Everything & Anything New York City

hellokitty08

If your going to rent through an agent try to do some research first, there are people on the buying and renting guide that will give you specific names in specific areas to stay away from.

Get the details of any admin fees up front and if you pay them get some sort of receipt. Many people will tell you that you dont need any qualifications, morals or regulations to be an estate / letting agent, so they are all sharks, but generally they do work for the landlord who is their customer, not the tenant, but some will be more helpful than others.

Rents can be negiotable. You will always stand a better chance of this is you can meet most or all of the following criteria,
the property is empty and you can move quickly
you are will to take it for 12 months as opposed to 6
you have good references, no CCJs and exceed the affordability criteria.

There are lots more details like, checking to make sure your landlord has permission to rent (gives you better rights if the property gets repossessed), make sure they register your deposit with an approved scheme, take your own inventory at the start of the property and dont sign off on one provided until you have check over the property fully. Dont accept any agreed terms or conditions by word of mouth, get anything they promise in writting.

Have fun. I love looking round properties, but maybe I am just strange.

Ohh to to stay on topic enjoy New York before you start house hunting.

Kel_3

Hi all, me and my mum are off the NY for 5 nights over the Easter bank holiday weekend and i have a few questions? Can anyone tell me if there will be good sales on in the shops at Easter and if so which is the best day to go?

Will any of the major sites close for the Easter period? (I'm guessing not but want to make sure when we plan out itinerary)

Also what is the best way to get to Woodbury common outlets?

Where can I find out what shows are on broadway and where's the best place to buy tickets?

Sorry for all the questions. I have done a little search on this tread and made a few notes, it's been very useful :-)

M4RKM

Kel wrote: »

Hi all, me and my mum are off the NY for 5 nights over the Easter bank holiday weekend and i have a few questions? Can anyone tell me if there will be good sales on in the shops at Easter and if so which is the best day to go?

Will any of the major sites close for the Easter period? (I'm guessing not but want to make sure when we plan out itinerary)

Also what is the best way to get to Woodbury common outlets?

Where can I find out what shows are on broadway and where's the best place to buy tickets?

Sorry for all the questions. I have done a little search on this tread and made a few notes, it's been very useful :-)

There are sales all the time. Easter isn't a big holiday in the US, so there won't be many specific sales around there, but there are always discounts etc. Most things will still be open, Easter Monday isn't a holiday in NYC.

Woodbury Common is a tough one IMO, You've got a short trip, it takes ages to go there, and it's goods that have been specifically made for the outlet mall, and cheaper, therefore lower quality. To get your moneys worth you have to spend loads, especially as it's around $40 each to get there from Port Authority.

I've been once, and never again, there is so much good shopping in Manhattan, and you then have more time to do other things while you're doing a bit of shopping, rather than wasting a whole day just to go to a shopping mall.

broadwaybox.com is recommended to buy discounted tickets, some shows are never discounted though. TKTS booths in NYC is another option, but the choices will be less than prebooking something.

M

samisaba

I like the look and location of this hotel- but it's a bit scary as its brand new. Has anyone heard anything about it?

Vikki_74

I am finally heading to New York this summer (August, not ideal but I'm combining the trip with a family wedding in Toronto) after postponing several times over the past couple of years. Will be travelling solo and on a pretty tight budget, plus I have a flight out of LGA, so staying in LIC seems like a sensible option unless I can find a great deal in Manhattan nearer the time.

Both the Verve and Country Inn & Suites are similarly priced ($119 and $125 respectively, ex tax) for my dates so I have made cancellable reservations at both for the time being, but was hoping to get some opinions on which to choose.

All things being equal I would probably go for the Country Inn as I have Gold status with Club Carlson so some chance of scoring a room upgrade there. Plus it seems to have been more consistently recommended here and on the TA forums. Some of the recent reviews are a little sketchy however (I don't expect luxury at that level of hotel but recurring comments on a lack of cleanliness are a bit outputting) and I get the impression the Verve is a slightly nicer property? Not sure whether one location is any better than the other for walking to the subway or anything else?

Just wondered if any MSErs had stayed at either property recently and could weigh in with any recommendations?

M4RKM

samisaba wrote: »

I like the look and location of this hotel- but it's a bit scary as its brand new. Has anyone heard anything about it?

Yes, I've heard loads about it, as it has been a long time coming. It was going to be Gem Hotels 4th Hotel, however, they decided to make it more of a boutique hotel. It opened on the 1st Feb - Hence minimal reviews so far.

The good thing about brand new hotels, is that they're desparate for people to fill the rooms, to get reviews written and make their mark on the hotel map. The downside, is that there may be a few teething problems, but, because you're probably getting rates half the price of normal, then this needs to be constructive comments to the hotel, so they can rectify it.

Vikki_74 wrote: »

I am finally heading to New York this summer (August, not ideal but I'm combining the trip with a family wedding in Toronto) after postponing several times over the past couple of years. Will be travelling solo and on a pretty tight budget, plus I have a flight out of LGA, so staying in LIC seems like a sensible option unless I can find a great deal in Manhattan nearer the time.

Both the Verve and Country Inn & Suites are similarly priced ($119 and $125 respectively, ex tax) for my dates so I have made cancellable reservations at both for the time being, but was hoping to get some opinions on which to choose.

All things being equal I would probably go for the Country Inn as I have Gold status with Club Carlson so some chance of scoring a room upgrade there. Plus it seems to have been more consistently recommended here and on the TA forums. Some of the recent reviews are a little sketchy however (I don't expect luxury at that level of hotel but recurring comments on a lack of cleanliness are a bit outputting) and I get the impression the Verve is a slightly nicer property? Not sure whether one location is any better than the other for walking to the subway or anything else?

Just wondered if any MSErs had stayed at either property recently and could weigh in with any recommendations?

Not all hotels in Long Island City are convenient for the subway, however, the two that you've picked are on my list of recommended cheap stays in LIC. - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59078681&postcount=5634 -

However, August can be brutal with the humidity, and is also quiet for hotels, so my recommendation would be to book a LIC hotel that you like on a cancellable rate, and keep looking, especially around Mid June - a week before you go. Prices can be cheap, you could pay around $175 for a great hotel in Manhattan.

Hope that helps.

M

Delree

Depending how fussy you are you can stay in Manhattan for $100 per night or less. It's the city that never sleeps so you want to be out there and not in your room anyway.

Vikki_74

M4RKM wrote: »

Not all hotels in Long Island City are convenient for the subway, however, the two that you've picked are on my list of recommended cheap stays in LIC. - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59078681&postcount=5634 -

However, August can be brutal with the humidity, and is also quiet for hotels, so my recommendation would be to book a LIC hotel that you like on a cancellable rate, and keep looking, especially around Mid June - a week before you go. Prices can be cheap, you could pay around $175 for a great hotel in Manhattan.

Hope that helps.

M

I had deliberately picked those two on the basis that they are often recommended and close to the subway etc, just wondered if one was any better than the other.

What you've suggested is basically my plan - get something booked now that will work if it has to and keep looking for alternatives nearer the time. When to look and an idea of what might be available was going to be my next question so thanks! I've never looked at going in August before so wasn't sure how busy or quiet hotels would be taking into account the less than ideal weather vs it being the school holidays (will be there 9th to 14th August).

I normally use Kayak for hotel searches and keep an eye out for any deals on Travelzoo and Holiday Pirates...any other suggestions on good websites to use which might help me spot a bargain?

Delree wrote: »

Depending how fussy you are you can stay in Manhattan for $100 per night or less. It's the city that never sleeps so you want to be out there and not in your room anyway.

I think I'm probably fussier than $100 a night to be honest! Not overly bothered about having loads of space as it's just me but I'd rather stay slightly out of Manhattan than in somewhere that's consistently reviewed as dirty or tatty which seems to be the case with a lot of the cheaper hotels there. Open to suggestions though if there is anywhere fantastically located with bargain rates!

Delree

Vikki_74 wrote: »

I think I'm probably fussier than $100 a night to be honest! Not overly bothered about having loads of space as it's just me but I'd rather stay slightly out of Manhattan than in somewhere that's consistently reviewed as dirty or tatty which seems to be the case with a lot of the cheaper hotels there. Open to suggestions though if there is anywhere fantastically located with bargain rates!

Each to their own, luckily the subway operates 24/7 so staying out of Manhattan shouldn't too much of a problem for you.
I always prefer to stay near the action though but I'm all about the night life. If that's not your bag then nicer and cheaper hotels on Long Island could very well be the way to go.

Either way I hope you enjoy your trip, I'm sure you will.

claire0788

Hey guys, you seem so knowledgeable !

I was wondering if you have any suggestions or advice on hotels around times square or central park ? I am going to NYC in Sept for 5 nights and have started to look into hotels.

Not looking for anything fancy as we don't plan on being in the hotel that often but looking for something clean and simple, around the lines of a holiday inn or something similiar.

Also planning on seeing Wicked on Broadway, when going to a show did you book in advance or hope for the best when you got to New York ?

Any advice would be really appreciated