[Closed - see new thread] New York Q&A

M4RKM

loveabargin wrote: »

My family of 4 are going in december and flying into JFK will taxi's take 4 person plus luggage or should I book a shuttlebus and if so any recommedations? We will be arriving around 6pm on a friday so I hope the traffic wont be too bad.

We will be staying at the casablanca hotel on 147 west 43rd street now if the taxi option is ok, which way should I ask the driver to go so we get a great view coming into manhatton

Thanks to all poster's and I am taking notes

Yes, Taxi's can take 4 people, but 4 lots of luggage and you're pushing it..

take a look at my guide of getting to manhattan, and book a car service, quicker than the supershuttle.

as for where you're staying, the taxi driver will want to go in via queens midtown tunnel, as it is the easiest... take a subway into brooklyn, and walk over the bridge, as you'll have time to stop to take photos..

loveabargin

markymoo wrote: »

Yes, Taxi's can take 4 people, but 4 lots of luggage and you're pushing it..

take a look at my guide of getting to manhattan, and book a car service, quicker than the supershuttle.

as for where you're staying, the taxi driver will want to go in via queens midtown tunnel, as it is the easiest... take a subway into brooklyn, and walk over the bridge, as you'll have time to stop to take photos..

Thanks markymoo for your advice
could you or anyone else recommend who has the best price to book the car service with?

Oh and we will be eating in the rib's restaurant you recommend. Do you have anymore we should go to.
thanks

M4RKM

there are plenty of car services around... however, i have used both tel aviv and carmel, and their prices are around the same.

however, you must call them once you've cleared customs, and they only have USA / NY Numbers.. make sure you either have some quarters for a payphone or a USA Sim (I recommend T-Mobile USA PAYG or AT&T GOPhone) to call them on!!

alexjohnson

markymoo wrote: »

and one person who is paying $25 a night, can prop up a bar, and have a conversation with the guy who is paying $500 a night... No one really cares in NYC about money, which i think is great

I'm sorry, but are you INSANE? That is the ONE thing EVERYONE cares about!

alexjohnson

RichTeaBiscuit wrote: »

Markymoo,
With your experience of the NY taxi thing would it be a bit unreasonable to ask the taxi driver to take in the Brooklyn bridge on our journey from JFK to the Edison Hotel on 228 West 47th Street. I've had a look on GoogleMaps at the difference in distances and it's a little bit more, there's just something about entering Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge.

Yes, but you could ask to take the 59th Street bridge (on a map it is called the Queensborough Bridge, but no one calls it that). The view is different but no less impressive. Cabbie will probably still say no but you have more chance and given that most flights from the Uk arrive in the late afternoon (rush hour) you wouldn't want to be sitting in traffic all the way up anyway.

alexjohnson

bleepandbooster wrote: »

Hello folks
Check out "BestBuy" for electrical/electronic goods aswell.
David

Yep they're the best I reckon (as a former resident...). The really good one is in Chelsea - 23rd and 6th. This will also be handy for other shopping (see separate post).

M4RKM

alexjohnson wrote: »

I'm sorry, but are you INSANE? That is the ONE thing EVERYONE cares about!

read it in context... but i'll rephrase just for you.... when you're propping up a bar, and having a conversation, it doesn't matter if you're staying at the youth hostel, an average hotel, or the most expensive hotel, you're having a beer, a conversation and all is good...

thats what i meant, so in that context money doesn't matter!

oh.. and this thread is helping people, not insulting other peoples comments..

alexjohnson

mad_rich wrote: »

That's a cool hotel - I stayed there in February. There's a great diner for breakfast round the corner on 2 Ave, and loads to do within walking distance.

Personally I wouldn't bother with a cab from JFK. You can get the subway direct from Jamaica (where the Airtrain stops) to Lexington Ave (a couple of blocks from the hotel) - $7

In some ways I agree. If you are the adventurous type go for it (and the ticket machines take credit cards). The connection from the monorail at JFK to the subway is easy and it goes straight to midtown with very few stops, and then all the way downtown. (Or you can go to Howard Beach which will get Downtown first but the connection at Howard Beach is not so good.) This also has the advantage of being a completely predictable hour, and while a cab will normally be faster, there are times when it will be a lot slower. However, Jamaica is a bit like the Clapham Junction of the Long Island Railroad, and if you're the type to get confused or if you have heavy luggage, take a cab. In Manhattan there are few escalators on the subway...

alexjohnson

markymoo wrote: »

There may be a few nice restaurants around times square, but i URGE people not to only eat and visit places around there. from what i found, they are targeted at tourists, and the food is average at best, but there are so much better places in other areas, a short cab ride away, or a subway ride away. Better food, better atmosphere, and cheaper.

If you like ribs, may i recommend Blue Smoke - 116 E 27th Street,
for a good french meal a very small restaurant - Les Routiers - 568 Amsterdam Ave
for some contempary american - Dekk - Reade Street


Just some random ideas...

I don't have that much experience of New York as a tourist, but I have to say if there's a recommended hotel at a reasonable price in Tribeca, GO FOR IT. The restaurants in Tribeca are much, MUCH better than ANYTHING you'll find around Times Square / Penn Station, and much hipper. You are also within walking distance of SoHo, Little Italy, and (real) Downtown. Greenwhich Village is a quite doable walk. Of course you'll want to go to Times Square, Central Park and whatnot, but if you are humming and hahing, Tribeca is cool. Quietly cool, but cool.

M4RKM

alexjohnson wrote: »

Tribeca is cool. Quietly cool, but cool.

I've been saying that for the whole of this thread.

As a tourist, I find Tribeca is much more of a real NYC Experience, mainly because there are a lot less tourists around the area.

alexjohnson, maybe you can help us out and give us a short list of some of your favourite restaurants..