Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

poormaria wrote: »

Does everyone agree that I shouldn't stay in Brooklyn if its my first time? We are going to be there for 8 days so wasn't thinking everything had to be crammed in. The hotel difference in price of £500 plus the hotel standard is really swaying us to Brooklyn xx

Which hotel in Brooklyn. There are good hotels, in a great location that will work well, but others (such as the box house, was that the one?) that really don't suit first timers.

I love Brooklyn, feel right at home there, but for quite a few visits
I stayed in Manhattan. It's where you'll probably end up exploring so staying there should be the most logical.

Ainat

Hi everyone,

I have been reading through several pages of this thread, but I admit to not reading all of them!

We're (hubby and I) looking to go to NYC in December for 4 nights.

Been looking on expedia and a few others, but wondering if anyone had any recommendations. If possible we'd like to do it for £800 each, including flights from Heathrow, but this can be stretched up to about £1000 each. The less we spend on a hotel, the more we get to spend there. We'd like a hotel in Manhattan that has reasonable access to the key things we want to do. It doesn't have to be too swish or OTT. Clean, with a bed and en suite shower room are our main requirements (so not hostels, etc). We're more than happy to jump about on the subway, etc so we don't have to be slap bang in the middle, but we would like to not have to spend hours travelling into the city.

Our 'to see' and 'to do' list would include (in no particular order):

- Statue of liberty
- Ground zero
- Empire state building
- Central park
- Maybe the Natural history museum
- Macy's, Bloomingdales, (at the risk of sounding stupid does NYC have a main shopping area? Like how Oxford Street is well known for shopping in London, and Bond Street being a bit like 5th Avenue?)
- Times square
- Heard the view is amazing at the top of the Rockerfeller Plaza, but in Dec how much are we likely to be able to see?

- Any others that anyone can suggest that are 'must see's'.

We would also like to go to a NHL game (hubby loves ice hockey and is slowly getting me in to it! The NY Rangers play at home on the 12th and the 15th, both 7PM starts, so we want to try and incorporate a game into our trip.

I really enjoy the theater so a show on Broadway is a must for me. I would love to see Wicked (I have a bit of an obsession, haha. Seen it in London and now want to see on Broadway!).

Any tips, help, anything, will be appreciated.

bb69

Ainat wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have been reading through several pages of this thread, but I admit to not reading all of them!

We're (hubby and I) looking to go to NYC in December for 4 nights.

Been looking on expedia and a few others, but wondering if anyone had any recommendations. If possible we'd like to do it for £800 each, including flights from Heathrow, but this can be stretched up to about £1000 each. The less we spend on a hotel, the more we get to spend there. We'd like a hotel in Manhattan that has reasonable access to the key things we want to do. It doesn't have to be too swish or OTT. Clean, with a bed and en suite shower room are our main requirements (so not hostels, etc). We're more than happy to jump about on the subway, etc so we don't have to be slap bang in the middle, but we would like to not have to spend hours travelling into the city.

Our 'to see' and 'to do' list would include (in no particular order):

- Statue of liberty
- Ground zero
- Empire state building
- Central park
- Maybe the Natural history museum
- Macy's, Bloomingdales, (at the risk of sounding stupid does NYC have a main shopping area? Like how Oxford Street is well known for shopping in London, and Bond Street being a bit like 5th Avenue?)
- Times square
- Heard the view is amazing at the top of the Rockerfeller Plaza, but in Dec how much are we likely to be able to see?

- Any others that anyone can suggest that are 'must see's'.

We would also like to go to a NHL game (hubby loves ice hockey and is slowly getting me in to it! The NY Rangers play at home on the 12th and the 15th, both 7PM starts, so we want to try and incorporate a game into our trip.

I really enjoy the theater so a show on Broadway is a must for me. I would love to see Wicked (I have a bit of an obsession, haha. Seen it in London and now want to see on Broadway!).

Any tips, help, anything, will be appreciated.

Hi
When in December do you plan on going? You will be able to get something for £800-£1000 depending on your dates.

As M4rk always states it is not known as Ground Zero - Its known as the 9/11 Memorial - You will need to book your passes on line.

5th Avenue, Greenwich Village and Soho are great for shopping.

The view from Top of the Rock is amazing even in the freezing cold. You will be able to see everything in December as long as there is not heavy rain or fog.

Hope this helps

phatbear

bb69 wrote: »

As M4rk always states it is not known as Ground Zero - Its known as the 9/11 Memorial

This in one of the few things i disagree with Mark about as I've heard plenty of new yorkers in New york refer to it still as ground zero heck the last time i was in the states, last sept, it was was even called ground zero on the news.

Ainat

bb69 wrote: »

Hi
When in December do you plan on going? You will be able to get something for £800-£1000 depending on your dates.

As M4rk always states it is not known as Ground Zero - Its known as the 9/11 Memorial - You will need to book your passes on line.

5th Avenue, Greenwich Village and Soho are great for shopping.

The view from Top of the Rock is amazing even in the freezing cold. You will be able to see everything in December as long as there is not heavy rain or fog.

Hope this helps

We plan to go mid December time. Sometime between the 6th Dec, but ensuring to be back for Christmas day. We're pretty flexible with dates. This year is looking like the only year we could go before Christmas (I want to get the Christmassy atmosphere) that we won't be bound by the school holidays.

Thank you for the information about the 9/11 memorial.

Which areas should I look at for hotels? Midtown area?

M4RKM

phatbear wrote: »

This in one of the few things i disagree with Mark about as I've heard plenty of new yorkers in New york refer to it still as ground zero heck the last time i was in the states, last sept, it was was even called ground zero on the news.

I'll rephrase. My friends, who lost people in the 9/11 attack, never liked the terminology that the media put on the place. They wish it to be referred to as the World Trade Center, or the 9/11 Memorial. It isn't surprising that the media keep calling it that, it was their phrase in the first place.

Even the Mayor of NYC doesn't want it called that - http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/06/us-sept11-bloomberg-idUSTRE7855T420110906

M

M4RKM

Ainat wrote: »

We plan to go mid December time. Sometime between the 6th Dec, but ensuring to be back for Christmas day. We're pretty flexible with dates. This year is looking like the only year we could go before Christmas (I want to get the Christmassy atmosphere) that we won't be bound by the school holidays.

Thank you for the information about the 9/11 memorial.

Which areas should I look at for hotels? Midtown area?

Probably the most expensive week to go to NYC is around that time in December, as everyone flocks to the city to see the lights, and do shopping.

You'll be looking a minimum of $250 a night for the hotel at that time of year for the most basic of hotels.

I'd personally look towards a good hotel, rather than relying on location, and saying you have to stay in Midtown. The Subway will get you around quickly and easily, and you'll need to use it too.

Pod 39 - Murray Hill - $250 per night before taxes. (Quikbook)
Cosmopolitan Hotel - $291 per night before taxes (Cosmohotel.com)

That's just glancing quickly. So, with flights being around £425 direct from Heathrow (I've had to guess), the hotel is $1351.99 (inc tax - cosmo), that's £901, plus £850 = £1751, or £875 each.


M

MissAA1970

I have finally decided that I will be taking my children to NYC for four nights before going onto Orlando in late July2014. I have booked Radiocity apartments for the 4 nights . However, on second thoughts I am wondering if there cheaper hotels that provide breakfast near to public transport. we are a family of 5 ( 2 adults and 3 children). I intend on spending 2 days with family ( Poughkeepsie and Bronx) , 2 days shopping and sighting seeing .So its not that important for us to stay in Manhattan , we will not be living with family but merely visiting them. I know this is not much time but its to give myself and children a taste of New York .

bb69

Ainat wrote: »

We plan to go mid December time. Sometime between the 6th Dec, but ensuring to be back for Christmas day. We're pretty flexible with dates. This year is looking like the only year we could go before Christmas (I want to get the Christmassy atmosphere) that we won't be bound by the school holidays.

Thank you for the information about the 9/11 memorial.

Which areas should I look at for hotels? Midtown area?

Have a look on Ba.com - They have a sale on at the moment!!!

Looks like you have slightly better prices at 800 mark for 3 nights instead of 4..

Some examples per person for 3 nights:

Hilton by Doubletree £759
Carlton on Madison £781
Intercontinental NY Barclay £796
The Roger £839
Gansevoort Park £897 - Sorry had to add this one its my favourite ha ha


Have a look - Change the flight times to maximise your stay. Ideally leave at 0830 to get to NYC 11.00 - At hotel by 1230/1300 then leave late on your last day (we normally leave at 1930 - arrive back in London at 0700)7

Edit - I love staying near Empire State Building. Murray Hill area. Personal preference, between 34 and 29 streets (or below)

TooClumsy

M4RKM wrote: »

Close, but not correct. They could own the building but it could still break the law. If there are 3 or more "homes" in the building, then it's illegal regardless. We know there is two, but what if there is a top floor apartment too? Short term rentals are a minefield as there are so many pitfalls.

You could get a 2 unit apartment building, that's potentially legal.

M

Thanks M4RKM for that info.

I totally understand why people would be so attracted to rentals as they are more purse friendly, but not sure if they then get second thoughts closer to their travel date...would be interesting to know if I'm the only one who gets uber paranoid about things like this when travelling!

Also, reservation is confirmed at a lodge "The International Cozy Inn"-so massive weight of my shoulders and they were lovely to speak to on the phone. I would say that their website is definitely not as refined as any other websites.

For example, you cannot check the availability calendar- you have to email them and check, a little bit old-skool-but there is a touch of personal service already right there. The lodge is in Harlem and some of the pix look great on the website.

We are paying $150 inc taxes a night (15 nights) plus a refundable $150 security deposit. This is for a spacious room with a kitchenette and private bathroom!

It is of course, higher than our airbnb apartment that we booked ($99 a night + airbnb fee), which we have just cancelled after reservation was confirmed. Its quite annoying, we don't get the airbnb fee back so lost £95 for being over eager and booking it before we managed to find current accomodations.

Now of course, I have the task of unpinning all the places in Red Hook-although I do want to have a visit