New York City Travel Forum

Right. I'll be taking the train NY to New haven and, eventually, train from NH to Boston.

I will quite possibly book my tickets online in advance, to save myself worritting. And I'll collect them from Quik-Trak machines (no probs with that, thank you for previous info).

I'm very, very used to European trains but the US is a major new adventure So a few questions spring to mind:

1. The baggage: no way I (5ft, small) will be able to get the big bag into the overhead rack. Are there in-carriage luggage storage racks? Do I need to use a padlock & chain (never have in Europe but thought I'd ask)?

2. The Amtrak site does not seem to offer me any way of booking a specific seat. Do QuikTrak machines offer this? Or is it simply a case of getting on the train early enough to choose a seat which suits?

3. I know the NH>Boston train will be actually en route NY>Boston when I board, but is it likely that the NY>NH train will be standing in the station for quite a while before departure? You may not be able to answer that one, of course, other than with 'it depends'. :-)

Again, thanks in advance for any input.

I'm posting in the correct forum this time! ;-)

I want to buy a mobile (cell) phone as soon as I've properly arrived in NY. I just want a cheap pay-as-you-go/pre-paid cell, for basic use within the US (just texts and perhaps a phone call or two). I'll only be travelling in the NY>Boston area.

In NY I'll be based near Penn Station. I'd appreciate any suggestions for provider and for where to look. I don't want to spend ages doing this so don't mind paying a few dollars more for a convenient location.

Thanks in advance for any input. :-)

Family of four consisting of myself (grandfather) my daughter ,
husband & 12 yr old Grandaughter looking for a hotel around
midtown --nice without being flashy 5 star for 5 days October
a triple with roll out or double/twin bed. Any help be gr8

My family is visiting NYC next week and staying at the Hotel Wolcott in Midtown. We are coming from Canada. I have some ebay stuff I have been trying to ship with Canada Post but with the lockout nothing is moving, everything is shut down. I just got the bright idea of bringing the stuff with me in my luggage (it's just printed matter) to ship from NYC to points around the USA. I need to know where the nearest outlet is so I can ship my documents out to my US customers. If you know of any concerns I should have with shipping to US destinations from a US postal outlet when I don't live there, please advise.

Hi - I'm planning a trip to the NYC area July 4-9. I have relatives I will be staying with in Westport, CT, so we'll be taking the train into the city - metro north New Haven line to Grand Central Terminal. I'd appreciate any tips on how to make the most of our time there. We will be on a limited budget - I'd like to do free/cheap things in general and splurge a couple times. Specifically:

1. is Grand Central Terminal the same as Grand Central Station?

2. I know you can go "somewhere" and get good prices on Broadway shows last minute, but I don't know where or how or how much of a hassle it is or how likely we are to get tickets. Do you have to get there early in the morning for a shot at a show?

3. Museums: I'd like to go to the art museum, my sons (ages 20 & 14) would rather go to a museum more about history or science. If we do one art museum, would the Met Mus of Art be the one to go to? Any suggestions for history or science museums? I know a little about the Mus of Nat History, but I'm wondering if there's something else we should consider since my kids aren't little? I think we'll only have it in us to do one art museum and one history or science museum during the week, so I want to make a good choice. And if I'm wrong and the guys want to see more museums, what are the next ones on the list to see?

4. I've read through this forum and like the suggestions to walk the Brooklyn Bridge (toward Manhattan) and to ride the Staten Island Ferry. Can you help me plan a day around either of those - what to do on this or that side of the bridge or ferry for food, entertainment, anything. I don't want to simply take a taxi to Brooklyn, walk across the bridge, then take a taxi somewhere else.

5. I'd like to spend time in Central park - either walking, eating a picnic, renting bikes, etc. Ideas? Is it really safe to hang out in now? Is there anything we need to know to be smart about being in the park or which entrance to use and the surrounding area?

6. Is it worth going to Times Square to say "I've been to Times Square"? What kind of afternoon would you build out of that? Or should we skip it?

7. I think we'll take the 4th of July express train into Grand Central to see the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. Where in the world should we go to when we exit Grand Central to actually find a spot to see the fireworks comfortably?

8. I picture spending about 4 or 5 different days in the city, so i want to plan each day to be in a certain area. Like, one day can be our day to go try to get Broadway tickets and see a show, have a meal, etc. One can be the day to see one museum and walk across Brooklyn Bridge, etc. One day to do the Big Onion Walking tour (I was checking out the multicultural eating one) and do something else. I don't need or want everything planned to a T, but i want to kind of map out each day so we don't end up tired, bored, in some bad part of town, or hungry and not finding a place to eat without spending $30 on three hot dogs somewhere not charming. And of course, we'd like to do something not-100%-touristy but fun, interesting and safe...

Thanks!

Has anyone used "aattraction tickets direct" a uk company? They are offering a 4 day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, a city cruise, tickets to woodbury common and entrance to top of the rock or empire state building for £67.00. Sounds too good to be true - is it?

Hi!
I'll be in New York this summer from July 14-20. Anyone else gonna be there around that time? I'm travelling alone so I'd be happy to do some sightseeing together if there're any fellow travelers out there! :)

My friend visited a store couple years back on 5th and 46th (?) called Little Miss Matched and got a nifty pair of soxf and a funky pair of jammies. Since I also like this kind of fashion-sense, I wanted to visit but when I went to the spot last year at this time I couldn't find them, seemed like a lot of scaffolding in the area. Is the store still there? I am back to visit in a couple of weeks. Tried calling, but the phone just rang no answer. I'm from Canada, so can't order online, boo.

My granddaughter will soon be a student at NYU. The occasion will arise for me to visit her there. Do you know a hotel in the area close by that is resonably priced decent and safe? Any tips will be greatly appreciated.

Hi all,

My Fiance' and I will be in New York on our honeymoon from the 20th to the 28th of November and are struggling to find affordable accomodation that is close to the city but still a nice place to spend a week of your honeymooon.

Does anyone have any hotel suggestions/local knowledge/recommendations that we can use?

Thanks

Ben

Trying to find out details of the exact location of a line on the footpath that denotes the original shoreline of Manhattan Island in the 17 century before reclamation works took place. I believe it is behind the Andaz hotel on Wall Street. Any help appreciated, thanks in advance.

I'm travelling to NY in a few weeks and will be in town for the 4th July. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I, and my two teenage children, can view the fireworks.

Any advice would be gratefully received

Thanks in advance

Graham

Hi, I visited New York once a couple of years ago and stayed in Midtown East area. I am going there again soon can someone recommend a good area and also a specific nightclub/bar that would be good for a solo male traveller where there would be plenty of local and/or tourists to meet (female). Last time I found the city really daunting in size and had no idea where to start as I was only there for 4 nights, this time I am staying for the same length of time so want to go to the best places only. I am 30ish so looking for young crowd and would like a place where I am likely to meet friendly young women (and not the type you have to pay for their company). I found that the Chelsea/ Greenwich village was better for nightlife than the east midtown area I stayed last time. Do people agree? But what about specific bars and nightclubs? I am after a place where you can actually talk to people and have a drink, not a place that is just one big dancefloor. I would prefer to hear from people who actually had some personal success and met someone the first night at a place.
Thanks

My wife and I and our two teenage kids( 13 and 15 yo) are travelling to New York start Dec for a 1 week stay. Looking for apartment accomodation as central as possible, but would consider hotels,and are budgeting approx $120 AUD per night. Appreciate any ideas. Cheers.

Can anybody help with finding the Cheapest Airline between London and New York?

I'm visiting NYC this summer, staying at the Wellington Hotel on 7th Ave. This might seem like a small detail, but it's stressing me out: We are driving into NYC and the hotel offers valet parking, but I don't understand where I'm supposed to park once I arrive. There does not seem to be any temporary parking in front of the hotel (at least as far as I can tell on Google Streetview). Does the valet attendant immediately take our car once we arrive? Please excuse what might seem like a strange question, but I live in a small city where parking is easy.

Thinking about a 2 week break in NYC over Christmas, anybody have any advice if this is a good idea ?? We would be planning on arriving around the 16th December. We understand that the weather could be a show stopper, is that the case ?? Any advice would be appreciated


Regards

Thommmmo56

Hey guys,
just wondering if anyone knows any half decent cheap hostels/Backpackers in Manhatten since the one i booked just closed down :(
looking for something right in the centre of the city, but for less than $60 a night; dont care about sharing rooms either.

also, can anyone provide any sites for good nyc day tours?

thanks in advance!
Jess :)

Hi there,

Managed to get some free passes fro Pacha whilst were in New York, just wondering how expensive drinks are in there?

Thanks

Wens 13th of July
- Arrive at JFK from Ireland at about 1:00pm American Time
- Get 2 taxi's or may order Limo from Carmel before we leave
- 3:30pm Check in at the Omni Berkshire @ 21 East 52nd Street, Midtown area
- 5:00pm Get something to eat and walk around midtown area for the evening, times square etc
- 7:00pm *Harry Potter Exhibit and and i've decided to get a NY Pass just for convenience and because of a discount and sale, I got a competitive price for them so we will collect them at Planet Hollywood before these!


Thurs 14th of July
- 9:00 Top of the Rock first thing and Rockefeller Center
- 11:00am St Patrick's Cathedral
- Either Gossip Girl Tour @12 till 3:30 (with the girls obviously) or Bryant Park for Summer Broadway Shows with Mum (depends on line up!)
- *TKTS booth in Times Square in the evening @ around 5pm


Fri 15th
- The Met @ 9:00 (Opening 9:30 - Whole Gang) Straight to Alexander McQueen's 'Savage Beauty' and then exploring the rest of the museum especially the parts designed by architect Kevin Roche as my uncles wife, is his niece
- Walk back through Central Park, Brunch at Boathouse @12:30
- *Radio City Tour @3/4pm - 6pm
- *Ballet at the Lincoln @ 8:00pm (I was going to book it yesterday but I said id wait to see what the experts say!)


Sat 16th
- Port Authority Station and Jersey Garden for the day (Whole Gang)


Sun 17th
- MoMA @ 9
- *I think i'm heading to 'How to Succeed' alone @ 3pm
- *Harbor Lights Cruise


Mon 18th
- Chrysler Building
- *Ford Foundation building (Kevin)
- *UN Building (Another Kevin Roche)
- Grand Central Station Market
- Grand Central Station
- *Train to Coney Island with the Gang if really sunny
- *Bryant Park Festival at night


Tues 19th
- Up Early and Metro to City Hall
- Century 21 @ around 8:00am
- Burger King, on the corner of Liberty and Church Street, Upstairs Dining area to see directly down into what used to be the WTC.
- Ground Zero (Tour or not?)
- *Irish Hunger Memorial
- Battery Park
- Staten Island Ferry Roundtrip
- Charging Bull
- Wall St
- New York Stock Exchange
- Trinity Church
- *TKTS
- Metro across to DUMBO
- Jacques torres Chocolate (66 Water Street)
- Brooklyn Ice Cream Company
- Grimaldi's (19 Old Fulton St)
- Walk Brooklyn Bridge back


Wens 20th
- Walking through many areas eg Chelsea, Hells Kitchen, Meat Packing. Suggestions =)
- Union Sq Farmers Market
- High Line
- Chelsea Market W 16th Street, 9th Av.
- NYU
- Nolita
- Little Italy
- Chinatown
- Hair @ 8pm in St. James Theater, 246 West 44th Street


Thurs 21st
- Shops At Columbus Circle Management
- Columbia Uni
- Maybe Through Central Park to Strawberry Fields & Dakota Apartment Building
- Central Park
- *Zoo
- *Bryant Park (again depending on line up)
- NY Public Library
- Shopping in the evening
- I want a really nice, fancy restaurant where we can all go for Dinner as a memorial of out trip so suggestions please if you may


Friday 22nd
- Brunch near hotel
- Our flight home at 6:00pm

Doing another photo trip to NYC and this time targeting scenic churches to photograph (interiors). Prime on my list is the Church of the Intercession in Harlem, since it has a Crypt that's making me itch to click it. I see that they offer tours, but not on the dates that we are in town (June 30-July 4), so I don't know if they'll let me down into the crypt to photograph it (I'll email, see what they say). In case they don't let us, are there other churches that are as photo-worthy as that one? I've been to St Patrick's, but it was really busy and full of scaffolding when I was there. Or a cloister we can tour? Convent & grounds? etc? Something gothic and eery but beautiful in its own way. Please and thanks!

We are visiting NY for the first time and have booked at the Beacon Hotel on Broadway - I am concerned that this may be out of the way for tourist type transport. We are buying a bus pass but will this pick up near us??
I am travelling with my family (2 young kids) What should I do?

SkyExpress, one of the so called discount "Chinatown" bus companies, offering fifteen dollar fares to a multitude of cities from NYC, has been SHUT DOWN by the government following a fatal bus crash attributed to driver error and bad equipment, citing numerous safety violations.

if you have reserved with this company, suggest booking an alternate means of transit.

We 2 daughters (43 & 53) and mom (74) are heading to NYC for a quick vacation. My mother is absolutely buggy about wigs--she already has 2 and wants more. We are staying at the Wolcott Hotel in midtown and she wants to know where she can go to find (another) wig. The last one she bought in Tours, France, for 35euros and it actually looks pretty cool on her (it didn't make her look like an old lady) and she wears it constantly (although it is starting to fall apart, and we are pulling long strands of fake frosted blond hair off the couch, our clothes, her shoulders, etc). Thus, the need to find another good-quality (but budget-friendly) topper. Where nearby can we find a store? We will be on foot, or using subways, or pedi-cabs. Many thanks from Ma!

Hello! Ill be staying in ny for 3 das and 2 nights in july. I would like to know if it is really worth it to buy a new York city pass. Is it really better for me and my family to help us spend less money? What do you recomend us to do in our 2 days, wich places should we visit? And my las question is: what should i wear??? How's the weather? What type of clothes should I bring? Thank you so much for your answer! (its our first time there)

I promised my daughter a trip to NYC when she turns 18. That will be next March 2012. We can go in March or during the summer and call it grad gift too. Any particular time is better price wise?
Also any suggestions on hotels? I wish I could take her to the Plaza (where I spent my 18th birthday) but I am afraid my budget just doesn't afford it.
I would like to spend no more than $250/night (would prefer to spend even less! LOL) and be in the same vicinity. Is that even possible?
If not, any other suggestions?
Any suggestions on ways to keep costs down? What about airport transportation? Not sure if we are flying into Kennedy or LaGuardia. Any suggestions on that?
Thanks so much. I know I asked alot of questions.

Have an idea that if something in the UK is x pounds then the same item in NYC will be x dollars- am I correct? My daughter for example is planning to buy a Pandora bracelet which is £60 and $65 dollars saving us alot of money. We will be hoping that Abercromby and Fitch, Hollister, Superdry, Gap, Timberland etc will be similarly better buys in NYC?

Does anybody know the best way to access 3G in the US. I will spending a month in NYC and Washington and need to be online at all times if possible. I have an unlocked MIFI modem so I was wondering if I could purchase an AT&T sim card to use with it, or if I would be better to purchase a contract free MIFI unit from Verizon or Sprint when I am there.

If anybody has a better potential solution please let me know as I know using my O2 3G data will probably cost more than the entire trip1

I know NYC has far better free WIFI than I am used to in the UK but my apartment doesn't, nor do a lot of the places I will be heading to.

Many thanks in advance.

My daughter (14) and I are in NY during August for 5 days. She wants to see the usual sites; the movie/TV locations etc. Not keen on theatre (London's just as good!).

She doesn't need all the hotel extra's like gym's etc. Just a TV and WiFi! She said she'd like a good view!

Reading through this VERY INTERESTING forum about all the hotel options... is Manhattan the best place for a hotel? Most of the deals based on flights/hotels from London tend to offer hotels in Manhattan. The prices are good - about 350USD per night (compares well to London)- and seem to be central to the usual tourist trail. I guess these are also business hotels.

In other words... for a first time tourist type visit would it be best to go with the Virtual Tourist top 5, the Tripadvisor top 5, and possibly the chosen airline top 5 for a safe, well located hotel.

I guess the places we'd visit are Central Park, ground zero, Brooklyn bridge walk, harbour cruise and Times Square. A movie bus tour.

Recommendations for the BEST BAGEL, BEST Pizza, unusual decor/ best views eaterie welcomed!

Thanks as always...

My husband daughter and I are coming to NYC next weekend for 6 days- very excited now just hope Icelands dust cloud drifts the other way!

I have bought a pass that in theory allows you to jump to the front of line-ups and discounts the price of entrance tickets. I would like to know which of the main attractions to use them on? ie the longest lines/most expensive.

I think we are just about ready now. Thanks to all who replied to my last posting , you were great!

Helen