Everything & Anything New York City

tarkytarks

Maybe I'm weird in that I really didn't like C21 at all... full of cheap tat and too much like a primark/TKmax (but of course this is my opinion)

greenface

gem given the choice i would opt for Dec 16th you get a bigger xmas buzz but my god it will be busy towards the last few days as USA starts to finish for xmas . Thanksgiving is on Nov 24th and a decent build up to that also. Price wise and novotel from Mankchester is fairly average im afraid that time of year due to demand. In fact ive seen more expensive for similar dates. Other will hopfully tell you how to get your prices down a little if your prepared to do the leg work . You & your mam will love NYC at Xmas.

Tartytarks i hated C21 but again i have a large metal wheelchair in front of me (good for making space but bad if you want space) Picked up a great pair of BAPE jeans for $20 great until i realized it needed a zip a waistband loops for a belt etc etc . & Calvins ripped to shreads (more than normal unwearable uless your a rappa gangsta )

M4RKM

waxxy wrote: »

well ive just got back from my trip too new york and it was brilliant
heres a few things i thought i had to get off my chest .............

1/the manhatten hotel times square is a very good hotel..i read a bad reviews about it and m4 said a few bad things about it but i think your totally wrong < snip >

5/food is very expensive in times square and as m4 rightlly said the quality is terrible which we discovered to our disapointment..theres a chines restuarant you should avoid its on broadway and across the road from the subway and next to a comedy store .the food was over priced and dirty .the restaurant was packed as it looks nice on the outside but we ordered spring rolls and there was a pube in our dips it wasnt a hair as it was too curly we both felt sick after that meal and you need to avouid that place !! < snip >

6/ one thing i hated was the guys trying to sell you comedy store tickets there bloody everywere and some are very rude also the so called rappers some are pushy so avoid eye contact and ignore them they are mainly around the center of times square.

8/dont travel by a shuttle service to your hotel the one we had was terrible we had to wait for over 2 hours for our driver he snapped at people and the van was a shitthole and they dont understand english < snip >

10/dont get the multiday hop on hop ff tours there very expensive we got the one day pass which was enough to get a rough idea of the area then we got a $30 travel pass and used that to go everywere..the subways system is scary at first but theres always passengers who are more than willing to help you out because we never saw anyone working down there on all the days we travelled on the subway system.

Interesting post. I dislike the times square area for reasons of point 5, and point 6. You can stay in much better areas, for a better hotel, for the same money, utilizing the subway, and still get around the city with ease, and not have to deal with poor quality food, and people trying to sell you things on the street corner. Mainly because, these people in the poor quality restaurants, and the people on the street corner, KNOW that there are NO locals in these areas, unless they're visiting the theater, so things are perfectly aimed at tourists.

Point 8 is a bug bear of mine, I always say it is better to get public transport, or prebook a private car service. I'm quite glad you found the shuttle services to be absolutely awful, I don't think there is a single person here who can recommend them, and you're just on a long list of complaints about poor service.

Point 10 - I'm glad you've posted that, because HOHO Bus Tours are overpriced, and even one day is a bit of a waste, when you can do loops for a lot less on a normal new york city bus if you sit down and plan things right. Take this amazing NYTimes Article - http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/11/23/travel/23weekend.html

waxxy wrote: »

so in summary we loved it sure there was bad things and good thing but all the things we were told would be bad turned out to be the best things ever and all the good things wed heard turned out too be terrible.my advise is take everyones opinons on here with a pinch of salt especially m4s sure you can tell he knows new york well but what he likes and doesnt like is worlds apart from what others will like or not like if you wantto goto a area dont take his word or any others word as law if you wanna do it do it you may be pleasentlly surprised as we were.also prepare to deal with some of the most ignorant people on earth you need the neres and temper of a saint to travel to new york

Firstly, I don't think I've ever said that what I said is the law, that's someone else who recently said that. What I say is from 10 years of going on holiday to NYC, and what I've come across, what I personally like, what I personally dislike, and I've learned a fair bit, and know what areas suit certain people, and what areas don't.

Just looking back on the post you made though, a lot of what you like and dislike that I've commented on above, is EXACTLY the same as what I like and dislike, which really is odd that you kinda contradict yourself. You dislike the bad food in times square, you dislike the people touting to tourists in times square. you dislike overpriced hoho bus tours, you like the subway, you like how people are helpful on the subway, you dislike shuttle services. Maybe I just go about telling people in a different way, as I ask questions, and attempt to learn what people are wanting to get out of NYC.

As for the arrogance, well that's just New York, and the way people go about their business.

Finally, Thanks for singling myself out and making me feel kinda small, I do what I do here because I love NYC as a city, and a holiday destination, not because i'm paid, or because I have to. It's because I want to and want people to get the same kinda buzz from the place that I do. I think sometimes people just don't get my enthusiasm, and the reasons why I ask questions, but it's all down to getting to know people to better help them, in perfecting what for some is a once or a twice in a lifetime thing.

*shrugs* water off a ducks back now, I don't let the personal attacks get to me these days, and your opinons on certain things will be useful for helping other people. Just one thing you've forgotten - I have never really been to NYC, and learned everything from watching episodes of Law & Order on Universal HD - In other words, this is my own opinion, and make up your own mind!

I better finish off packing, I have an early flight tomorrow, and need to get to the greatest city in the bloody world!!!

M

scottishgirl87

Anyone got any coupons/vouchers to take advantage of? Or a website that specialises in that kind of thing?

So far I've managed to find a 20% off coupon for food at the airport (when I'm departing Glasgow) and a $3 off TOTR coupon.

Where else should I be looking?

M4RKM

scottishgirl87 wrote: »

Anyone got any coupons/vouchers to take advantage of? Or a website that specialises in that kind of thing?

So far I've managed to find a 20% off coupon for food at the airport (when I'm departing Glasgow) and a $3 off TOTR coupon.

Where else should I be looking?

In the general foyers of hotels, there are normally a rack of leaflets and vouchers. I normally nip to the Cosmopolitan Hotel, if I'm going to buy something from J&R, as there is normally always a $3 or $5 off a $50 purchase, which comes in useful. There are also plenty of other ones, for broadway shows, other attractions, and other stores. Remember you can get 10% vouchers at both Bloomingdales and Macy's if you go to the visitors center.

M

waxxy

greenface i would have kicked off if id known about it fully my wife wouldnt tell me until we got off the plane( i was a sleep when he said the rascist remarks) because she knows i would have hit the guy.but we all know how this would have played out the guy would have pretended he hadnt done anything wrong the authorites would have taken his side i would have been brandished a thug or a terrorist or a drunk (which would have been totally wrong as i dont drink on planes or get drunk ever !!)
the guy didnt wear a name plate on his shirt but im not one to forget what he did or said nor his face and i live pretty close to manchester airport so if ever see him outside of work believe me this will play out totally different

and i wasnt having a dig at you m4 in anyway i totally respect you know more about ny than any off us and are more confident and streetwise about the place but for myself i felt the area my hotel was in and the condition it was in a welcome i got from all the staff was amazing considering all the bad talk abot the manhattan hotel there was on here and other forums.
and your right in future ill just get a taxi or public transport too and from the airport to my hotel buying a shuttle service is a waste of time and money and travel agents such as first choice miss sell these packages telling you you will be picked up in a fancy car,there will only be you and your companions in the car,there will be a driver waiting at baggage claim with your name on a card ..all these things i was tol would be waiting for me once i touched down in newark but not one of these things did i get..there were about 8-10 of us on a van that wouldnt have passed a mot in this country ..it stank the driver drove like he was in a death race and couldnt understand english people and just gruntted or acted rude towards us the only time he was friendly was when it was tip time.

and the hop on hop off bus was missold too the guy at first choice said open topped bus but it wasnt your sat in a dirty ,scratched plastic roofed bus and there so dirty you cant really take photos from there and agree there way over priced as all they are are normal buses they even stop at regular bus stops.

why i singled you out m4 is when i posted a few thing about places i was going too and my hotel you automatically shot it down and said crap hotel crap show etc you really spoilt my holiday and the excitement about going to ny and places you did recommend we went there and hated it but the things you said were crap such as my hotel and spiderman show were excellent.yep somethings i do agree with you but othrs i dont but thats just two different opions and i was trying to point out that .i think sometimes you may post comments which you dont feel are condesending or arrogant but sometimes can be interpretated as such by other members.in fact after your scathing comment about my hotel choice i was trying to cancel it befor id even got there but thank god they wouldnt cancel it but all the way there i was preparing myself to stay in a real hell hole of a hotel but it was really nice and in a much cleaner neighbourhood than gramercy area which you recommended we went there too check out the area and it was filthy and run down and sure the hotel you showed me looked nice inside but the area was horrible and i thought too far away from the areas we wanted to visit.but i bet others would like to stay there and not in times square each to there own .
and i can believe traky is comparing c21 too primark lol..but forever 21 is primark in fact it had new look/primark labels on some of the clothing we saw lol but c21 is all high market stuff such as versace/gucci/guess/ecko/michael kors/ed hardy...etc there wasnt any cheap brands in there at all and we went there twice !!

tarkytarks

waxxy wrote: »

and the hop on hop off bus was missold too the guy at first choice said open topped bus but it wasnt your sat in a dirty ,scratched plastic roofed bus and there so dirty you cant really take photos from there and agree there way over priced as all they are are normal buses they even stop at regular bus stops.

It was freezing cold last week!! I was there then too - wouldn't have fancied a 2 hour drive round on a fully open topped bus. The covers they had on the buses are temporary and are there to try and protect you from the elements a little. They take them off when it gets warmer:D

waxxy

scottishgirl the best thing to do for vouchers i found was once you arrive at new york airport go straight to the tourist desk and get all the free maps/guides there full off loads of coupons inside such as 10% off --$5 off...etc but make sure you check the expirery date and some stores wont accept multiple vouchers..places like macys will give you 10--25% off anyway as soon as you get there goto the visitors desk to get your coupons but take your passport or driving liscence as id.but if you also have a $10 off voucher they wont add it too your discount you have too weigh up which is better.
in bloomingdales we got a 10% off voucher and if you spent over $200 you got a free bloomingdales snuggle blanket/pillow/eye mask al in a bloomingdales bag with bloomongdales embrodered on it my wife wanted perfume and perfume is priced the same all over ny near enough so she bought that and we got the free blankets i also blagged a free $25 bloomngdales tote bag free on top too and she got a micael kors jacket for $48 in the sale reduced from $325 but everything else in bloomingdales is top dollar you really have to hunt for bargains in there and too be honest theres very few off them in there unless you get chatty with the sales people who will give you free stuff if you buy from them in store my wife also got a free $40 make up bag full of make up just for having a free facial and buying a perfume from her the bag wasnt in a offer but she got on really well with my wife so she sneaked off a came back with a bag full off gear for us ..a really nice lady

also dont buy fast line passes they dont mean a thing on the rock the fast line was twice the size as regular paying customersi didnt have a fast pass and was on the roof before the fast track line even got in lol

and anothe thing dont buy the comedy store tickets off the street there a blag once you get in you have to buy at least 2 drinks each and there around $12--$20 each !! also you wont have heard of 99% of the comics on there rip off..

M4RKM

waxxy wrote: »

why i singled you out m4 is when i posted a few thing about places i was going too and my hotel you automatically shot it down and said crap hotel crap show etc you really spoilt my holiday and the excitement about going to ny and places you did recommend we went there and hated it but the things you said were crap such as my hotel and spiderman show were excellent.yep somethings i do agree with you but othrs i dont but thats just two different opions and i was trying to point out that .i think sometimes you may post comments which you dont feel are condesending or arrogant but sometimes can be interpretated as such by other members.in fact after your scathing comment about my hotel choice i was trying to cancel it befor id even got there but thank god they wouldnt cancel it but all the way there i was preparing myself to stay in a real hell hole of a hotel but it was really nice and in a much cleaner neighbourhood than gramercy area which you recommended we went there too check out the area and it was filthy and run down and sure the hotel you showed me looked nice inside but the area was horrible and i thought too far away from the areas we wanted to visit.but i bet others would like to stay there and not in times square each to there own .

Hang on a second here. I give my own opinions, and you're now saying I spoilt your holiday? That's taking it a step too far. I don't shoot things down, I offer opinions and alternatives. It's up to yourself to weigh up the pros, cons, and make your own choice, which you did, and one you were happy with.

I've stayed in Murray Hill, Times Square, Chelsea, Tribeca, Brooklyn, Midtown East, I know what is around these areas, and some people prefer other areas. Many people have stayed at a cheaper alternative hotel in Tribeca, and have loved it, however, I NEVER said anything about anywhere being "crap" I've actually searched this thread for the word crap, and I have never said the word apart from this post.

With regards to the show, My actual quote was the following.

This show is still in previews, and they're still changing things around. Just last week they changed the ending and spiderman was left dangling in mid air for 10 minutes. Fact doesn't not make a review, it just means it's damn awful.

Also, for this theatre, it is said that the balcony seats are the best, as the aerial stunts and f ups that seem to happen daily, are easier to see, as they're in front of you, rather than above you.

Fingers crossed they iron everything out though.

All I was doing there was relaying what I had read on other peoples reviews, comments on other forums, comments made on New York Times, and making it my own words. Also, you'll be pleased to hear, they're potentially making more changes, and not actually launching the show out of previews until June, making it the longest running Broadway show, in previews alone, so when your next trip comes around, you'll be able to see it again, and it could be substantially different, with different music. Again, if you're taking my words as gospel, and it has spoiled your holiday, then I really don't know what to say.

Now, the more interesting accusation is that I called your hotel choice crap. That is incorrect, and I don't like having people saying stuff that I didn't honestly say.

I first, jokingly, trying to build up a rapport, state that the hotel is not near everything, which is a fact. the hotel i'm staying at tomorrow is no near everything, because New York City isn't a theme park like disney land - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=40748508&postcount=2310 - 4 miles to what some people like to visit, (I mean, how shiny are the bulls balls, must have something to do with it's popularity down on wall street), is not classed as near.

You asked questions, were concerned that you were sold a 4* and it's less than that - I commented about your chances of getting it changed - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=40781048&postcount=2328

You were criticising it, saying there were bad reviews, and I gave you my opinion, posted a link to a factual website, so you could see photos of the rooms etc. I also clearly state that I don't book things on a recommendation, which pushes you to think for yourself, so people cannot attempt to blame me for spoiling their holiday - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=40788780&postcount=2333

The only other time I've made a comment, was one where I said how you could make your own tour, rather than spending un needed money - this is a money saving website after all - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=41428792&postcount=2556

Now, for you to turn around, after I've not even said anything bad, and say I, personally have spoiled your holiday, is a very very hard thing to take. Personal attacks when I say things out of context are alright, because it is always light hearted, and tone is something very difficult to gauge in text, but saying I spoiled your holiday, when the comments you're referring to were never made, I just think is wrong.

I have nothing left to say.

sharkster

2/i went to the spiderman show and yet again people critised it without actually going to the show and yet again rubbish was written about this show .when we went there was no faults,no accidentsthe music was amazing as was the singing..special effects..acting..ive seen lots of shows and this one was easily the best the whole audience was buzzing as we left and if it comes to the uk or your travelling to new york i highlly recommend you go see this show .one thing i would suggest is prebbok your tickets in this country and click on international pick up the ques were massive each night for the shows but if you have international pick ups you go straight to the front no queing up also the tickets were cheaper than buying in times square.

I'm looking at booking tickets for this - would you say that it's suitable for a 6 year old? And where would you recommend to sit? I'm looking at the front of the flying circle.

Thanks!