Travel Answers

New York City

My fiance and I are travelling to NYC for new years eve this year for our honeymoon and planning to leave Australia 28-29th Dec. My main questions are: 1) When should I book flights as I know this is peak time, should I be booking early or waiting for prices to come down 2) Where should we stay to have an amazing NYE 3) What is a great way to spend NYE?

any recommendation for a musical in new york?

thanks,
Giora

We will be travelling from Australia to NY City in December. Our plan had been to spend 1st night in NY (as our flight doesn't arrive till 4:30pm) then to catch train to Washington DC the next day for 10 nights, then return to NY for 10 nights then fly back to Australia. I am in a quandry as we (3 of us) will each have a large suitcase and a small overnight 'carry on' bag - all with wheels. I have discovered that Amtrak impose baggage restrictions and supposedly the only way we will be able to take this luggage is by booking trains with checked baggage allocation. For travel from NY this gives us 2 options - depart at 3am (Idon't think so) or depart at 7am (maybe doable even though we'll be jet lagged). For travel to NY we have only one option - depart 10pm and arrive at 1am! - not doable. I am astonished by these restrictions as we had no trouble with this luggage in Europe. Are there any other options or train services or do you think we'll have to catch a plane instead? Many thanks in advance.

Hello,
Can some one recommend for a good mexican restaurant in NYC?

Can anyone guide me to high-end clothing stores at discounted price?

where to buy used DVDs in New York City

Hey guys, I'm attending a conference at Lincoln Center for 2 days. Afterwards I plan on taking a little vacation for a few more days around NYC.

My question is... does anyone recommend any hotels nearby Lincoln Center? I'll be flying in the night before the conference and don't want to be trying to navigate the subway system the next morning. I'd rather be in decent walking distance.

Second question... For the remainder of my trip after the conference, should I stay around the same or book a different hotel?

Here are some of the regular tourist attractions I want to see: 

1. Coney Island
2. Empire State Building
3. Time Square
4.  Harry Potter The Exhibit
5. Central Park
6. West Village Stroll
7. P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center
8. Grand Central Terminal
9. Tiffany's (Breakfast at Tiffany's)
10. American Museum of Natural History
11. Apollo Theater
12. Rockefeller Center
13. Queens Museum of Art
14. Radio City Music Hall
15. Little Italy
16. Twin towers memorial
17. Chinatown

Sorry for such a broad general question. Hopefully you guys can point me on the right direction!

disclaimer: I've had a few white russians tonight so hopefully my question makes sense 

Im going to be taking Mega Bus from hartford, ct to nyc and from there i need to be able to get to the airport quickly. What is the best way to do that. And, how early should i get to the airport to catch my flight to atl?

Looking for a "good" hotel in new york city (from your Experience). Budget arround $300.

Thanks, Giora

Hi all, I'm travelling with a group of adults (5 in total) and was wondering if anyone knew of accommodation that could accommodate all of us. Not fussed if it's an apartment or a couple of hotel rooms. Want to stay in the city, not in Queens or Brooklyn. Any suggestions? Looking around 80-100 per night per person. Thanks

We are 2 families coming in Oct 2013, we need a place to stay big enough for 8, doesn't have to be too central, dont mind Queens or Brooklyn as long as we are near to a subway station, anyone got any reasonably priced recommendations???

I will be in May in new york city and i am looking for a good hotel around times square (between 40 and-55 streets and 5- to 8th ave.) My budget is ~$350. Any one have a recommendation?

Sincerely, Giora

hi, I am coming to New York next month, I would like to know the best places to see sun set and sun rise in New York City to take photos. Also, is better to take photos for Broklyn Bridge during sun set or sun rise. Thanks for your reply,

Who has used the tour guide service, Tours By Locals? The company offers tours around the world, not only in NYC. What about tours in other USA cities, were they good? And tours in other countries, were they any good? What has been your experience? Was the company any good? Did things go smoothly? Were the guides any good? Any feedback about the company, Tours By Locals would be appreciated. Thank you.

In ten days I will be visiting my daughter who lives in Manhattan at the moment. She is 21years old and I am 41. We are both into skyscrapers, views and of course sky bars. Where do we find the best sky bars with view in Manhattan in February? It should be bars where we can have a drink or two during evenings/early nights and not nightclubs since we are mother and daughter and do not party together. Thank you.

Hi all What is the cheapest way to travel from JFK to downtown NY. Are most of the hotels accessible by public transport from JFK. One hotel I'm considering is Econo Lodge in Times Square. Many thanks, Keith

Hi especially to all who know NYC! Can anyone recommended an inexpensive (thinking120 or lower rate) boutique hotel in NYC, any borough would be fine, as far as particular location. Any hotel that is unconventionational/kitschy with some sort of theme (Bohemian, Tropical, etc)?

I guess I worded my earlier question poorly, making it sound like I was complaining about a change in a website. There no longer appears to be scheduled coach service between JFK or LaGuardia Airport and Grand Central Terminal. Is this true, or am I reading the Port Authority web pages incorrectly?

My partner and I are seriously considering just hoping on a flight and marrying in New York City later this year. Is it as easy as it looks for non US citizens?

I was updating fares for my JFK Airport tip, and I discovered the New York Airport Service web page (http://nyairportservice.com/) has completely changed. It now appears to have converted to a shared-van company instead of a bus company. While it still claims there's "express service" between JFK and Grand Central, but any attempt to recover a schedule or fare hangs. Any insights as to what happened here?

Which New York hotel would you recommend for being close to the major attractions. Looking at no more than £700 for five nights in September. Thank you

Three years ago we spent a wonderful evening at TGI Fridays in Times Square on new years eve, we are heading back to the big apple for new years eve again this year. Unfortunately that particular TGI's has since closed so we are looking for an alternative venue on times square that includes dinner & being able to go out into the square to watch the ball drop at midnight. We are looking to spend up to US400.00 per head. We not wish to stand in the square for 10 hours to watch the ball drop. Also open to any other options that you may think would give a true "New York new years experience". Thanks in advance for your help

Hello, I wondered if anyone could help me? I am a Londoner, and I am looking to travel from JFK to Montauk in May. However I don't arrive until 8pm at night into JFK (and I will ahev been drinking on teh plane!), so I want to spend a night near the airport, and then get up refreshed and hire a car to drive to Montauk the next day. There is no point going into Manhatten to stay for one night to have to come out again - both financially and geographically! Can anyone kindly recommend an area near to JFK to book a hotel just for the night which is safe and has some charm to a tourist please? I have read a lot of scary things about Queens so really not sure where to stay! Many thanks for any advice.

The contributors on this forum have been by far the most informative while I've been researching for my trip to New York in Aug/Sep 2013. So thanks for your collective knowledge! After a lot of reading I've narrowed down my hotel choices to just a few. But I'd like some feedback on whether to book now (6 to 7 months in advance) or wait a while and hope for some discounted rates. Rates available now are pretty much rack rates but I'm not sure if the time of my visit (11 nights from Aug 30) is popular enough that little or no discounting will be available if I wait. The hotels I'll be targeting are Comfort Inns (Midtown and Chelsea), Residence Inn Times Sq, Grand Union and The Greenwich Hotel (in case Bobby throws me a big discount!) I'd appreciate your thoughts and experiences regarding the likelihood of good discounts worth waiting for at that time of the year. Thanks.

Hi, I am sure that no one wants to think about christmas but I could do with some help please, we have just booked our dream trip to New York for Thanksgiving we will arrive on 27th Nov-2nd Dec and are staying at the London NYC. We plan to attend the Macy's Parade, and as I understand a lot of the shops will be closed we thought it would be a good time to walk in Central Park, and go to the Empire State Building? We would like to have a traditional thanksgiving dinner in the evening so I would appreciate some suggestions please? Our budget would be about80 for 2. Also does anyone know when after thanksgiving the tree at the Rockerfeller is lit as we would love to see this, and will most of the lights and window displays be in place at this time? Finally as I understand black Friday will be madness at the stores is it best to visit other areas on this day or maybe just select 1 or 2 stores to visit? Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance.

Have received a great offer on nitely rate @ Salisbury Hotel on 57th. Has anyone stayed there recently? Any information you can give me about the hotel and neighborhood will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Has anyone used the tour booking website www.dosomethingdifferent.com ?? If yes, how reliable are they ?? How efficient ?? Thanks very much for any help. Cheers, Carlos.

Dear all, I saw an offer currently from Groupon for a 4-course meal at Club A Steakhouse for 2 for 76 USD. I am wondering if it is a good price for NYC? The location of the restaurant is East 58th St. Never used Groupon before so am not sure about if there is any catch on it....? Here is the link: groupon.com/deals/club-a-ste... Thanks for your opinion!

Hi all, my girlfriend and I are going to NYC over new years eve. We checked several locations around Timesquare and are not realy convinced of the square itself. We stay in HellsKitchen and would like to stay in the near vicinity for any party or club. Any suggestions for a unique NYC event e.g. Rooftop bars. Where do you go? Thanks Simon

I am staying at Times Square and have 5 hours on a Saturday (8am to 1pm) before leaving from Times Square for JFK for my 4pm flight. My questions are: 1. Is the Subway working so that I can get myself down to the Brooklyn bridge, and Ground Zero? (1 hour) 8am to 9am 2. Hoping then to visit also Chinatown, Little Italy Greenwich (1.5 hour) 9am to 10:30am 3. Returning to Central Park (1 hour) 10:30am to 11:30am 4. Then finishing at Rockefeller center (1 hour and then to the hotel) 11:30am lunch and back to hotel 1pm Any room to add a quick visit to Guggenheim in there or a Roosevelt tram ride? What would you suggest to cut out? What Subways lines are not working. Thank you for your responses!