Everything & Anything New York City

snowydogh

Another question I had was about upgrading to a room view? Been thinking for the past day or so that I wish I had of chose a central park view room - is it possible to get an upgrade upon arrival (even though it will cost extra - unless they're feeling nice )? Should I email first?

Treating my mum to this trip cos she's been so good to me over the years and although not going over her birthday - it's part of my present to her!

Last time my mum went - we stayed in a 2 bedroom suite (sis and dad also there) with a balcony a views of hudson river AND downtown New York (corner of building).... so she's used to the good views and was once in hotel room in new york with crappy view of nothing and she cracked up....likes her luxuries

M4RKM

snowydogh wrote: »

Another question I had was about upgrading to a room view? Been thinking for the past day or so that I wish I had of chose a central park view room - is it possible to get an upgrade upon arrival (even though it will cost extra - unless they're feeling nice )? Should I email first?

Treating my mum to this trip cos she's been so good to me over the years and although not going over her birthday - it's part of my present to her!

Last time my mum went - we stayed in a 2 bedroom suite (sis and dad also there) with a balcony a views of hudson river AND downtown New York (corner of building).... so she's used to the good views and was once in hotel room in new york with crappy view of nothing and she cracked up....likes her luxuries

I'd e-mail the hotel, explain that you're bringing your mum for her birthday. Let them know you have a reservation, and then ask them if it is possible to get a room upgrade. Finally, and you must do this to show willing, ask them to e-mail you back with the additional cost it would be.

Fingers crossed they give you something for nothing, but at worst, you have the cost

Jazzy_B

I've hunted through this thread and couldn't find an answer.
I plan to buy 7 day metrocards for 2 adults and a 14 and 15 year old. One adult has limited mobility. I've checked the website, and wondered if they offer any concessions for tourists for reduced price tickets for kids and disabled, as all I could find is that you need to provide US documents to buy the reduced rates.If they do , can anyone let me know what verification I need to take.
Thanks

phatbear

Have a look here:

http://www.mta.info/nyct/fare/pdf/disabled.pdf

This is the form you need to fill out to get reduced price tickets, however you need a photo and to send it to NY for approval, which seems like a lot of faffing about for a few $'s also i didnt read the whole doc so im not even sure non US citizens are entitled.

Regarding your children unless they are under 44 inches they will need to pay full price for their tickets

snowydogh

Hi Johnnie 2 bad,

Nice to read about your trip. Was this your first trip to New York or had you been before?

Definitely the best way to go to stay out of times square - wouldn't stay in it.

We had booked carmel one year from Newark and had no problems with them - but tbh Cabs are just as good. When I went in December we flew into Newark and used the train to get to penn station - then our hotel was directly across from penn station so that was fine. In September I think we'll take a taxi as my mum can be a bit impatient and after a 7 hour flight all she wants is to just get there. I also like the drive through the city compared to being in the subway and trains.

We did statue of liberty two years ago (few days before the crown opened up to the public again)....but we never did Ellis Island and I was thinking of doing it this time - I dunno if it's something I would value though we are from Ireland so might be worth a look for the irish immigrant aspect of it

We did the same as you with Empire State at day and TOTR t nigh (few years ago) - though this December with my fiance we tried to go to TOTR during day - but by time we had made it up the christmas shopping mad 5th avenue and got down through the Rockefeller Plaza it was beginning to get dark - by time we got up it was dark and raining! So ended up it at night again - I think in september mum and me will go earlier in the day and get up the top to see the park etc during the day!

I had been pricing trips for going from the 7th to the 12th September, but although the prices weren't actually too bad - we wee able to get a 4.5* hotel from 1st - 6th for better price so we opted for first week in September .. I wanted to go to the new 9/11 national memorial that opens to the pubic on the 12th....I guess I'll have to wait until I go again with work!

We went on the bus tour the first time we went - and like you say - was worth it as a first time visitor - though we wasted our ticket as we only used it once....this year I want to go further into brooklyn (in december we walked the bridge and did the park and walked through brooklyn heights - that was it.... I wish we had of done the holiday lights tour of brooklyn - ah well).... anyone know any good Brooklyn tours/ideas? Bare in mind I don't know my way round Brooklyn (except the bridge area) and don't fancy roaming it on my own.

In general, I think we learnt that in order to get the very best out of New York, you shouldn’t have your every move and every minute detailed and planned in advance, that you need to leave plenty of time for just going with your gut feeling, eating where it feels right at the time, spending time just wondering through the neighbourhoods and seeing what little treasures you can find.

You're absolutely right! We wondered through Brooklyn and found a lovely little neighbourhood Starbucks compared to the big city ones! Also found a few lovely places in the West Village and Soho that would never have thought of going to !

Thanks for your trip report - it was good to read! Brings back memories and fuels my excitement for September...

Thinking of going on helicopter ride this time!! I love helicopters - went on one in Florida and loved it.....so interested to go on one in New York - anyone here done it?

M4RKM - thanks for the advice - I will do just that... .email the hotel... thank you!

Jazzy_B - sorry I can't help ... I wouldn't be too sure on special rates etc..

Jonni2bad

This was our first trip Snowydogh - although some family went a couple of years ago for a wedding so we had plenty of insight from them too.

My family also from Ireland, it's nice to see the family name on those engraved panels outside the museum (Ellis Island) even if they were not necessarily directly related. The museum itself and all the internal documents and artefacts can get a little lengthy and I have to admit to becoming a bit bored near the end, but I wouldn't want to give the impression of it being a total drag, it's very much worth a visit.

Now that we've been, and now that we realise just how easy it is to get around, I don't think it would phase me at all to avoid the taxis to and from the airport, for instance, although nothing quite beats the 'instant' fix of getting to your hotel quickly and getting on with the break.

Again, having now done the bus tours, I doubt if I would do it again (unless, perhaps, we were with other first timers).

We didn't have time to get over the bridge or go to Brooklyn. In fact, I'm quite sure we didn't have time to experience more than a few percent of what NY can offer, so I have no doubt either that another visit could produce what seemed to be a completely different break with completely new experiences.

All I need now is for those 6 magic numbers to come up and I would be straight back over there!

sugarstar

Hi - seriously big moneysaving lurker here should really post more but it takes me all my time to read and digest all the tips that others post!

I need your expert help! I have one day in New York on 6th September, yes you read that right just one day!
In fact we're flying into Newark Airport in the evening of Mon 5th and staying in a airport hotel there, and then on Wed 7th we're heading off on a tour across America :j excited isn't the word!:j

So now we've ended up with just one day to spend in NY and as NY newbies we want to see all the main sights. Gutted that we haven't got more time but I'm determined to get the most I can out of it! I'm thinking that the hop-on hop-off busses will be the best option, but obviously won't really have time to hop-off much! Shopping isn't a priority - I doubt we'll have time anyway...


We would really like to get the ferry to the Statue of Liberty (undecided whether to go all the way across or whether to get ferry halfway and back) and to go up in the Empire State building to look out across NY! How much time do we realistically need to allow for these?

Can anyone advise the best way to get the most out of our day?

jammin_2

I would personally recommend the New York Water Taxi's Statue of Liberty Express which leaves from Pier 17 on South Street Seaport (not Battery Park). On this boat, you get a friendly tour guide describing the sights which are not only the Statue of Liberty but also Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero and more. There is music (where appropriate), photo taking and really friendly buzz. It really is well worth it.

It's also cheaper than the main Statue of Liberty boats (the ones that leave from Battery Park), usually with a much shorter (if existent) queue. We also have been on the Battery Park boat and it was a real disappointment. We queued for over two hours for that and, frankly, it was a let down. Not half as good as the New York Water Taxi's Statue of Liberty Express.

Note that the Battery Park boats do dock at the Statue and at Ellis Island, the New York Water Taxi's Statue of Liberty Express does not.

Nobjocki

jammin wrote: »

I would personally recommend the New York Water Taxi's Statue of Liberty Express which leaves from Pier 17 on South Street Seaport (not Battery Park). On this boat, you get a friendly tour guide describing the sights which are not only the Statue of Liberty but also Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero and more. There is music (where appropriate), photo taking and really friendly buzz. It really is well worth it.

It's also cheaper than the main Statue of Liberty boats (the ones that leave from Battery Park), usually with a much shorter (if existent) queue. We also have been on the Battery Park boat and it was a real disappointment. We queued for over two hours for that and, frankly, it was a let down. Not half as good as the New York Water Taxi's Statue of Liberty Express.

Note that the Battery Park boats do dock at the Statue and at Ellis Island, the New York Water Taxi's Statue of Liberty Express does not.

Alternatively you could simply get the Staten Island Ferry there and back.
It was free that last time I used it and goes right past the Statue of Liberty and also gives you the classic photo of the Manhattan skyline.

I'd also recommend the Circle Line tour fora nice three hour boat ride around Manhattan with a commentary.

sugarstar

Thank you both of you, its great to have some recommendations, still as torn as ever though!
I do quite like the look of the circle line tours, little bit bit more expensive than some of the others but there doesn't seem to be that much difference costwise between any of them (other than the free staten island ferry).

What do you think about the bus tours?