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

costingbunny_2

Just tried to book some flights from Manchester airport to NYC 27 Jan 09-2Feb 09 but there are no direct flights?? really confused as I have flown this route before. can only see that I can go direct with Continental or Delta which don't seem as good as BA (you have to pay for drinks and stuff). anyone know where the direct flights have gone and/or if Con or Delta are any good?
Thanks

costingbunny_2

markymoo wrote: »

sod the views and a posh drink.. go where the locals go and visit the neighbourhood dive bar....

the locals drink there cos it is great, the atmosphere is normally much more fun, and they'll recommend the best places to eat, as they eat there, so you don't get ripped off as a tourist...

I agree, I was just providing a bit of advice for a birthday treat. Some people visit NYC only once cos of the cost and I think it is OK to sometimes splash out for a memorable night. Equally I think local bars are also a must - one night I went to the Rainbow Room and later in the week I went to a gig in Hells Kitchen and I would also recommend the Rodeo Bar if you want a 'real bar' with great music and a very 'real' atmos.

M4RKM

costingbunny wrote: »

Just tried to book some flights from Manchester airport to NYC 27 Jan 09-2Feb 09 but there are no direct flights?? really confused as I have flown this route before. can only see that I can go direct with Continental or Delta which don't seem as good as BA (you have to pay for drinks and stuff). anyone know where the direct flights have gone and/or if Con or Delta are any good?
Thanks

hmm.. Delta are a really good service to be honest.. i flew them from gatwick back in march, and found them amazing... so attentive, a lot of drink cart runs, and you do get 1 free alcoholic beverage with your meal, all non alcoholic drinks are free at all times...

I've done a quick search for those dates, and no BA flights are there.. interesting... £326 for either CO or DL..

i've then gone onto BA's website, and found that the flights come up perfectly, albeit at a cost of £399.40 and via Heathrow on the way out, Gatwick on the way back.. .

maybe BA have cut that as a direct route?

*goes to investigate more*

costingbunny_2

markymoo wrote: »

hmm.. Delta are a really good service to be honest.. i flew them from gatwick back in march, and found them amazing... so attentive, a lot of drink cart runs, and you do get 1 free alcoholic beverage with your meal, all non alcoholic drinks are free at all times...

I've done a quick search for those dates, and no BA flights are there.. interesting... £326 for either CO or DL..

i've then gone onto BA's website, and found that the flights come up perfectly, albeit at a cost of £399.40 and via Heathrow on the way out, Gatwick on the way back.. .

maybe BA have cut that as a direct route?

*goes to investigate more*

thanks - if BA have stopped the direct route it is really odd as it must be popular eh?]

lexa34

[and for better value clothes etc check out woodbury common:

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=7

all the best

the bear[/quote]

May be daft question. If this is classed as NY then is there a similar place further "out" that you wouldn't pay the NY tax on?

(sorry if I haven't grasped the tax situation correctly!).

costingbunny_2

another post from me - sorry I have put so many on separately but didnt want to ask too much in one post. Expedia are offering 6 nights in Jan 2009 for £613 for this hotel as a one-off offer - very, very cheap looking at the regular rates. Anyone been - read TA reviews but, as usual, they are mixed?

M4RKM

lexa34 wrote: »

May be daft question. If this is classed as NY then is there a similar place further "out" that you wouldn't pay the NY tax on?

(sorry if I haven't grasped the tax situation correctly!).

not many places that don't have a state tax...

all prices in the USA are ex tax, and it gets added on at the till, in NYC, tax is 8.3625%

M4RKM

aah.. the good old telephone...

spoke to someone at BA, and the Manchester - JFK route stops at the end of october.. it is actually run by a subsiduary, not by BA themselves (even though all the planes etc are BA Branded) and this has been sold to easyjet, who can't/won't/ fly the transatlantic (TATL) route..

so.. from Manchester, we only have Delta and Continental flying direct, other options are BA via London, US Airways via Philadelipha, Air France via Paris (or codeshare with delta).

greenface

delta done me good and looked after us last year and would recommend them from our experiance. Food was included (and decent)with unlimited soft drinks comfy enough seats staff were good and helpful no complaints .

lechat

Hi just come back from a fabulous time in NY thanks to the NWA cheap flights!

stayed at the Latham Hotel for the first night not inc tac $139. good location off 5th ave, but a little run down. shared bathroom was suprisingly good.

Stayed at the Hudson Hotel for 5nights too at an average of £150 per night. This was also a fantastic location near colombus circle, the subway and i preferred this part of town. it was especially good to be near to central park, and there is a nice deli/ breakfast place if you turn left out of the hotel. I would recommend the hotel at this price or less. I think it is more for young professionals as it has a club feel to it with neon lights and music in the lifts. it is clean and comfortable, the room size is perfectly fine with ensuite, good shower power, and flatscreen tv + stereo. If you were paying the rates quoted on their website i think people do expect more especially if you had stayed at other hotels at the same value. The only thing I would say is drinks and food and internet prices are extortionate. If you are going as a holidaymaker this is the downside but then you can eat elsewhere. I think the hotel has a lots of all expenses paid business guests so the extras are hiked up to rinse the businesses! The hotel has a "sky terrace" which is a roof garden with a bar which is very nice if the weather is good- lots of sun loungers and view of hudson river. I would definitely ask for a high up room and one facing outward (we asked for one with view of hudson river) as the music from the club (a bar) and the private garden (also a roof garden for your use) at the lobby level will carry up to your room at night. There is also a small gym and concierge. I would say definitely worth £100 a night, as from my research there arent any other hotels that you can get for that price for such a good location and at the end of the day it is clean and has all the facilities you need. just dont buy anything from the hotel and dont take anything from the room as you will be charged an extortionate amount. there is a supermarket nearby which we discovered on the last night (sorry i cant remember which street), you could buy drinks there and take them into the private garden.

other recommendations-

ice cream- cold stone creamery on 42d st opposite madame tussauds
grand central oyster bar (and the station itself is beautiful)
quality meats- a restaurant for steak approx $45 was also recommended BLT but didnt go there
southstreet seaport for lunch or dinner looking towards brooklyn bridge or manhatten skyline
the free ferry to staten island and back which passes the statue of liberty
roof garden at the metropolitan museum for views
century 21 for reduced designer goods. i got some mbt shoes for 1/2 UK & US price here
bagel shop on 5th ave around 31st st.
Norma's restaurant at the Parker Meridien for amazing breakfasts but at around $20+