Everything & Anything New York City

daviduk1976

Thanks Mark,

Yea I'd had a few drinks this morning..confused myself over the hotels ive chosen! It was the Stay Hotel, The Out in NYC and the Holiday Inn express on 5th....

Would we have to leave at 4am for the 0800 flight back to LHR?

Thanks also to Sambucus.....I never read that post durrr lol

[Deleted User]

M4RKM wrote: »

Big Apple Greeter Tours normally last a few hours. I had a great tour of Chinatown, and useful hints on how to use the subway. Had lunch, and just got a wealth if information and hints and tips.

I'd recommend using the greeters to explore an area that is out of the normal tourist areas...

Yeh. Big Apple Greeter is great.

Excellent opportunity to see things you wouldnt normally see.

M4RKM

daviduk1976 wrote: »

Thanks Mark,

Yea I'd had a few drinks this morning..confused myself over the hotels ive chosen! It was the Stay Hotel, The Out in NYC and the Holiday Inn express on 5th....

Would we have to leave at 4am for the 0800 flight back to LHR?

Thanks also to Sambucus.....I never read that post durrr lol

I'll have to research the Out Hotel, as it isn't one I'm aware of. The Stay is supposed to be nice, and the HI Express is like any HI Express.

Would you have to leave at 4am? I'd say so, It will take around 1 hour to get to the airport, and you're supposed to be there 3 hours before. Regardless that it is an early flight, I'd get there 3 hours before.

jaffacat wrote: »

Would like to see the court steps, is there a landmark/location/street I should head for to see these please?

ALso, what is the L train & is it covered by the Metrocard?

The NYC Subway is made up of trains that either have a number or a letter. The colours are only for ease of reading, and have no real meaning (there is no blue line, as there are 3 trains that run in blue, all stopping, starting and ending in different places).

The L Trains if one of the few cross town trains. Starting at 8th Ave, and heading out all the way to Canarsie. It stops in Williamsburg, which is the first stop in Brooklyn.

Your MetroCard is good for all subways, throughout all of New York City. You can start at the first station, and get off at the last, all for the same cost. You can also use the MetroCard on any of the standard NYC buses.

hellokitty08

M4rkm,

as the diy new york holiday specalist, where would you reccomend for travel insurance?

M4RKM

hellokitty08 wrote: »

M4rkm,

as the diy new york holiday specalist, where would you reccomend for travel insurance?

I normally go to Columbus, but just do a price comparison. This year, I'll probably speak to Nationwide, as they've given me European for free, so compare prices etc..

M

hab92

M4RKM wrote: »

Nope, wasn't even having any beers. I went to bed at 10:30pm, and woke up at around 11:30pm, and got to sleep after 4am. I just had one of them nights where I couldn't sleep. Last night however, was totally different!!



Go Select Pass is the only one I can recommend, as you can't be a slave to the pass. You choose only the attractions you want to go to, and gain a discount.

Metrocards are valid for 7 days from first swipe, until MIDNIGHT on the LAST day of validity. The Subway runs 24/7, so if you buy your weekly pass, you can use it whenever during the day.

Customs - You are allowed to bring back £390 worth of goods back from the US. After that you must declare, and you'll pay VAT (20%) and depending on the product, Duty (variably%) on what you've brought back, not just over the value.

Money - ATM - depends what card you have got. Very few are fully fee free, and if you have one of the cards from hell, you'll end up paying much more using an ATM linked to this card, than taking cash, or a prepaid card. Unless you live in London, I'd go prepaid card. If you live in / near London or Reading, head to MetroBank and get a current account with them. 0 fees on any foreign transaction.

M

Thanks for that.
I'll remember to look out for the GoSelect. I'm assuming it is this one:
http://www.smartdestinations.com/new-york-attractions-and-tours/_ptd_Nyc-p1.html

Oh, I thought the Metrocard meant you're not able to use it after midnight on each day, but what you've said makes sense, and I'm glad.

You say if I spend more than £390, I'll have to declare. Does that mean that I have to keep track of exactly how much I spend?

I don't have a credit card, and I don't live in London, so prepaid card on cash it is. If you take a large amount of cash (about $1000), would Customs be wary, or would they let you through?

Thanks again, Mark.

hab92

Another thing, has anyone been to the New York International Auto Show? Tickets are quite cheap, and I was wondering if it would be worth going to. Also, is there anything to do relating to movies/TV? Not so much the tours, but anything else? Is there anything filming that people can watch, or anything else really?

deecat

Hi

I am looking for advice on hotels for the period of March 14th - 19th in New York city. Midtown preferably, but open to other areas closeby. I would like a little bit of luxury, but on a budget. Yes, I know, probably a bit impossible! Budget is £700 - £1,000 for 5 nights. Thanking you in advance.

Deecat

M4RKM

hab92 wrote: »

Thanks for that.
I'll remember to look out for the GoSelect. I'm assuming it is this one:
http://www.smartdestinations.com/new-york-attractions-and-tours/_ptd_Nyc-p1.html

Oh, I thought the Metrocard meant you're not able to use it after midnight on each day, but what you've said makes sense, and I'm glad.

You say if I spend more than £390, I'll have to declare. Does that mean that I have to keep track of exactly how much I spend?

I don't have a credit card, and I don't live in London, so prepaid card on cash it is. If you take a large amount of cash (about $1000), would Customs be wary, or would they let you through?

Thanks again, Mark.

Yup, that's the badger....

Yeah, you need to know how much you've spent, and if you spend more than £390, you declare the lot. I'd be careful not to overspend....

Prepaid is good. I've got a FairFX, which is the best for Card Transactions, or you can get a Caxton FX which is best for cash withdrawals.

$1000? You're fine. I've taken more, you only declare more than $10k in cash per family.

Another thing, has anyone been to the New York International Auto Show? Tickets are quite cheap, and I was wondering if it would be worth going to. Also, is there anything to do relating to movies/TV? Not so much the tours, but anything else? Is there anything filming that people can watch, or anything else really?

Nope, not been there... as for movies/TV shows, if you want to see if you can see any filming, check out http://www.onlocationvacations.com/ which is updated regularly with locations that filming should be taking place.

Today, you could see any of the following


Are We Officially Dating? is filming around Greenwich Ave and 7th Ave in NYC. (Thanks Det. Movie Buff) Some FYIs: 1) Original tip was for Greenwich ST but can only find where Greenwich AVE crosses 7th, 2) Could be to move cars Tues. and film Wed., sign was for both days, 3) Zac Efron might be wrapping his part on this film, his next movie, Parkland begins filming this week in Austin, TX.

The Following filming on 25th St and 7th/8th Ave in NYC. (Thanks @phuqyhew)

Zero Hour is filming around Marcy Ave and Flushing Ave in Brooklyn. (Thanks Pete)

Law and Order: SVU is filming in studio (Chelsea Piers, NYC).

The Carrie Diaries is filming at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn.

Elementary is filming in studio at Silvercup East Studio in Long Island City.

Blue Bloods is filming at their studio (Broadway Stages, around Jewel St and Calyer St in Brooklyn).

Smash is filming in studio at Broadway Stages, Long Island City.

The Wolf of Wall Street is filming around 450-500 Mamaroneck Ave in Harrison.

Deception is filming around Crotona ave and Fordham Rd and E 187th and Hughes Ave (same area) in Bronx. (Thanks @lmr73)

Orange is the New Black is filming at the Rockland Children’s Psych Center in Orangeburg.

Person of Interest is filming around 48th and Park in NYC.

The Good Wife filming around Meserole Ave and Russell St in Brooklyn all week. (Thanks @AveryLovesTV)

M4RKM

deecat wrote: »

Hi

I am looking for advice on hotels for the period of March 14th - 19th in New York city. Midtown preferably, but open to other areas closeby. I would like a little bit of luxury, but on a budget. Yes, I know, probably a bit impossible! Budget is £700 - £1,000 for 5 nights. Thanking you in advance.

Deecat

EDIT - It's occured to me that you could mean £700-£1000 including flights, but I initially read that budget listed just for the hotels, as you're asking about advice on the hotels. Hmm..

I think you'll be OK. You have a budget of $275 per night excluding taxes if you look at your high end target.

March is normally reasonably cheaper, but heading towards april, prices creep up. You've always got hotels in Brooklyn (Williamsburg), and Queens (Long Island City) where you can get a decent bargain.

All the following are my preferred choices from Quikbook. I've ignored the area requirement, and gone with luxury..

King & Grove New York is a prepaid rate of $209 per night for a Standard King Room (Smaller rooms are cheaper)

Dream Midtown West is a cancellable rate of $266 per night for a Large King Room (smaller rooms are cheaper)

Gild Hall Downtown is a cancellable rate of $263 for a Deluxe King or Prepaid rate of $243 per night

Hotel on Rivington is a prepaid rate of $250 per night for a Standard King (with an awesome tempur mattress, I've stayed here and can wholeheartedly recommend it!).

The Standard East Village - Courtyard King or Village view Queen are $266 on prepaid rates. Some rooms overlook the HighLine

Mondrian Soho (I've stayed here too, really nice!), is $245 for a standard Queen room.

All on quikbook

Hope that helps

M