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

kaspani

does anyone have any experience of a hotel called the sohotel? i think it used to be called the occidental or something similar?

i am planning a 5 night stay to NYC from 6th of Dec, I have fouund very reasonable flights through BA and have been researching hotels for the past week... originally (being a new york newbie) I wanted to be right in the heart of midtown, but after reading some of the thoughts and seeing the prices am I possibly thinking better of it.

the sohotel looks nice enough... we have quite a tight budget so options are limited. but just wondered what people thought of this area - chinatown/little italy/soho - and what it would be like staying there and exploring the city from this base?

In my stay i would like to do all the 'touristy' things but price is a major factor and thinking is if i can save £200 on a hotel it can be spent on other things.

Any thoughts welcome... Thanks!

HGLTsuperstar

Dream brithday on its way! My bday is Dec 7 so looking for NYC city break from 5-8th for 2 or 3 (one room is fine). Ideally direct flights, never been to NY so want somewhere in the city, not the outskirts, and want to go skating in Central Park on my bday, get last-minute Broadway tickets on one of the nights, and just go hyper on everything and crash and burn when I get home. Believe me, all of us on this trip are well over-due for a good time (don't mean clubbing etc but just doing the NY thing - on a reasonable price). Help please!

M4RKM

kaspani

Check tripadvisor for reviews of the SoHotel, I've not stayed there personally, but it is a budget hotel. Reviews are mixed as I can see, and I'm sure anywhere in Manhattan is only a couple of blocks away from a subway station, which means you can easily get around the city within minutes.

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HGLTsuperstar

What classes as outskirts of New York City? Personally, anywhere near the airport is the outskirts, as it really isn't served by the Subway well. You can still easily get into Manhattan in less than 20 minutes from Brooklyn!

If you're thinking of staying in Manhattan, then ANYWHERE is easy to get to, and nothing can really be classed as outskirts, even though on the map it might, the Subway works 24/7, and once grasped is easy enough and cheap ($25 for a week) to use.

Budget Hotels are things like the Pod, Sohotel, and the Cosmopolitan, so have a search for these, and you'll see what kind of prices you're going to get. There are other hotels, as well, but I know many of the really cheap ones come with a shared bathroom, which isn't my idea of a holiday.. it is bad enough when my sister comes to visit!!!! *LOL*

fruity1_2

You are going to have to weigh up the cost of staying out of town, where and what you want to do should be your deciding factor. If you want to be in the heart of it then Manhatten is the place to be (Times Sqaure, Central Park, Empite State Building, Fifth Avenue, Madison Sqaure Garden) You can get a train/subway to 'Ground Zero', Chinatown, Little Italy etc) or get the 'Tour Bus' and get on and off as much as you want/when you want. You can get a free ferry to Staten Island where you can view the 'Statue of Liberty'. They even do a night tour of the city. Hope this helps.

Sue_S

I've got a timeshare exchange to the Manhattan Club next April, the address is 200 West 56th Street, between 7th and Broadway. I've never been to New York and was wondering if this is a good location and if anyone has any information about the Manhattan Club? Thanks.

M4RKM

Sue S..

towards the top of midtown, only a couple of blocks away from central park, nice enough location... not heard of the Manhattan Club myself, so can't help there..


M

fruity1_2

Sue_S wrote: »

I've got a timeshare exchange to the Manhattan Club next April, the address is 200 West 56th Street, between 7th and Broadway. I've never been to New York and was wondering if this is a good location and if anyone has any information about the Manhattan Club? Thanks.

Google - Manhatten Club NY - where I found this (seems to be a timeshare complex)

200 W. 56th Street
New York City, New York, United States, North America 10019 Whether you come to New York City to go to the theater, to museums, to Lincoln Center, to Carnegie Hall, to dine in fine restaurants, to shop 'till you drop or just to walk in the park… The Manhattan Club's perfect midtown location makes it easy to get there!
The resort's convenient location right in the heart of New York City is only the beginning of what The Manhattan Club can offer you…
Just imagine: spending a comfortable night in your own luxurious suite and going up to the private Owner's Lounge for a leisurely breakfast. Then, stopping only to ask the concierge to make dinner reservations, you walk out past the doorman and New York City is there at your feet!
The Manhattan Club offers luxurious accommodations, outstanding amenities and first class services such as: concierge staff, a private lounge, fitness center, business center, valet parking, and easy access to all forms of transportation. The elegant wood paneled and marbled lobby features a professional front desk staff, doormen, valet parking, and knowledgeable concierge staff to help you with dinner reservations, theater tickets, and other personal arrangements. The private lounge serves morning breakfast and evening cocktails: a perfect setting in which to relax after a day of sightseeing or gather before an evening out on the town. The well-equipped fitness center can help you set the pace for a day at the museum or unwind after a long shopping spree. A business center is provided to allow you, if you must, to stay in contact with the office or clients.

I have no opinion of this complex as I've never been there although it doesn't seem to be far out of the action.

fruity1_2

Google:- tripadvisor.co.uk - not all good reviews but they never are!! For a one off stay, nothing to lose.

M4RKM

isn't that the point of review sites, to get a overall view of what things are like...

M
*maybe a little too drunk while listening to the mercury prize thingies*

weeowens

Just had word back about a prize trip that we won .It seems that we are travelling on American Airlines from LHR and staying at the Roosevelt for five nights.
Any tips/advice about the hotel or airline.Is it true that all meals are charged for on American Airlines?