Everything & Anything New York City

phatbear

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! Personally I would cut out the labels just to be on the safe side!

And this is what is technicaly known as "breaking the law"

Lady_S

must admit in three trips I have never been over the limit, and we shop hard.

I can't stand the stress of being over, I would just worry the entire flight incase we were in trouble when we got back.

M4RKM

I do like this thread when people come along, encourage people to break the law...

£390 is a hell of a lot of trainers and clothes, and I've not been over on however many trips I've done recently. You pay tax in the store on items that attract tax (google New York City Sales Tax, and it's nice and complicated), and you cannot claim that back. In some stores, you can get a discount card, because you're a visitor.

I don't think it's worth a day out of the city to potentially save money up at Woodbury, bearing in mind there are always discounts available in Manhattan. To save the $40 each it'll cost to get there, then you really do have to make some big savings.

M

Blue1878

Hello

I'm looking to travel to NY for the first time in October.

Currently struggling to find a hotel (I'm a bit fussy!) I've seen a few that are in Brooklyn and would appreciate some advice.
The ones I have seen are;

Union Hotel Brooklyn
Pointe Plaza Hotel
Condor Hotel
Hotel Le Joile

Does anyone have any experience of staying in these hotels, looking at what neighbour hood is like and of course ease in getting into Manhattan every day.

If anyone can recommend any hotels in Manhattan that would also be great.
Looking at going 6-10 October with a budget of £500-£600

Thanks :-)

M4RKM

Hmm... I've stayed at the Hotel Le Jolie 3 times, and absolutely loved it each time. Amazing area, great nightlife, great restaurants, laid back, no rush rush rush attitude you get with Manhattan. It's lovely. 15 minutes into Manhattan and you've got 2 subway stops nearby on the L train, you have the G to get to other areas of Brooklyn, and also the J/M/Z about a mile away for other areas of Manhattan if you need.

The Condor Hotel, which is a bit out of the way, and not convenient to any public transportation is A 'Kosher' Hotel for Orthodox Jewish Families. Doesn't mean you can't stay there, it just means that you don't get a TV, there is no front desk on the sabbath, and also they turn off the elevator service, (I think I read it stops at every floor regardless and you can't stop it doing that).

Union Hotel Brooklyn, on Degraw Street. Not the nicest looking area, not much really in the immediate surroundings, but near enough to Park Slope to be bearable. A much longer commute into Manhattan, but still bearable.

Pointe Plaza Hotel - Not one I've heard of, and looking at the location of it, I can see why. Again not near subway stations, and probably not the best location for the first time tourist.


Now, out of the 4, I'd wholeheartedly recommend the Hotel Le Jolie. As for other hotels, you have some choices in Long Island City in Queens, the following are normally reasonably priced - Verve Hotel, Country Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express Manhattan View.

As for hotels in Manhattan itself, well there are hundreds. Hotel Cosmopolitan gets recommended here a lot, and is a firm favourite of mine. The New Yorker, however bland and boring an area it is in, is normally reasonably priced. Really depends on what you want, how many of there you are, your age, what you plan to do in an evening etc etc. Give us an insight into your ideal NYC holiday, and if it is chasing tourist attractions, then maybe Manhattan is a better option. If it's more laid back, and nightlife and awesome restaurants, then you can't go wrong with the Hotel Le Jolie.

M

Blue1878

Thanks for replying

Its just me & my boyfriend, we are going for my 30th birthday for 4 nights.

It will be our first time in the city so obv looking to do all the tourist stuff like Empire state, Statue of liberty and bit of window shopping.

Of a evening we probably would just be looking for a nice, cheap restaurant then a few drinks. Doubt we are looking for expensive cocktail places and nightclubs!

If the Jolie has good subway links then that could be ideal. We are used to using subway systems in other european cities so think we can manage this one!

Could you give me a idea of daily prices to use the subway? Can you get multiday pass?
Also what would be the best way of getting from the airport to Brooklyn. Should be flying into JFK i think.

Thanks again, really appreciated

M4RKM

right. Age. useful. You'll love Brooklyn. I've been going for the past 4 years now, and I'm 32. It has the vibe that I think is just much more of the NYC you imagine, than midtown corporate Manhattan.

Cheap Restaurant, well you have Bamontes at the back of the hotel, old school mob italian restaurant. It's great food, but go hungry as the portions are generous. Plenty of other reasonably priced restaurants in the area, as well as bars that do good food too.

Have a look at the subway map on mta.info and you'll soon be whizzing around the subway, perfectly safe getting back to Brooklyn even after midnight. Probably at midnight you won't get a seat, as the hipsters are just heading into Williamsburg for their evening out.

The Subway in NYC is cheap. $29 each gives you unlimited usage for 7 days. You can pay per ride, but 4 days, and sightseeing to do, you'll be topping up a payg card too often, and it's just easier to pay $29. Also, it's valid for Buses in NYC too.

From JFK to Hotel Le Jolie is reasonably easy. Jump in a taxi and pay $45 ish, which should include a decent tip for the taxi driver. The other option is the AirTrain and Subway Combo, which is what I normally do.

From JFK get the AirTrain to Howard Beach. When you get there, get a Pay Per Ride Subway Card with only $18.75. You'll get a 7% Bonus, making it a card with just over $20 on. (giving you 4 airtrain journeys, 2 for getting to the hotel, and 2 to head back!)

Walk straight on, out of the AirTrain (ignore the signs to the subway). Then use the machines again, and buy your $29 cards each. Then do a u turn, and now enter the subway, using your unlimited passes. The reason you do this, is that if you exit straight away to the subway, the machines there will take of $7.25. Sneaky eh?

From there, go down to the platform, and walk to the left of the platform and try get the last car of the train to Broadway Junction (IIRC). Then go up a short flight of stairs, make a left, and ride up the escalator. Make a right and then up and across the 'L' train platform for the 'L' train to Brooklyn. Get off at Lorimer Street, and head up Lorimer, under the BQE, and you'll see the hotel.

Easy and much cheaper than a taxi.

M

Blue1878

Thanks again

Looking to book it tonight, think we'll go for Brooklyn and have a adventure!

Prob be back again closer to October for more bar and restaurant tips :-))

M4RKM

That's OK. I head out on the 16th September, so will have an updated list of decent bars and restaurants...

madcal87

Im really struggling to find a cheap hotel, they all seem £100 + per night
Looking at going early September