Everything & Anything New York City

Any

HI guys,

Just wanted to post report on our trip to NYC.
We went on Friday 4th Feb and returned home on Wedn 9th Feb - landed at 8.30 am and I went back to work for lunchtime. It worked well as at least it helped me get back to normal time..

The holiday was fab!! On Friday we landed in the afternoon and despite trying to stay awake we were dead by 9pm NY time.. Which meant that we woke up early on Sat morning and went out. It was quite miserable day, but that didn't stop us from exploring.

In the evening we went to see a Broadway show - La Caige Aux folles, which was absolutely brilliant!! Before we went to Italian restaurant on restaurant row - Tramonti, and it was good but quite expensive.

While we were watching the show, the sky cleared and we had sunny days for the next 2 days!! It was fab. We went up Entire State Building, walked miles and miles, visited completely white Central Park and done some shopping (must be done:-)))

We also visited restaurant called Balthazar, which we only went to as it was recommended and had no idea that it is quite a deal - everyone knows that one!! We even read about it in Cosmopolitan on the plane home!! It was really good - fantastic atmosphere and given how known it is (they were turning people away on Monday night as they were so full!!) it was very reasonably priced.

Anyway, we enjoyed our visit and apparently are going back next May:-))

DaveG247

Is it worth booking tickets for empire state, statue of liberty and top of the rock visits with Thomas Cook when I book my trip or should I just stick to the official website and book online in advance? Not sure how much Thomas Cook charge but I know their bound to ask when I book my NYC trip so just wanna be prepared. Thanks

Vikki_74

DaveG247 wrote: »

Is it worth booking tickets for empire state, statue of liberty and top of the rock visits with Thomas Cook when I book my trip or should I just stick to the official website and book online in advance? Not sure how much Thomas Cook charge but I know their bound to ask when I book my NYC trip so just wanna be prepared. Thanks

I honestly can't imagine that Thomas Cook will offer you a cheaper price than you can get from the various places direct, but if you want to 'be prepared' why not look up the prices online then you will know how whatever they might offer you compares?

skintbuthappy81

This is my first time in New York and am wondering if many places accept the fair fx card? I use it all the time when we are in Orlando and it is a god send because I can top it up as and when I can.
Thanks in advance

tarkytarks

skintbuthappy81 wrote: »

This is my first time in New York and am wondering if many places accept the fair fx card? I use it all the time when we are in Orlando and it is a god send because I can top it up as and when I can.
Thanks in advance

I just topped ours up last night so would I hope so!! Basically use it anywhere that you would otherwise use a credit card and you'll be fine.

gregg1

DaveG247 wrote: »

Is it worth booking tickets for empire state, statue of liberty and top of the rock visits with Thomas Cook when I book my trip or should I just stick to the official website and book online in advance? Not sure how much Thomas Cook charge but I know their bound to ask when I book my NYC trip so just wanna be prepared. Thanks

I have booked all these online in the past week with the official websites and it was very easy to do and probably cheaper. Tickets were emailed to me immediately.

phatbear

I often read about the whole package vs seperate situation when it comes to booking trips to NY, so thought i'd show you why I always go for packages.

Looking at NY for 22/08(a.m) to 26/08(p.m) for me and Mrs PB

Kayak flights alone with aer lingus, which is a 10hr flight out is £1600
BA flights alone over £2000
Virgin flights alone over £2000

Expedia flying virgin, no stop over in ireland, with a decent hotel in midtown £1300 plus the potential of quidco bringing it down to £1200'ish

Just gotta hope I can get the time off work now

M4RKM

phatbear wrote: »

I often read about the whole package vs seperate situation when it comes to booking trips to NY, so thought i'd show you why I always go for packages.

Looking at NY for 22/08(a.m) to 26/08(p.m) for me and Mrs PB

Because you're not including a saturday night stay. Flights alone are worked on weird algorithms, and not including saturday means that they think you're a business traveller, so therefore highly expensive.

I always include a saturday, and find that packages for one don't offer me the range of hotels that I want to stay in, and two, are not any cheaper if a hotel that is offered is included.

Just changing those dates to the 24th - 28th (including saturday) brings flights down to £474 each (£948). for the time of year, hotels are cheaper, as it's just before the UN, and people are away. Booking nearer to the time will get a hotel cheaper than this IMO, however, on quikbook you can get a 4* midtown hotel for around $150 which works out to be £436, so a holiday total of £1384. Not spot on your price, but it's too early for hotel bargains!

Saturday night is key, but I've said that for many years. As we've said it depends on circumstances. I'll probably never book a package, because I don't want to stay midtown, I want to fly with a certain airline, and I find it cheaper for my dates.

M4RKM

skintbuthappy81 wrote: »

This is my first time in New York and am wondering if many places accept the fair fx card? I use it all the time when we are in Orlando and it is a god send because I can top it up as and when I can.
Thanks in advance

http://www.mastercard.com/uk/personal/en/general/faq.html

Q - Are MasterCard cards accepted globally?
A - Yes, MasterCard is accepted around the world at retail outlets and ATM machines, where you see the MasterCard (or Maestro/Cirrus) sign. Currently, you can use your card in more than 24.6 million locations worldwide.

All a fairfx card is, is a mastercard.

dimpski

Hi
we are looking at going to New York April 2012 - can you advise when the best time is to book.
Do i book flights as soon as available and then do a hotel nearer the time or book all of it at same time.
Your valuable advice would be most welcome as this will be our first time of going and will be a family of 4 - 2 adults 2 children (16 & 14 at time of going) any advice on a hotel that would suit would also be grateful.