Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

johannalf88 wrote: »

We were considering an apartment rental, did some research, realised they were illegal and not regulated (unless hosted- that may be an option).

No, They clearly stated a few pages ago they didn't want to share. I suggested a number of hotels in Long Island City that falls in their budget, and there are plenty of apartment style hotels.

I think the biggest horror of all is the not as described. A lot of apartments the photos are years old, and the landlords don't update anything.

I love the quotes from people who did book and were disappointed.

I made the mistake to book an apartment in NY for one week. When I received the keys I received as well an email saying me that if an inspector will come up into the apartment we should lie saying that we were there for a long term stay.

The problem was not only that weird thing, the problems arrived when we saw the apartment: too small bed for 2 people, an awful shower, dirty and really really noisy since it was in a 1st floor on the 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. We spent there 2 nights and then we moved into a hotel (one of the best decision I have taken)

Here are some other useful links for people.

Curbed

This Is Money

Frommers - New York City is an unusual place to live. Even in the depths of the "great recession," the residential vacancy rate is just a few percent. There are more people who want to live in New York than can afford to live there.

herman2811

Thanks for the replies.

Do cinemas over there provide 3D glasses for free (like Vue), or do you have to buy them (like Cineworld)? If it's the latter, I'll take some I bought from over here!

bleepandbooster wrote: »

Catch a movie ? How about Bryant Park http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/filmfestival.html

I think there are a couple of cinemas on 42nd st just off TS We have been once .......... Big reclining seats, but salty popcorn ! Go for the candy and a soda !

Cofion
David

bb69 wrote: »

Hi
There is a cinema just off Union Square

http://www.nyc.com/movies/theater/regal_union_square_stadium_14.641657/movies_and_times.aspx

I think there are a couple around there

greenface wrote: »

There is the Regal E-Walks cinema theatre on the corner of 42nd & 8th.

mellymeepmeep

Got back from our week away yesterday morning and I've just got one word. WOW!

Thanks so much for all the help on here, paticularly the making of a personal google map, it really helped us to plan everything we wanted to see and make sure we weren't missing out on things in the area.

We go the Go Select pass for the four 'main' attractions we wanted to do and saved a bit of money, Top of the Rock (day), Empire State (at night), MOMA and Museum of Natural History. All a great experience, we spent a whole day in the natural history museum and still didn't manage to fit everything in. Wandered round central park a lot, saw Belvedere Castle, strawberry fields, and watched a baseball game on the great lawn. Went to grand central and had a go in the whispering hall (very cool!) rode the subway all the way to Coney Island and went on the Wonder Wheel then had nathans famous on the beach. Got the Roosevelt Island tram over from Manhattan and spent a little bit of time wandering the blossom tree lined streets on the island, quite a nice experience actually, was weird to finally get a bit of peace and quiet despite not being too far away from Manhattan, shame the only real attraction there (the roosevelt memorial garden) was closed due to Sandy but the tram was an experience and you got great views of the river and uptown. Wandered down Wall Street, then got the Staten Island ferry across for the views of Lady Liberty. Ate at Katzs, Sylvias, Shake Shack and an amazing place called Eataly which was like an Italian food market and restaurant combined, they cook what they sell and sell what they cook! Went up to Harlem and saw the Grafitti Wall of Fame, walked through Bloomingdales, did a bit of shopping in Forever21, and overall just genuinely had an absolutely fantastic time!

Couldn't recommend more the guide books I bought for travellers like us (young couple looking for some of the more unique things to do) as well as everyone else I guess haha!
The Zinesters Guide to New York
Not For Tourists
The Little Black Book of New York

We didn't manage to fit in getting over to Brooklyn which I'm a bit sad about but. and its rare for me to say this because I'd rather go somewhere new for my money and experience new sights, I'm definitely going to have to go back maybe even a few more times. The moment we stepped out of Penn Station from getting the train from Newark I was totally blown away by it all, it just hit me smack in the face that I was in New York! It really is a mindblowing city with something to look at round every corner.

Oh and we stayed at the Marrakech hotel on Broadway in Upper Midtown, it had sketchy reviews on Tripadvisor but for the amount we paid I was more than happy with it, the bed was comfy, we got maid service every day, shower was hot and powerful and it was a good base to lay our heads at night, right outside the 103rd subway so we had easy links to everywhere else in the city, only downside is that it wasn't an elevator building so lots of stairs to climb if you were on the upper floors. The staff were really friendly and knew the city like the back of their hands.

bb69

Really pleased you had a lovely time mellymeepmeep

Welcome aboard the New York Train... Its really difficult to get off

herman2811

Anyone been to "Ripley's - believe it or not!" ?

Seen an offer on Groupon (US site), and wondered if it was worth going?

2JAGS

Hi, we are flying in to JFK from Manchester via Heathrow at 12.30pm on Thursday 2nd May and are staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites 116 W 28th St.

I know this has probably been covered loads of times previously but can anyone advise how to get to and from the hotel using public transport ie Airtrain and subway ? I need the full on idiot guide about where to buy the tickets etc. There are 2 of us and we plan on using the subway to get around for the 5days/4 nights we are there so are we well placed for subway links ?

This is our rough itinerary
Thurs
Land at 12.30-try to get to hotel for about 3pm-fingers crossed both flights on time and luggage lands with us (1st time using connecting flights -BA) Drop bags off and then walk up to Times Sq and over to Grand Central- just want to get our bearings and find somewhere to eat. Expecting to be in bed by about 10pm ish given that we will be up at 5am that morning.

Fri
Breakfast at hotel(will probably be up early due to time diff) then subway down to Financial District(want to see Wall St and NYSE) and on to Statten Island Ferry (round trip). Then maybe to walk over Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo. We've got tickets booked for 911 Memorial at 4pm so want to take some time out there. Afterwards get something to eat and maybe walk halfway back over BB to watch sunset over Manhatten. Subway back up to hotel.

Sat, Sun and Mon (flight home 7.30pm)
Not really thought it through yet but want to do Central Park, ESB or TOTR, see a Broadway show (pref Phantom or Rock of Ages-not booked but someone told me the Tourist Info Centre in TS is a good place to get tickets), Highline, Coney Island (is this feasible?), possible helicopter ride, and a little bit of shopping (need cheap Converse and Tshirt from Hard Rock). Hoping to find somewhere reasonably priced with some entertainment to eat and chill out on Sat/Sun evening.

Does this sound ok or are we trying to get too much/little in to the time we have?

Any help and comments would be great.

2JAGS

Forgot to ask, its our Wedding Anniversary on the 2nd, does anyone know if BA would be likely to upgrade us if we let them know and does anyone have an e-mail address for our hotel so I can try contacting them to see if there's any chance of a room upgrade ?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Katykat

Well, its 4am, up early as GOING TO NEW YORK TODAY. 5 nights but daresay we won't be up to too much tonight but hope to get a bit of sleep on the plane as up graded to premium economy. We don't have a particular plan, just a list of 'must do's'. We're going on to Vancouver/ Rocky Mountaineer/Washington from NY so will sign back in in about a month. Big Apple, here we come.

cubegame

2JAGS wrote: »

Hi, we are flying in to JFK from Manchester via Heathrow at 12.30pm on Thursday 2nd May and are staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites 116 W 28th St.

I know this has probably been covered loads of times previously but can anyone advise how to get to and from the hotel using public transport ie Airtrain and subway ? I need the full on idiot guide about where to buy the tickets etc. There are 2 of us and we plan on using the subway to get around for the 5days/4 nights we are there so are we well placed for subway links ?

This is our rough itinerary
Thurs
Land at 12.30-try to get to hotel for about 3pm-fingers crossed both flights on time and luggage lands with us (1st time using connecting flights -BA) Drop bags off and then walk up to Times Sq and over to Grand Central- just want to get our bearings and find somewhere to eat. Expecting to be in bed by about 10pm ish given that we will be up at 5am that morning.

Fri
Breakfast at hotel(will probably be up early due to time diff) then subway down to Financial District(want to see Wall St and NYSE) and on to Statten Island Ferry (round trip). Then maybe to walk over Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo. We've got tickets booked for 911 Memorial at 4pm so want to take some time out there. Afterwards get something to eat and maybe walk halfway back over BB to watch sunset over Manhatten. Subway back up to hotel.

Sat, Sun and Mon (flight home 7.30pm)
Not really thought it through yet but want to do Central Park, ESB or TOTR, see a Broadway show (pref Phantom or Rock of Ages-not booked but someone told me the Tourist Info Centre in TS is a good place to get tickets), Highline, Coney Island (is this feasible?), possible helicopter ride, and a little bit of shopping (need cheap Converse and Tshirt from Hard Rock). Hoping to find somewhere reasonably priced with some entertainment to eat and chill out on Sat/Sun evening.

Does this sound ok or are we trying to get too much/little in to the time we have?

Any help and comments would be great.

Re: tickets from JFK. The Port Authority and MTA seem to have devised the most complex and ridiculous system possible (although this is a good introduction into the subway!).

If you have CASH, go to the news agent at the Airtrain station and ask for a metrocard with a $29 7-day unlimited ride card and a $10 airtrain return. There is then no fee for the card.

If you don't have cash (we didn't). You have to buy an Airtrain card in the airtrain station and pay an additional $1 fee. You only need one for as many people as are travelling and you just put the correct amount of $5 fares on it.

Once you have your Airtrain pass, you struggle yourself through the nice narrow gates with your luggage and then walk through the LIRR station to the lifts where you take an elevator two levels down to Jamaica station.

If you have the Airtrain metrocard, Apparently you can load an unlimited ride card on these at a metro station ticket booth but this requires cash (I was told this by an agent). Otherwise you will need to buy another metrocard (and incur another $1 card fee) at Jamaica station.

If you need to use a credit or debit card at the Metro station it will ask for a zip code. As you don't have one, press return. If that doesn't work, enter 00000 and press return. If that doesn't work, use another card.

Then you want to take an E train to Manhattan. These make a couple of local stops before running express. However, there is engineering work going on at present which means many trains make local stops all the way. This adds quite a bit of time so you want to be sure of knowing what will happen on your return.

Another trick for the subway (I haven't seen it mentioned here) is to make sure you use the service gates for luggage. This isn't obvious as the signage is not friendly. One exiting there will be a black mesh gate saying "SERVICE EXIT - EMERGENCY USE ONLY - ALARM WILL SOUND". Not particularly friendly signage (but you will get used to this on the subway (it's not well designed or signed like the London Underground) but no one will mind if you open the gate. To enter via the service gate, go and ask the station agent to use it. You then will need to swipe your metrocard in a turnstile next to the gate and they will open it for you.

Don't underestimate the time you will spend on the subway. While being wonderfully impressed by the scale, convenience and cost of the services you will spend long times on platforms wondering when trains will come (not many service information signs) especially on evenings and weekends when services are infrequent. I fancied Coney Island myself but we were just sick of spending so much time on trains.

Your itinary doesn't sound over ambitious at all. We packed much more in and found it none stressful. The walk over the Brooklyn Bridge isn't all that at present though as the Manhattan side is covered over. We (as garden lovers) thought the Highline was especially rubbish and completely oversold by guidebooks etc.......it might be nice if you're a local stuck who needs a little bit of green space near their home but otherwise it's rather grim.

One recommendation for your visit would also be to make the trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, the blossom is stunning at present.

mellymeepmeep

From times square it took us 40 minutes to get to Coney Island and its DEFINITELY worth the trip I would say, it depends on wether you like fairgrounds or not but it was so nice to go a bit further out. The fairgrounds only open at weekends at the moment cos its low season. The Wonder Wheel costs $7 but its really fun (go on the red swinging carts not the stationary ones) then you can get Nathans Famous and eat them on the boardwalk. It was a really nice day when we ventured up so we even got to paddle in the sea.