Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

My concerns when people book a package deal with the likes of Opodo and Expedia, so early before the dates, is that you are locked in to that deal and cannot change anything.

The reason I use the phrase so early, is that some hotels still haven't released their availability to agents, and prices always do fluctuate. A flight is always noncancellable, but with the fluctuation in hotel rates, if you're clever, you may be able to get a better deal. So, when you see what you like, price it up as a flight and hotel package, using multiple websites. Quikbook is a great US based one, and a lot of their deals are fully cancellable

So, now you have a flight, a hotel, and your holiday. You can keep an eye on prices now throughout what will be nearly a whole year, and when the prices drop (they probably will, this time of year, you've got a rack rate, and nothing special), you can book that, cancel the original, and have saved some money that way.

I just feel that as packages are normally have a no cancel or lose everything policy, it really is far too early to commit yourself to a specific hotel. Between now and December there are around 10 new hotels opening in NYC, if one of those opens in November (delays, delays, and more delays) then December could still be part of their soft launch, and prices cheaper. Now, brand new hotels these days are gorgeous to stay in.

Another thing, Packages require full payment there and then, but you're not staying in that hotel for 10 months. Booking via other websites such as quikbook, means you pay on checkout, thus giving you a lot more time to get the money together, rather than having to have it there and then.

Just think about it. Don't be pennywise and poundfoolish

M

phatbear

M4RKM wrote: »

Another thing, Packages require full payment there and then, but you're not staying in that hotel for 10 months. Booking via other websites such as quikbook, means you pay on checkout, thus giving you a lot more time to get the money together, rather than having to have it there and then.

I think it comes back to shopping around and then finding the price you want to pay at that point after all how many posts are there about people who have priced something up and then it goes up a week later.

Personally i always use expedia and to date have always been happy with what im getting for the price im paying.

You're statement about paying for it all there and then in incorrect we're off to san fran in march and it was booked in oct and we've only just paid the final lump of it, you can also pay with credit card with no surcharge, add to that quidco and nectar points and it sweetens the deal a bit.

Think its horses for courses Mr M

madison-nyc

i'm off to new york in the morning and am very pleased with the deal we got. I booked with thomas cook , flights and hotel , it's actually expedia but via thomas cook website. We're going for 5 nights and staying in the paramount times sqaure hotel , flying direct from manchester with continental (my preffered airline) and we paid £606 each and got 3.5% cashback with topcashback. I orginally booked with ebooker and the flights were with delta , but they messed all the flight times around and added a stop on the return flight which i wasn't happy about so I cancelled with them , the customer service was appauling!

Lady_S

Must admit I think you have to judge each deal as it comes along.

We booked our flights to go November 2010 on 27 December 2009. We paid £524 for PE with virgin and it was the cheapest we could have purchased the flights all year. The flights couldn't be changed, or amended, but I knew it was the right flights for us so we went for it.

Additionally we paid for the hotel up front and went to the Holiday Inn 6th Ave and had a fantastic deal which was £500 for 5 nights with an Empire State view ( over thanksgiving). Okay we had to commit to this in August, but I didn't see anything else with the view ( which is dead important to me) for the price.

Each deal will depend on the people that are going and what their needs are. Some people have to book early as it is the only thing they are comfortable with. Some people have to book packages as it makes them more comfortable.

In my book it isn't worth writing anything off without considering it properly at the time.

DaveG247

Anyone had any experience of the Holiday Inn Soho 138 Lafayette Street or the Excelsior Hotel on 45 West 81st Street? Just looking on Thomas cook they've both got 7 nights for around £775 inc flights.

janelski

Quick question, is there inflight meal served on continental flight? we flying from edinb to newark? many thanks jane

M4RKM

DaveG247 wrote: »

Anyone had any experience of the Holiday Inn Soho 138 Lafayette Street or the Excelsior Hotel on 45 West 81st Street? Just looking on Thomas cook they've both got 7 nights for around £775 inc flights.

You've got 2 rather different areas there, the grittier Lower East Side, with more local restaurants, bars, and less gentrification, compared to the upper west side, with more residential area, on the border of central park.

There are more subway lines nearer to the HI Soho, which makes it easier to get around town, and with Chinatown nearby, the wealth of cheap foods would make it my choice, if I were limited to just these two hotels.

M

shedsounds

greenface wrote: »

so you missed kylie and the script but want to see a english band eh !!!!! ???? Havent found a definative gig guide for New York but post your dates and i will have a trawl for personal pleasure..I know markys mates the cribs are on the bowery soon keep a eye out . One of my favorites is BB Kings Blues Bar http://www.bbkingblues.com/calendar.php see some decent (not modern day singers) here in the past Oleta Adams is on soon . John Waite ,John Mayall always been a good show even the tribute bands are a cut above the normal . Seen the Commitments here (march 07) Boys II Men (March08) & recently poppa chubby (nov 10) prices are normally good except chuck berrys was there NYeve and i think it was about $230 each,

Yeah love Kylie and in absence of anything else would have seen Script, wlll check out that site, thanks!

M4RKM

janelski wrote: »

Quick question, is there inflight meal served on continental flight? we flying from edinb to newark? many thanks jane

All long hauls will have some meal served, and probably a snack towards the end of the flight. The only thing you don't get free on Continental (and the reason I won't fly with them) is beer / wine, as they are $5 per drink.

Actually the reason is that they fly to EWR, and it's always easier for me to fly to JFK as I stay the east side of NYC/Brooklyn!! I'm not THAT much of a beer monster.

M

M4RKM

shedsounds wrote: »

Yeah love Kylie and in absence of anything else would have seen Script, wlll check out that site, thanks!

did i forget to mention about https://www.ohmyrockness.com - that is the NYC gig guide that greenface hasn't found yet. Loads of great indie / rock bands. Not as pop as The Script, but you can see people in small venues, where you actually see the band, rather than hear them.

Oh, and your website link in your signature doesn't work.


M