Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

sonicmouse wrote: »

What would you say is best regarding money? Is it better to carry dollars or would it be better to get a card we can use over there?

Have you read Martin's article on Cards from Hell?

My thoughts are as follows.

best way - Metro Bank / Norwich & Peterborough debit cards or other 0% cards.
second best - PrePaid Credit Cards
third best - Cash / nationwide debit card.
fourth best - High Fee Debit / Credit Cards
fifth best - Travellers Cheques.

I have a metrobank account.. I use it, it's costs me nothing when withdrawing cash at a TD Bank...

M

sonicmouse

Thanks for your reply, Mark. I wasn't sure what was best as I really didn't want to take out a card or new account just for a week a way in NY. I think I may go with the cash option but just be uber careful, I could lose a house if I had the opportunity!

malkie76

M4RKM wrote: »

As for the Knicks.. they're an awful team, so it's easy enough to get tickets. Check on ticketmaster, or you could try the Brooklyn Nets, and kill 2 birds with one stone, visit Brooklyn, and something different..

M

Knicks are having a great season. I went to see them last month when I was there. Total sell out in MSG, and a fantastic atmosphere. It's worth seeing something in The Garden if you can.

Got the tickets from stubhub - a far better option than ticketmaster.

I had a fantastic trip, and very happy to pass on current information if anyone is interested

edit

I'll add a few photos :-


Not bad for airplane food!!


View from hotel room


View from top of ESB


Inside MSG


Outside Rockafeller Center


Watching a movie on the plane home

greenface

Nice pics with a good lens too . Where did you stay . Is that the Westin or Victory ? Could be the Carter but you wouldnt upgrade your flight to save money and stay in the Carter.

hab92

M4RKM wrote: »

Brooklyn is 8 x the size of Manhattan

Harlem is a neighbourhood of Manhattan

Coney Island is a neighbourhood of Brooklyn.

Yes, it's worth visiting, but depends what you want, and what you want to do.

As for the Knicks.. they're an awful team, so it's easy enough to get tickets. Check on ticketmaster, or you could try the Brooklyn Nets, and kill 2 birds with one stone, visit Brooklyn, and something different..

M

malkie76 wrote: »

Knicks are having a great season. I went to see them last month when I was there. Total sell out in MSG, and a fantastic atmosphere. It's worth seeing something in The Garden if you can.

Got the tickets from stubhub - a far better option than ticketmaster.

I had a fantastic trip, and very happy to pass on current information if anyone is interested

edit

I'll add a few photos :-


Not bad for airplane food!!


View from hotel room


View from top of ESB


Inside MSG


Outside Rockafeller Center


Watching a movie on the plane home

Thanks for that.

I knew Harlem was part of Manhattan, but I didn't know about Coney Island & Brooklyn though. What would you recommend to do in Brooklyn, as I assume you've spent a lot of time there? Also, is Harlem as bad as people make out, in terms of crime and as a tourist, is it worth visiting as I want to make the most out of my visit and want to explore the surrounding areas.

About the Knicks, to be honest, I just wanted to visit MSG so I thought watching a game would be the best thing to do. I know their playing the Celtics when I'm going so might try and get tickets for that.

And your pics look amazing, what flight did you take?

malkie76

Where did you stay

Marriott Marquis on Times Square. I've got status with Marriott which swayed me into booking there. Great view from our room, and the bar on the 8th floor.

Perfect location - heart of the action

And your pics look amazing, what flight did you take?

BA0115 out (4pm departure) and BA0116 back (8pm departure)

About the Knicks, to be honest, I just wanted to visit MSG so I thought watching a game would be the best thing to do

Thoroughly recommended from me. Easy to get back to your hotel afterward too.

hab92

malkie76 wrote: »

Perfect location - heart of the action



BA0115 out (4pm departure) and BA0116 back (8pm departure)



Thoroughly recommended from me. Easy to get back to your hotel afterward too.

The flight looks very comfortable. If only I could have booked one similiar.

I'm staying at the New Yorker, so should be very easy to get to the Garden.

M4RKM

hab92 wrote: »

Thanks for that.

I knew Harlem was part of Manhattan, but I didn't know about Coney Island & Brooklyn though. What would you recommend to do in Brooklyn, as I assume you've spent a lot of time there? Also, is Harlem as bad as people make out, in terms of crime and as a tourist, is it worth visiting as I want to make the most out of my visit and want to explore the surrounding areas.

You didn't know about Coney Island and Brooklyn? I'd recommend a guide book, or some research.

What would I recommend you do in Brooklyn? I have no idea yet, because apart from Basketball I have no idea what you like. I could link to a great Williamsburg Bar Crawl where you could go hipster watching, but you could be someone who doesn't drink beer.

I could explain about Brooklyn Museum, and Prospect Park and Park Slope, but you may not want to walk for miles around, and hate museums (honestly, I got told off for recommending a museum once).

Ideally, tell me what you want, what kinda stuff you like, and I'm more than willing to recommend things I know are good to do.

Ok, Crime and Safety, I don't get where "people" get the idea of crime in NYC. It certainly isn't from fact. Just last week I was reading an online article about how little crime there was. Anywhere a tourist goes, will be safe enough for a tourist, as long as you use standard common sense. Even if you read wikipedia it contradicts what "people" are saying

While crime rates have stopped decreasing for a decade in the rest of the United States, in New York the murder rate for 2009 is at an all time low of 466, more than a 10% decline from the previous year, and the lowest count during the period that crime statistics have been recorded.

I walked around for half an hour an area of the Bronx, and people say that the Bronx is bad. No one cared! if they're out to get someone the crime is going to be aimed someone they know.

Ok, back on topic. Is it safe to walk around Harlem. Yes. Any area in New York City that you're going to walk around, will be safe. Personally, I've never ventured to Harlem, as there isn't anything that interests me personally. I have been through to Flushing in Queens, and Astoria, and I know I'll be exploring Astoria more on my next short trip.

Phew, essay for the morning.. best get to work... Give me some ideas what you like, and I'll see what I can come up with!

M

malkie76

hab92 wrote: »

The flight looks very comfortable. If only I could have booked one similiar.

I'm staying at the New Yorker, so should be very easy to get to the Garden.

Thanks very much - it was

Should only be a short walk

That's one thing about Manhattan for me - things are close and within sensible walking distance. You see far more overground in this beautiful city.

Happy to answer any questions people have

greenface

Across the rd and your in MSG from the New Yorker..