Everything & Anything New York City

FoxInTheSnow_2

Hello.

Happy to say, 2 years after my last trip to New York I am planning my next. I've got a pretty good idea what I'm looking to do and see - mainly avoid a lot of the more touristy places but still do the usual Top of the Rock, MOMA, Highline and then find heaps of cool bars, gigs etc to spend my evening in.

So my questions are...

1. I'm looking to go at the start of October for between 6-8 nights at a guess - does anybody have any idea on what's a good flight price from Manchester. Willing to travel for a better flight but seeing as I live in Manc, it'd make sense to fly from there!

2. When do you think I should be booking said flight for optimum price. My GF and I have nearly saved £500 each so can book pretty soon if needed or are we better holding fire.

3. I'm thinking of staying in Brooklyn as I reckon it'll be a bit cheaper and still dead simple to be in Manhattan. Obviously Williamsburg is the ideal spot for bars etc so any hotel suggestions in this area would be much appreciated.

If you could help me on this, it'd be very much appreciated.

Cheers!

guineapig

Can any recent visitors tell me if they know if perfume is cheaper in Heathrow ( going out) or JFK ( coming back) or indeed if it is cheaper in the shops within NYC?

I can find out on line the cost of my favourite ( Prada Candy) in Heathrow, but am unable to find out duty free prices at JFK ( I wonder if it's a secret? LOL!)

Last time I went I didn't buy any perfumes so not sure how to proceed to maximise my trip this time ( might be my last for a while).
Also, any one had any problems taking perfume IN to NY ( with a view to bringing it back of course, if it is cheaper in Heathrow).

Any help appreciated. Thanks

alliwantistosave

Dave1979 wrote: »

I am sitting on the terrace of the Yotel right now and there are a wide variety of ages and families although probably a noticeable number of young people. Really nice hotel (we are 33). The rooms are a perfect size and cleverly designed - you are in New York City!! How long are you going to be in your room?

Can't believe how quick it was to get here from the airport - an hour and a half from stepping off the plane to checking in (using the NJ Transit train)

You very lucky person, we arrived the day before you and it took us 1hr30mins just to get through immigration
Even the police officer on the desk said it crazy but normal to be waiting that long. Like you our bags had been shifted off the carousel. We then did have fun catching the metro into Manhattan. So hi from the Yotel too we have prob seen you around (waiting for the lift's generally)
Def an interesting place to stay, especially the sunday brunch crowd (have to be seen to be believed trust me). But some guy said in the lift earlier to stay for tonight would have cost him $350 :eek: We didn't tell him how much we paid
Very close to everything if you like walking and also if you get a metro card.
Can't believe we are going home tomorrow I want to stay longer as I haven't managed to fit everything in but it also means I will have to come back again

Thanks to everyone who contributed on here to make my holiday go easily and slightly stress free (but that is just me)

Dave1979

alliwantistosave wrote: »

You very lucky person, we arrived the day before you and it took us 1hr30mins just to get through immigration
Even the police officer on the desk said it crazy but normal to be waiting that long. Like you our bags had been shifted off the carousel. We then did have fun catching the metro into Manhattan. So hi from the Yotel too we have prob seen you around (waiting for the lift's generally)
Def an interesting place to stay, especially the sunday brunch crowd (have to be seen to be believed trust me). But some guy said in the lift earlier to stay for tonight would have cost him $350 :eek: We didn't tell him how much we paid
Very close to everything if you like walking and also if you get a metro card.
Can't believe we are going home tomorrow I want to stay longer as I haven't managed to fit everything in but it also means I will have to come back again

Thanks to everyone who contributed on here to make my holiday go easily and slightly stress free (but that is just me)

Seconded - thanks everyone! The Highline walk was a highlight.

Really loved the Yotel - lots of locals seem to hang there for weekend brunch and in the club on Fri/Sat nights! We were on the 15th floor and couldn't hear any noise from the club/street/other rooms like some people have reported on various sites. The bed was also really good - although we do like a firmer mattress! It was great that it turned into a sofa during the day to create space. We paid $1000 for 5 nights (inc all taxes!) with an offer they had on their site last December! The wifi throughout the hotel was superfast.

I had forgotten how cheap taxis are! There were 4 of us most of the time and it was the same price to get taxis places as getting the subway.

We were lazy heading back to the airport (due to an extra 2 suitcases of clothes purchases) and got one of the airport transfer buses and it was quicker (but $24 each instead of $12.50) than than the AirTrain/NJ Transit/Walking combo - about 30 minutes from outside Yotel at 5pm to Newark. Took 20 minutes to get through security so 2 and a half hours sitting on our !!!!!! at the airport. Can't believe the airline says get there 3 hours before!!!! (granted it may be busier at peak times)

Going high-brow now - We went to a couple of operas at The Met and can't believe the difference between here and Europe! The number of times you heard people being sssshhhh'd throughout! The audience clapped after every aria rather than leaving it until the end of the act leaving the actors standing around until they had finished. Most annoyingly though - everyone left as soon as the curtain fell leaving the auditorium half empty before the first curtain call!! So rude!!!

M4RKM

Dave1979 wrote: »

I had forgotten how cheap taxis are! There were 4 of us most of the time and it was the same price to get taxis places as getting the subway.

Taxis are not cheap per se, it's just that with 4 people, it makes it reasonable. Subway is invariably quicker, and safer, as you're not stuck in traffic, and not everyone travels as a group of 4.

A $10 taxi fare for 4 people, is $2.50 each
A $10 taxi fare for 2 people is $5 each
A $10 taxi fare for 1 person is $10.

When there are considerably less people, it is much better to get a subway at $2.25 per fare, or on an unlimited card at $29 per week, if you did, say 15 trips, $1.93 per fare. That $10 taxi ride sure is expensive in comparison.

M

brm21

HELP WANTED RE NYC TRIP
Wanting some advice- me and hubby thinking of going to New York in September, not the first week as babysitter away, travelling from Manchester for 3 nights. Can anyone advise when best to go and cheapest time re flights to go, where to stay etc. so confused after trawelling the internet for hours. many thanks

M4RKM

brm21 wrote: »

HELP WANTED RE NYC TRIP
Wanting some advice- me and hubby thinking of going to New York in September, not the first week as babysitter away, travelling from Manchester for 3 nights. Can anyone advise when best to go and cheapest time re flights to go, where to stay etc. so confused after trawelling the internet for hours. many thanks

September and Cheap (especially after the first weekend) just doesn't happen. Flight prices are still high, hotels sky rocket in price, as more and more people flood into the city for short breaks as the weather is good. 3 nights ain't a long time.

Without knowing how much you want to spend, it is hard to advise where to stay. When to go when you want cheap? January or February, but without knowing exactly what your budget is, really makes it difficult to know if that is the right thing to say. September, you're going to be looking at flights around £500 each return, and hotels will be around £150 per night (in Manhattan) for a reasonable hotel.

M

jackieblack

M4RKM wrote: »

Taxis are not cheap per se, it's just that with 4 people, it makes it reasonable. Subway is invariably quicker, and safer, as you're not stuck in traffic, and not everyone travels as a group of 4.

A $10 taxi fare for 4 people, is $2.50 each
A $10 taxi fare for 2 people is $5 each
A $10 taxi fare for 1 person is $10.

When there are considerably less people, it is much better to get a subway at $2.25 per fare, or on an unlimited card at $29 per week, if you did, say 15 trips, $1.93 per fare. That $10 taxi ride sure is expensive in comparison.

M

Approximately how far (distance) would a $10 taxi ride take you?

M4RKM

jackieblack wrote: »

Approximately how far (distance) would a $10 taxi ride take you?

http://www.worldtaximeter.com/new-york

From Times Square to Union Square, it shows around $10.50 for the fare, including 15% tip. (in other words, not very far, and is really dependent on traffic)

jackieblack

M4RKM wrote: »

http://www.worldtaximeter.com/new-york

From Times Square to Union Square, it shows around $10.50 for the fare, including 15% tip. (in other words, not very far, and is really dependent on traffic)

Ok, thanks, that's further than I thought
I had seen various taxi fare calculators but, not knowing New York, I find it difficult to visualise distances in any meaningful way.
That will make it easier to judge taxi vs subway for various planned journeys.