Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

bb69 wrote: »

Wow Mark what hotel and did you book directly?

Yup. I decided to try the e-mail the hotel, and haggle route. The price was $225 for a standard room, I asked for a bit of a discount, they said they could go down to $200, and throw in a room upgrade. It worked. The Hotel On Rivington was a great hotel, and I'd probably stay there again.

M4RKM

bb69 wrote: »

Ah sorry didnt realise your 3rd trip. I have done separate twice. And am now more confident in booking closer to the time rather than 12 months in advance for the 1st trip ha ha.

It all depends where you want to stay too so many hotel choices its amazing.

Enjoy planning your trip!

I think bb has summed it up. booking far in advance, makes the packages look better. Booking closer to the date, and meticulously watching the hotel prices, and even e-mailing to haggle (especially in Jan/Feb/Mar when prices are low, and availability high!), does work.

M

P2TKL

Anyone know the approx cost of a taxi from Brooklyn Pier to Times Square please ? Thanks

DollyDabbler

We are in New York at the moment - enjoying the sunshine although its been very muggy this week. For those coming out for the first time, if you are offered a special in a restaurant - ask the price. A lot of waiters are not American and their English is not brilliant. We got caught out on this and it cost us. It's cost them a cr+p review on Trip Advisor.
Also, watch the food cart/pavement vendors - they should have prices displayed - read them and make sure you don't get overcharged, that's been an issue on the news here.

p-pincher

Hi

Hoping someone can give m e a bit of advice, were hoping to book out 4th trip to NY for the beginning of December (starting the Christmas shopping). Found flights that I like the look of coming up for £470 each, From Heathrow to JFK. Anyway my question is the flights i've been looking at are for BA and Virgin, Is one any better that the other? there's only a couple of quid between then and the times are both similar.

We've previously travelled with Continental and Delta (twice), both flights have been fine, to be honest were not particularly fussy, Cheers.

gregg1

DollyDabbler wrote: »

We are in New York at the moment - enjoying the sunshine although its been very muggy this week. For those coming out for the first time, if you are offered a special in a restaurant - ask the price. A lot of waiters are not American and their English is not brilliant. We got caught out on this and it cost us. It's cost them a cr+p review on Trip Advisor.
Also, watch the food cart/pavement vendors - they should have prices displayed - read them and make sure you don't get overcharged, that's been an issue on the news here.

The street vendors most certainly have one price for locals and one for tourists. The taxi taking us to the airport stopped to get himself a pretzel and asked if we wanted one. We heard the exchange between him and the vendor as vendor wanted to charge more for us cos we were tourists. Eventually got it at locals rates but taxi guy said itwas normal for them to charge more for tourists. Not a lot you can do I suppose other than not buy from them (or get your taxi driver tobuy it for you!!)

bb69

p-pincher wrote: »

Hi

Hoping someone can give m e a bit of advice, were hoping to book out 4th trip to NY for the beginning of December (starting the Christmas shopping). Found flights that I like the look of coming up for £470 each, From Heathrow to JFK. Anyway my question is the flights i've been looking at are for BA and Virgin, Is one any better that the other? there's only a couple of quid between then and the times are both similar.

We've previously travelled with Continental and Delta (twice), both flights have been fine, to be honest were not particularly fussy, Cheers.

Hi I have flown with both. What class are you looking at booking?

I like Ba for economy. Virgin for premium economy. Ba for club.

What time are the flights?

jackieblack

P2TKL wrote: »

Anyone know the approx cost of a taxi from Brooklyn Pier to Times Square please ? Thanks

http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=NY

M4RKM

P2TKL wrote: »

Anyone know the approx cost of a taxi from Brooklyn Pier to Times Square please ? Thanks

The vagueness is the problem here.

There are many piers in Brooklyn, Manhattan, etc, because the city is surrounded by water. If you think it'll cost about $18, plus 20% tip, (if it is Brooklyn Bridge). If it is the cruise terminal, then that's about $21, plus 20% tip, plus tolls if any.

Bear in mind also, that it'll only cost $2.25 if you go by subway. Much cheaper, and will take the same amount of time.

Are you sure you want to be in Times Square? Are you heading to a hotel nearby, some that say "Times Square" may be up to a mile away from Times Square itself.

M

jackieblack

Single ride Metrocard was $2.50 when we were there a fortnight ago. Great value.

Took us a nightmare 4 hours to get to our hotel (next to Grand Central) by train from landing at Newark, even though immigration was quite quick. We waited almost an hour at Newark station, having just missed one train by seconds to get to Penn Station, then taxi to hotel.

If we'd known how long the wait for the next train was going to be (in 32 degree heat) we'd have given up waiting and got a taxi, however we'd already bought the tickets, there was no announcement of how long the wait for the next train would be and there was no-one taround to ask - we didn't want to leave the platform and go and find someone in case a train came while we were away from the platform.

We got a coach/bus back from right opposite the hotel, $16 per adult, $10 chidren.