Everything & Anything New York City

costingbunny_2

Not sure when they go on sale but I bought tickets for a Knicks game when I was in NYC via ticketmaster and you just pick them up from the booth in MSG on the day.

Just in case you're interested, there were loads of band rates for the tickets and a lot seemed really expensive so I bought some cheapo ones for around £20 (which included a hot dog and a drink). When we got there we were high up in the arena but the view was great and so were pleased we didnt splash out any more! Enjoy and get ready to chant DE-FENCE!

PS - I'm not a basketball fan but it was really good fun with loads of entertainment in the many breaks - including putting the famous faces of those with courtside seats on the big screen!

ixia

Thanks for the info that's great I'll just get them via TM i'll just keep checking.

I'm not a basketball fan either my son likes it but we will all go as it sounds like fun and will be an experience. £20 tickets sounds good. I mentioned to my son all the price ranges yesterday he doesn't seem to fussed where he sits as long as he gets to see a game.

M4RKM

:eek:I'm obviously not money saving with my baseball ticket....:eek:

madcal87

Its a holiday inn express to the east of manhattan, near a metro stop!

M4RKM

A Holiday Inn Express isn't a hostel, it's a 2 star hotel, and gives you a private room, with private bathroom. If it's Holiday Inn Express Manhattan View, in Long Island City, at around £100 a night, then that's not bad, and is recommended area to stay for budget hotels now.

Other options in the same area are Country Inn Suites which is currently $763.38 USD inc tax for your stay, working out to be £94.19 per night. The Verve Hotel is normally cheap too, but I can't search that right now, as they're updating their website.


One final thing? Have you booked your flight because NOT staying a Saturday night might make the flights a hell of a lot more expensive than changing your dates and including a saturday night.

M

kuczer2

OK, first things first. Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread so far and especially Mark for some wonderful bits of info that have helped me book a 10th anniversary surprise trip to NYC in October for 4 nights.

I think I have a handle on pretty much everything. Booked flights and Hotel in Manhattan for a good rate and a broadway show through broadwaybox. All confirmed and ready for action. I am literally going to leave it until the last minute to tell my OH anything. Flight out transfers in Shannon and as my wife is from Ireland I am going to let on she is getting a trip back home and hopefully she won't catch on until I have to take a detour to the flight to JFK in Shannon. That's the plan anyway!

Anyway, the only thing I need to get sorted now is spending money for when we are out there. I reckon through saving I will get about USD 1300 up before we go. Is this going to be enough for two of us for what is essentially 5 days in NYC? I already have passes paid for, so attractions don't need to be factored in, but I am talking eating out, milling around, subway journeys, tipping staff and a bit of shopping (thankfully my OH is not a maniac when it comes to this - although I am sure she will want to get some clothes to top up her luggage that she will only have packed for Ireland). Let me know if I need to scrounge up some more doe, wont you?

We are staying just off Times Square (I know, Mark - but I know my missus will love it) so I am thinking of junk fooding during the day and travelling out for dinner each night to some of the less touristy (and hopefully less expensive) areas. Where would you recommend? Basically, I am open to anywhere on the MTA subway network.

Thanks in advance.

M4RKM

I travel solo, so my budgets are slightly different. Anyways. $29 each for the week for the Subway and Bus system ain't going to make a big dent in the budget there.

Do I think it's enough for 2 people? It's a tough call. 4 nights 5 days.. For that kinda trip for 2 people I think $1500 would be a better target to aim for. That gives you $720 each after buying your subway card, meaning you have $144 each per day. $10 for breakfast, $30 for lunch, $40 for dinner, and $30 for evening drinks, gives you only $34 spare (each).

I try aim for $1600 for me as a solo traveller for 8 days. I do socialise in the evenings, and drink beers, which make up a good chunk of that (probably around $700 - $800 is just evening entertainment), and then the rest is just food, and spending money for everything else, including a few museums. I've known my lunch to cost me $70, but evening meal only $20, so it's all swings and roundabouts. I also try to get to one decent sit down meal too, which inevitably costs nearly $100.

It ain't cheap, even the restaurants in the "non touristy areas" still aim to make money out of locals... I hate talking money, just have a credit card with you as well, enjoy your holiday, and you'll be fine !

M

izzoh

Hi All,

I am going to new York for New Years Eve. (First time ever) and I am stupidly excited.

I just wanted to know, anything we buy out there (Clothes, shoes etc) do we have to pay tax or anything back at the airport?

I am not planning on taking a second suitcase! lol.. just a couple of trainers for my other half and maybe a couple of bits for me.

I am a complete novice so I hope this is not a silly question. Someone has suggested cutting out labels but is this really necessary?

Many Thanks.

pinksteven

Oh wow I'm very jealous, in answer to your question you are supposed to yes, however you could put all my receipts in the hotel bin and take of all the tags of everything you buy! Otherwise you may get stung! But chances are you will walk straight through customs and not even get checked! Personally I would cut out the labels just to be on the safe side!

I would advise taking some very very warm clothing though, I went end of January for my birthday and had thermals on the whole time whilst out and about in new york plus vest, t shirt, jumper, coat, scarf etc etc!

If you have time during your stay maybe worth looking at Woodbury common in new jersey, it's an hours coach ride away but has amazing designer shops all at massively discounted prices!

If you have any other questions let me know

Savvy_Sue

pinksteven wrote: »

Oh wow I'm very jealous, in answer to your question you are supposed to yes, however you could put all my receipts in the hotel bin and take of all the tags of everything you buy! Otherwise you may get stung! But chances are you will walk straight through customs and not even get checked! Personally I would cut out the labels just to be on the safe side!

better advice would be to check what the customs limits are, and keep the receipts. Take a look here.