Going to New York - any MSE ideas?

WelshWoofer

Hi,
Just booked return flights to New york for me and OH in November with my Star Alliance airmiles gained through travelling a lot with work and used Priority Club free stays for accommodation gained from (you guessed it!) staying in hotels a lot with work.
As the trip is virtually free - just have to pay air taxes - would like to have some suggestions on where to go and what to see MSE style if possible. I went over 10 years ago but OH has never been.
Anyone got any ideas?

Also as the dollar is really weak at the moment shoudl get almost 2 dollars to a pound Sterling. Might do some early Xmas shopping while we're there - any suggestions for good buys?

Thanks
Rachel

alison74

Please do a search on this forum, there are several threads from the last few days about New York.

Also try www.tripadvisor.com and the New York forum there, more info on what to do than anywhere in here.

Have fun !!!

MancBrel

I went about 4 years ago. You are lucky that the pound is so strong against the dollar at the minute, I had a bum deal on exchange (about $1.37 to the £).

I have to say that the parks are the nicest way to get the most out of NYC, without spending too many dollars. Of course Central Park is a must, but I'd also recommend going to Bryant Park, a small green bit of tranquility (NYC version), with lovely skyscraper views.

I was really dissapointed at the quality of restaurant food in New York. I am a bit of a foody, and found it lacking somewhat. I had much better quality eats during the day, from deli's etc.

A word of caution. Many guidebooks will lead you to go for a drink in McSorleys (it's an old bar, that serves the cheapest drink in New York, so they say). The place is a dive. I took my wife there one late afternoon, they serve your drinks in two small glasses (full of throth). So we are stood in a crowded bar with 2 glasses each in our hands (and bags), then the glass collector (an old american-irish bloke) directs us to stand between two table full of people. I told the bloke that I would stand where I flaming well wanted, and the bar staff took exception to this, ordering us to move (there were people stood everywhere). Anyway, my wife said that she wanted to leave, so I necked all four glasses of drink (it came to less than a pint!), and went to the loo. The toilet was a saloon door in the middle of the pub, straight into a wc (very visable). The sight I saw when I swung those doors open remains with me to this day. I won't elaborate, but the pebbledashing was AWESOME!!

Aidenr

Hi Rachel,

must admit, im addicted to NY. I go at least twice a year. Not a model MSE huh

The quickest and cheapest way round the city is on the subway. if my memory serves me right,you can get a 5 day Metrocard for less than $10

As also said, Central Park is a must. great day out and there are loads to see.

Statue of Liberty is great to see. Dont be fooled by the attractive ferry crossing, you can get the statton Island ferry for free and it goes straight past Liberty Island (just as good)

Empire state is great, if you want to do it on the cheap and bypass all the tourist attractions,you can buy a ticket for the oberservation deck only, great veiws, but can get a bit busy on clear days (obvious reasons)

Shopping wise: Century 21 is FAB if your into your labels. last season bargain prices. it is down near the stock exchange opposite ground zero, but definatly wortha visit

As also said, the Deli's are great for eating during the day - subway is everywhere! dead cheap.

well thats enough of my rambling. want any more buff, just PM me.

all the best
Aiden

student100

Aidenr wrote:

if my memory serves me right,you can get a 5 day Metrocard for less than $10

It doesn't, or the prices have gone up somewhat. 1 day is $7, 7 days $24.

Alikay

Remember to go to the Customer Services dept in Macy's with your passport and get your 15% visitors discount card. Its valid in all Macy's stores in US for 12 months.

hyperhailz

Hi rachel,
Im sooo jealous of how cheap you're doing it already. I loved the place when i went with family 5 yrs ago and my boyf took me in may this yr for my 21st. I just love the place so here are a few tips from what we found from our trip.

The macys discount as already mentioned is really useful, we even got the 15% off reduced stuff (although i dont know whether that works for everything). Central park is also a must but make sure you have a good walk round it and not just the southern bit like most ppl do.

Century 21 is good if you like TKMaxx-style rumaging.

As for saving on public transport - we didnt use it once. We were there for a week and easily walked to/from and around central park, most of midtown and even to ground zero/financial district from our times square hotel.You see so much more when you do it by foot and before you ask we're not usually walkers either!

A couple of other things I've never heard anyone mention before - the tourist office in times square (just by TJI's if i remember correctly has a yahoo! station, well about 4 or 5 i think so you can check your emails (not just yahoo) and surf the net for up to 10 mins at a time for free so theres no need to use internet connections at the hotel

Another absolute gem we found (so good im releuctant to tell everyone, lol!) was an internet cafe/calling centre down by the ESB (about 2 blocks south, one block east. I say about). We called home from there for less than 10 cents per minute!!!! That was a landline of course but i dont think it was more than 20 cets to uk mobiles - you pay more than that calling in the uk dont you? we found out about it when a bloke was giving flyers away in the street so dont think they're all junk and if you cant find that one im sure there are plenty more in the city offering such good rates!

Have fun, im sure you'll have an amazing time - if you cant have the best time of your life in new york i dont know where you can! If you want anything else just gimme a shout, I can talk about NY until i run out of breath!

monty100

Hi there. When we went with our kids 3/4 years ago we arranged a Big Apple Greeter - www.bigapplegreeter.org

Basically, they try to set you up with a volunteer native New Yorker, who will show you around a part of NY. When we did it it was free.

We had this wonderful older chap - a real character - he took us around The Village, Times Square, the University area, and on the way kept up a wonderful commentary in broad New York accent. We looked inside some of the famous 'speakeasy' joints of the 30's, and he gave us all a free Metro ticket so we could get around. He could have gone on all day, but we had to cut it short as the kids were getting a little bored!! We bought him a coffee and bun at the end as a thank you. It really was a good experience. And MSE, of course!:T