in permanently.

Thanks, pretty much thought that would be the case.

greenface

lady1964 wrote: »

Hi again,
We're staying at the Westin Times Square so looking for ideas of where we can go for breakfast that's close by. We'd like somewhere we can get a good cooked breakfast, bacon, eggs, sausages, that type of thing, something that'll set us up for several hours while we walk and walk and walk!
I have no idea of what to expect to pay, in London, going into the smaller streets off main streets, we've paid approx £8 for a full cooked breakfast with tea/coffee, I guess that's about $12/$14 maybe?
Suggestions of places we can do this would be much appreciated.
My other question is about smoking. I'm a smoker and understand that it's a filthy habit and all that, but it's a habit and I'm looking for somewhere where I can smoke inside - probably as rare as hen's teeth - or outside, which is what I'm used to in England. Do smokers huddle in doorways in NY, do bars/restaurants have outdoor smoking areas for us anti-social beings? This is more for evenings when eating/having a drink somewhere.
What do visitors/locals do in terms of smoking on the street? Are there wall ashtrays, do people use the street for their cigarette butts?
Thanks very much in anticipation.
Lady1964

Not going to answer this one except to say dont worry it doesnt matter which side you come out from you have breakfast.
I used be up before the rest so i had a little early wander around the area but called into a small deli next door to the hard rock cafe (about 50 mtrs from The Westin)for the freshest coissoints(spl)in the world with any filling on/egg/ham/cheese/salami etc and take them back to the room (you can sit in the deli)but it gave the others time to have brekkie and coffee/tea.bagels are huge and philly type cheese and chives are a boost. coffee is normally very strong like a litre expresso. wow no wonder i dont sleep.

EDIT ; to say the (my) best time to visit times square is about 7am its like the morning after but the DJ hasnt turned the gear off,