New York City - April 2007

consultant31

alexandra1 wrote:

My daughter and I are going to NY at the end of March till 7 April( 10 days in all). We live in the NE so need to change whichever company we went with, booked with KLM (Ncle- NY/JFK via Amserdam with only 1 hr between filghts both ways more or less). Booked through e- bookers and used some nectar points I got for nothing( test drive etc) and it only cost £518.00 including tax. The flight times were our choice and we are delighted with what we have paid. Now we only need to find somewhere to stay, tried the Radio City apartments( as my sister is flying in from Europe too- so apts seem a good idea) but fully booked. All your posts on here are great, knowing where to go to shop is great.Just one question should we declare our shopping as we come back through customs?

I'm going for the same period as you and have got a straight through flight, from Manchester with Delta - 7 hours in all. We went during the same period this year and had to go Manchester to Paris and then Paris to JFK and it was a pain.

I guess it depends on what you shop for. We didn't declare anything, but we hadn't bought any electricals/cigs/booze etc.

alexandra1

Manchester wasn't really an opton for us as we live 5 minutes from Newcastle airport. We have flown to Florida from Manchester but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone from this part of the country unless you stay over somewhere as driving back in the morning after you get off the plane is a killer, the jet lag really kicked in. Manchester a.m. traffic a nightmare- well M62.
Flying KLM all the way through means we don't have to worry about luggage and we have all gone via Amsterdam before without any problem all be it to other countries. The other choice of flying via Heathrow was more expensive and the wait to transfer longer.
My daughter wants clothes basically( teenager) and a Breil watch which we think should be cheaper there than here but don't want to do anything illegal.
I know there is loads on the forum anout NY but as you are going at the same time any hotel recommendations?
Thanks.

phatbear

consultant31 wrote:

I'm going for the same period as you and have got a straight through flight, from Manchester with Delta - 7 hours in all. We went during the same period this year and had to go Manchester to Paris and then Paris to JFK and it was a pain.

I guess it depends on what you shop for. We didn't declare anything, but we hadn't bought any electricals/cigs/booze etc.

It makes no odds what you shop for if you spend £145 or more on any item or collection of items, then by law you must declare them to customs, to not do so is a criminal offence.

I know that people will now jump on this and mention that they have bought back more than their allowance and got away with it but im merely bringing your legal obligation to your attention.

all the best

the bear

chloe_87_87

Hello All

Im trying to book up flights to NY JFKennedy airport on June 18th 2007 to return on the 22nd June, all the flights im finding are in the region of £800 per person, thats not even with Virgin / BA! Anyone know why they are so expensive for those dates? Is it because im looking 7 months in advance?

I went in November 2004 and really loved it, I have wanted to go back there ever since i stepped of the return flight home! I stayed in the Renaissance, Times Square, it was £600 per person, three sharing a room, with virgin holidays, i dont think i'll ever find a deal quite as good as that one again!

Many Thanks

Chloe

nelly_2

Jersey city hotels are cheaper, they are just across the hudson check them on expedia.

Use Ba flight page and let it tdo +/- 7 days too as this shows up the cheaper days to fly on

2tellyou

Guys,

10 days is a very long time in a very expensive city. You will get "sick" of it after a couple of days. I went in Sep 06 and went for five nights and i thought that was enough. I am going again next week (those cheap £150 BA deal) and wish we booked for 3 nights. We are going for 5 nights this time as well.I suppose if you go on holiday once a year then 10 nights is fine but if you go on holiday every couple of months then you may suprise youself.

You will be all shopped-out, tired and the £££ will be high. I am dreading going for five nights. I will spend,spend,spend.

Spen666

I've just come back from NYC.

I got return flights for £200 with Delta flying from Gatwick via Atlanta. ( Would get direct flights next time as so much quicker)


Stayed in Hostel on Upper West Side for $230 for 5 nights ie around £115 per person, but it was a twin room in a hostel- shared bathroom etc.

So on that basis you can do it within your budget BUT:

1. Not very romantic to stay in hostel
2. 3 days is not very long to see NYC, especially when you factor in travelling time etc
3. Best way to get around is subway- we got 7 day pass ( even though only there 5 nights) for $24. This gives unlimited travel day & night on subway & buses across the whole of NYC, not just Manhattan. Subway runs all night and we found it very safe

theloft

I have posted this query elsewhere on this board but did not get replies. If anyone can help, much appreciated.
We are travelling with friends next year in Sep/Oct to Canada and finishing up in New York, so need to book one way flights back from NY for our friends, as we have saved up enough BA miles for ouselves. We want to travel back together. The problem is one-way flights are more expensive than returns and BA say it is illegal to use only half of the ticket, when I queried this. Also they say if you buy a return ticket and "no show" they can then charge your credit card for the full one way fare.
Does anyone know if this is correct and is there any other option. I have also sent the Board Guide a pm on this subject.

Jamp

I would forget about your BA miles for this trip and make your way back up to Canada to fly home from Toronto or Montreal with Zoom or Air Transat who will do reasonable one-way fares.

lisa21

I went to New York for four days last March for the first time, I flew from Heathrow even though I live in Newcastle as it was cheaper to go down on the train and fly from there. I booked my flights and hotel through Expedia and it cost £450 per person, which I thought was a bargain. We stayed at the Park Central Hotel which is just down the street from Times Square and was much nicer than I expected. I have recommended that particular hotel to a few people since.
If you are visiting for the first time I would also highly recommend trying to arrange a Big Apple Greeter https://www.bigapplegreeter.org - these are local guides who show you around the city for free! Our guide came and met us at our hotel on the first day, then took us to see all the sights and anywhere else we wanted to go. I can't recommend that service enough - it's brilliant especially if you are only there for a few days.
Hope you get something sorted!!