Everything & Anything New York City

johannalf88

Well yes, the black market does tend to be cheaper!!

AceT

Thinking of going to NY in the last week of May for 7 days stayng at Comfort Inn Midtown West (Theatre District). Family of four with 2 children aged 5 and 9. Would it be ok for their age and the walking that has to be done to see the sights ?

Any tips of making it more familly friendly other than spacing out the itinerary ?

Any things I must do apart from TOTR, Empire State, Toys R Us, Staten Island Ferry etc ?

M4RKM

Abatement wrote: »

The problem I guess is that the hotel prices aren't competitive - you can get a lot more apartment for £100 than hotel room, as far as I can see.

Aah yes that age old chestnut. Renting an illegal apartment will be cheaper than a legal hotel. Obviously, they're making money, not paying taxes to the City (15% of hotel prices are tax...)

There are plenty of other ways to save money too.. Why not steal your food from the supermarkets because that is a cheaper proposition than buying it. I bet you don't do that because that's something totally different, but you are considering renting an illegal apartment? Well, you're stealing from the locals who need affordable places to live.

A hotel, if something goes wrong, the hotel will attempt to give you a resolution.

In an illegal apartment, they'll probably ignore your request, and keep your money, they don't care. AirBnB don't really do much either, so don't think you're getting much protection, if it isn't what is advertised. Pay anything by paypal and you're not protected because it is a service not a product. Also, apartment rentals expect money before you move in, whereas hotels you will pay on check-out.

What is wrong with some of the more affordable hotels? Why is it you want to break the law and annoy the locals? They need places to live, and you're making it worse.

Country Inn & Suites, Long Island City

The above is a great option so close to Manhattan, and many people choose to stay in legal accommodation.

Airbnbs growing pains in NYC where half its listings are illegal rentals.

The simplicity of this is easy to see using Airbnb’s search tool. Searching for a two-night rental over the weekend of January 18 in New York City you get a total of 6,176 options if you don’t specify room type, price, or any other options. If you click “Entire home/apt” there are 3,200 results, all of which are illegal under New York law.

You're just convincing yourself or attempting to wind me up, I don't know, but do what you want, but it is illegal if you go the apartment route and you know that. Most people don't, but with very little research you find out.

M

M4RKM

AceT wrote: »

Thinking of going to NY in the last week of May for 7 days stayng at Comfort Inn Midtown West (Theatre District). Family of four with 2 children aged 5 and 9. Would it be ok for their age and the walking that has to be done to see the sights ?

Any tips of making it more familly friendly other than spacing out the itinerary ?

Any things I must do apart from TOTR, Empire State, Toys R Us, Staten Island Ferry etc ?

You won't walk everywhere, you will use the Subway, and other public transport options in NYC. You can't walk everywhere as things are miles away from each other. What your main thing to look for is a Subway Station nearby.

M

M4RKM

johannalf88 wrote: »

Same price. We are both with the same provider.

It's just when we go back hubby is more likely to still have his 5, than me to still have my 4.

T-Mobile sell the iPhone 5, so you should be able to get a sim from store. I've noticed online you can't get one, however, you wouldn't be able to order from that site anyway.

cubegame

cooking-mama wrote: »

Hi,just wondering if anyone is recently back from NYC, im thinking about booking for March next year and wondering what to expect weather wise. (been in July,very hot/humid, been in October,variable,but mainly chilly).Thanks.

We got back this morning. Weather over five days as been ok and mostly dry. Two days were sunny and in the low 20s. Three days cloudy but high teens. There was one thunder storm while we were there.

As for a mini trip report, we ended up being hugely disappointed by NYC. Our expectations were much higher than what it delivered. Perhaps we're not really city people but we think that there are hugely better places to experience the USA. New Yorkers definitely earn their reputation of being unfriendly, certainly when compared to the rest of the US. We often found it hard to believe that we were actually in the US at all when faced by the typical surly and curt service we received in shops, bars, attractions and restaurants. Washington DC is an infinitely nicer and more interesting place (despite having comparatively rubbish public transport.

NYC is also very expensive compared to other parts of the US. One would expect restaurant prices to reflect the level of competition but they definitely don't. It does not mirror London in the way that you can get great cheap restaurant food.

And anyone who expects to go shopping crazy will find few things which are cheaper than the UK. Special note should be made about a few SLR lenses we checked out in B&H. These were all 15 to 20% more expensive than the UK before tax.

All in all, a nice place to look at but not one to go back to (for us at least).

swod61

Hi at risk of being shot down but here it goes was thinking of taking my family in either may or july for my daughters 21st birthday the thing is she is not 21 until sept and i know you are not allowed to drink until you are 21 in USA but was wondering if any body knew if there was away around getting her in to bars for a drink pls dont be to harsh lol

cubegame

swod61 wrote: »

Hi at risk of being shot down but here it goes was thinking of taking my family in either may or july for my daughters 21st birthday the thing is she is not 21 until sept and i know you are not allowed to drink until you are 21 in USA but was wondering if any body knew if there was away around getting her in to bars for a drink pls dont be to harsh lol

No way whatsoever. We regularly got ID'd in NYC (ages 37 and 40). It's pretty much the same anywhere in the US unless you really are in the middle of nowhere.

bleepandbooster

Same here ......... Always asking for ID and I am nearly 55 !!! We did get ID'd in Chicago airport once me and the wife, there was a sign saying 100% ID checks. What made us laugh was the barman actually checked our passports and we were both nearly 50 !!!

When we have been sitting at the bars in the US the barmen are normally really keen to check any one looking young. So it maybe back to the soda for a week !

There is not normally a problem taking someone in , but they would not be allowed to drink alcohol. Anyway it only gives you a bad head in the morning and sometimes makes you fall over walking back to the hotel !

Cofion
David

swod61

cubegame wrote: »

No way whatsoever. We regularly got ID'd in NYC (ages 37 and 40). It's pretty much the same anywhere in the US unless you really are in the middle of nowhere.

bleepandbooster wrote: »

Same here ......... Always asking for ID and I am nearly 55 !!! We did get ID'd in Chicago airport once me and the wife, there was a sign saying 100% ID checks. What made us laugh was the barman actually checked our passports and we were both nearly 50 !!!

When we have been sitting at the bars in the US the barmen are normally really keen to check any one looking young. So it maybe back to the soda for a week !

There is not normally a problem taking someone in , but they would not be allowed to drink alcohol. Anyway it only gives you a bad head in the morning and sometimes makes you fall over walking back to the hotel !

Cofion
David

I know it's probably a bit iffy but do you think she could do the same as she did hear in the UK when under 18 and get somebody's driving license
or passport who looks quite like her and use that ?