11 replies to this topic

[MrBounce]

Mrs Bounce and I are considering going to new York in a couple of years with a couple of friends and ideally want to know the best way of doing this. We are unsure of whether to book over the Internet - I am always a little sceptical of this as 1) I like to arrange things face to face and 2) I want there to be easily accessible comeback should something go wrong. Is it still worth booking through a Travel Agent? I can only assume that they'll be desperate to sell holidays given the market place and competition from the web.

 

We would probably be looking at 4 people, 3 rooms, room only plus flights and transfers for 5 to 7 nights. None of us are particularly interested in shows or nightclubs, so it'd be landmarks, food, bars, zoos, shopping etc for our pleasure. We'd quite like to stay near Central Park but that's not essential as the public transport is so good. We can budget about £1200 each PLUS spending money.

 

So what I ideally need to know is the following:

 

• How did you book it and what were your impressions of the service you had?
• Which airline did you fly with? How good were they?
• Did you book flights and hotel separately?
• Where did you visit, did you enjoy it and would you go back?
• What single thing would you recommend doing if you went again?
• What would you recommend NOT doing?

[Tamworthbay]

Going up the Statue of Liberty is brilliant but get up super early and get on the first ferry over. Otherwise the queues are horrendous. The views from the top of the Empire State Building are superb, as they were from the WTC, that isn't an option anymore obviously. There is a big aircraft carrier moored up that is worth half an hour if you like that sort of thing.

[minisilverbullet]

We spent 2 weeks there a couple of years ago! Great time but cost an absolute fortune!

Your budget sounds a little on the low side, so be prepared for a pretty low standard room. But that doesn't matter cause you will be in New York!

How did you book it and what were your impressions of the service you had?
Booked everything on line before hand! Flights, apartment, dinner reservations, Gordon ramsays, comedy clubs etc.

Which airline did you fly with? How good were they?
BA top notch

Did you book flights and hotel separately?
Shopped around and booked everything seperate

Where did you visit, did you enjoy it and would you go back?
Since we were there 2 weeks we did lots, we could have been there longer.

What single thing would you recommend doing if you went again?
Just sucking In the atmosphere, chatting to locals in the bars, and just hanging out. We spent alot of time hanging out around the bars near cbgb's. And china town is amazing, one night we had 2 dinners!

What would you recommend NOT doing?
I wouldn't recommend getting lost in the area we did and almost getting approached by so e dude and almost mugged! That sounds a worse than it was!

Plenty of places to stay near Central Park, we stayed in an apartment just below 150 ish street.

[(philip)]

I've booked separately when I've gone, but had an advantage of a friend who's a BA steward and managed to get cheap flights.

 

Single thing.. Hmmm too hard.

 

Top 3...

 

The American Museum of Natural History is truly awesome.

The Bronx Zoo is cool

Going up the Empire State Building, although the lift is an antique and frightened the life out of me.  the queue was a challenge but worth it in the end.

 

Statue of Liberty probably the thing that didn't live up to what I was expecting.

 

 Oh, and have a burger at PJ Clarke's on Third Avenue. :)

[zinzan]

Two summers ago snagged a great deal ($140/nt?) at a great boutique hotel about 4 blocks from southeast end of Central Park.  Easy walk anywhere, really.  NYC hotel rooms are generally on the small side, but you're likely heading out rather than staying in the room anyway.  Sites like www.travelzoo.com, www.kayak.com, and so forth have lots of deals for rooms, events, etc.

 

If you're flying into Newark Liberty, you can buy a train ticket for US$15 that gets you on the airport train, then transfer to the NJ Transit line.  About a 30 minute ride into central Manhattan (Penn Station next to Madison Square Garden).  Way cheaper than a cab.

 

No shortage of great restaurants, etc.  Cheap eats at the night-time food trucks too!  Loved places like the Carnegie Deli on 7th north of Times Square for inexpensive big breakfasts.

 

Alternative to viewing at the top of the Empire State Building is Rockefeller Center's "Top of the Rock".  Nearly as high and may be less expensive.

 

The Staten Island Ferry is free and a great view of the harbour and skyline.

 

One of the best things we brought with us was this "City Walks With Kids: New York" set of cards, even though my son wasn't with us on this trip.  They're cool little walking adventures that each take a few hours and are designed around a theme or neighbourhood...visit a shop, then a museum, stop for ice cream at a great little spot.  The cards may be out of print now but here's the listing on amazon: http://www.amazon.co...urs of New york

 

Have fun!

[cradley-heathen]

sadly i havnt been myself but my dad went there a couple of years back and said it was amazing, he actually flew out of there on the 10th anniversary of 9-11!

 

i cant recall exactly where he went but there is w web cam which is live all the time on one of the streets, he text me and told me to go to it online in ten minutes, then he called us and walked out infront of the camera. i have still got the screen shots from it somewhere with him waving. so i would say if you have friends or family that wont be going, do that with them as it was nicer than a postcard!

Edited by cradley-heathen, 21 March 2014 - 10:44 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

I have been to NY, but it was a few years back now. We spent a few nights there and stayed in a hostel in Brooklyn and just went into Manhattan daily as it worked so much cheaper.  One night, I got very drunk, went home with someone and left early the next morning. I had no idea where I was, where to go or anything. I'm still not entirely sure how I made it back in the end!

 

In the same trip, we went to Toronto via Niagara Falls. We hired a car to do this and spent one night at Niagara in the Canadian side. Its a decent little town there and if you get time, the Niagara Falls is well worth a visit. 

 

We flew with Virgin I think, and I have to say no problems and at the time a god price as well. Trans-atlantic flight prices have gone up a lot though.

 

However more recently I went to Colombia. Most sites wanted between 7 and 800 for the dates I was looking at. I found one site, crystal travel I think it was, and I got two return flights for 520 or so each. I couldn't believe it and thought it was too good to be true but everything worked fine and we had no problems whatsoever. I understand many people to be very skeptical about using sites they randomly find. However, do a bit of research, and book with a credit card for more guarantee and you should have no problems, and probably save yourself a fortune.

 

If anyone in your party is in the Armed Forces or ex-Forces, phone up and book hotels. Try and drop it in to the conversation if you can. The Americans love their forces and the Brits. You will often find a free room upgrade or a cheaper special price. Also using Forces ID cards at attractions will see you get in for free. I did this at Sea World and San Diego Zoo, saving around $70 a go much to the annoyance of my friends who had to pay!

 

Empire State is a must, loved it. Didn't get the chance to go up the Liberty Statue as it was closed when I went. Plenty of studio tours as well if you are interested in that kind of thing. We went to STK, a great Steakhouse in NY and it was really good. It cost us $300 for 3 of us, which at the time was about £50 per person, but it was worth it. that was back in 2008 though. I went with a couple of lads so out trip was probably a bit different to what you will be doing. I really want to go back, and there is a chance we might be later in the year. I love the place. There are any places I want to go in America, Chicago being the next major city I would like to go. 

 

Have a great trip. 

[MaxAndPaddy]

I used trailfinders, sent them an email told them I was flexible on time and date but wanted a boutique style hotel. they beat anything I could have done myself using expedia But different firms are better at different times. 

[zinzan]

Stayed here: http://www.shorehamhotel.com/

Nice little place.  Small rooms.  Bar was dead all the time.  Got a good deal on price.

[087dave]

I was there last year I went with aer lingus but before that
We went with American air lines
If you fly out of Dublin you Clare US customs at Dublin air port
Which is a bonus....

I have family there so I didn't stay in any hotel
While there do the New York river cruise at night
Bloody brilliant

[Black.Ghost]

There is a chance I might be going back in September which would be great. I just did some checks on crystal travel.co.uk For two adults, fly 10 Sep and back on 20th, for less than £1000. Cheap as £950 if the dates are slightly different.