Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

cazziebo wrote: »

M4RKM - where would you stay in New York, and how would you advise booking hotels e.g. Priceline, direct, Hotwire etc. When would you advise booking?

We're off to New York 26th October until 31st.

Where would I stay

1 - Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Hotel Le Jolie / King & Grove Williamsburg / Wythe Hotel - Either of those three hotels.

2 - Below 14th Street. I've stayed at Mondrian Soho, Cosmopolitan Hotel, Tribca, and the Hotel on Rivington, all of which I can recommend. There are loads of hotels below 14th Street...

Also bear in mind that I mainly go to NYC for more alternative sightseeing, I make my own tours up, with key areas, and really do enjoy bar hopping around.

When to book? Now. Look at travelzoo and quikbook and see what good deals are around. bookit.com for hotels in Brooklyn may be good, but personally, I always book through the hotel itself.

Hope that helps

M

M4RKM

ethelmary wrote: »

Also the PATH trains are 24 hours I think. I remember getting one from Manhattan to Hoboken at 4am.

The problem with the PATH, is that after midnight it isn't very regular. If you miss one train, you have 30 minutes to wait, whereas most subway trains (within New York City, there is no subway to New Jersey), run around 15 minutes apart.

Also, staying in New Jersey ain't anything like Croydon... Croydon is still part of Greater London, and still on Oyster/TfL, whereas New Jersey isn't served by any MTA public transportation, and you do need separate pass to use PATH, over and above the travelcard that you buy for the Subway in NYC.

I personally won't ever recommend it. It isn't as easy as staying in NYC, and when the savings are insignificant when compared to staying in Long Island City, Queens, why would you want to!

M

M4RKM

guineapig wrote: »

I am looking at booking 9 night stay at the Affinia Dumont in Murray Hill in October 2012, booking from the hotel website. Each type of room has several booking options.

What confuses me is that the cheaper option says:
"Reservations must be cancelled by 6pm 3 days prior to arrival to avoid a penalty of 3 nights stay plus taxes. Reservations must be gtd with a credit card. Hotel charges fee of 1 night room/tax in event of early departure"

The option that costs about 25% extra says:
"Reservation may not be modified or cancelled once booked. Full pre-payment will be taken on credit card. You will be charged the full amount of this reservation immediately. This 100pct deposit will not be refundable".

Is it just me or does the cheaper option seem to be the more desriable ie more flexible one?
Booking direct with the hotel seems to be cheaper overall but the fact that the cheaper one seems better seems to go against common sense IYSWIM?

Some rates are prepaid, some rates are not. Seems like the cheaper rate is the more flexible option. I've taken a look at their website, just chucked in a few random dates, and saw this happening on the Weekly Rate. It probably is because you're booking a stay longer than 7 nights.

M

sneasel1

Just an update,

The days we are going have now changed, going from Sunday 3rd - Friday 8th.

The flight details are as followed.

Departure, Departs Birmingham Intl at 9:00 AM and Arrives at Newark at 12:05 PM

Return, Departs Newark at 19:05 PM and arrives at Birmingham Intl at 7:10 AM (+1 day)

Flying with either Lufthansa or United

We will be staying in the 4* Ravel Hotel in Queens, Long Island City. The total cost for the trip is £650 pp.

Do you see any obvious problems with this? If not, we hope to book it up within the week.

(The only minor problem I see is getting from Newark to Queens!)

Cheers,

Sneasel

merchcon55

I would double check your prices for flights, as leaving Sunday, returning Friday (and NOT having a Saturday night stay) usually would be ALOT dearer.

It will be a UNITED flight from BHX - Lufthansa is just a code share for the same flight.

You can take train from Newark airport to New York PENN station (NJ Transit).

Then at Penn Station, change for LIRR Train to Long Island City - perhaps then a taxi to your hotel.

Perhaps consider the Newark Hilton - this is NOT at the airport but right next to main train station in Newark, which is only 15min trip to Manhattan. They sometimes do some very good deals, where if you stay on the executive floor, you get breakfast included,as well as afternoon/evening drinks. It is also next to an area of Newark called Ironbound, with many nice Portuguese/Brazilian restaurants - a nice alterative to eating in Manhattan.

The Hilton also offers a shuttle pick up service from Newark airport

guineapig

We are getting ready to book our hotel in NY and as this is the first time we will have done it directly with the hotel we are a bit confused about the procedure. The prices are given in both English pounds and American Dollars. So if we book from the UK, which currency would be charged to our credit card and do we have a choice as to which currency we pay?
The option we have chosen has the following policy:
“[FONT=Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Reservations must be cancelled by 6PM EST 3 days prior to arrival to avoid a penalty of 3 nights stay plus taxes. [/FONT][/FONT]Reservations must be gtd with a credit card. Hotel charges fee of 1 night room/tax in event of early departure.[FONT=Helvetica, sans-serif]”[/FONT]
When we book, what will we be charged for the initial booking? (or do they just want the credit card details).
Does that booking guarantee that the accommodation we require will be available upon our arrival?
Do we pay ( a deposit when booking and then) the balance on arrival/departure?
Depending on the currency used to pay deposit, will the balance be the amount shown on the web site on the day we book? ( Here I am thinking that there is often currency fluctuations that can alter the cost of things on a daily basis!).
We have asked these questions of the Hotel chain's website but got a bland reply that did not answer any of our questions.
Any help from those who have booked direct will be greatly received.
Thank you.

M4RKM

sneasel1 wrote: »

Just an update,

The days we are going have now changed, going from Sunday 3rd - Friday 8th.

The flight details are as followed.

Departure, Departs Birmingham Intl at 9:00 AM and Arrives at Newark at 12:05 PM

Return, Departs Newark at 19:05 PM and arrives at Birmingham Intl at 7:10 AM (+1 day)

Flying with either Lufthansa or United

We will be staying in the 4* Ravel Hotel in Queens, Long Island City. The total cost for the trip is £650 pp.

Do you see any obvious problems with this? If not, we hope to book it up within the week.

(The only minor problem I see is getting from Newark to Queens!)

Cheers,

Sneasel

As Merchcon has just said, not staying a Saturday is normally more expensive on flights. Also, flying into Newark, New Jersey, isn't that convenient when compared to JFK, when you are staying in Queens, New York City. However, it is a good hotel, (stars mean nothing in NYC in my opinion, and wouldn't class this as a 4* just because of location), it ain't too far from a subway, which takes you into Manhattan.

It's your call obviously, but I still think you're trying to do NYC on the budget that is suitable for Weston Super Mare, and the location of this hotel shows that, because you're not taking into account how much it will cost you to get to/from hotel ($20 each), you're also STILL only looking at package deals via STA, where I really think you should be looking at a flight, and a hotel separately, especially February.

I still think for someone your age, you're going to be better off at somewhere like the Le Jolie in Brooklyn, rather than a quietish street corner in Queens.

M4RKM

guineapig wrote: »

We are getting ready to book our hotel in NY and as this is the first time we will have done it directly with the hotel we are a bit confused about the procedure. The prices are given in both English pounds and American Dollars. So if we book from the UK, which currency would be charged to our credit card and do we have a choice as to which currency we pay?

Depends what website it is. However, the details of the booking explains all.

The option we have chosen has the following policy:Reservations must be cancelled by 6PM EST 3 days prior to arrival to avoid a penalty of 3 nights stay plus taxes.
Reservations must be gtd with a credit card. Hotel charges fee of 1 night room/tax in event of early departure.

The reservation must be guaranteed by a credit card. If you stay for 4 nights and then leave, then you'll pay for 5 (if you booked for more than 4 nights.

When we book, what will we be charged for the initial booking? (or do they just want the credit card details).

Nothing, as nothing in the details, show that it is a prepaid rate.

Does that booking guarantee that the accommodation we require will be available upon our arrival?

What a weird question, if you're booking directly with the hotel, you're booking a room. You'll get a confirmation e-mail showing all the booking details.

Do we pay ( a deposit when booking and then) the balance on arrival/departure?

Are you used to booking package holidays where you pay a deposit and then the balance. You're dealing with a hotel, you pay on check out. Just make sure that the price you're being quoted on the final page does detail the hotel taxes (around 15% of the total price).

Depending on the currency used to pay deposit, will the balance be the amount shown on the web site on the day we book? ( Here I am thinking that there is often currency fluctuations that can alter the cost of things on a daily basis!).

We have asked these questions of the Hotel chain's website but got a bland reply that did not answer any of our questions.

Any help from those who have booked direct will be greatly received.

Yeah, no wonder, because they're an US hotel, and will always charge in US $. the £ is just there for convenience. Yes, the price will change daily if you want it in £, but the price of the hotel in $$ is always going to be the same. When you book direct, you'll pay on checkout, in the local currency. If they offer DCC, ignore it, as the rate is poor. Make sure you have one of the best cards to pay on at the hotel, (Halifax Clarity, Santander Zero, MetroBank Debit or Credit card), rather than the cards from hell.

The exchange rate doesn't change that much so I don't know why you're worrying so much.

sneasel1

Merchcon, Mark,

When looking at the flights seperatly, they are about £1000pp, this deal came from expedia, and we could have either the Ravel Hotel or the Verve Hotel, both costing £649pp (Just checked 08:51am - 23/08/2012).

I did mention my only concern was flying into Newark, but unfortunatly, thats the only place Birmingham Intl goes direct, so staying in queens or brooklyn is still going to cost us alot to get there

I understand what your saying about the arae Mark, but if its costing the trip between 150 and 200 less, to stay 10-20 minutes away on the subway, I can't justify it myself, im happy to travel, and walk to areas, and stay in areas late at night.

We really just want the hotel as a base in which we are able to jump on the subway, and explore the city. I'd stay in a hostel if it was upto only me...

I'll see when it comes to the 31st, as that's when it will be getting booked.

Thanks again,

Sneasel

M4RKM

sneasel1 wrote: »

Merchcon, Mark,

When looking at the flights seperatly, they are about £1000pp, this deal came from expedia, and we could have either the Ravel Hotel or the Verve Hotel, both costing £649pp (Just checked 08:51am - 23/08/2012).

I did mention my only concern was flying into Newark, but unfortunatly, thats the only place Birmingham Intl goes direct, so staying in queens or brooklyn is still going to cost us alot to get there

I understand what your saying about the arae Mark, but if its costing the trip between 150 and 200 less, to stay 10-20 minutes away on the subway, I can't justify it myself, im happy to travel, and walk to areas, and stay in areas late at night.

We really just want the hotel as a base in which we are able to jump on the subway, and explore the city. I'd stay in a hostel if it was upto only me...

I'll see when it comes to the 31st, as that's when it will be getting booked.

Thanks again,

Sneasel

Of course they are coming up at that price, you're not staying a saturday night!!! Check including a saturday, and they drop to around £400 per person. It won't be too expensive, train, subway, walk, $25 at most per person, but it will take nearly 2 hours though, as you have to traverse Manhattan. so that £150 saving is already down to £75 just by adding on travel to and from the airport. It's not just the package price you got to think about.

The Verve is better than the Ravel for location, but package deals, especially in February, I'd avoid, because it is cold weather, and hotels really do lower their prices.

Look at the right dates, include a saturday night, and then look at the hotel separately. Look at the cost of flying from Heathrow, and a cheap train ticket down, because that may still work out cheaper too. Also, from LIC it won't take 10 - 20 minutes to get to Brooklyn... Manhattan where Bloomingdales is 10 minutes away...