Everything & Anything New York City

Threebabes

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Holiday Inn.

You'll do a lot of walking and it will be worth it!

There's a Deli on the corner to the left for brekkie. Maccies 10 minutes walk. Starbucks opposite. TD Bank free ATM 5 minutes away. Irish Bar nearby too. Ask on check in if the hotel have any food deals.

I can't stress how useful google maps is for maximising the time you have there.

Yes thats right.

My daughter has downloaded an app on my iphone with a map of new york and you can drop pins. Its interesting to see what is in location to each other. Will save us a load of time wandering aimlessly.

Thanks for your help.

Threebabes

bluenoseam wrote: »

Worst case scenario being that on 57th you're a 5-10 minute walk to Columbus Circle & 5-10 minutes into Times Square on the subway, granted it'll be chain stuff but you can spin round 5 times and fall into some place to eat there!

Some of the best "discoveries" I had in New York was to ask at reception in the hotel, I've been lucky enough that the times I've asked I've had real good suggestions. All the guide books in the world will tell you the hottest places to go, the best eateries & all that jazz, but they'll also be telling everyone else too. Natives on the other hand know good places where it's quieter, so don't rule out asking the receptionist if they know some place good to grab breakfast/lunch!

I've never personally bothered with the NYC pass (or any other variants), I've always thought about it before hand & went with a plan. With that being said I can't stress enough the importance of figuring stuff out before hand - then you can see if the expensive pass actually works out to be cheaper. Look at the sites you want to visit, price them up individually & then you can properly evaluate the value of the pass, if you're visiting several of them already it may make sense.

Write a list of options that you'd all like to see & do, it might help you to grab a map so you can see the proximity of the various things you want to see & do. Then that way you can maximise the impact you can have while minimising the amount of transition between the activities - cos no one really wants to spend half their holiday on the subway. Good thing about that is it also lets you figure out stuff like finding recommendations online for meals etc a lot easier.

Pah why is it this thread constantly makes me want to say "fudge it" and go back to New York, been twice now & still barely scratched the surface!!

Thank you thats been a great help.

Are the subways safe to use with the kids?

Starting to compile a list of activities and then we will whittle them down etc.

9 months and counting haha....

John259

You're probably ahead of me but if not then here's Google Maps routes from the Holiday Inn to Carlos Bakery:
Walking https://goo.gl/maps/sQDYXdHhHiS2
Subway https://goo.gl/maps/vRcB52Ytgy22

Threebabes

John259 wrote: »

You're probably ahead of me but if not then here's Google Maps routes from the Holiday Inn to Carlos Bakery:
Walking https://goo.gl/maps/sQDYXdHhHiS2
Subway https://goo.gl/maps/vRcB52Ytgy22

Thank you thats really helpful.

Thankfully not too far.

I think my youngest expects Buddy to be serving up the cupcakes! :rotfl:

bluenoseam

Threebabes wrote: »

Thank you thats been a great help.

Are the subways safe to use with the kids?

Starting to compile a list of activities and then we will whittle them down etc.

9 months and counting haha....

I feel safer on the New York subway than I do on my local bus service - legitimately! There's some security risks as with all crowded areas but no more or less than say walking down an average high street. The place is covered with CCTV & the cops are regularly down there as well, just follow the usual rules to avoid getting into trouble and you & the kids will be good. If anything the NY Subway is a weird & wonderful place, I wasn't expecting buskers on the actual trains but hey, it happens!

Good thing with the subway is it's CHEAP, a week's unlimited ticket is only like $30 and that covers every line 24hrs a day as many times a day as you want. Only rule is that you're swiped into the subway you can't swipe in at another station for I think it's about 15 minutes. It's not like the London Underground with zones or anything, it's one fare, easy as pie & well, at £20 for a week is cheap as chips. (Last time I was in London it was something like £8 per day for 2 zones!)

HoofeHearted

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Ms-Money-Penny

Hi all
Visiting nyc for the first time next weekend, wanting to book a private transfer, how do i work out a pick up time, do i put the time i land, not sure what time to book?
Thanks in advance

bluenoseam

Ms-Money-Penny wrote: »

Hi all
Visiting nyc for the first time next weekend, wanting to book a private transfer, how do i work out a pick up time, do i put the time i land, not sure what time to book?
Thanks in advance

At the risk of sounding crazy - what's the cost for the private transfer? It may be cheaper to either use a taxi (they have flat fares to Manhattan) or perhaps look at Uber, cos I know last I checked private transfers were prohibitively expensive.

Ms-Money-Penny

bluenoseam wrote: »

At the risk of sounding crazy - what's the cost for the private transfer? It may be cheaper to either use a taxi (they have flat fares to Manhattan) or perhaps look at Uber, cos I know last I checked private transfers were prohibitively expensive.

I was thinking of using dial 7 or Carmel?

SW17

Ms-Money-Penny wrote: »

Hi all
Visiting nyc for the first time next weekend, wanting to book a private transfer, how do i work out a pick up time, do i put the time i land, not sure what time to book?
Thanks in advance

When booking a transfer from an airport on arrival, always put the scheduled arrival time of your flight as the pick-up time, the transfer companies work it out, allow time for immigration/baggage and check for any flight delays.

It's worth telling them about anything that would mean you arrived through immigration and customs faster than they would expect normally, eg hand luggage only, Global Entry through immigration (you would know if you have this, it requires an application and interview). In the case of NYC airports, baggage is less likely to be an issue as immigration often takes longer, especially if you are in economy (many people off the plane before you).

Regarding price, I'm not familiar with the pricing of the companies you mention (Dial 7 and Carmel). You don't mention airport, but from JFK a taxi is USD 65-70 to Manhattan including tolls and tips (base flat fare is $52), so make your comparison from that.

Uber prices vary. Transfers will be more expensive, but depending on company you may have the benefit of being met in the airport. Your pays your money and takes your choice. Over the years I've used every option in NYC apart from helicopter and public bus (private transfer, taxi, Uber, shared shuttle bus, train and subway) and they all have their merits, depending on price, amount of baggage, time of day, time available and exact destination.