Everything & Anything New York City

lappish22

M4RKM wrote: »

. I hope you haven't got a shuttle pre booked, and it is a private transfer, the shuttles in NYC are unreliable, and that 4pm, could be closer to 6pm!

No, we dont have a shuttle pre-booked! We have pre-booked a limo as a surprise for our kids!:j

Thank you so much for your wonderful information - it will helps me loads!:T

lady1964

Here's a trip report of our stay last week, I'm hoping it may be helpful in some small way to others who will be visiting NY.

Flew LHR - EWR on BA and thanks to an upgrade from World Traveller Plus to Club World, we had a great flight. Going though security at EWR took a while and the staff weren't the most welcoming but we didn't care tbh.

We bought tickets for the Airport Express coach from EWR to the Port Authority Terminal, $25 return each. It took half an hour and the Port Authority was across the road from The Westin at Times Square, where we stayed. Can I add, that this hotel isn't in Times Square itself, it's about a 5-10 minute walk away.
Arrived at hotel around 2.30, quickly unpacked, quick freshen up then went out. The weather was lovely, chilly but sunny, perfect weather for walking in, even if wearing a few layers, boots, coat & gloves
We walked to Times Square, got tickets for Memphis for the following evening, walked around some more, went up TOTR - brilliant, no queues at around 4.30pm, didn't stay up there for too long as we were beginning to flag slightly, so headed back towards Times Square, taking photos as we went, went to some fairly crappy place for dinner, had average food and headed back to hotel. I'd read on another forum about a bar called Smiths, very close to hotel, went in there for a couple of drinks, friendly and welcoming staff, especially the English guy- Peter -who grew up 15 miles away from where we live. Went to bed at 9pm local time, which was 2am GMT.
Wednesday: after a good nights' sleep, up at 7am, showered, dressed then across the road to a crappy diner for breakfast. Vowed not to go there again. Headed off to subway for Staten Island Ferry, went passed SOL, took our photos, got off ferry, joined queue for returning one, stayed inside - beautiful day again but cold. Walked from Battery Park to World Trade Center site - yes it's a building site, but if you walk up the covered stairs and across the bridge, there are artists impressions of what is planned for there. Walked to St. Paul's Chapel, would highly recommend this to get a good feel of what was provided for the clean up teams in the aftermath of 9/11 and I found it very moving.
Went to Century 21, found it ok, bought Levi's for $20 and a couple of other bits - didn't feel like we'd been ripped off. Walked to Brooklyn Bridge but didn't walk it - mistake possibly but maybe next time
Back onto subway to Grand Central Station and The Oyster Bar for lunch, excellent oysters and Boston Chowder. Headed to Herald Square and Macy's - did some shopping. Headed back to hotel, shower, change and went to Smith's for dinner before show (Memphis), back to Smith's for post show drinks before bed around 11.30.
Thursday: Another good nights sleep, shower, dressed and over to different diner (next to Smith's) for breakfast - good breakfast, vow to go back. Head to Bloomingdales, arrive there at 9.30, it doesn't open until 10am, find Starbucks, have coffee. Spent quite a bit of time & money in Bloomie's, head back to Times Square via Central Park and had lunch at Ellen's Stardust Diner - tacky, expensive but entertaining, also packed out so didn't linger. General walk around as weather is again beautiful, trying to find boxes of Lucky Charms for daughters! We're successfull in Hell's Kitchen area, so celebrate by going to Smiths (anyone notice a theme here??). Back to hotel, change, shower then out for dinner at Bangkok House close to hotel for Thai food, which was excellent and would fully recommend. Finish evening at Smiths.....
Friday: Woke up to rain and horrid grey day. Borrow umbrella as didn't bring one, had breakfast, got subway to Soho, arrive around 9.30, shops closed. Had Starbucks, then went shopping when shops open at 10am, Converse store, Armani Exchange and a few other stores. Subway back to hotel, walk round corner to Bella Vita (Italian) for great pizza, back to hotel to collect cases and shove last bits of shopping in cases. Over to Port Authority for 2.15pm bus back to EWR.
Security at EWR total nightmare, got in wrong queue, found right queue then spent an hour in queue. Nothing much in Terminal B, a bar/restaurant, small mags/book shops, small duty free....Flight boarded on time (BA back to LHR).
End of review - phew, sorry, I've rambled on but if anyone would like to ask me anything about places we went to, food we ate or anything else about our trip, please ask, I'd be delighted to help if I can.
Can I also say thanks to everyone on here who helped me out with questions, particularly Mark
Lady1964

lappish22

lady1964 wrote: »

Here's a trip report of our stay last week, I'm hoping it may be helpful in some small way to others who will be visiting NY.

Flew LHR - EWR on BA and thanks to an upgrade from World Traveller Plus to Club World, we had a great flight. Going though security at EWR took a while and the staff weren't the most welcoming but we didn't care tbh.

We bought tickets for the Airport Express coach from EWR to the Port Authority Terminal, $25 return each. It took half an hour and the Port Authority was across the road from The Westin at Times Square, where we stayed. Can I add, that this hotel isn't in Times Square itself, it's about a 5-10 minute walk away.
Arrived at hotel around 2.30, quickly unpacked, quick freshen up then went out. The weather was lovely, chilly but sunny, perfect weather for walking in, even if wearing a few layers, boots, coat & gloves

We are staying at the Westin Times Square as well. Did you like it? Where is best for breakfast? and did you eat in the steakhouse in the hotel itself?
Thanks!

lady1964

Hi Lappish22,

Yes, we liked the Westin, we had a standard room on floor 17, corner room (1742) and had views of the Hudson to our left. Very large and heavenly (as described on their website) bed, plenty of wardrobe & drawer space, great shower with two heads, plenty of towels, rather odd stainless steel round sink but all very clean. No tea there but there was a coffee maker but it wasn't clear if this had to be paid for and as we don't drink coffee in the morning, we didn't use it or enquire if there was a cost.
We didn't eat in the hotel at all, the first diner was opposite the entrance, can't remember what it was called but it was rubbish, the second one was across the street, come out of the entrance, cross the road ahead of you, cross to the other side, walk right to Smith's Bar and it was next door, it was ok, probably not the best breakfast we could have found but it wasclose by, hot, plentiful and cheap.
Lady1964

bigspender1971

Got accomodation sorted but cannot believe the price of flights from Scotland. Have even priced going via London/Dublin and Paris. Still over a grand for 2 return tickets.
Do you reckon they will come down in price? ie any airline sales before then? Or should we just pay up just now?
Thanks everyone in advance. Will be back with more questions soon! Oh, I see M4RK did an itinerary for a pub crawl in Brooklyn. Did you do one for Manhattan? Is there such a thing as a Party Bus -you know like the really cheesy ones you get in the UK that take you on a tour round a few bars?

Vikki_74

bigspender1971 wrote: »

Got accomodation sorted but cannot believe the price of flights from Scotland. Have even priced going via London/Dublin and Paris. Still over a grand for 2 return tickets.
Do you reckon they will come down in price? ie any airline sales before then? Or should we just pay up just now?

What are your dates? Does your trip include a Saturday night? If not, and you have a bit of flexibility, try moving things round a bit so you're there over a weekend instead of just week nights - can make a considerable difference to flight prices.

Vikki_74

Also which airport are you looking to fly from? Just had a look at some randon June dates on Kayak for you and there are some reasonably priced (c.£450pp) flights from Glasgow with Aer Lingus. Or c.£400 with Icelandair if you don't mind a 24 hour stopever in Reykjav!k (actually I think that would be pretty cool if you have a day to spare!).

greenface

Lady1964 great report thanks but you should have went to smiths bar over the road its good . Did you enjoy the Westin ? We stayed in 2 rooms on the 44th floor stunning views . Over the hudson & time sqaure same corner different views.Beds and bathrooms were excellent robes towels etc all quality.Lappish22 Shulas steakhouse i would recommend but its pricey for a special occasion (i would say being in NYC is special enough)go for it . Dont just think steak mrs greenface had chicken that was a stunning breast of bird TBH all cooked to perfection fish looked very good too. Very personal in a luxury carpeted room . Try it . BBkings blues bar and Lucilles bar & grill is on the ground floor some good shows and very good portions of decent food (not great but truly decent) Ewalks cinema is through the side door (best entrance)the cocktail bar next to the belly turning lift is nice but expensive (for a bottle of larger 330mls was about $8--so make that $10inc tips back in 2007)Just noticed Thomas cook are doing 4 nights mankchester/newark to milford plaza in march & nov for £650pp (2 travelers) inc transfer in todays prices thats not bad for a TA

rubyroo

hi everyone i have read through lots of previous posts but please excuse me if i repeat any questions. we are travelling manchester to new york arriving 12.40 at JFK sunday 29th may until thurs 2nd june departing 20.25. Thursday is actually my 40th birthday so was wondering what chances of upgrades might be? does tipping work at check in for room upgrade? we are staying at the new yorker hotel, i've already booked this i read lots of reviews on tripadvisor but have seen some negative comments here if anyone has stayed would appreciate knowing what it's like? so must do's and good places to eat near our hotel much appreciated also we want to see a show but no idea which one!

M4RKM

I never got around to doing a manhattan bar crawl, its just too vast. I could tell to visit Puck Fair on Layfayette and Houston, as that is where I'm sitting right now, it isn't much of a crawl.

As for the party bus idea.. Ibiza not new York, I think it would get laughed at.