NYC Megathread Archive 1 (to 13/03/08)

MagicMarker

I can't for the life of me understand why people spend up to a thousand dollars on a hotel for no more than 4 or 5 nights. Are you planning on staying in the hotel? I went to NY for approx 10 nights afair. It cost me approx $500 to stay in a hostel, where i met lots of interesting people and had a great oul time. This was in Chelsea no more than 10 minutes walk from times square.

When you guys get to NY, just be sure to eat plenty of chinese food, it's just glorious!!!

storka

Hi guys just wondering if anyone could recommend a good hotel in new york. Going in August with 2 friends so would need a triple room. Budget is about €100-€120 a night.Would like somewhere as central as possible. Doens't need to be fancy or anything just clean and comfortable!

Or is there any other options anyone has used!

Thanks in advance!

treefingers

last summer me and some friendss stayed in hotel carter (www.hotelcarter.com) on 42nd st, literally 1min walk from times square. it was cheap as chips (i think we paid about 25/30 dollars a night each. but then, that was a triple room with 5 of us in there). so if memory and my mathematical skills still work, a triple room should be in the region of 150/160 dollars. 115 euro or so.

it wasnt the fanciest place ive ever seen (an understatement maybe!) but it was fairly clean and safe, and location is perfect.

BuffyBot

Storka - there is a big "New York Megathread" at the top of the forum. I'm merging this into it.

Vikings

I've read nothing but good reviews for this place http://www.bigapplehostel.com/, might be worth looking into. They do private rooms for 1/2 people then dorms for 4... i'm sure if you booked a dorm between the 3 of you it would not work out too expensive and its located right on times square as well.

PaulyB63

storka wrote:

Hi guys just wondering if anyone could recommend a good hotel in new york. Going in August with 2 friends so would need a triple room. Budget is about €100-€120 a night.Would like somewhere as central as possible. Doens't need to be fancy or anything just clean and comfortable!

Or is there any other options anyone has used!

Thanks in advance!

We usually stayed in the Pennsylvania hotel which is fine but I've just this year realised what a mug I am and booked an apartment...

Soooooo much cheaper!! $1413 (Just over €1100) for 4 nights for 2 couples all in (taxes charges etc.) for a LUXURY apartment in Greenwich Village (between Midtown and the financial district!)

Sweet deal..... Available here

Check them out... they're pleasant to deal with too....

Best of luck....
Just a repeat of my previous post.... if you want somewhere really nice and very reasonable then these are the guys to go with....

Wotzit

Just returned from NY and stayed in the Radio City Apartments...nothing but good things to say about this place... clean, safe, not hugely expensive but for me, it couldn't be beaten for its location - 1 min walk from Times Square, 2 mins from Rockefeller Centre. Remember you spend VERY little time in your hotel room..why waste thousands on a swanky hotel you'll never see? think of all the shopping you can do with the money saved! Book early for Radio City Apartments though, they're very popular.

Tip from me is do the Rock the Top (observation platform on top of the Rockefeller centre, giving the Empire State Building a run for its money!) at night - the views are breathtaking.

Vikings

Just to echo the above, I was going to book the Radio City Apartments myself but they were fully booked for when we are going, read great reviews of them.

slickmcvic

Just back from US roadtrip and we stayed in chelsea international hostel,its on 22nd st (I think) between 6th & 8th Av & we crashed there for a week @ $70 per night for a double bunk room.
I'm not sayin it'll suit every one but If yir gonna be out and about manhattan ya cant beat it,very central,good atmosphere in the place & ya dont have to share a room with 5>9 others!!

innocenteyesuk

I'm off to NYC in a few weeks. Can't wait!

Anyway, just wondering about coming back into Dublin Airport. What are customs like? Are they VERY strict? How does the whole thing work?

I'm planning on stocking up my DVD collection and bringing home a load of clothing.

brettmirl

I've never been checked coming back...and I've never heard of anyone being checked and/or caught...so drive on!

Plus who's to say you didnt bring the DVDs out with you...(hide the receipts).

Danbo!

I went up empire state and i would advise against it all together.

Go up 'top of the rock' instead. Its a few stories smaller, but no queues, no railings interupting your view, its more central to the city and a much quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. Theres a nice little tour bout the history on the way in... then when you get in the lift the lights go out to reveal a glass ceiling, and the whole lift shaft is lit up. Pretty cool when you cant see and end to the row of lights.

These pics may seem biast, but at 1pm on a tuesday the empire state was packed, then 1 pm the next day at top of the rock, it was me, the girlfriend and about 9 other people...

Empire state...
http://www.opentravelinfo.com/files/images/es_platform.thumbnail.jpg
Top of the rock...
http://joshandjosh.typepad.com/josh_josh_are_rich_and_fa/images/topoftherock5joshand.jpg


Ps... i know its a big thing to go up the empire state when you visit NY, so go for it, but if you dont mind paying the ~$18 or whatever a second time, this really is a great experience.

Pythia

noblestee wrote:

These pics may seem biast, but at 1pm on a tuesday the empire state was packed, then 1 pm the next day at top of the rock, it was me, the girlfriend and about 9 other people...

Go to the Empire State at 7.30am. It opens at 8am. No queues once you're inside and less people to obstruct your view.

Luckily the hotel I was staying in was about a 3 minute walk to the Empire State so it was easy to get there early.

Vikings

Or go up late at night, last time I was there we went up at around 11pm which was near closing time, the whole city was lit up and was just amazing looking + not many people crowding the place and no queues!

PaulyB63

Regarding Customs and purchasing clothing, DVDs and cameras etc.

Remove all tags and don't try to reclaim the NY sales tax until after you get home. Use the camera or camcorder equipment over there and remove it from the box. Same with DVDs... Just open them, then they're not new anymore...

Kenpo

Hi,

I'm arriving in NY on Labour Day. Is this a good day for sales? Is it worth my while heading to Woodbury common on this day for holiday sales?

Thanks

K

mmm12

hi..my self and my wife are going to New York next month...can anyone recommend any good accomadtion close to the centre and cheap ?!

thanks

brettmirl

There were sales on Independence Day alright. So I assume there would be on Labor Day too.

mikedragon32

I can recommend a great sticky at the top of this forum though. New York Megathread...

Sony

Hey guys havent been on the site for quite some time now,

Well I've always dreamed of being in New York for the run up to xmas and this year I plan to do exactly that, Im looking to go with my girlfriend between the 10th and 22nd of December for 7-9 days. I've priced some flights with AerLingus and would be looking at around e400 which wouldnt be so bad only for the accomodation on top of that would work out very expensive it seems before we touch our spending money!

Anyway has anyone got any solid ideas for how to go about doing it on the cheap,would there be such thin as packages for say 600/700 euro?

Thanks in advance , any advice is really appreciated!

Sony

Nephew

Guys, I am heading over to New York in a few weeks, looking for some advice. I have been googling for cheapish 5 nights accommodation in New York. Hotels seem very expensive at around 150-200dollars a night for a room with two single beds, this would quickly add up to a hefty sum after spending a month travelling around the place staying in hotels. Whereas hostels are a lot more affordable, for example this one comes to a total of 355dollars for 5 days
http://www.hostels.com/en/availability.php/HostelNumber.806 355

I really dislike hostels, due to the lack of privacy and security and not forgetting communal showers, toilets and crap beds.

Is our only option to settle for a crappy hostel or do hotels become more affordable once you leave New York?

Thanks

car

I am in the same situation, If I say in a crappy hotel I have more money for shopping, big I say it would be nice to stay in a nice hotel to enhance your stay in the city.Still dont know what I am doing either.

Here are some places I have found using the searches on boards:

http://www.parksouthhotel.com/

http://www.hotelcarter.com/index.shtml

This is where I would like to stay found it today when I was searching google

http://www.dreamny.com/

BuffyBot

Sony wrote:

Hey guys havent been on the site for quite some time now,

Well I've always dreamed of being in New York for the run up to xmas and this year I plan to do exactly that, Im looking to go with my girlfriend between the 10th and 22nd of December for 7-9 days. I've priced some flights with AerLingus and would be looking at around e400 which wouldnt be so bad only for the accomodation on top of that would work out very expensive it seems before we touch our spending money!

Unfortunately everybody tends to have the same idea pre-Christmas. You'll probably find some cheaper hotels, but you'll have to sacrifice a bit on the quality, which isn't ideal when you've got your girlfriend. Shop around though, and check out reviews on tripadvisor.com and you might be able to strike the balance between cost and quality

Anto McC

Need help on this one, does anyone know how far away Newark airport is from Manhatton?

If you were travelling on public transport,from one to the other,how long would it take?

Pythia

Sony wrote:

Hey guys havent been on the site for quite some time now,

Well I've always dreamed of being in New York for the run up to xmas and this year I plan to do exactly that, Im looking to go with my girlfriend between the 10th and 22nd of December for 7-9 days.

I'm going just after Christmas. I did this this year too.
All the decorations are still up etc but the price of hotels comes down considerably.
Might not be an option for you, but maybe look into it.
This year we're doing New Year's Eve in Times Square. Can't wait!

lord lucan

Anto McC wrote:

Need help on this one, does anyone know how far away Newark airport is from Manhatton?

If you were travelling on public transport,from one to the other,how long would it take?

usually about 45 mins but allow an hour. get the airtrain from the terminal to newark station and then the new jersey transit train to penn station. if you get a quick connection you'll be there in no time.

Anto McC

lord lucan wrote:

usually about 45 mins but allow an hour. get the airtrain from the terminal to newark station and then the new jersey transit train to penn station. if you get a quick connection you'll be there in no time.

Cheers, Thanks.

Kenpo

Hi,

I'm hearing mixed reports about this - most people have told me you cannot claim.

Can someone give me a definitive answer?

If you can claim, how do you go about making the claiming?

What exactly can you claim for - is it just items purchased or can you claim for tax on other services such as tours, transport costs, etc?

Thanks for any help you can give.

K

Anto McC

Right so, i have it booked. 5 days, 3rd-8th December. I have a big obsession with all things Mafia so a trip to little Italy is deffo in order,is it safe enough during the day? Also will be heading for Hells Kitchen,which is really unsafe apparently but is that even at 1 in the afternoon?

Kenpo

Hells Kitchen is no dangerous than walking down the Quays these days. There are some great (Safe) Irish Bars down there. If you are there late, just walk out of the place you are drinking eating and get a cab.

At 1pm, it should be fine.

Anto McC

Cheers mate. Anyone else know about Little Italy?

Dodge

Little Italy is tiny now and not that Italian either. As safe as anywhere else in Manhatten (pretty safe).

I was in NYC at roughly those dates 2 and 3 years ago.

mcgrate

Hi All,

Heading to NYC next year and contemplating a trip to Six Flags.
I was wondering if anyone could give me informatin on transportation and perhaps any hotels nearby to stay at?
Would we be better hiring a car and driving out? Whats car rental in the city like?

Pythia

Anto McC wrote:

Cheers mate. Anyone else know about Little Italy?

I was there in January. Tbh it just seemed like a lot of Italian restaurants, but I was going down the main streets. I think it merged with Chinatown somewhere.

brophy

I too am heading over to New York in December. Deffo going to head to one of the outlets but which one? Is it ture that in Jersey Gardens that you dont have to pay tax but quality of clothes is not up to par with woodbury commonsr?

Since there is 6 of us going was going to rent a SUV and drive to which ever one. With the bus costing $30/40 depending on which outlet you are going to. Also the fact you are on the bus coming back with a heap of bags. The SUV for the day would cost us 115euro.

So what do you guys reckon anyone ever rented a vehicle for going to the outlet? I have driven in America a few times for a couple of weeks at a time but never in New York.

I am staying in Hotel St. James in new york, worked out for the 5 nights from 6th -11th dec 800euro. Not to bad.

jesus_thats_gre

Pythia wrote:

Go to the Empire State at 7.30am. It opens at 8am. No queues once you're inside and less people to obstruct your view.

Luckily the hotel I was staying in was about a 3 minute walk to the Empire State so it was easy to get there early.

You really gotta go up it at night time as well!! Stunning view.

+1 vote for the Rockefeller centre over the Empire State Building by the way.


Am actually heading to NYC next week (4th time) but am looking for suggestions for out of the ordinary stuff to do. Already have a NFL and Baseball match pencilled in and have my eye on Daft Punk as well.

storka

Hey guys looking for some advice on booking the Statue of Liberty.Ellis Island tour. Going to NY in 2 weeks, was there years ago but because of security and that you now have to book time slots and such.

I'm looking at the 8.45-11-45 slot. If I book this does it mean I can et on a boat over at any time during this period? It says something about arriving 2 hours before your tour but I can't see whether they give you a specific time?

Anyone done this trip recently with advice would be much appreciated!! Thanks

Also any advice on booking the Empire State Building would be good too!!

Esmereldina

Pythia wrote:

I was there in January. Tbh it just seemed like a lot of Italian restaurants, but I was going down the main streets. I think it merged with Chinatown somewhere.

Yep, I was there last October, and Little Italy seemed to be very gentrified and touristy. I think the original Italian population has long since moved out to other areas and the restaurants are mostly for tourists. A lot of the original Italian quarter has also been taken over by Chinatown. Good for the fake designer handbags and for buying cheap Hello Kitty and similarly designed stationery and accessories though!

Esmereldina

Kenpo wrote:

Hi,

I'm hearing mixed reports about this - most people have told me you cannot claim.

Can someone give me a definitive answer?

If you can claim, how do you go about making the claiming?

What exactly can you claim for - is it just items purchased or can you claim for tax on other services such as tours, transport costs, etc?

Thanks for any help you can give.

K

I think you can claim it back if you are buying in the big department stores. I didn't know this when I was there but I heard it afterwards... Not sure how you go about it though, and I wouldn't say you can claim it for things like tours and transport either. Sorry if that's not the definite answer you were looking for

Kenpo

Thanks Esmereldina,

Found this in google:

Question: Is there a way that I can get back the tax when I shop in the USA?

Answer: Sorry, that is not something that most states do, and each state in the USA has a different rate of sales tax. Louisiana has some shops displaying a "tax free for International Visitors" sticker and you can get tax refunds when you shop in them. Delaware has no sales tax. Compared to prices elsewhere in the world shopping in the USA is not very expensive.

Ponster

car wrote:

http://www.hotelcarter.com/index.shtml

Check out these reviews

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93421-Reviews-Hotel_Carter-New_York_City_New_York.html

Hippo

Has anyone done a helicopter tour of Manhattan? The trip advisor reviews are to say the least, mixed. Any personal experiences?

hshortt

Been on the Liberty Helicoptor tour. Night time as we thought that would be the best. It was very windy though so a bit rocky, but we flew out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then back down the Hudson towards Central Park. It lasted about 10 minutes (fly time), there was a safety briefing before hand too. More info - http://www.libertyhelicopters.com/

While I thought it was a nice thing to do, I wouldn't be rushing back to do it again, this is mostly due to there being 8 people in the helicopter and feeling a little cramped and not wanting to look past people to get a view from the opposite side of the helicopter.

Cheerio
Howard

Hippo

That seems to fit with most recorded experiences alright; thanks a mill for the info, sounds more or less avoidable for the money.

Ponster

Took the Liberty Helicoptor tour in April (10 mins). Great fun but again, something I wouldn't do again.
Was a little pricey for only 10 minutes and once we accepted and paid had to wait an hour in their building while waiting for our turn.

storka

hey all,heading to NY in a week i'm booked into the statue of liberty for the 8.45-11.45 slot then it says my time (for timepass i presume?) is 8.45? Does this mean I am going in at 8.45 and therefore need to be there around 7.30 or is it as it says I can go anytime? Thanks for the help!

cold_filter

Guys heading to NY with a good friend of mine on 25th october for 5 nights.
I ahve been twice before with a GF and he has never been. We plan on cramming a smuch into each day as possible and haveing a good night life too, I know there are some wild bars can anyone recommend some really good ones??

jo.king

This place looks great - im off in three weeks - its gotten great reviews... http://www.rodeobar.com/

Ms Inquisitive

A great Irish bar in NYC is McCormacks, thinks its on 3rd Avenue and 29th Street! Spent Thanksgiving there last year and a great day was had by all!

PaulyB63

Having been to Rodeo Bar I can highly recommend.... I mentioned that spot in an earlier post.... There's a great Irish chef working at the back of a pub caled Cillian's... It's just off time square (Somewhere!)... great Irish Fusion food..... Whatever that is!!