New York City Travel Forum

Hey Guys

I will be in ny for 8 nights in september and im after some reasturant recomendations. I want to try everything from an expensive steakhouse to a cheap burger or pizza. On past visits we have been to places like Bobby vans, Gallaghers and burger heaven :-) We are from the UK so pretty much all the food in ny is amazing and great value to us. We are staying at the W Times Square is there anywhere you would recomend for breakfast around that area?

Thanks for your help xxx

Would it be easy to pick up and drop of a car rental at 101 James Doolittle Boulevard Uniondale or 2098 Jericho Turnpike New Hyde Park, will be heading north towards White Plains area when I pick up the car.

many thanks

Prior to my leaving for a trip to Europe with a 12 hour stopover in N.Y., I checked the MTA website for info on fares. It said that a 1 ride ticket could be used for 2 hours and that you could transfer from the subway to a bus. There were many bus lines that were not included, most of which were on the Eastside of Manhattan. I had used the ticket on the subway and was well within the 2 hour limit. The bus driver on the 34th St crosstown bus wouldnīt let me use the ticket, because I had already used it. Since you donīt need the ticket to exit a station, you could ride the subways for 10 hours, as long as you never exit. Very confusing. What is a one ride - 2 hour ticket. Also, the ticket vending machines are foreign tourist unfriendly, as you have to enter your 5 digit postal code to use a creditcard for purchase. My code has 4 ditits; cash only. N.Y.;I canīt make it there, Frank

Hey everyone,
Am plannin a years travel startin in November to include 2weeks in NY startin the 20th Dec till about 4th of Jan for me and my hubby. Anyone any tips on where i should stay?Am on a budget but don't want to stay in a dive throughout christmas. Any advice on whether rentin an apartment or stayin in a cheap hotel would be better? Any tips of specific places would be appriciated too!
Thanks in advance!!!

Would you please be able to give me some idea how long it would take to drive from the White Plains area to JFK (I realise traffic accidents etc. would change this) I would need to be there by 12 noon.

many thanks

hi guys

Your help again! We are in NY for 5 nights from 23rd November - thursday 26th is thanksgiving so going to the christmas spectacular (cheesy i know but hey who cares!) but want to go to broadway to see a show - not too fussed what we see so were going to book one at the TKTS booth - but which day do you think would be better - a Tuesday wednesday or Friday night (assuming this one is busy?)

Thanksx

Hi,

Doing some homework on Hotels in NYC, my question is all distances from Hotels appear to be measured in "Blocks", i.e. 4 blocks to Central Park, 2 blocks to subway etc etc.. ok, what size is a block ?

Thanks

Thommo56

hi guys,

Ask for your help again! - i want to buy clothes in NY by new york designers (mabe up and coming) or labels that are ONLY available in the states that are not going to cost the earth but perhaps offer something different - and also shoes/accessories (would love a Coach handbag as not too available in UK!)

I will be looking in all the department stores (do any have their own label like in the UK) but would like something a bit differnt

Would also like shops where i can get nice gifts to take back home.

Thanks for all your help

Cx

I am having trouble deciding where to pick up a car rental from, was advised to pick up at

a) JFK b) New Rochelle c) White Plains and I have also looked at Irvington with Enterprise but they only have unlimited in the 3 states than so much per mile if you take the car to other states.

At first I thought of getting a cab to the pick up point but we could also get the subway than the other trains (Hudson, Harlem, New Haven Lines)

We are staying the first 2 nights at the Ramada Plaza at JFK to recover from the flight, than rent a car for 36 days, return car than spend another 5 days in NYC.

Thanks for any advise.

Hi guys,

Right booked to come to New York from the 23rd to 28th November as really wanted to see Macy's thanksgiving parade! (we are from the UK)

We know that most things are closed on this day but have booked tickets for radiocity music hall christmas spectacular (some people may say its cheesy but have wanted to go since I can remember!)

We just want some suggestions for places for Dinner in the evening about 8.30pm. I know that a lot of restaurants shut, and no menu's will not be released but wondered if people could suggest places they have been in the past?

Thank you!!

Hi guys,

Anybody stayed here? -too late to change as booked but wanted recommendations of restaurants nearby which we could eat at.....with good food!

Thank youx

yes I mostly know how much to tip and to whom, but at a food place do you leave it on the table, or give it to the person at the cash register, we are not sure which is the done thing (gave it to the person at the cash register one time but later told that they might keep it themselves and not give it to the wait staff, (it is so much fairer when added to the bill and saves us tourists drama)

I could not locate a still photo of this bridge. It appears in this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZMoU2GrSXo from 3.25 to 3.35. Where is this bridge located? Sorry to bother you with a video.

Thanks for all your help.

Hi,

I have finally booked my tickets and I'm visiting America in Oct. I will be staying in Wilton, Connecticut, with family, but travelling to New York City often. Having never been to America, I googled things to do and as you will be aware, there is way too much to do and see! So I need help. I love doing off the beaten track things.

I'll be in NY and Connecticut from the 8th to the 16th, after which I'll be travelling to Jamaica. I've made a list of things I'd like to do when I'm there and if you can give me suggestions or tips that would be great.

1. Broadway show: This is my top priority to-do in NY. I've checked out the costs and they're fairly dear.. especially with the conversion rates (I'm coming from Australia). So is anyone aware of any websites where I can get discount tickets or if it's cheaper to buy at the door?

2. Native American museum: Is there one in Connecticut or NY? I would love to get a souvenir, maybe dreamcatcher. But, since I'm going to Jamaica afterwards, I don't want it to be confiscated. So I'm thinking if they sell it at the airport... ( a bit touristy i know :D )

3. Connecticut: What can/should I do in Connecticut? I don't want to spend every day in NY and not see Connecticut. I hear there's a good museum called Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. Is it worth going?

4. Open top bus: I'm not sure what it's called, but apparently there's an open top bus where you can hop on and hop off. I've seen a number of 'expensive' tours that have this bus as part of their package. The thing is, I don't want to spend money on a tour when I could do the same by myself. Having said that, is it worth doing one of those tours?

5. Go up statue of Liberty, see the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire state building, wax museum, wall street, ground zero, Rockefeller Center and central park: Everyone says if I go to NY, these are the 'touristy things' i have to do/see. Can I do all these in 1 day? Or, if I do the hop on-hop off bus, I'll be covering some of these anyway?

6. If possible I'd like to do some free walking tours or get a map and walk around the city...is this safe to do? If I have time then maybe Harlem?

Am I over planning? Would it be simpler to get a tour map and do as much as possible and then those that I've missed, well... hope to do it on my next trip? Also I've been reading up a lot on tipping and coming from a country where you tip because you think they deserve it and not because you are forced, I'm a bit intimidated by the whole 'you have to tip or else...' attitude I've read. Would I have to always tip? What is resonable?

Looking forward to all the replies.

Many thanks and cheers.
Lisa.

May book into the Affinia Dumont Hotel, on 34th Street in Manhattan, in early September.

Any opinions on this hotel?

What attractions are nearby - 10 to 15 minute walk?

Thanks.

A friend is visiting New York for her fortieth birthday in November and was wondering whether she should buy tickets online now or wait until she arrives in NY and try and source them there - can anyone help?

We hope to spend a week in NYC in October as part of a month long East coast trip. Any suggestions on NYC lodging that would be both reasonably priced and convenient to public transportation. We'll be coming from DV via AMTRAK and going back to CO via the same. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

how to get from times square to little italy

Have booked our flights and now have to find somewhere to stay for 1 or 2 nights to get over jet lag than will hire a car to trip around in, what would you suggest, we don't usually suffer with too much jet lag on our outward bound flights (but sure takes a while when we get home)

We would like something around the $100 mark or am I dreaming?

Hi

Trying to book 10 days accommodation in NYC in September, but most of the Hotels I am putting my dates in are coming up not available during my period.

Is there something big happening in NYC in September


Regards

Thommo56

I am planning a day trip to NYC, so I'm probably going to be asking questions here and there. :-) First one...pizza, a must have in NYC. I would like to try Lombardi's, but I need to know if it is too far to walk from the area of 51st & Broadway. I did a MapQuest, and it looks too far, but someone told me that it wasn't. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

rkid21

Hi, I will be traveling to New York City on September, I think my best choice to move around the city is using subway and buses; on the New York transit web page I saw that I have the possibility to buy a metrocard that gives me unlimited subway and bus rides for a whole week, the page says the crad costs $27, but there is also a reduced fare of $13.50, my question is in wich cases does the reduced fare applies, does it depend on the date? the number of cards I buy? or it is meant for a special group of persons like students or seniors?

Thanks for your help.

I'll spend New Year in NYC. I think I'll be in Times Square for the countdown, if I don't get a better tip here. When do you have to be there? Where should I and my party of 5 people of 35+ eat before? Good but not the most expensive. Thanks in advance for input! Clara

Hi everyone

We are planning to visit New York City for a few days next year.
We want to visit Bethel for the original Woodstock Festival site and the town of Woodstock during our stay.
What's the best way to do it? Renting a car? Any advice will be appreciated.

All the best to you all.

kordall

I will arrive at JFK at 5:30 p.m. on a Wed. What is the best/least expensive way to get to 48th West street?? Thank you much for your help.

Hello everyone,

I'm really excited to visit NY in the beginning of Sept. 2009 which will be only my 2nd visit. Can someone tell me what are the "must dos" non touristy things one has to do when in NY? I'll be staying at the Best Western President Hotel Time Square 234 West 48th street. Will try to do as much as I can on foot as this is the way I like to discover a city but NY is SO big so what would you suggest for transportation? Am thinking subway. Are there all day tickets or something like that I could buy. Taxis are probably rather on the expensive side, am kinda on a budget. In regards to shopping, I love 2nd hand stores, when I lived in the Bay Area I was a "Goodwill-junkee". Are there Goodwill stores in NY?? Or what other bargain stores with easy access? Any Salsa or Zydeco dancing in town and if so where and which evenings. Well, not that I have that many, I'll arrive Wed. and leave Sun. late evening. Was thinking on visiting the Apollo Theatre which I know is in Harlem. How save, or not, is it in that neighborhood? Is Harlem worth a visit and safe enough for a single woman?

I know, lots of questions but even though I read as many of the postings as possible I hope that maybe someone can give me some insider tips. Thank you very much and I so look forward to visiting New York.

From 14th to 19th of September I am planning to visit New York with my friend. Could you tell me where is the best place to house and trance round?

I love clubbing specially really fancy places (not some underground sceen). Any advice will appreciate ...

Tnx and enjoy, Glorija

My best friend and I are taking a break from the kids and going to New York in August! We are trying to find fun things to do during the day and also nughtlife that won't have us waiting behind ropes are hanging out with kids. We both love to dance and love music, we just want to be able to enjoy ourselves. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance! :)

PLEASE - We need your help! Does anyone know the street name in New York City where the buildings are designed similar to a street in New Orleans and there are lots of jazz clubs? We found this on a website during a previous search and have tried all the keywords we can think of to find it again..to no avail. And, we need to find it soon! Please help us...THANK YOU!

We are thinking of bringing our little one (just under 2) for a few days beginning Thanksgiving weekend. (flight gets in on fri 27th) What is there for a toddler to do? Read somewhere its a great time to bring kids but she needs more than to just see shop windows. Can anyone recommend anything? We have been at this time before and love it but dont want to take the little one if there's nothing for her.
Thanks.