Everything & Anything New York City

emilyjade

No worries, just a couple more questions if you don't mind, (can't find the info on their website) can you remember what the check in/out times are? Our flight home is 6.30pm ish so wondering if there was anywhere we could leave our luggage until nearer the time? With us going the first week in June I take it its fairly warm but may need light jackets to compensate for air con? Sorry I'm sure I'll have many more questions:think:

Philippa36

von wrote: »

Hi,

We're off to New York next Monday for 4 days and have read so much about where to go that my head is spinning, so I hopeyou good people on here could help me. We want to visit the following places but would appreciate some help as to how to get there and when so that we don't waste our time:

See Statue of Liberty from Staten island ferry - don't want to get off so any idea where we go to catch it, how much and how long will it take? - Near Battery Park, its about an hour round trip. I'd definitely recommend the tour round Ellis Island, even if you're not interested in stopping off at the statue - its really fascinating.
Grand Central Station - is it worth a visit? - Yes, the tour is worth it too.
Central Park - any suggestions for which area? - I doubt you'll walk further than Strawberry Fields, but its worth a wander round - its an amazing space in the middle of the city.
Top of the Rock or Empire State Building - which one is best? - Either is good. The Empire State Building is such a classic, you should at least see it, even if you don't go up to the top.
Macy's and or a shopping mall - any suggetions? - Macys. Tiffanys is worth seeing too, as is FAO Schwartz
I also want to go to Little Italy for a meal - is it near Times Square as I'm staying at the Marriott Marquis - although won't believe it until I step in my room (it's an organised trip) - Little Italy is not worth it. Check out trip advisor or menupages for some decent restaurants

Also, sorry to go on but as it's the St Patrick's day parade on Wednesday and I don't really want to spend too much of the day watching the parade will everything be open and will it be easy to get around or will the traffic grind to a standstill? - I've never been there for St Patricks Day but the Thanksgiving Macys Day parade was immense and the roads were closed for the morning. People were queuing very early to view. We didn't go exploring until after the parade so I have no idea if the stores were closed, the local cafe was doing a roaring trade though, supplying hot coffee to freezing tourists and locals!

As I said I'd relly appreciate some help - please....

See above

phatbear

von wrote: »

Grand Central Station - is it worth a visit?

Worth seeing because its soooo famous ie used in more tv and films than you can shake a stick at, also good food there and you are at a nice position to get nice pics of the chrysler building, which is my fave sky scraper

Central Park - any suggestions for which area?

Just mooch, follow your nose and if the weather is hot find some water to sit beside,

Top of the Rock or Empire State Building -

TOTR, cheaper less busy get views of central park and get views of esb, which of course you cant see from esb
Macy's and or a shopping mall -

Apart from manhattan mall there arent any real malls in manhattan, and its not much of a mall either, macys is the way forward and dont forget to take your passport to customers services on floor 1.5 and get your 10% off card

I also want to go to Little Italy for a meal -

Little italy is approx one street and not very well thought of, but go if you must

my input, for what its worth

bb69

phatbear wrote: »

Why buy the day before? Id rather wait till the day 2 ensure good weather. There are discount vouchers floating about the net too.
We done tiffanys for a bracelet last trip and shes got her eye on a matching ring when we go bak in june

Yes thats a good point, In my experience we went on the day and wanted sunset tickets but they were all sold out for that particular slot.

And we bought a time a little earlier than recommended to avoid queues. (We went in Dec and they had a few foggy days so did not have viewings then which made the rock busier)

bb69

cooking-mama wrote: »

which guide book do you all recommend??

I have got
AA guide
The Brit Guide and
Lonely Planet guide

Different aspects of NYC in all of them.

I also bought a lovely New York moleskine dairy and made notes of places to go eat etc .. its great! Also has a map with tracing paper to mark where you want to go! Easily fits into a handbag, so left my guidebooks in the hotel and took the moleskine!

http://www.moleskine.com/catalogue/city_notebook/america/city_notebook_new_york.php

I bought mine from Waterstones.

Savvy_Sue

von wrote: »

Grand Central Station - is it worth a visit?

Macy's and or a shopping mall - any suggetions?

Combining these two, YES Grand Central Station is worth it, and I didn't know they did a tour. AND that is the closest I got to ANY 'me' shopping, they have some super arcades including one selling amazing food. And I don't know if I got a bargain or not, but the ONLY thing I managed to buy for myself was in one of those arcades, it was a pink Swatch watch, which I love, and I got a brown one half price with it for DS1.

emilyjade wrote: »

Our flight home is 6.30pm ish so wondering if there was anywhere we could leave our luggage until nearer the time?

Most hotels will let you leave luggage, it seems.

crowie

I have a couple of questions that I was hoping someone could answer from past experience?

I was looking at getting a limo service, looked at Carmel and Tel Aviv from page 1. I noticed that Tel Aviv make mention of a waiting time fee

http://www.telavivlimo.com/rates.html

But there is no mention on the Carmel site of waiting time fees.

I therefore contacted Carmel with a couple of questions

1. How long after my scheduled arrival time should I book a pick up for? I am meant to arrive at 12 midday but realise that getting luggage back and clearing customs can take a while so was looking for some guidance. Would 1 hour be appropriate?

2. What happens if my flight is delayed? I would hate to get a waiting time penalty if my flight ends up being an hour late. I know you shouldn't bank on your flight being late but the day I am leaving Edinburgh airport is the same morning that the Pope flies into it so I can see flight schedules getting seriously knocked out of line!


I did what I thought was the sensible thing and emailed these questions to Carmel customer service asking for some help. They replied asking me to call them with any queries!? I would really prefer not to have to call New York to ask a couple of questions which I thought would be easily answered by email so was hoping someone else may have any experience of limo booking.

Thanks in advance for any anwers/advice.

Savvy_Sue

My understanding is that the way Carmel and the other services work, you book a theoretical pick up time, but then phone them once you arrive - there are various phones around for the different companies. They arrive quite soon after that, but they don't - can't - sit around waiting for you at the airport.

I can't be sure about this, but I would guess that the waiting time penalty would kick in if you phoned and said "I'm here!", and then disappeared to buy coffee, use the loos, tour the shops etc etc etc, ie you weren't actually there waiting for them when the car turned up.

But the more seasoned travellers will confirm or deny this ...

phatbear

Think sue is right because if you book through carmel if they meet you in arrivals its another $35, therefore paying for waiting, been a few places in europe and been picked up at airports and they work on the scheme which sue mentions ie they know roughly what time you will be there but they require a phone call when you arrive

crowie

Thanks both Sue and phatbear. It appears that this is the way the limo car service does work having had a couple of email conversations with Tel Aviv this morning. Least thats my mind at rest now and I don't have to worry about flight delays.