Everything & Anything New York City

Ganga

donglemouse wrote: »

as I recall you can get in the reception/lobby to see the murals and art deco ceiling

BUT you can't get beyond reception as the building is fully let to genuine businesses and there's no visitor deck etc.

Thanks donglemouse,seems a pity to stand outside if you can acctually go in and have a look around.:T

macpep1

Hi All


I am slowly working my way through the thread, my hubby & I are going to NYC on 8th May for one week for our 20th wedding anniversary!!! I am beyond excited. After much research & trying to get the cheapest possible flights/hotel, it worked out cheapest to book it all through BA. We are staying in the Shelburn Affinia in Manhattan, a guest room which seems to be pretty big compared to what I have read of others peoples experience. Spending money is a concern, as we also have our family holiday in Lanzarote in August. I know it will be expensive for food etc, someone who has been 4 times to NY told me not to buy the pass as you get good deals in Times Square. The cost through BA flying direct from Edinburgh was £2028 for both of us.


I am now wondering roughly how much we will need, we are not into fine dining, am not too bothered about seeing a show. I am also now worried that extra costs will be added on to the hotel room as I cant see this on the BA Website? TIA x

Tipsntreats

macpep1 wrote: »

Hi All


I am slowly working my way through the thread, my hubby & I are going to NYC on 8th May for one week for our 20th wedding anniversary!!! I am beyond excited. After much research & trying to get the cheapest possible flights/hotel, it worked out cheapest to book it all through BA. We are staying in the Shelburn Affinia in Manhattan, a guest room which seems to be pretty big compared to what I have read of others peoples experience. Spending money is a concern, as we also have our family holiday in Lanzarote in August. I know it will be expensive for food etc, someone who has been 4 times to NY told me not to buy the pass as you get good deals in Times Square. The cost through BA flying direct from Edinburgh was £2028 for both of us.


I am now wondering roughly how much we will need, we are not into fine dining, am not too bothered about seeing a show. I am also now worried that extra costs will be added on to the hotel room as I cant see this on the BA Website? TIA x

We stayed there, we had a suite. it had a kitchenette, that had a fridge and a microwave. The hotel has only 16 floors, and a rooftop bar. The bar is only open in the warmer months, but as a smoker we all gathered up there anyway, with our own drinks. Fantastic views. Grand Central is a very short walk. The view from our window was the Empire State building. The hotel is in a perfect place for everything.
The cost of our flights, using https://www.netflights.com was £462 each. That included return flights from Toronto, where we spent New Year. We booked our Christmas/ New Year holiday in June. We booked our hotels through Hotels.com, very good price. I like Hotel,com, because every 10 nights booked you get a free night. As we travel quite a bit, our next holiday will be free.

Nearly forgot Tia, NO extra costs at hotel, unless you require WiFi in your room, it is free in the lobby/large lounge area. Best diner just across the road from your hotel https://www.scottysnyc.com it is open 24-7 and the food is fantastic. Anything else just ask me.
Tips x

springdreams

Tipsntreats wrote: »

We stayed there, we had a suite. it had a kitchenette, that had a fridge and a microwave. The hotel has only 16 floors, and a rooftop bar. The bar is only open in the warmer months, but as a smoker we all gathered up there anyway, with our own drinks. Fantastic views. Grand Central is a very short walk. The view from our window was the Empire State building. The hotel is in a perfect place for everything.
The cost of our flights, using https://www.netflights.com was £462 each. That included return flights from Toronto, where we spent New Year. We booked our Christmas/ New Year holiday in June. We booked our hotels through Hotels.com, very good price. I like Hotel,com, because every 10 nights booked you get a free night. As we travel quite a bit, our next holiday will be free.

Nearly forgot Tia, NO extra costs at hotel, unless you require WiFi in your room, it is free in the lobby/large lounge area. Best diner just across the road from your hotel https://www.scottysnyc.com it is open 24-7 and the food is fantastic. Anything else just ask me.
Tips x

I think by extra costs, macpep1 meant the taxes that are usually payable to the hotel direct, rather than paid via the booking site.

macpep1, the only way to know this, if it is not apparent from your booking, is to get in touch with BA, who you booked your holiday through, and ask them if the taxes have been included in the price you paid, or whether you still need to pay these. It is more common than not for the taxes still to be payable to the hotel direct.

Tipsntreats

springdreams wrote: »

I think by extra costs, macpep1 meant the taxes that are usually payable to the hotel direct, rather than paid via the booking site.

macpep1, the only way to know this, if it is not apparent from your booking, is to get in touch with BA, who you booked your holiday through, and ask them if the taxes have been included in the price you paid, or whether you still need to pay these. It is more common than not for the taxes still to be payable to the hotel direct.

Oh I understand. We used Hotels.com and paid no tax, as it was an all inclusive price.
That is what I like about https://www.hotel.com , you have no surprises. Unlike Booking.com , where they state that you pay the hotel on arrival. The cab from JFK cost $67, as there is no shuttle bus to http://www.affinia.com/shelburne.

loskie

I stayed at that very hotel in Feb 2012( my rating will be on TA) I think. 4 nts before flying to Houston to visit and Aunty. Flew from Galsgow to JFK. Got the train from airport direct to Penn Station which was quick and easy both in and out. Walked from Penn station to the hotel but I guess a taxi from there would be pretty cheap if you wanted.
Hotel was well located in a safe neighbourhood in fact one thing that surprised me about NY was how safe I felt throughout my trip. Walked loads too.

My choice would be the train:
http://www.panynj.gov/airports/jfk-airtrain.html

Ganga

macpep1 wrote: »

Hi All


I am slowly working my way through the thread, my hubby & I are going to NYC on 8th May for one week for our 20th wedding anniversary!!! I am beyond excited. After much research & trying to get the cheapest possible flights/hotel, it worked out cheapest to book it all through BA. We are staying in the Shelburn Affinia in Manhattan, a guest room which seems to be pretty big compared to what I have read of others peoples experience. Spending money is a concern, as we also have our family holiday in Lanzarote in August. I know it will be expensive for food etc, someone who has been 4 times to NY told me not to buy the pass as you get good deals in Times Square. The cost through BA flying direct from Edinburgh was £2028 for both of us.


I am now wondering roughly how much we will need, we are not into fine dining, am not too bothered about seeing a show. I am also now worried that extra costs will be added on to the hotel room as I cant see this on the BA Website? TIA x

If you go back on the BA Holidays web site i am pretty sure that the price quoted includes all taxes,etc.this will not include anything charged to your room.ie phone calls,room service etc.

Birdy12

Hi, am looking to take DD to New York for a few days, ideally April or May.

Am looking at the 100's of hotels on offer but am not always taken with a big hotel chain, sometimes prefer something a little more quirky. Anyway, has anyone stayed at the hotel above? Did you find it a good hotel and c!ose to attractions? I am aware it's owned by Marriott, however, it looks a little different!

I was also thinking the Radio City Apartments? Anyone stayed at these and rated them?

Cheer, B

PeacefulWaters

Birdy12 wrote: »

Hi, am looking to take DD to New York for a few days, ideally April or May.

Am looking at the 100's of hotels on offer but am not always taken with a big hotel chain, sometimes prefer something a little more quirky. Anyway, has anyone stayed at the hotel above? Did you find it a good hotel and c!ose to attractions? I am aware it's owned by Marriott, however, it looks a little different!

I was also thinking the Radio City Apartments? Anyone stayed at these and rated them?

Cheer, B

I'd suggest checking reviews on Tripadviser.

ERICS_MUM

This might (or not !) be useful. Some might not agree with my opinion but I'll post it anyway.

Personally If I were staying in Manhattan I would restrict myself to hotels within a 'rectangle' bordered by 34th St in the south (near Macy's and the Empire State Building). 60th Street in the north (the southern edge of Central Park). I would suggest going east only to Lexington Avenue (point of reference is Grand Central Station) and westward as far as 7th Avenue/Times Square.

This is quite a large area and covers many of the main points of interest. Obviously you would want to go to other parts of Manhattan and NYC and this is easily done by bus or subway. Beyond the area I've described, I'd feel a bit nervous walking back to a hotel later in the evening.