Everything & Anything New York City

poormaria

Thanks CatMonkey85!!

I have just booked some Nets tickets for the Tuesday, was hoping to spend some time in Brooklyn/Williamsburg on that day we are over there - any places you recommend for drinks food etc?

scrappee

Hi All

We are travelling out on Thursday. Wondered what the 'cost of living' was like at the moment. Will we find things more expensive than here?

Loved your post Catmonkey!

Thanks

M4RKM

poormaria wrote: »

ANOTHER HOTEL QUESTION:
I can now get the One UN New york (near murray hill?) for the same price as Cosmopolitan Tribeca..... should I stick or change?

Cosmo is right outside a subway station, with other stations less than 5 minutes away. One UN New York is around 15 minutes from Grand Central.

poormaria wrote: »

I could also get the MaVe for just slightly more or I could get Tribeca Blu for quite a lot cheaper

MaVe isn't too bad actually. It's worth considering, depends how much more expensive it is. You've got the 6, N,R,F,M all nearby, (not as near as the Cosmo), walking distance to Union Square for more too... Madison Sq Park and Shake Shack nearby... It is a good hotel too..
Tribeca Blu, I wouldn't bother myself unless Chinatown appeals to you.

M

M4RKM

scrappee wrote: »

Hi All

We are travelling out on Thursday. Wondered what the 'cost of living' was like at the moment. Will we find things more expensive than here?

Loved your post Catmonkey!

Thanks

Where is here? I'm in London and don't find it expensive, but I drink expensive beer, eat good quality food.

If you're used to paying £2.50 a pint, and expect a meal at a pub for £10, then yeah, you'll find it expensive. What have you budgeted for your stay?

M

catmonkey85

poormaria wrote: »

Thanks CatMonkey85!!

I have just booked some Nets tickets for the Tuesday, was hoping to spend some time in Brooklyn/Williamsburg on that day we are over there - any places you recommend for drinks food etc?

We didn't spend much time there so can't help with that one I'm afraid. I would have like to check out the brewery though.

We are travelling out on Thursday. Wondered what the 'cost of living' was like at the moment. Will we find things more expensive than here

As M4RKM said it really depends on where you go and what you want. We found a pint to be $4.50 - $6.50, glass of wine $8 - $10. Burger or chicken sandwich & chips $15-$20, huge plate of nachos $15. We just ate in bars rather than restaurants, and just went in where we walked past rather than really researching. There will be cheaper and more expensive! We never had a bad meal, but nothing gourmet. Alos look out for $1 pizza slice shops for lunch on the go!

N20Y1D

dseventy wrote: »

Hello all, what a wealth of information!

After years of thinking about it, I have finally booked New York!

So this is a long weekend mid of Dec, arrive Thursday 5pm @ JFK and leave 7pm Monday from JFK.

This is a surprise weekend for our 10th wedding anniversary, just me and my wife. She does not know and if I can keep it from her, she won't know until the airport! (Though keeping it a secret is hard as I have had to get my MIL/FIL to come to the house to look after our kids and spoke to her boss at work to book the time off!), both sworn to secrecy, so we shall see.

So, I have booked the Jolly Madison Towers. I know is not the best reviewed hotel in NY, but I have got a deluxe room booked on the 17th floor (which are supposed to the best in the hotel). I get some discounted travel perks at work and got AA flights and the hotel all in for £880 for 2 of us.

So down to planning. Can I get some help/ideas on the below :

1) Our anniversary is the sat night. I want to do a special dinner and a show. Something New York esq and soak it up? Any suggestions for eating? A bit of googling shows some restaurants have pre-show menus and some sites do a dinner/show combo deal. Are these any good? I want cracking food in cracking NY atmosphere.

2) Show suggestions? We saw Chicago in London and loved it so I figure theres no point? Jersey Boys rates very highly....

3) What to do on the Thursday night. We LHR->JFK and arrive at 5pm (getting up that day at 6am UK time so long day) at the airport, we are close the Empire State building, but people have said TOTR is much better...?

4) This may seem daft, but I love big cooked breakfasts like sausages, bacon egg etc. Googling diners looks like its pancakes and omlettes, am I wrong?

I am sure I will more!

Thanks for all your help, I promise a trip report in return!

For a drink on your first night try here, food is good as well with amazing views of Times Square:

http://rloungetimessquare.com/

And another vote for TOTR - do the sun and stars - its well worth it - went first thing and it was empty, went again for sunset and still no queues.

I found ESB far too busy - and this was at 11pm at night

And you want the ESB in your photos.

catmonkey85

dseventy - amazing surprise - lucky lady!!

We watched Matilda which we really enjoyed. If you're fans of Tim Minchin & the book/film then I'd go for that. Seem to be able get discount tickets too (although we paid £75 each at box office as didn't want to waste hours in line at the discount place). Heard so many people loving Jersey Boys, although it's not my cup of tea. There's also Wicked, Lion King and many more! If you're not going to book tickets before you go then I'd see what's on offer/let her choose when you arrive.

Empire State was busier when we went, and the security staff were very grumpy! TOTR is much more modern and glam (the lift, entrance etc) - I liked the view of Central Park from there. I would say that it is better. Not sure if there's much of a price difference?

M4RKM

poormaria wrote: »

Thanks CatMonkey85!!

I have just booked some Nets tickets for the Tuesday, was hoping to spend some time in Brooklyn/Williamsburg on that day we are over there - any places you recommend for drinks food etc?

Just because Williamsburg is in Brooklyn doesn't mean it is near the Barclays Center.

It's not an easy route. Let me give you a list of good pubs and bars and work out a route.

poormaria

Yes Mark thanks for your help, was aware not near but we are hoping to get off manhattan abs def would love to see Williamsberg after yours & others comments. Just thinking its prob the best day to visit and then make out way down to Barclays in evening but any other suggestions are lost welcome! All starting to feel a bit real now

littlesnuggy

I've decided to add ice skating at the Rockefeller Center to our itinerary. We'd planned to go to TOTR first thing after breakfast on the Wednesday of our trip. Could anyone recommend whether it would be best to do the skating or go to the Top first?

There's a skate session 10.30 - 12, but I'm not sure from what time we'd have to queue to get in for that, and whether that would mean not enough time at the Top beforehand.

Is it possible to buy tickets in advance for the skating, and if so, are there ever any discounts floating around?

Thanks