New York City Travel Forum

Hi! I'm going to visit New York in May and I'll be staying at the Central Park Hostel (19 West 103rd Street).

Apparently, it's a nice hostel, but I'll be sleeping in a 10-bed dorm surrounded by total strangers. So:

a) Do you know this hostel? What do you think of the place?

b) Are there any special precautions that I should take?

Has anyone stayed at this hotel? How is it? Great location and great price. We don't expect fancy or boutique, just clean and safe.

During our stay early July we want to visit Staten Island.
I already found information about the (free) ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island.

Would it be possible travelling by bus from Manhattan to the Ferry Terminal on Staten Island ??
- which bus(es) do we have to take ??
(we are staying in Chelsea - 318 West 20th Street)
- how long will the bus ride take ??


Thanks a lot

when do they light the christmas tree

I read somewhere that the Newark - New York Amtrak train ticket is also valid for the air train at Newar Liberty Airport. This means you don't have to buy two tickets (Amtrak + air train), only one (Amtrak). Is this information correct? And how much does the Amtrak ticket cost? Thanks!

I have two questions if anyone can help me regarding visa for US please?

I have new british passport (got it in June 2007) do I need tourist visa?

My husband has Jamaican passport with 2 year settlement visa for UK does he need a tourist visa?

Thanks in advance ;)

Hi,

I was wanting to stay in New York for a couple of weeks and I was wondering what would be the best option for accomodation as the prices especially in Manhattan are really expensive. I don't want to stay in a dormitory ot hostel, I would rather have my own room. Any suggestions would be much appreciated and I would be travelling from the UK.

Thanks

Martin

Hi all,
I'll be planning a family trip to my first Aunt's place in Connecticut with my second and third aunt and a few of my cousin; and we are planning to spend a few days exploring NYC in Feb/Mar 09.

ALL my aunts are Vegetarian. Is there any vegetarian-friendly restaurants in NYC??

Their vegetarian conditions are:
* no meat (of course!)
* no animal by-products
* no onions
* no garlic
* OK to milk and eggs

Can help me here to give me some restaurant places so we can visit when we are there??
Not too expensive places please! (My home currency to US dollar is 1.65 to 1)
Do also provide me the restaurants' price range and maybe a few recommended vegetarian dishes if possible!! THANKS A LOT!!

Thanks all!

Hi,

Anyone knows some authentic place in Manhattan to have the original American Breakfast (eggs, sliced bacon or sausages, pan cakes with syrup, cornflakes, coffee, orange/grapefruit juice hummm pancakes)?

Thanks.

We are going to nyc in december, but our flight gets into lga at 945. I have not booked a hotel yet but we plan on staying at the Casablanca and was wondering if they will hold luggage earlier in the day when we arrive. By the time we get to the city it will not be check in time yet. I have emailed them several times with no response. Does anyone know if they will do this or if any other hotels will so we can do some sightseeing b4 check in? thanks

Does anyone know of a dinner theatre/comedy show in NYC that is suitable for 12-15 year olds? They must be open on Wednesday nights.

I will be traveling with 3 teens who want to see the Statue of Liberty. How much time should I plan on staying at these at sites? Does the Reserve Ticket for the Statue of Liberty really save you from waiting 1 1/2 hours to board the Liberty cruise?

I just posted a question about the City Sight tour....now I am wondering if the City Pass makes more sense. Which is better?

Thanks!

We have only 2 days in NYC. Would you recommend the City Sights NY Tour for $80 which allows you to "hop on hop off" a double decker bus for 2 days, and includes tickets to Liberty and Ellis Island, Top of the Rock or Empire State Building, and a night tour, etc.

hi,

does anybody know where I can get chinese anqtiues and handicrafts in NYC?

Thanks
Glen

well if u remember i had asked for help in planning my itinery.As suggested by a number of you i have dropped one major destination i.e.Washington d.c.so now it is only NYCand niagra.on friday we went to statue of liberty and empire state building ground zero and brooklyn bridge we saw times square while catching the bus from port authority.now we want to sdpend monday again in NYC please give suggestions and do remember i dont want to spend much.please reply soon

Hi,

Are there any supermarkets near Macys in NY10001 ,Manhattan . We want to stock up with soft drinks before a cruise ?

Hi! I'm going to New York in May and I'd like to visit the legendary Katz's restaurant (205 E Houston Street). QUESTIONS:

a) What do you think of the place?

b) Are they open throughout the whole day or only on lunch/dinner hours?

c) Is service as bad as they say?

d) And, most importantly, what's the best (i.e. less crowded) time/day to go there?

Hi everyone - greetings from Scotland!

I'm coming over to NY again in May for a long weekend. On previous trips, I've really enjoyed spending the day in Brooklyn and Harlem - so this time I would like to check out the nightlife there.

I was planning to spend a Thursday night in Brooklyn and a Friday night in Harlem.

Grateful if you guys can offer any advice on good bars, dive bars and restaurants to go to. We're two straight guys in our mid-30s and we don't like touristy places. The more authentic and edgy - without the threat of violence! - the better.

Our ideal evening would be some great ethnic food in a little neighbourhood restaurant, then drinks in some great local dive bars and then dancing to great music in a cool club... oh, with lots of hot, friendly women thrown in too!

Any advice you can offer? Many thanks.

Dave

I will most likely be eating lunch and dinner there too. Any restaurant suggestions??

Hi to all VTers,

Will be going to New York from San Francisco on 25 June for 5 nights. I have a few questions hope somebody can answer for me.

FREE OR PAY ACCOMMODATION?

I have a remote relative living in Elmhurst Queens. I think it's around 10 mins. walk from Woodhaven Boulevard subway station. I was looking at the subway map and it looks like miles away from Manhattan. I understand that there's a faster train LIRR but not sure how much a one way ticket will cost.

Then I have also booked a room with Larchmont Hotel located in Greenwich Village (near 6th ave - 14th street subway). The room rate is around US$120 per night.

So my question is whether I should choose the free accommodation but may take me ages to Manhattan everyday. Also I am concerned about getting back at night. What time will the last train be??

INTERNAL FLIGHTS FROM SFO TO NYC

I have found 2 cheapest flights currently on offer through Expedia on line. One is with Alaska and the other one is with UA. The fares are similar but they land in different airports. I know that JFK is closer to Queens but which one is more convenient? Alaska lands in Newark.

Would very much appreciate any tips!!

Many thanks
Sybil

I'm going to visit New York in May and this is what I have planned:

DAY ONE (Saturday, 3rd May)

- Arrival at Newark Airport (1:25 pm)
- Leave my bags at the hotel (Central Park Hostel)
- Union Square Greenmarket
- Kim's Video & Music
- Strand Book Shop
- Forbidden Planet
- ABC Carpet & Home
- Flatiron Building
- If there's any time left, see New York Public Library & Grand Central Terminal

DAY TWO

- City Walk (92nd street Y)
- Lower East Side Tenement Museum
- Annual Gathering of Remembrance at the Emanu-El Congregation
- If there's any time left, visit Museum of Jewish Heritage

DAY THREE

- Meet the rabbi
- Visit Jewish Children's Museum in Brooklyn

(If you know of any other Jewish attractions / events in Brooklyn, please tell me)

DAY FOUR

(I have no idea!)

DAY FOUR

- I have to check out from my hotel early and I'll be carrying lots of bags, so I won't be able to walk around much. I think I'll go to the movies (IFC Center). Plane leaves at 8:00 pm


What do you think?

please help me plan a trip to new york ,washington dc,niagra falls.I have 2 days in NYC,2 days Washington DC(wherein i want to do hersheys chocolate factory)and 2 days Niagra falls.As we are travelling with small children and staying with friends in New Jersey i need all the help in organising this trip.please note as we are flying to new jersey we either have to rent a car or use a public transport to go to all three destinations.As i said i need all the help because my own personal contacts are not very forthcoming in suggestions and we are new to united states.please reply as soon as possible.

I need the best website to book yankees tickets as well as broadway shows.

I want to book a flight for New York in July or August but I want to know if
there is any concert taking place that period.

Is there any music festival taking place that period in town?
Is there any internet site that I can check out venues, gigs etc?

thanx in advance!
konstantinos

Hi,

I am travelling to New York city this Thursday with five friends (we all live together at university in London) and we are really looking forward to being keen tourists for 4 nights! Five on us are aged 19 and one 20 so here in England we are used to having a glass of wine with dinner or few drinks in the evening but I read that the drinking age is 21 in the states.

My question is… is this law strictly enforced – are we really not going to get any alcohol during our stay? Also although in the UK 8 is the drinking age, at 16 you can have a drink with a meal – will we be able to drink with meals? If it is the case that you can’t buy alcohol at 20 or 19, are there any bars where you can?

Many thanks in advance for your time and replies,

Pete

Hi,

Can anyone suggest where i can have nail extentions done in NYC? and would i need to book?

I'm in NYC 18th - 24th April.

Cheers

Red

My wife and I will be staying for 4 nights, Delta domestic flight arrival 06:30am, using Airlink Shuttle pick-up to Latham hotel.
We intend to do the following after checking in :
5/29 - Chinatown (lunch), Little Italy, Chelsea, Greenwich, Times Square.
5/30 - Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (10am ferry), Wall St. Area, Brooklyn Bridge, New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, Empire State Bldg.
5/31 - Central Park and its surroundings, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
6/01 - Appreciate any suggestions/'not-to-miss' for this day.
6/02 - Airlink Shuttle pickup at 05:30am for JFK, Delta domestic flight depart at 08:30am.

Is the plan OK? Too rush?
What can we do before boarding 10am ferry at Battery Park?
Where are the factory outlets? Looking for Timberland/Sportswear/Car Accessories etc.
Thank you for your advice.

In June my family and I will be driving a rental car from Albany for a few days' visit to NYC. Nobody recommends bringing a car to the city so we would like to stay in a hotel in suburbia (Yonkers, Newark?) where we can leave the car in the hotel parking lot, walk to the train and head into the city each day, then return to our suburban hotel. Does this sound like a smart idea? Can we find a reasonable but nice hotel (Holiday Inn or similar) within walking distance of a nearby Amtrak station. Is there a flaw in our plan? Do trains run quite frequently? If we wanted to see a Broadway show and return late to our hotel, would we have a problem? Does anyone have any alternate suggestions? Like so many, we're trying to keep the costs down. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how long it would take by taxi from JFK to 250 w 77th street, also cost inc tips and tolls?

Many thanks

Red