Everything & Anything New York City

bb69

lorraine wrote: »

Hey peeps, I'm taking Hubby to NY for his 30th in Dec - was looking to book a room at the Empire Hotel, has anyone stayed here before, and is it good place as a starting point?
I have never been to NY so any recommendations would be appreciated, I'm sure there are loads but 218 pages is a lot to browse through

Hi. When in december ? And what's your budget for flight and hotel?

21yrold

bb69 wrote: »

Hi I have never been for Christmas day but I guess there won't be much open like here.

everything is open on boxing day.

have you thought about going boxing day until new year?

I've just checked for over NYE and there like £1100 each

I did think it would be the same as here xmas day.

Thanks for the reply

lorraine

Firstly, thanks for all your replies - total novice

Hi bb69, yes dec 2012 - 17th til 23rd are the dates that we have seen good flights for and coincide with our childcare arrangements/holiday we can take off work etc - budget is around £2k

M4RKM - think I'll get a travel guide, I want to try and pack in as much as we can for our money. Didn't realise there was a limit (should of guessed really) of tax free purchases. We have about a 3k plus credit card limit (Don't want to use but I can easily be persuaded )for our spending but that is to cover food aswell, we're not big drinkers but might want one night in a bar.
I just want to be a proper tourist, map out, rucksack on back etc. Would love to do the big sites, (Statue of Liberty, Central Park,Empire State Building, Ground Zero) but would like to do some smaller ones hidden away (if there's such think in NY).

Hubby loves his sweets, is there a sweetie shop like in the UK (sour dummies)?

I will be following this thread from now on so look forward to hearing where people are going, do's and don'ts

Lorraine

bleepandbooster

Check out "Dylan's Candy Bar" that should speed up his next visit to the dentist ! Google it or look at Youtube !

Happy Sucking, Licking etc
David

bb69

lorraine wrote: »

Firstly, thanks for all your replies - total novice

Hi bb69, yes dec 2012 - 17th til 23rd are the dates that we have seen good flights for and coincide with our childcare arrangements/holiday we can take off work etc - budget is around £2k

M4RKM - think I'll get a travel guide, I want to try and pack in as much as we can for our money. Didn't realise there was a limit (should of guessed really) of tax free purchases. We have about a 3k plus credit card limit (Don't want to use but I can easily be persuaded )for our spending but that is to cover food aswell, we're not big drinkers but might want one night in a bar.
I just want to be a proper tourist, map out, rucksack on back etc. Would love to do the big sites, (Statue of Liberty, Central Park,Empire State Building, Ground Zero) but would like to do some smaller ones hidden away (if there's such think in NY).

Hubby loves his sweets, is there a sweetie shop like in the UK (sour dummies)?

I will be following this thread from now on so look forward to hearing where people are going, do's and don'ts

Lorraine

Oooh sounds fab ... I'm sure you will have a fab time and will be able to do lots in a week.

I have been 3 times (Dec x2 and April x1) and here are some of the things I have done:

- The view restaurant times square - was nearly 3.5 years ago (sob lol) but I liked it that was for my 30th too. Fab cocktails
- Natural history museum
- lots of shopping in Soho
- some of central park
- walk the highline
- 911 memorial (very moving)
- river taxi cruise hop on and off (in Dec, went past statue of liberty, Brooklyn bridge etc I really enjoyed it)
- empire state building (I wouldn't do again, unless someone was proposing to me lol)
- top of the rock day into sunset (wowwwww amazing!)
- hard rock cafe - great cocktails too!
- grand central station
- Greenwich village
- found the majority of the sex and the city places including carrie's stoop
- walked pretty much everywhere! Love soaking up the sights and sounds of the city!

a don't - don't have breakfast in planet Hollywood.

Found a lovely diner in Murray hill area, called the Murray hill diner. I love staying in the Murray hill area around the 30's

Be prepared for anything weather wise. I have been twice in December and was lucky as the weather was pretty mild, but take lots of layers.

if you like to plan and jot things down (I don't have an iphone - I refuse) I recommend a moleskine diary (try ebay, amazon for deals) this little book comes on every nyc trip you can mark places you want to go and it has a map etc http://store.moleskine.com/en/travel-notebooks/cities-2/city-notebook-new-york.html


ooh I'm so excited for you. :j:j

Edit - join travelzoo nyc, groupon nyc etc for some great offers on food and activities.

M4RKM

lorraine wrote: »

Firstly, thanks for all your replies - total novice

M4RKM - think I'll get a travel guide, I want to try and pack in as much as we can for our money. Didn't realise there was a limit (should of guessed really) of tax free purchases. We have about a 3k plus credit card limit (Don't want to use but I can easily be persuaded )for our spending but that is to cover food aswell, we're not big drinkers but might want one night in a bar.
I just want to be a proper tourist, map out, rucksack on back etc. Would love to do the big sites, (Statue of Liberty, Central Park,Empire State Building, Ground Zero) but would like to do some smaller ones hidden away (if there's such think in NY).

Hubby loves his sweets, is there a sweetie shop like in the UK (sour dummies)?

I will be following this thread from now on so look forward to hearing where people are going, do's and don'ts

Lorraine

Dont' be sad, we love helping people, and we just ask a lot of questions to ensure we're going to give the right advice. I won't link to my infamous pub crawls, as you're not drinkers, but I will encourage you to leave Manhattan and look at NYC as a city, not just 1 borough.

You've both got the same limit, and this applies all the time when you are not travelling within the EU. So, to stay legal, it is best to spend til hit the limit.

Why you would want to carry around a rucksack and keep knocking people out on the subway is beyond me . I live in London, and when you wear one, a lot of people don't have any spacial awareness of what they're doing. Personally, have a nice bag you can sling over your shoulder, and shopping, you'll have your shopping bags.

If the hubby wants sweets, then you can't go wrong with Economy Candy on Rivington Street. I stayed at the hotel right opposite, and it is a great sweet shop.

My next questions to you are, what price have you found at the Empire Hotel, why did you choose this one, what other ones have you looked at? what is your top per night budget for the room (not per person, for the room!)??

LocalLad

Just booked a week in NYC in Dec. Thinking of the Verve for accommodation. 2 of us going out. We want to do all the touristy stuff as well as some shopping, eating and drinking.
In relation to the touristy stuff (ESB, TOTR, Broadway show, SoL...) can anyone recommend any other activities? Would it be best value to get a 3 day New York Pass or play it by ear once there? Equally important for me is sampling some of what NYC has to offer foodwise (more pig out than fine dining!). Already down on the list is Katz's Deli, Shake Shack, John Brown's Smokehouse. I need to research Pizza joints although Di Fara and Franny's are pencilled in for now.
In relation to shopping, is Woodbury Common worth spending one of the days we have there or can you get the same value more centrally? Any advice is welcome as this will be our fist time in the US nevermind NYC!

kimharbs

Kimharbs
Where from? smaller airports i have found need to look a little earlier (about 5/6 months before) bigger ones about 10/12 weeks. LHR or MAN etc Keep a eye on the airlines and subscribe to some in case they offer a deal for your dates . Your still just in the kids holidays so it may be a little more expensive to fly then .

Very sorry for the late reply.

Thanks for your response. I was thinking LHR or MAN - will keep an eye on deals.

phatbear

LocalLad wrote: »

In relation to the touristy stuff (ESB, TOTR, Broadway show, SoL...) can anyone recommend any other activities?

The highline, chill out in central park, mooch around soho and pop into some bars whilst your down there, staten island ferry, go and see a sports event etc etc the list is truly endless, its rare I suggest shelling out cash but buy a guide book and decide roughly what you want to do and then we will be happy to chuck our opinions in, and another tip is start a google map and drop pins in the places you want to go, this saves a lot of running up and down the island looking for places you can concentrate on the area you're in

LocalLad wrote: »

Would it be best value to get a 3 day New York Pass or play it by ear once there?

Play it by ear!

LocalLad wrote: »

Already down on the list is Katz's Deli, Shake Shack, John Brown's Smokehouse. I need to research Pizza joints although Di Fara and Franny's are pencilled in for now.

Katz's is meh!! not a huge fan but its an institution in NY but there are far better, and cheaper and less crowded, delis.

For pizza im a big fan of Johns on bleeker street.

LocalLad wrote: »

In relation to shopping, is Woodbury Common worth spending one of the days we have there or can you get the same value more centrally?

Never seen the appeal of paying a poop load of cash to leave the city for shopping when there are lots of bargains to be had in manhattan, personally I wouldnt bother and buy locally. Macys always have a sale on and you can get a further 10% off by taking your passport to the customer service dept, also theres a pretty big TJ Maxx which the last time I was there was knocking out ralph lauren polos for $20 each, so it may be worth a look too

LocalLad

phatbear wrote: »

The highline, chill out in central park, mooch around soho and pop into some bars whilst your down there, staten island ferry, go and see a sports event etc etc the list is truly endless, its rare I suggest shelling out cash but buy a guide book and decide roughly what you want to do and then we will be happy to chuck our opinions in, and another tip is start a google map and drop pins in the places you want to go, this saves a lot of running up and down the island looking for places you can concentrate on the area you're in

Great Advice, thanks. We really want to maximise the experience and this sure would be the most efficient way to go about it.

phatbear wrote: »

Katz's is meh!! not a huge fan but its an institution in NY but there are far better, and cheaper and less crowded, delis.

For pizza im a big fan of Johns on bleeker street.

Thanks for the heads up, any other recommendations foodwise? What delis would you suggest?

phatbear wrote: »

Never seen the appeal of paying a poop load of cash to leave the city for shopping when there are lots of bargains to be had in manhattan, personally I wouldnt bother and buy locally. Macys always have a sale on and you can get a further 10% off by taking your passport to the customer service dept, also theres a pretty big TJ Maxx which the last time I was there was knocking out ralph lauren polos for $20 each, so it may be worth a look too

Point taken, I'm not too fussed on the shopping element. If the cost to get there is quite high, then any saving would be nulified, given we intend on sticking to the legal limits. $20 RL Polos are right up my street. Do you know if early to mid December has good sales?