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

M4RKM

NessyNoo wrote: »

Hi all,

Wow- there are over 200 people viewing this board right now- I imagine everyone is dying to book their hols!

I've been a very lucky girl this Christmas and my bf has paid for a trip to New York in Feb on the 21st for 6 nights.

Can I have some sightseeing do and do nots please. I've had a look around online but have not found a great website for this info yet.

Any help appreciated! 50 days and counting:D

do's - Walk places, anywhere in midtown / greenwich / soho areas are perfectly safe during the day... walk.... enjoy, take photos.. experience the subway, get lost, find yourself again. go up top of the rock, a lot bigger viewing deck, and you get your photos of both central park to the north, and the empire state to the south

search this thread, and the previous ones, there are plenty of choices already listed.... ask questions when you have some ideas of what you want to do...

don'ts - take cabs everywhere. go up the empire state building the viewing deck is far too small, and sometimes the queues are horrendous.

painted_lady

I am foruntate to have been to NYC several times, here are some tips,
- unless your travelling solo, JFK to Manhattan is cheaper in a yellow cab. It is also an hour quicker than the bus.
- Find out what time it gets dark, go up empire state an hour before dusk, then see the city in daylight and watch the city light up (beware there can be a queue for the lift and also there is no seating/cafe up there) I did this the first time I went up and it was great.
- Manhattan is a great place to walk around. I have walked from battery park to central park many times, its a fair walk, but if you have the time and are fit enough, its well worth it, soak up the atmosphere of the city. If not, the deals on the subway are good.
- Take the Staten Island ferry instead to get great views of the statue of liberty and the manhattan skyline. Its free!!!!!!! There is also less security than the Liberty Island ferry and nothing else at the statue anyway. The Liberty Island ferry is a big rip off. Staten Island is also a nice place to explore and an opportunity to see a bit more od NYC that not everyone gets to see.
- For broadway shows, go on the day to the box office on Times Square, we got half price tickets for Chicago, the box office opens at 4pm, but get there for 3 to make sure they have tickets to good shows left.

For the record, the first time I was in NYC in 1999, I had $15 to my name, luckily had somewhere to stay, but had a fantastic time. I walked everywhere and learnt a lot about the city.

M4RKM

Christa1 wrote: »

Markymoo, I still haven't booked the Cosmopolitan yet, but I see hotelconnxtions charge over £150.00 in tax for the 8 nights we intend to be there, does that sound about right? They seem to be the only ones who can now give us 2 beds, as you suggested for more space, Ebookers did it for $1600.00, but said this was to be paid to the hotel plus any local tax, not sure what to do? Any advice?

i've always found that hotelconxions is the only place that you can get a slightly discounted rate on the rooms, and book straight away, with nothing else to pay at the hotel..

. hotel tax in NYC is about 13% plus an occupancy fee, plus something else, its soo complex, which is why i like hotelconxions as they include it all in there...

the ebookers price of $1600 seems a bit cheap, my thoughts are they would have sold you a 1 bed plus sofa bed room, rather than a true 2 bedded room.. however, if the price on ebookers is cheaper than the

Room Cost: $XXXX Price after rebate

line on hotelconxions, i would think that the ebookers rate is cheaper, and quite suprising really.. i'm going to check it out now for the dates i'm staying!

does any of that make sense?


a quick edit - i noticed with ebookers, that i don't get a choice of room when i put in 2 guests, so it tried putting me in a normal double room.. now i personally don't want to share with my sister, so i had to fool it, buy putting in 4 guests in the room to display the rate for a 2 double bed room.

hotelconxions without the tax (for when i'm going is $1200)
ebookers.com without the tax (for when i'm going is $1350)

it is rack rate that ebookers are doing, so i think ebookers are choosing a standard room for you at that cost...

M4RKM

painted_lady wrote: »

- For broadway shows, go on the day to the box office on Times Square, we got half price tickets for Chicago, the box office opens at 4pm, but get there for 3 to make sure they have tickets to good shows left.

i disagree... go the TKTS Booth at south street seaport... a lot less queues, because everyone queues at times square, and you get the same deals...

Lady_S

I am worried now, I booked through ebookers and it never said anything about paying tax on top of my booking when I arrived :S

M4RKM

Lady_S wrote: »

I am worried now, I booked through ebookers and it never said anything about paying tax on top of my booking when I arrived :S

what hotel did you book and for when.. i'll check it for you and let you know!
and also, which ebookers, com or co.uk

Christa1

Lady S is booked at the Affinia Dumont, I think you will find at £900.00 for 6 nights you may well have tax on top of that. We booked through last minute.com last year at this time and paid the price quoted on line there and then, and there were no extra tax costs to pay on departure, so maybe there prices must be all in?
Markymoo: Yes you are right, the prices on ebookers were just for the one bed in the room, I was going to go for the 2 rooms as you said it made the room larger and we are there for 8 night so thought the extra space would be best. Also can you ask for a quiet room there?

M4RKM

Christa1 wrote: »

Markymoo: Yes you are right, the prices on ebookers were just for the one bed in the room, I was going to go for the 2 rooms as you said it made the room larger and we are there for 8 night so thought the extra space would be best. Also can you ask for a quiet room there?

i'm confused... 1 room 2 beds, or 2 rooms 1 bed..

either way, if you want a quieter room, ask for one that looks out onto the alley, the hotel is a square, with 2 sides of it looking out onto the main roads... and 2 sides looking out on, umm.. walls... ok, you get no view, and the room is a bit darker, but they are quieter, especially as there is a bit of construction work across the road, (starts at about 7am!)

M4RKM

on ebookers, booking the affinia dumont, i think you're alright, and the price quoted is all in..

i've just done a test, but it is a bit confusing.

Lady_S

markymoo wrote: »

what hotel did you book and for when.. i'll check it for you and let you know!
and also, which ebookers, com or co.uk

Affinia Dumont, 1st April until 7th April, booked with ebookers.co.uk

I have double and triple checked the booking form, and the website and it doesn't say anything about taxes.