Everything & Anything New York City

niceday999

M4RKM wrote: »

Ok.. I dislike bus tours, they're just dull boring, and very slow... very very slow.. so ignoring that, lets organise things into a sensible order for sightseeing.



Missed? You've not got a single Museum on your list. Let me chuck in MoMa, and the Tim Burton Exhibition (http://www.moma.org), you're wanting to go to the view for a cocktail, but not even considering Top Of The Rock, or the Empire State building, I'd rather do them than have an overpriced cocktail at a revolving restaurant....



Stardust Diner, overpriced, poor food, it's aimed at tourists like yourself.
Virgils - BBQ food, not bad, though Fette Sau in Brooklyn is better.
Trattoria Trecolori - seriously, why are you only wanting to eat around times square? there is more to New York than times square, especially when it comes to restaurants.

the other stuff I've edited out, I've not really got an opinion on.

Honestly, You've not got that much on. This is my plan for 6 full days in NYC - HERE Now my trip is rather different, but I've got museums in there which take up a few hours... Most of the things you've got down, are short quick photo ops, and shopping, which isn't a tourist attraction in any sense of the word, and is just that..


M

Oh m4rk thats fab thank you.....
Have also noted the other districts you have mentioned and hopefully will get a wee jaunt to Tribecca and lower east side and upper west side...whats your recomendation for food in Tribecca ? reasonable italian or american food ( will have the two older ones with my daughter and i in the evening ) tho her and i plan to hit the indian and or chinese one or two of the nights....

niceday999

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But the thing is, you can only see so much of it at once, and probably less of it most of the time than you can see of any of the big cities in the UK. (Have you been to any big city in the UK recently?)

eg when I drive over to my son's flat, there are a few place on my journey when I'm on top of a hill, and I can see rows and rows of houses stretching away to the horizon. I don't recall getting that effect in NYC, because there are tall buildings in the way.

Yes, it's big, yes, it's noisy, yes, there is lots of traffic and no, I wouldn't want to drive in that traffic. But then, I wouldn't want to drive around central London either, and last time I travelled across London in a Friday rush hour was a far worse experience than the NY subway!

Have been in London years ago and also newcastle upon tyne....there just seems so much to do and see for a newbie......

niceday999

Have noted that one for when i'm in Tribeca...looks lovely......and Mark we've all had a good laugh at me not having any Museums on my list.....I really do need educated.........My son is mortified at his mum........
would not even have though of going to a museum......
But I promise I will have a look when in New York.......I cant wait now I go the day before you..............
The only thing we're unsure of is the return journey to Newark....had read on here the taxis back to Airport arnt regulated as they are coming into ny from Newark......
just going to grab a cab at Newark as we get in at 1.45pm as there's 4 of us...

black_pearl

just read back through this thread and plan to catch up with older threads over the next week so that I can get something booked ASAP.

I have now narrowed our trip (surprise present for OH's 30th in April) to two windows of possibility - 5th - 10th April (although I suspect Easter may bump the costs up) or 28th May - 5th June. As I am a teacher there is very little fleability within these dates.

budget for flight and hotel stands at £1500, and we will have up to £1k in spends. If we can do it without blowing the budget out of the water we'd love to fly from bristol, but we can do heathrow/gatwick if necessary. I'd love to stay for 4-5 days, if the budget will stretch that far.

been reading up on the cosmo hotel that you lot keep raving about, and i like what i see. I particularly like the lofts But i was wondering how the subway works - do they do an all day/week pass ticket? can anyone give an indication as to costs?

many thanks,

Blacky

niceday999

M4RKM wrote: »

Noooooo don't just grab a cab. Pre Book something with either Carmel or Dial7 and you call them when you've landed. If you're not using Public Transport, then you might as well prebook a car service. The only problem I find with Newark is that it's so bleeding expensive to get into Manhattan (well for 1 person it is, in comparison to JFK)

M

mark i did look those sites but for 4 of us see below. its working out $60.( there's prob tax on there too and poss tolls ) Is that not the same price as a cab ?

https://carmellimo.com/JobsApp/Job_Pricing.jsp?uqid=-621164817301935000

Savvy_Sue

M4RKM wrote: »

Cheapest = £1615.83
From Bristol = £1807.83

Cheapest = £1431.83
From Bristol = £1577.83

Remember to factor in the expense of getting from Bristol to LHR, which will vary depending on whether you also need an overnight stay in order to catch your outgoing flight. Also think about whether you will be able to drive home safely after the flight.

If I'd done my research properly we might have flown to and from Bristol, but we ended up staying with the in-laws a night before and after our holiday. It actually worked very well because we got to share all about the holiday while we were still excited, but the logistics of getting the five of us, plus luggage, to and from their house was 'interesting' to say the least, and not cheap.

niceday999

M4RKM wrote: »

From Newark, a cab is on the meter, it is not like JFK where it is a fixed fee. From what I know, a cab will be over $60 plus toll and tip.

According to dial7 it is $44 (plus toll and tip) and carmel $43 (plus carmel have a discount voucher of $3 from the Airport).

Unless you're choosing a larger car than a normal Full Size Sedan (which will comfortably sit 4 people, and get 3 full size luggage in the trunk.) there is no reason it is $60

M

I put in 4 people and 4 luggage and it throws up a Minivan at $60
If i put in 4 people and 3 luggage it shows at $43
we will prob have 4 smallish cases .....???

dustystar02

phatbear wrote: »

if you mean the ramada plaza new yorker then it's not that close to times sq as the hotel is on 34th and 8th whereas times sq is 42nd and broadway so you're 8 blocks down and 1 across

it is this one http://www.alpharooms.com/ramada_new_yorker_in_midtown_west.aspx?search=true

M4RKM wrote: »

If you're considering Times Square, then you HAVE to be there at 1pm to get a chance of seeing the ball drop, otherwise, you're in a cattle pen a fair distance away. Anything after 4-5pm then you've not got a cat in hells chance of seeing anything.

Restaurants around times square charge in excess of $200 for average food, but you get to be in times square... wow, so exciting... (sense the sarcasm!)



and the flights I've found, both ways direct, yup.. they've gone up in price - £488, cheapest though is £438 (change at CDG both ways)... kayak searches multiple sites, and is the best way to find flights IMO. -- http://www.kayak.co.uk


Also, I wish people would stop asking the question - should we book, will they go up, No one has a clue, so I don't tell people to book or not, and it is always your call. I do this so people can't complain at me, if the price went down a week or a month later.. it's all your call... I'm sure you know where I stand, I wouldn't do NYE as it's just overpriced..


M

Thanks and sorry for asking . I just wanted to know is price is reasonable for New year, i fully expect to pay a bit more but I have no idea if £488 is a bargain or rip off?

genieuk

New York booked yippee!!

We are going 4th-8th April, flying into UK 3rd April in-laws picking kids up from Heathrow, OH and I staying overnight there then onto New York. So nervous but excited not a good flyer.
Just had to stop thinking about it and book it. All need to do now is sort out our itinerary. Does everyone pre book things etc like restaurants, shows and NHL or just wing it when you get there.

We are looking at the Airtrain to get to hotel we are 2mins from Grand Central. have route printed already.

Think we got a good deal booked with expedia last month flying with VA staying in the Tudor Hotel( kept going back to same hotel not sure why) all for £1080 looked last week and it has gone upto £1600.

I want to have a good time but still be thrifty I feel guilty about spending our savings lol.

KK22_2

Re: Pre-booking

I think usually a mix between booking and winging it is best. If you've got your heart set on going to a upscale restaurant for example, then book in advance. Otherwise wing it when you're there. It gives you more freedom when travelling around NYC as you don't have to be in a certain area at a certain time for dinner when you had perhaps been sightseeing in a different area.