Everything & Anything New York City

richardw

M4RKM wrote: »

When is a sale not a sale?
When it is BA just matching their nearest competitor of Delta, and they're still 3p more expensive. Delta have been that price for the past few months as I'm looking at very similar dates.

Delta £408.46

I seem to remember Delta went down to about £354, BA about £425.

Good to see DL upsetting AA/BA and with DL's joint venture with VS coming soon continuing upsetting AA/BA may be on the cards.

jtr2803

I can finally join in :T.

Booked this afternoon for 4 nights in mid feb, it's a surprise xmas gift for my other half and my 12 year old . My travel agent did some great editing of the hotel brochure and has personalised it for them, a copy of it is going in the guidebooks for them to open on xmas day.

I have done the unthinkable and booked a TS hotel, purely because it's our first time and I think littleun will love the atmosphere and lights.

Just need to book car service for both ways and sort ESTA etc.

I really can't wait to see their faces :cool:

phatbear

jtr2803 wrote: »

I have done the unthinkable and booked a TS hotel, purely because it's our first time and I think littleun will love the atmosphere and lights.

Just need to book car service for both ways and sort ESTA etc.

why's it unthinkable booking a times square hotel? im up to trip number 6 and have done the last 2 in times square, if it suits your budget and gets good reviews then I say go for it.

you mentioned a car service, if your flying into jfk, why not just jump in cab outside the terminal?

jtr2803

phatbear wrote: »

why's it unthinkable booking a times square hotel? im up to trip number 6 and have done the last 2 in times square, if it suits your budget and gets good reviews then I say go for it.

you mentioned a car service, if your flying into jfk, why not just jump in cab outside the terminal?

Thanks Phatbear , just from the comments I have been reading here it seems many are not keen on a TS location, glad to know others do enjoy it! I had a set budget and decided I would rather drop a grade of hotel to get the extra night so we had 4 nights rather than just three and I wanted specific flight times.

Staying at the Crowne Plaza, as long as it's clean and we can get some sleep I don't mind too much. This was very much an 'extra' trip so I couldn't be too fussy. It will be an experience that's for sure. You are right, we could jump in a cab but a lot of people have recommended services like Carmel (sp?) so thought it wouldn't hurt to look.

greenface

TS is very touristy and central to lots of things NYC a decent place to stay . Its the hub of NYC so very busy but easy access to Subway and bus stops to get out and about and enjoy other areas . Lots of chain places to eat but has its own decent foodies, bars and delis . Dont diss TS its gives you a base when your in a new town . Maybe stay out of town or UES,UWS etc after your 2nd or 5th time

jtr2803

greenface wrote: »

TS is very touristy and central to lots of things NYC a decent place to stay . Its the hub of NYC so very busy but easy access to Subway and bus stops to get out and about and enjoy other areas . Lots of chain places to eat but has its own decent foodies, bars and delis . Dont diss TS its gives you a base when your in a new town . Maybe stay out of town or UES,UWS etc after your 2nd or 5th time

Appreciate the reassurance! Have been trawling TA for decent rated food and am saving them all to a Google Map for some ideas. Am toying with the idea of trying to get a Big Apple Greeter but I am worried that I will end up missing out on other things whilst waiting to hear if one is available.

I see that Broadwaybox has an offer for Mary Poppins tickets, it was coming out at $180 for three of us which I didn't think was too bad, will see if anything comes up in the new year

phatbear

jtr2803 wrote: »

from the comments I have been reading here it seems many are not keen on a TS location,

a lot of people dont like staying in TS because its touristy but ermmm you/i are tourist's however there is far more to NY than ts however its a good jump off point and has one of the best subway stations, for the amount of lines that run through it, with in spitting distance, which is always a bonus

however a quick point you are actually a block and a half away from times square anyway

M4RKM

jtr2803 wrote: »

I have done the unthinkable and booked a TS hotel...

Just need to book car service for both ways and sort ESTA etc.

I stayed in Times Square on trip one and trip five to NYC. It's got more touristy over the years, as they've made it into a huge plaza, and there is no longer traffic traversing it. It is bright lights, it is the epitome of NYC.

However, it is just tourists looking at other tourists, and you really do need to leave the immediate vicinity to get some decent eateries, I'm sure everyone on TA will recommend heading to Hells Kitchen to get some good food.

Now I'm up to trip 17, I choose to stay in other areas, and will notch up my 5th stay in Williamsburg, Brooklyn out of the last 6 trips. I personally won't stay in TS again, as I don't do stereotypical holidays any more.

As you've got a child with you, it's probably best that you're in a hotel that caters for tourists, rather than one that is a destination hotel, which is the kinda places that I stay in.

It all depends on who you are, and what you do. I always recommend staying near a subway station, as that is first and foremost the important thing. Then, you look at what you're going to do, especially in the evening, and you choose your hotel that way.

Now, as for that ESTA, you really should have done that before booking your holiday, because if you don't get it, you have to get a Visa - do it now.. https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

jtr2803

Thanks Mark, 3 x ESTA applications now completed, it didn't return instant approval but hopefully we will hear in the next 3 days, I won't panic just yet!

Thanks Phatbear for the point about TS and our hotel location, am still getting to grips with my google map :rotfl:. I am going to give them both a few weeks after xmas to go through their guide books and research some places they want to go and then we can come up with a very rough daily plan for the trip.

Cheers for the hells kitchen tip Mark, I had seen someone ask about decent local food to TS and had been looking at some places, is TA a good resource where food/restaurants are concerned or is there something better?

phatbear

jtr2803 wrote: »

is TA a good resource where food/restaurants are concerned or is there something better?

TA is good but you can always ask here too.

Oddly two of the restaurants we always seem to end up in, and have dragged other people to and had positive feedback are in the TS area which are virgils and dallas bbq.

But if you are after something specific just ask.