Everything & Anything New York City

bambinaUK

Hi, intending on taking my daughter on a surprise trip to NY for her 18th birthday. Im thinking for 4 nights between 27th Oct - 3rd Nov and will be flying from Manchester. I know that there will be three things at the top of her list to do, see Wicked on Broadway, visit the NY Public Library and visit the Statue of Liberty. So first thing I need to do is decide on which area to stay in. Advice please?

M4RKM

bambinaUK wrote: »

Hi, intending on taking my daughter on a surprise trip to NY for her 18th birthday. Im thinking for 4 nights between 27th Oct - 3rd Nov and will be flying from Manchester. I know that there will be three things at the top of her list to do, see Wicked on Broadway, visit the NY Public Library and visit the Statue of Liberty. So first thing I need to do is decide on which area to stay in. Advice please?

No. The first thing to do, is to check tickets to Wicked. It is never discounted at Tkts so make sure you get that sorted. Once you know that, choose your flights and include a Saturday night.

Where you stay isn't that important as long as you are near a Subway station. The three locations for the sightseeing are all around the island of Manhattan. What else does your daughter like? That might help in determining what kinda vibe you want.

Hope that helps.

M

M4RKM

colleensims wrote: »

Im flying to NY mid sept then spending a few days travelling upto vermont then coming back down to spend another 4 days in NY.

My question is what clothes would be most suitable?
Is it going to be jumper weather or would t shirts be better?

Also, regarding shopping etc, how much can you bring back?

Is it better to take one of those cash cards with you or travellers cheques?
Thanks

The clothes that would be suitable to take, are the clothes that the weather forecast dictates before you travel. I've been mid september a few times to NYC, it could be unbearably humid and hot, or could be lovely weather, or it may rain. I've had all three. So, just check the weather forecast and make an informed choice.

How much can you bring back? Vague question really, so the answer to what you've asked is as much as you want.

The airlines have their limits, and I think it is three suitcases in total, with fees for over 23kg, and more than 1, and then you have your tax and duty free limit, which, as mentioned in the previous post to yours, is £390 per person.

Over that, you have 2% duty (if the value is less than £630), and 20% VAT.

And finally, Travellers Cheques are outdated, and not accepted widely. Yes, they'll be accepted in large stores, but some smaller ones, where they would accept a credit card or prepaid card, they wouldn't accept a travellers cheque.
Best prepaid cards always seem to be the fairfx, and the caxton fx cards.

M

cazziebo

M4RKM wrote: »

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...

M

THANK YOU! Booked the Hotel Le Jolie. Got the best price through hotels.com . Had no luck getting a better deal calling them direct - obviously don't have your silver tongue!

Flights booked (Kayak) with United (Edinburgh - newark direct). Tickets for the Phins @ Jets sorted. Can't wait (for the trip, not for the game - things we do for love!)

Thanks again M4RKM - the advice you give on here is amazing.

bambinaUK

M4RKM wrote: »

No. The first thing to do, is to check tickets to Wicked. It is never discounted at Tkts so make sure you get that sorted. Once you know that, choose your flights and include a Saturday night.

Where you stay isn't that important as long as you are near a Subway station. The three locations for the sightseeing are all around the island of Manhattan. What else does your daughter like? That might help in determining what kinda vibe you want.

Hope that helps.

M

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't expecting to get discount tickets for Wicked fortunately. I would suspect that she will want to visit the New York Historical Society, or something similiar. I am a fan of bus top tours and walking tours. Anything to do with books and history is very much her thing. She will enjoy Central Park and just absorbing the big city.

M4RKM

cazziebo wrote: »

THANK YOU! Booked the Hotel Le Jolie. Got the best price through hotels.com . Had no luck getting a better deal calling them direct - obviously don't have your silver tongue!

Flights booked (Kayak) with United (Edinburgh - newark direct). Tickets for the Phins @ Jets sorted. Can't wait (for the trip, not for the game - things we do for love!)

Thanks again M4RKM - the advice you give on here is amazing.

Newark isn't the easiest hotel to get to Brooklyn from, but there is a convenient route on public transport that you could use. Take a train to the PATH, take the PATH into Manhattan, take the N to 14th Street Union Square, and then take the L to Lorimer Street.

When at Lorimer, you want to exit at Metropolitan Avenue and Lorimer Street, and then you're only a few short blocks away.

Other than that.. I would book a car service such as Carmel or Dial 7, rather than going with a taxi from the airport....

M

jumbojnr

Hoping to go to NYC shortly and stay near friends on the Upper East (around 78th). On the basis that we want to do most exploring by foot is this too far away from the action?

Also, if I did go for this area what's the Park and Subway like for getting back late evening? Safe?

Many thanks!

Clare

M4RKM

jumbojnr wrote: »

Hoping to go to NYC shortly and stay near friends on the Upper East (around 78th). On the basis that we want to do most exploring by foot is this too far away from the action?

Also, if I did go for this area what's the Park and Subway like for getting back late evening? Safe?

Many thanks!

Clare

Common Sense is more important than knowing if an area is safe or not. As a general rule, Manhattan is safe, New York is generally safe. The Upper East is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Manhattan, and late at night, the Subway is safer than say when the school kids are travelling. Most subway crimes are commited by kids on other kids, stealing ipods etc. You really don't have to worry.
Common sense would dictate that when it is dark, you don't walk through the Park.

Onto the area in general. Yes, it is too far away from the "action" if you don't want to explore the UES. However, if you get on the subway, you'll get to the "action" easily. You then do everything you want on foot, as you're not really going to walk 6 miles to get to what you want to see.

Katykat

Any suggestions? Me and OH have booked flights to Vancouver, with 5 night stopver in NY. Not booked hotels yet. Our flight on to Vancouver is 7am so this means being at Newark airport about 4am. After looking at hotels, we will probably be paying in the region of £200 a night and I'm a bit dubious about paying this much for what might only be a couple of hours sleep. On the plus side we would have somewhere to freshen up before we go out for the evening, and not have to bother about luggage storage. We havn't thought about our itinerary yet as we're not going until April so mot sure exactly what we would be doing that last evening, We're not doddering pensioners but neither would we be up to a 24 hr marathon. We also intend to use the Olympia shuttle from Newark when we get there, but would it be running to get us back by 4am? What would YOU do?

andy1886

I have been to New York before and stayed at the Affinia Manhattan and am planning to return . This time I am thinking of renting an apartment , I have flicked through this thread and read it is illegal to do so , am I correct ? and if so then why are there so many on VRBO and if it is not illegal has anybody booked via them or any recommendations on there or any other website ? Thanks .
I am looking for a reasonable property for £1000 a week budget , 1 bedroom for 2 people with kitchen hopefully with washing facilities for clothes as it will be part of a longer trip !