Everything & Anything New York City

bb69

mahoney wrote: »

Thank you bb69 and Mark so much.

May I just add one more to the list The Royalton .. ?

I'll follow them all on twitter - good tip

You are welcome. Happy to help! Have you booked your flights or are you looking for a package?
I haven't stayed at the Royalton. But the Carlton does look nice too.

Have you looked at - Giraffe, or 70 Park Avenue?

lyndytes

I've found a flight direct from Manchester to Newark for £435 return 11 Dec,is this any good price and from past experience would it come down or even rise?

Thanks

herman2811

Hoping for any advice or suggestions please!

Am looking to book a trip (for 2) in the 2nd half of May for 5 nights.

Best price I've found for flights from London is just over £400pp.

Hotels seem a bit of a minefield, I'm searching the net daily, and liking different ones each day depending on my mood! Ideally, I'd like to spend sub-£900-ish in total for the room.

Must haves for the hotel: breakfast and in-room wifi included. I'd really like a good view from the room (Empire State building would be nice!), but other than paying over the odds, getting this seems like pot luck?? As far as I can tell, I'd generally have to book a room, and then contact the hotel to "request" such a room, with of course no guarantee that I'd get it. Given how expensive hotels are in NY, I don't want to be stuck with a view of a fire-escape or a wall!

So, anyone got any advice or suggestions?

Other question is, would I be better off booking something asap, or waiting until nearer the time??

Thanks in advance! :beer:

deecat

M4RKM wrote: »

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

Thank-you M4RKM

That's been really helpfull, thanks for your time and the effort put into the response. Best wishes,

Deecat

M4RKM

sonicmouse wrote: »

Damn, exchange rate for the dollar is dropping like a lead balloon! Please go up to 1.60 + !

Probably the slowest lead balloon that I've ever seen.

18th Jan - 1.585
26th Jan - 1.576

So, $1000 is costing us a whopping £9 more. WTAF!

lyndytes wrote: »

I've found a flight direct from Manchester to Newark for £435 return 11 Dec,is this any good price and from past experience would it come down or even rise?

Thanks

Up and down, up and down. When flying to NYC, it's not just the flight price you have to take into account. Is Newark even a convenient airport for you? If you're staying in Queens or Brooklyn it isn't! EWR is also a bit more expensive to get into NYC from, cheapest being around $15 compared to $7, and taxis being around $90 compared to $70. Not breaking the bank, but if you're budget conscious it's worth considering.

Personally, I always fly into JFK, I prefer it as an airport, and with staying in Brooklyn all the time, it makes more sense.

herman2811 wrote: »

Hoping for any advice or suggestions please!

Am looking to book a trip (for 2) in the 2nd half of May for 5 nights.

Best price I've found for flights from London is just over £400pp.

Hotels seem a bit of a minefield, I'm searching the net daily, and liking different ones each day depending on my mood! Ideally, I'd like to spend sub-£900-ish in total for the room.

Must haves for the hotel: breakfast and in-room wifi included. I'd really like a good view from the room (Empire State building would be nice!), but other than paying over the odds, getting this seems like pot luck?? As far as I can tell, I'd generally have to book a room, and then contact the hotel to "request" such a room, with of course no guarantee that I'd get it. Given how expensive hotels are in NY, I don't want to be stuck with a view of a fire-escape or a wall!

So, anyone got any advice or suggestions?

Other question is, would I be better off booking something asap, or waiting until nearer the time??

Thanks in advance! :beer:

5 Nights, $245 per night budget before tax. WITH breakfast, WITH free wifi and WITH a view. You're asking a lot there, but lets look at it this way.

Breakfast is the worst request you can add on with a hotel in NYC. Most hotels are room only, so out of 500 hotels, you're eliminating 450 of them. This means your choices are so narrow now, and the all important criteria of a view. Free wifi is reasonably easy, but you can't look at any of the chain hotels, as they normally charge.

The view though. In Manhattan, getting a view, is normally a more expensive room. You can't just book a normal room, and request a room with a view, if the hotel sells the rooms with a view separately.

May is also an expensive month. The weather is getting better, and more people want to head to NYC. This drives prices up.

Looking at a budget hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (just a 10 minute hop into Manhattan). They have an elite city view queen room available at $235 per night, and an elite city view king room available at $245 per night. Free Wifi, Free Continental Breakfast, A room with a view - and within your budget. (16th May - 21st May, you didn't give dates so I just guessed).

My thoughts are that if Williamsburg is that expensive, then trying to match those three requirements in Manhattan is going to be very difficult.

I'd drop requirements of Breakfast, because you can walk out of the hotel, grab a coffee and a bagel for around $5. Hotel breakfasts are never great. I've stayed at the Le Jolie, and the coffee was ok, so I did grab that normally every morning.

As for when to book, well, I'd choose somewhere you like, and if it is a cancellable rate, and you pay nothing today (like the le jolie rate), then book it. If you change your mind, or find a better deal nearer to the time, then you book the new hotel or the cheaper rate at the same hotel, and then cancel the old one off. I've done this recently for my stay in NYC, and have done it as well at the same hotel when I went to Amsterdam last year.

M

herman2811

M4RKM wrote: »

5 Nights, $245 per night budget before tax. WITH breakfast, WITH free wifi and WITH a view. You're asking a lot there, but lets look at it this way.

Breakfast is the worst request you can add on with a hotel in NYC. Most hotels are room only, so out of 500 hotels, you're eliminating 450 of them. This means your choices are so narrow now, and the all important criteria of a view. Free wifi is reasonably easy, but you can't look at any of the chain hotels, as they normally charge.

The view though. In Manhattan, getting a view, is normally a more expensive room. You can't just book a normal room, and request a room with a view, if the hotel sells the rooms with a view separately.

May is also an expensive month. The weather is getting better, and more people want to head to NYC. This drives prices up.

Looking at a budget hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (just a 10 minute hop into Manhattan). They have an elite city view queen room available at $235 per night, and an elite city view king room available at $245 per night. Free Wifi, Free Continental Breakfast, A room with a view - and within your budget. (16th May - 21st May, you didn't give dates so I just guessed).

My thoughts are that if Williamsburg is that expensive, then trying to match those three requirements in Manhattan is going to be very difficult.

I'd drop requirements of Breakfast, because you can walk out of the hotel, grab a coffee and a bagel for around $5. Hotel breakfasts are never great. I've stayed at the Le Jolie, and the coffee was ok, so I did grab that normally every morning.

As for when to book, well, I'd choose somewhere you like, and if it is a cancellable rate, and you pay nothing today (like the le jolie rate), then book it. If you change your mind, or find a better deal nearer to the time, then you book the new hotel or the cheaper rate at the same hotel, and then cancel the old one off. I've done this recently for my stay in NYC, and have done it as well at the same hotel when I went to Amsterdam last year.

M

Yeah I know I'm probably asking a lot! It's just that it's a surprise holiday for my wife for our 10 year anniversary, and like everyone else, I'd like it to be special without breaking the bank!

The problem with booking somewhere and then maybe cancelling is those rooms are more expensive. The cheaper ones obviously don't allow any flexibility.

Still not sure exactly when to book: are there better deals later on (for both hotels AND flights), or will all the best rates (and rooms) be taken the later I leave it??

I've actually found the following via Otel.com (including a discount code):

NYMA hotel - includes breakfast, free wifi, and a potential view of the ESB. Reviews on Tripadvisor seem ok. 5 nights for £765.

Any thoughts on this hotel and price?

bb69

herman2811 wrote: »

Hoping for any advice or suggestions please!

Am looking to book a trip (for 2) in the 2nd half of May for 5 nights.

Best price I've found for flights from London is just over £400pp.

Hotels seem a bit of a minefield, I'm searching the net daily, and liking different ones each day depending on my mood! Ideally, I'd like to spend sub-£900-ish in total for the room.

Must haves for the hotel: breakfast and in-room wifi included. I'd really like a good view from the room (Empire State building would be nice!), but other than paying over the odds, getting this seems like pot luck?? As far as I can tell, I'd generally have to book a room, and then contact the hotel to "request" such a room, with of course no guarantee that I'd get it. Given how expensive hotels are in NY, I don't want to be stuck with a view of a fire-escape or a wall!

So, anyone got any advice or suggestions?

Other question is, would I be better off booking something asap, or waiting until nearer the time??

Thanks in advance! :beer:

Hi have you priced up a package? What's the difference in price? What are your dates?

M4RKM

herman2811 wrote: »

Yeah I know I'm probably asking a lot! It's just that it's a surprise holiday for my wife for our 10 year anniversary, and like everyone else, I'd like it to be special without breaking the bank!

The problem with booking somewhere and then maybe cancelling is those rooms are more expensive. The cheaper ones obviously don't allow any flexibility.

Still not sure exactly when to book: are there better deals later on (for both hotels AND flights), or will all the best rates (and rooms) be taken the later I leave it??

I've actually found the following via Otel.com (including a discount code):

NYMA hotel - includes breakfast, free wifi, and a potential view of the ESB. Reviews on Tripadvisor seem ok. 5 nights for £765.

Any thoughts on this hotel and price?

I've never used otel.com.

Again. WHY do you want breakfast included? Hotel breakfasts are generally awful, and you can get amazing breakfasts at Deli's throughout the whole of NYC, and within a few minute walk of most hotels.

Without that breakfast requirement, you'll be able to get a decent hotel, and have more choice. Is it too early to book for May? Not for a cancellable rate, but a non cancellable rate, then yes, it is too early IMO.

M

bb69

herman2811 wrote: »

Yeah I know I'm probably asking a lot! It's just that it's a surprise holiday for my wife for our 10 year anniversary, and like everyone else, I'd like it to be special without breaking the bank!

The problem with booking somewhere and then maybe cancelling is those rooms are more expensive. The cheaper ones obviously don't allow any flexibility.

Still not sure exactly when to book: are there better deals later on (for both hotels AND flights), or will all the best rates (and rooms) be taken the later I leave it??

I've actually found the following via Otel.com (including a discount code):

NYMA hotel - includes breakfast, free wifi, and a potential view of the ESB. Reviews on Tripadvisor seem ok. 5 nights for £765.

Any thoughts on this hotel and price?

There are some decent deals on Ba.com with good hotels and within your budget too (I looked at 23-27th May from London)

herman2811

M4RKM wrote: »

I've never used otel.com.

Again. WHY do you want breakfast included? Hotel breakfasts are generally awful, and you can get amazing breakfasts at Deli's throughout the whole of NYC, and within a few minute walk of most hotels.

Without that breakfast requirement, you'll be able to get a decent hotel, and have more choice. Is it too early to book for May? Not for a cancellable rate, but a non cancellable rate, then yes, it is too early IMO.

M

Breakfast - I guess just for convenience! I'll do some searches with taking it out, although I'm not sure if I'll be able to beat the £765 price at NYMA? Anyone have any thoughts on this hotel?

Most hotel websites don't allow you to choose and pay extra for a view room - anyone know of any websites that do?