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

LouBlue

LouBlue wrote: »

Off to NY on 30 May for 3 days. Staying at Washington Square Hotel in Greenwich Village.

For spending money, how much dollars and how much in travellers cheques do you suggest, as in percentage? I know I need a lot of dollars on me for tipping, but how much does it cost to change up travellers cheques there. Last time I went was 8 years ago, and I can't remember what I did.

Can anyone advise?

myk_2

There will be high demand for flights around that time though because of the marathon. Is that why they have gone up £40 overnight I wonder? And will they go even higher?

M4RKM

Ok.. personally.. i only take dollars... i find travellers cheques clunky, and I avoided spending them when i took them last..

i found restaurants are the easiest to pay by travellers cheques, but it has been a good 3 - 4 years since i've used them...

why do you need a lot of dollars for tipping? you can tip on your card as you're paying, tell them to keep the change to the travellers cheques when you're paying.. that doesn't make much sense to me... sorry...

i'm a beer monster, and proud, and i survive on $200 a day in total, that includes a night out drinking.. so if you don't do the drinking.. half that amount.. that is travel, sightseeing, food, and shopping... the other $100 is beer in the evening!

so if you really want to take travellers cheques, i'd personally just do a 50:50 split... but TBH, i wouldn't bother... take cash.. as it is king.. (closely followed by dubloons!)

M4RKM

myk wrote: »

There will be high demand for flights around that time though because of the marathon. Is that why they have gone up £40 overnight I wonder? And will they go even higher?

swings and roundabouts innit....
could do, might drop a bit..

if you do book now, just never check the price, and you'll be safe in the knowledge that you have the cheapest price...

LouBlue

I remember having to tip the bloke that took our bags in the hotel, if one of them got us a cab...that sort of thing....if I even accidentally smiled at one of them......:rolleyes:

You and your dubloons.

blindman

myk wrote: »

There will be high demand for flights around that time though because of the marathon. Is that why they have gone up £40 overnight I wonder? And will they go even higher?

Possibly but who knows?
Fares fluctuate all the time.

IMHO if you are definitely in the Marathon (got and paid the entry?) I'd book the flights now regardless of the fact that they may go down by £40 or so.

Once the flights are sorted then you can concentrate on the other details of the trip.
I believe cheap accommodation will be your nightmare so you need to focus your efforts on that.

I assume you know that registration for the race will (usually) close at about 4-5pm on the Saturday before the race so ideally you need to be in NYC on Friday at the latest.

kilos

Like eveybody, I'm looking for NYC flight + hotel deal. Dates between 6th-14th December, for 4 nights. Best I've found is 6th December, 4 nights, flight, Edison Hotel for £543 with BA or £604 with Virgin.
OR 10th December, £543 with BA or £625 with Virgin.

The site I seen these advertised prices is dreamticket.com.
My Dilema! with all the BA chaos, I would prefer to fly with Virgin, I'm looking at £60 extra. I ask what is peoples preference BA or Virgin for flying to New York ?

Should I wait for credit crunch and hopeful of drop prices ?
I also read in Daily Mirror yesterday, amount of people being conned booking holidays with so called internet sites. I ask has anybody booked through dreamtickets.com and how do you check for authentic websites ?

LouBlue

I love flying with Virgin. We are flying with Virgin as I won Virgin vouchers so we had no choice anyway. They are a bit dearer than BA I think.

M4RKM

DON'T STAY AT THE EDISON..

the bar downstairs is nice, but the hotel is tatty, and the plumbing leaves something to be desired... PM me for more details...

GIRLPOWER_2

:wave: I am trying to arrange / book the transport for our NY trip in August.

(Edit to say this is from JFK to 57th st)

I have read Mark's great guide but have a few further questions.

We are a party of 9 which includes 2 children. Me and DH have been to NY before and got the train in but that was via Newark.

So my questions are does anyone know if they have a flat rate for 9 persons in a minibus or is it all standard taxi's? In which case we would need 3 taxi's! :eek:

If they charge for children (6 and 7) on the airtrain / subway?

I just wanted to compare tube v suppershuttles v taxi to see what the difference is.

Thanks for any replies.

Nikki.