[THREAD CLOSED - SEE PART 2] Anything & Everything New York

haimster

Hi all

Im flying to New York for 3 days then onto Vegas for 4 days and would like to see the statue of liberty, Ellis island . Do I have to book in advance because of security measures or can I just turn up and buy tickets? Thanks

M4RKM

afaik.. turn up and you're good to go...

go early in the morning, as it is probably quieter then....

KarenG

hammy_the_hammer wrote: »

it's very hard to generalise on immigration queues as it depends on the exact time you get there. your flight could arrive just after a full 747 lands with 400+ people on it from a country where the immigration grill everyone without a US passport

Yes, that's why I did not specify a time.....

haimster

markymoo wrote: »

afaik.. turn up and you're good to go...

go early in the morning, as it is probably quieter then....

Thank you very much.

Sorry to be a pain but you wouldnt happen to know of a good/cheap helicopter tour for New York would you? All the ones Ive been researching have bad reviews on trip advisor etc. Were also off to Vegas as well after 3 days off New York and wanted to do a helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon, same again with bad reviews.

sodamnfunky

Hi all,

well after wanting to go to NY for years, we are finally about to book a trip for next February, which will be our 7 years together anniversary and my 38th birthday.

At the moment we have 3 possible hotels, Hilton Garden Inn Times Square, Hampton or the Waldorf Astoria. Have any of you stayed in any of these? Also we are looking at purchasing any excursions over here (the wife wants to do it this way), I would rather wait and pay for them there. Any tips?

Savvy_Sue

haimster wrote: »

Sorry to be a pain but you wouldnt happen to know of a good/cheap helicopter tour for New York would you? All the ones Ive been researching have bad reviews on trip advisor etc. Were also off to Vegas as well after 3 days off New York and wanted to do a helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon, same again with bad reviews.

I haven't read any helicopter reviews anywhere, but I can't help feeling that they are inevitably going to be short, expensive, and VERY noisy. I personally can't be doing with the last two ...

And the more I think about it, the more I would NOT want to do a 'cheap' helicopter trip. :eek:

But maybe someone who's actually ridden in a helicopter will be along to put me right ...

LouBlue

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But maybe someone who's actually ridden in a helicopter will be along to put me right ...

I have. Me and sis, we were a bit scared but it had to be done. Yes, it wasn't cheap and yes, it wasn't that long but the views are amazing. If you have the dosh to spare, I would recommend it.

M4RKM

sodamnfunky wrote: »

Hi all,

well after wanting to go to NY for years, we are finally about to book a trip for next February, which will be our 7 years together anniversary and my 38th birthday.

At the moment we have 3 possible hotels, Hilton Garden Inn Times Square, Hampton or the Waldorf Astoria. Have any of you stayed in any of these? Also we are looking at purchasing any excursions over here (the wife wants to do it this way), I would rather wait and pay for them there. Any tips?

hmm.. not really moneysaving hotels...
check out the reviews on tripadvisor to help you choose

Hilton Garden Inn TS = 32/344

Hampton = (there are 5 Hampton Hotels in NYC!)
Times Square 14th,
South Street Seaport = 37th
Chelsea = 52nd
Madison Square Gardens = 101st
SoHo = (too new to have a rating!)

Waldorf = 113th

My advice is always to choose a cheaper hotel, as you'll spend hardly any time in it, and then you can afford more luxuries while you are there!
But if you are set on those hotels only, the Hampton at Times Square (ugh!) is the highest rating and the best. Remember, these positions are out of 340ish, and are based on user reviews...

M

sodamnfunky

Hi thanks for the reply, Hampton would be the times square one, and waldorf astoria just because it is what it is. Not fussed about the hotel being a money saving hotel, and I wont stay in a cheaper hotel, been there done that and hated every minute of them.

Ill go check out trip advisor.

hammy_the_hammer

sodamnfunky wrote: »

Hi thanks for the reply, Hampton would be the times square one, and waldorf astoria just because it is what it is. Not fussed about the hotel being a money saving hotel, and I wont stay in a cheaper hotel, been there done that and hated every minute of them.

Ill go check out trip advisor.

the Waldorf Astoria isn't what it used to be . remember when looking at reviews that often people don't mention the grade of room or worse don't realise they have been upgraded.
personal recommendation from someone off here would go a long way in forming my decision