The NEW YORK Megathread (questions & answers..not chat)

BuffyBot

Well here it is. Seem as we get an inordinate amount of New York threads, all queries about hotels, shopping, transport, pubs, clubs etc should go here.

To keep this thread fresh and manageable, older posts will be trimmed on a regular basis, but can still be found by going to this thread for some of the older posts. For more recent posts (from 13/03/08 - to the post beneath this) read here. You'll also find many, many older New York threads by doing a search. Always try searching first, as your question has probably been covered.

homerun_homer

BaZmO* wrote: »

You'd get a hotel at a cheaper rate than that.

I'm looking in Union Square specifically first and the only hotel I've found on the cheap is the Union Square inn. The trouble is there is 3 of us going, all guys and hotels etc only do 2 x double beds most of the time and not always have a spare couch. We could share a bed but we'd rather a bit of space and it doesn't bother us to pay a little more to have an Apartment over a hotel. €200 a night for 3 people in NYC is still cheap for a week's trip.

So back to the question at hand - anyone ever rent an apartment on Craigslist?
I should add that the person replied saying we would pay €200 deposit through paypal and meet her at the apartment when we get there. At least with Paypal we can't get screwed over since they can reclaim it back if you get cheated out of cash.

dereko1969

you may well end up getting your money back but it's not going to be fun wandering around new york looking for a hotel if you do get scammed. all the advice states that it's illegal to sublet many apartments in nyc, if i were you i'd keep an eye on www.1800hotels.com for deals and buy 2 rooms, you never know one of you may get lucky and want the spare room

i got a great deal for the fitzpatrick grand central through that site for €80 a night, you could use www.betterbidding.com for tips on using hotwire and priceline

ciaramc

I stayed in the New Yorker hotel on 8th Avenue, its wasnt very nice. It was central though, 2 mins walk from Madison Square Gardens. It costs €240 a night for a double room, requested a twin room but they said they had none left. Room was small, old definely not worth €240 a night. That was the cheapest place I could get a month before.

I would recommend new york pass, I got a two day pass, it is well worth it fitted in so much, altough there is so much to do with pass it is hard to fit it all in. Costs about €67 each for a two day ticket. Even got to see Bruce Springteen's Dressing Room and stage beening set up for his concert that night on the Madision Square Gardens tour. See http://www.newyorkpass.com/


Also would recommend a Broadway Musical, Ice skating at the Rockafeller centre, helicopter ride over manhattan.

Loved the M&M store, FAO Swartz, Disney Store, MTV Store.

Love to go back there again at christmas time for the switching on of the lights & Jingle Bells Concert or st patrick's day.

Captain Slow IRL

Is there any museum in NY that has a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display?! Or any other big dynosaurs?

ciaramc

dereko1969 wrote: »

you may well end up getting your money back but it's not going to be fun wandering around new york looking for a hotel if you do get scammed. all the advice states that it's illegal to sublet many apartments in nyc, if i were you i'd keep an eye on www.1800hotels.com for deals and buy 2 rooms, you never know one of you may get lucky and want the spare room

i got a great deal for the fitzpatrick grand central through that site for €80 a night, you could use www.betterbidding.com for tips on using hotwire and priceline

What is hotwire?

ciaramc

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Is there any museum in NY that has a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display?! Or any other big dynosaurs?

The American Museum of Natural History has that kind of stuff. It is the museum used in the Ben Stiller Movie " A Night at the Museum". See www.amnh.org

I wasnt in it but heard it was good, was in the one in London which was cool.

Third_Echelon

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Is there any museum in NY that has a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton on display?! Or any other big dynosaurs?

yeah, pretty cool dino section in the Natural History Museum on the upper west side. You could spend days in the place!!!

http://www.amnh.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Museum_of_Natural_History

Glacier

I've heard that Hostels are **** expensivbe in New York. What would be the cheapest they would go for?

ciaramc

Well hotels start at €150 a night per room

philon

Anybody got any recommendations for Paddy's week in NY ??

Dipsomaniac

Girlfirend and I are staying in Comfort Inn Long Island City for €454.98 including taxes and charges. King size non smoking for 6 nights. 15 mins from times square (taxi). Subway close by.

Hope its fine.

bluebell1

Looking for ideas for shows to see on Broadway at the end of march / early april. Also looking for recommendaitons on restaurants, places i have already been include Gordan Ramseys, Tavern on the Green, Mariott revolving restaurant so somewhere in the price range of the above. Thank you:)

dereko1969

ciaramc wrote: »

What is hotwire?

it's a site for bidding on hotels and flights
http://www.hotwire.com/
if you'd gone into www.betterbidding.com you'd have seen that there are all sorts of recommendations on how to bid for these hotels. basically you blind bid on hotels in certain areas, like you bid on hotels in the madison square gardens area, or lower east side etc but you don't know which hotel you've won until you win it but betterbidding will enable you to accurately guess which hotel it is by whether or not it has wifi, gym etc,
you can get very good deals on it, for example by going here
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?autocom=custom&page=calendar
you can put in your dates and see what hotels people have won, i put in april 5 and people have won the 4* crowne plaza on times square for $159

ciaramc

dereko1969 wrote: »

it's a site for bidding on hotels and flights
http://www.hotwire.com/
if you'd gone into www.betterbidding.com you'd have seen that there are all sorts of recommendations on how to bid for these hotels. basically you blind bid on hotels in certain areas, like you bid on hotels in the madison square gardens area, or lower east side etc but you don't know which hotel you've won until you win it but betterbidding will enable you to accurately guess which hotel it is by whether or not it has wifi, gym etc,
you can get very good deals on it, for example by going here
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?autocom=custom&page=calendar
you can put in your dates and see what hotels people have won, i put in april 5 and people have won the 4* crowne plaza on times square for $159

Thanks, will look it to that next time I am going to NY

Glacier

So, are hostels expensive?

yabadabado

i have been looking at different booking sites for hotels.the problem is we need twin bed rooms and most are double bed(6 lads over for a few days).i see we can request twin but most still want you to pay/book .what happens if they aint available?can anyone recommend a good site?or hotel they have used we want it as central as possible.

snubbleste

Glacier wrote: »

I've heard that Hostels are **** expensivbe in New York. What would be the cheapest they would go for?

Glacier wrote: »

So, are hostels expensive?

Have you checked any of the stickies?
http://www.hostelworld.com/hostels/New-York

Glacier

Yeah, that's what I'm saying they seem reasonable, but in Lonely Planet books they were saying like $400 a night, is this true?

fifib

anyone know what the story is whith locking suitcases? are you allowed have little padlocks on your checked in baggage?

risteard85

fifib wrote: »

anyone know what the story is whith locking suitcases? are you allowed have little padlocks on your checked in baggage?

Yes you can lock them but if they feel the need to open them they will! You are better off buying the special locks that are designed for airports to open and this saves a broken lock and you having to buy another one! They are sold in the airport

fifib

risteard85 wrote: »

Yes you can lock them but if they feel the need to open them they will! You are better off buying the special locks that are designed for airports to open and this saves a broken lock and you having to buy another one! They are sold in the airport

do you happen to know how much theycost and if they can be got in the shops?

risteard85

fifib wrote: »

do you happen to know how much theycost and if they can be got in the shops?

I remember buying them in florida for $3 and there were 2 in the pack but here i cant remember what i bought them for think it could have been about €8/9. (lost the first ones!!) That was only last year so they should still be in or around that! Yes you can but them in some shops but definatly in the airport in that little luggage shop between the car park and departures!

risteard85

oh and their called TSA locks they have a red diamond on them! They are essential now for USA travel

http://www.tmorgan.co.uk/tsahome.htm <---- This is just one type of them

epopnomis

Will be in New York for Welsh game, any ideas of a good irish pub to catch it in, it'll be at around 11am local time..... Will be staying in Harlem very close to Central Park...... Any experience of good pubs in New York

robo

epopnomis wrote: »

Will be in New York for Welsh game, any ideas of a good irish pub to catch it in, it'll be at around 11am local time..... Will be staying in Harlem very close to Central Park...... Any experience of good pubs in New York

Same as me...please guys anyone know where we can catch this match on Saturday the 21st...I am packing my rugby shirt to bring when we do the biz!!

yabadabado

im also in new york that weekend so any suggestions would be great.times square area

helimachoptor

Folks, I am heading to NY in the morning with Aer Lingus on flight EI-105 departing at 10:30 does anyone know if that flight clears immigration in Dublin or NY??

BuffyBot

Dublin, normally.

Corholio

Probably will be heading to New York end of May, im looking into staying at New York University accomodation because its cheaper than hostels. Has anyone stayed here and if so what did they think of it? Rubin Hall is the one im looking at.

Also can anyone advise on a place to get a good apartment for a few weeks there, because ill only be in NYU accomodation a few weeks. 1 or 2 bedroom apartment maybe, nothing too fancy or anything? Was looking at ones on craiglist. Only need it for me and maybe one other person.

geuro

Hi all

Im looking at booking some flights to New York, going to head over for a week in August. At the moment the flights are €252 each way, so once you add on taxes etc its about 1200 for me and gf.

I noticed that flights in March/April are much cheaper. Does anyone reckon they will fall in price for August, or do you reckon the expensive fairs are due to a higher seasonal demand? Is it the norm for flights to New York to fall as the date of departure approaches?

Any advice much appreciated - the less i spend on flights the more i can spend on hotels and shows etc..

Gav

risteard85

geuro wrote: »

Hi all

Im looking at booking some flights to New York, going to head over for a week in August. At the moment the flights are €252 each way, so once you add on taxes etc its about 1200 for me and gf.

I noticed that flights in March/April are much cheaper. Does anyone reckon they will fall in price for August, or do you reckon the expensive fairs are due to a higher seasonal demand? Is it the norm for flights to New York to fall as the date of departure approaches?

Any advice much appreciated - the less i spend on flights the more i can spend on hotels and shows etc..

Gav

Im headin to nyc on sunday and when we started looking at the flights they were near €600 each return. We kept checking them everyday and they kept coming down and got them for €260 return each. If the seats arent selling they will drop the prices but if there is a demand they will put them up. It will be expensive though for august so dont expect them to drop too much. To travel the dates im going now are €800rt each so i got a pretty good deal! keep checking but once they get low enough book them because they will rise dramatically again come closer to the time!!

yabadabado

i have checked the Pennsylvania hotel website.we need twin/double rooms and it says you are guaranteed the rooms if you buy fhrough the website.so just wondering is the subtotal the full price i will pay or is there more charges coz its working out cheaper than the likes pf 1800hotels and them type of sites.it just shows a total + taxes.any other costs before i complete the reservation?

geuro

risteard85 wrote: »

Im headin to nyc on sunday and when we started looking at the flights they were near €600 each return. We kept checking them everyday and they kept coming down and got them for €260 return each. If the seats arent selling they will drop the prices but if there is a demand they will put them up. It will be expensive though for august so dont expect them to drop too much. To travel the dates im going now are €800rt each so i got a pretty good deal! keep checking but once they get low enough book them because they will rise dramatically again come closer to the time!!

Nice on Risteard - i think I'll monitor them for the next month or so and see if they drop at all - but I'll make sure not to leave it too late

BaZmO*

bluebell1 wrote: »

Looking for ideas for shows to see on Broadway at the end of march / early april.

I'm just back and I went to see God of Carnage and The 39 Steps. Two fantastically funny plays and GoC has a real Grade A cast. I'd highly recommend both.

risteard85

epopnomis wrote: »

Will be in New York for Welsh game, any ideas of a good irish pub to catch it in, it'll be at around 11am local time..... Will be staying in Harlem very close to Central Park...... Any experience of good pubs in New York

Paddy Kavanaghs, its on 33rd st and 3rd ave, nice bar. a lot of the irish living over there will head there, i know thats where ill be anyway!:D

Going Demented

---

Ok after humming and hawing and spending weeks researching Edinburgh and Barcelona, tonight i BOOKED New York so that i cannot hum and haw and spend anymore time looking at hotels and flights and his brithday is tomorrow so i had to have something as a present so killing two birds with one stone.

Me 28, His Lordship 32
Booked flighted with Continental from Shannon to Newark for Friday 24 April. (arrive at 11am approx) and leaving Monday Evening.

Booked The Grand Hyatt Hotel. (anyone been there?)

I've been in New York for a few weeks before as have a brother in queens but he's never been and i wanted him to see it. I've done all the touristy stuff but it was back in 2003 so long time back.

Few Questions.
Continental: Checked baggage. It says you have to pay thats fine, its showing me prices in dollars though and not from Europe the price. Also i think i read right that its ONE hour before departure check-in. Is this correct cause with Aer Lingus when i flew to NY and Canada i checked in something like two hours before.

Grand Hyatt. I have done a search but havent found anyone here who has stayed there. Just wondering if anyone has and any feedback (i have read all reviews on hotels.com, expedia, etc)

Anything you would recommend pre-booking? What is the Top of the Rock thing?

First holiday together, actually first full weekend together as he self employed and works 7 days a week so won't get away again for another year i bet.

He loves the pub and the craic, can anyone recommend any bars. (when i there i only went to all the bars in woodside).

Places to eat.

How much money would be ok for the weekd. Would 1,000 euro cover me( with visa for backup) (i dont drink, wont be shopping crazy).

Never flew into Newark, JFK last time. How much is a taxi from Newark and how far of a ride is it?

Any anything else ye would like to tell me.

Thank you

hshortt

Going Demented wrote: »

---

Anything you would recommend pre-booking? What is the Top of the Rock thing?

Top of the Rockerfella building, it's a great view from there and the lift up is a freaky too, it's got a glass ceiling with beaming lights and images, it's like a hallucination Very cool. The view is super as you get to see the Empire State building and a better view of Central Park than you get from Empire State.

Going Demented wrote: »

---

He loves the pub and the craic, can anyone recommend any bars. (when i there i only went to all the bars in woodside).

Places to eat.

Ye'll be so busy taking it all in that it'll be great craic just strolling around. Eat in Carmines (opposite Toy's R Us in Times Square) It's small and mysterious from the outside, but it's a massive Italian family restuarant and it's inexpensive with a great atmosphere.

Ruby Foo's (Times Square) is all things Asian and I findi t excellent, huge portions like Carmines so take your time!

Going Demented wrote: »

---

Never flew into Newark, JFK last time. How much is a taxi from Newark and how far of a ride is it?

Any anything else ye would like to tell me.

Thank you

Try the New York Airport Shuttle service, it's 27 dollars each RETURN from the airport to Grand Central Station. Excellent service, the taxi's on the other hand are about 55 dollars from JFK, don't know about the cost from Newark.

http://www.nyairportservice.com/
http://www.supershuttle.com/

Have a great time! And please please please, walk the Brooklyn Bridge. It's completely breathtaking and there is the best pizza place on the far side called Grimaldi's. http://www.grimaldis.com/brooklyn.htm

Cheerio
Howard

BaZmO*

Going Demented wrote: »

Few Questions.
Continental: Checked baggage. It says you have to pay thats fine, its showing me prices in dollars though and not from Europe the price. Also i think i read right that its ONE hour before departure check-in. Is this correct cause with Aer Lingus when i flew to NY and Canada i checked in something like two hours before.

I’m just back from a week long trip.

I went with Continental too. I checked in about 2 hours beforehand, which was grand because we got Exit seats, loads of leg room but the seats don’t recline.

I think because of the time you’re leaving Dublin you’ll have to clear immigration over there. Early morning flights clear in Dublin.

Not sure about having to pay for checked bags as it was included in our price, although I was stung with having to pay for overweight bags on the way back. Silly really when we could’ve just brought the excess baggage through as hand luggage. I’ll know next time.

Going Demented wrote: »

Booked The Grand Hyatt Hotel. (anyone been there?)

I was gonna stay there as it was recommended by a friend but it was ridiculously expensive. Over twice the price of the place I stayed in. Seems like a nice hotel though and the location is great.
Sign up for their Gold Memership on their website, it might get you an upgrade if you flash the membership card when checking in. The location is great though.

Going Demented wrote: »

Anything you would recommend pre-booking? What is the Top of the Rock thing?

No real need to pre-book anything, or at least that’s what I found.
The only thing that you had to pre-book was to get access to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.

If you are doing any touristy things it’s probably best to decide what you want to do beforehand and check the times.

The Rock is just an observation platform at the top of the Rockerfeller Centre. It’s on the 67th Floor and is quite cool actually, great views of the Empire States Building & Central Park. Think it costs either $20 or $30 dollars each.

Going Demented wrote: »

He loves the pub and the craic, can anyone recommend any bars. (when i there i only went to all the bars in woodside).

Places to eat.

Couple of nice Irish Bars up around 45th Street between 7th and 8th
Perfect Pint does great food too.

I went to a couple of restaurants and wasn’t that impressed tbh, especially for the price and most places include 15% service charge.

Going Demented wrote: »

How much money would be ok for the weekd. Would 1,000 euro cover me( with visa for backup) (i dont drink, wont be shopping crazy).

It depends on how crazy you go but that should be more than enough.

Going Demented wrote: »

Never flew into Newark, JFK last time. How much is a taxi from Newark and how far of a ride is it?

Any anything else ye would like to tell me.

Thank you

Book a cab on www.dial7.com. Don't pay up front, just reserve a car and pick the cash option for payment. This way, if your flight gets delayed you won't get hit with a huge bill for the car waiting and you can just jump in a local cab and forget about your original booking.
Journey is about 30-45mins.

Be warned that taxis from Manhattan back to Newark cost an awful lot more as you have to pay for the tolls on the way there and on the way back for the driver. If you get a yellow cab it’ll cost you about $80 or $90
I got stung so I know this. You can get a bus from the Port Authority fro about $15

Going Demented wrote: »

Any anything else ye would like to tell me.

I’d recommend going to see a show on Broadway.
I went to see God of Carnage and it was hilariously funny. Don’t book in advance though, get your tickets on the day of the performance from one of the TKTS outlets.

BaZmO*

hshortt wrote: »

And please please please, walk the Brooklyn Bridge. It's completely breathtaking and there is the best pizza place on the far side called Grimaldi's. http://www.grimaldis.com/brooklyn.htm

I would recommend this 1 million %.

One of the best things we did while there. We headed over during the day and had great views and it was dark when we headed back and the view of Manhattan with the lights on was just spectacular.

Couldn't remember the name of the Pizza place though, but I'll be back again!!

Dodge

I'd recommend getting the subway to just over the Brooklyn side and then walking back into Manhatten.

*Dallas

reviews of the Hyatt can be found here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93450-Reviews-Grand_Hyatt_New_York-New_York_City_New_York.html

i was in New york 2 years ago and got a yellow cab from Newark airport to manhattan (pennsylvania).. it cost $60.

we're getting the train ($9 each way) or shuttle bus this time round though. there's full details on the Newark airport website

BuffyBot

You can read robo's trip report and some recommendations here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055519108

Da Funky Munky

Im looking for feedback on the best commercial (mainstream) and Dance clubs in the Big Apple, heading there in a couple of weeks.

Cheers!

df1985

Im heading to New York for a week in may and am looking for some advice on a few things.im going with my mam who is into her 60's so this affects certain things for us to do.cant be draggin all over the place on subways or havin her walk huge distances.we're stayin at the hilton on 57th st.

firstly, can anyone recommend some good eating places in this part of new york.maybe an irish/american bar with some decent grub? we'll prob end up in some of the chain restaurants for lunch/dinner a good bit, but would be nice to know if theres some gems close to us.or for 1/2 evenings to go to an upmarket restaurant?

one thing i want to do while im there is take in a museum.im leaning towards the natural history museum but is there any others that are worth taking in-the guggenheim, MoMA? Looking into going to see a show, any recommendations, heard the lion king is good?

shopping wise what would people recommend out of macys, saks, bloomingdales or barneys?dont see the need in us going to all of them.also is it quite easy to find stores along 5th ave and madison or would it be recommended to know going as to whereabouts stores are (abercrombie, american eagle, AX, diesel and ralph lauren in particular).

we'll be doing the main tourist things-the bus tour, empire state/top of the rock, statue of liberty, times sq, ground zero.is there anything else that we should really do or any tips on things to do that wouldnt be too well known.the suggestion about the walking across the brooklyn bridge sounds great.would it be a tough hike for my mother? heard also to take the staten island ferry-is this just for the views or is there anything else on staten island?? are any of the other boroughs worth a look?

i know its loads of q's but any feedback is appreciated.trying to make this a trip of a lifetime for my mam.ive been before but only for a weekend while we i was on a J1 and only got the main things done and ate mostly in fast food joints so didnt get much of an insight.

geuro

risteard85 wrote: »

Im headin to nyc on sunday and when we started looking at the flights they were near €600 each return. We kept checking them everyday and they kept coming down and got them for €260 return each. If the seats arent selling they will drop the prices but if there is a demand they will put them up. It will be expensive though for august so dont expect them to drop too much. To travel the dates im going now are €800rt each so i got a pretty good deal! keep checking but once they get low enough book them because they will rise dramatically again come closer to the time!!

Didn't get my flights as cheap as you did, but hanging on for a couple of weeks ended up saving me a few hundred quid.. Booked 6 nights in a suite in a 4 star in Manhattan + return direct flights with delta for 1600 euro. Not till August but I'm so excited I feel like I'm going next week!

dereko1969

df1985 wrote: »

one thing i want to do while im there is take in a museum.im leaning towards the natural history museum but is there any others that are worth taking in-the guggenheim, MoMA? Looking into going to see a show, any recommendations, heard the lion king is good?

not much use to you on your other questions but regarding museums i thought the Met was amazing, just the best museum i've ever been to, you could spend a full week in there. there are quite a number of places for a sit down while you're walking around so your mum could take a breather now and again, if you're into art or history it has everything, but plan your trip carefully i spent an hour wandering around the greek and roman area before i realised i'd be knackered before i got to what i really wanted to see the impressionists/19th century art. the audio guide is really good too.

I had thought of going to the lower east side tenament museum but didn't have enough time, given it's a tenement not sure how good it would be for your mum given there's likely to be lots of stairs.

now is it you or your mum who's into abercrombie???? have a great trip.

6ix

My parents are going to New York in June and I'm probably going to bid for hotels on Priceline. Does anyone have recommendations of what area they should stay in?

It's their first time there, and they're not really experienced travellers. I'm thinking Midtown might be best but I'm not sure.

I've only been once and stayed in Midtown, but when I'm going again (hopefully later this year!) I'll probably stay somewhere Downtown for a different vibe. I'm I'm not sure that would suit my parents. They'll probably want to do some shopping and see the main sights.

Any thoughts?

BuffyBot

I'd say Midtown East/West or the surrounding areas (Central Park South, Empire State, Times Square for them if it is their first time).

If you're into blind bidding, check out Hotwire.com too.

6ix

Just to update - I managed to get the Sheraton Manhattan Times Square (3.5 star) for $97 per night. Really happy with that price - definitely recommend priceline.

faigs

Da Funky Munky wrote: »

Im looking for feedback on the best commercial (mainstream) and Dance clubs in the Big Apple, heading there in a couple of weeks.

Cheers!

Have only been to Pacha and it was brilliant and I'm not mad into the commercial clubbing scene. Erik Morillo was DJing and P Diddy turned up on the night - was Morillo's birthday (and mine). You can have great fun there even if it is just laughing at the posers standing around with their shades on and their muscles flexed looking for attention. And if you sign up on the website you can get 2 free passes for a night of your choosing.