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

Gordon

1 vote for Avenue Q. "The internet is for porn, for porn".

Stud Muffin

Heading to ny for a weekend. Any reccomendations as regards pubs and clubs?

blondie999

Femmy, I was in Woodbury Commom last Nov and TBH I didn't think it was worth the bus trip there. $38 return & the traffic was unreal coming back. If you're into expensive clothes labels then woodbury might interest you but if you're not prepared to spend hundreds of dollars on an item no matter how discounted it is then don't bother. They had a few sport outlets stores but I couldn't see any huge saving. Sports hoodies for men were around the $60 mark so still not exactly dirt cheap. But it's all a matter of personal preference. Oh and Century 21 is like a cattle mart. You'd need awhole week just to queue for the changings rooms and checkout!!!! Enjoy it's a brillant city

Pythia

I was in Woodbury Commons in January. You're right about the traffic and the rip off bus price. But I did find a few things I liked out there. The Ralph Lauren store is good, as was the Guess store. There was a few more that I can't remember that I bought things in too. Have a look on the website.
The expensive shops are generally still very expensive, you tend not to get major bargains.
In general, I prefer non sale items, I find the discount stuff in NY wasn't half as nice as the normal stuff, and as the normal stuff is a good bit cheaper than the same thing here, there's still a saving.

PaulyB63

With regard to transport in NY - Definitely get a taxi direct from JFK or Newark to your hotel. Saves a lot of hassle like possible transfers and extra cost when you're tired. the savings on the buses aren't really all that much. If there's a group of 4 - 6 people... Limo is the way to go!! A

Once in manhattan... Subways all the way!!

We stayed in "the pensylvania" (right beside Penn Station)which is 5 minutes from Time Square and cost about $750 (circa €580) for 2 people sharing for 4 nights... Extremely clean, simple hotel.... Comfortable beds...The carpets are straight off the set of the shining though!!

For planning stuff to do in advance try here This is a link to a great New York magazine where you can input the dates you will be there and it throws up a list of stuff to do on those days... everything from gigs to free food and drink:eek: :eek: :eek: !!! Cool or wha'!!

NY is extremely safe.... You feel much better walking around knowing that 37,838 cops got your back.... there are 2 on practically every corner!!

When I was there (November 2005) It was mighty cold!! ranged from -5 up to about 5 degrees.. Snowed too.... Last year same month, it was light sweater weather.... Bring a hat and scarf and gloves just in case!! (If you're going in November!) which I am this year!! can't wait!!

Places to hit....

Restaurants - Top drawer is "Lupa Osterio Romana" (You'll need to book now for Winter... It's that popular!)

Bars - Cool spot for ribs and jazz is "Blue Smoke Café"

Bars - "Paddy Reilly's" off Time Square is brilliant for live music on Thurs, Fri, Sat nights

!!!!Sophisticated drink recomendation!!! -
Hit the Met museum just before closing (1 hour) and head straight up to the mezzanine bar (overlooks the whole giant lobby) Order a Metropolitan Martini and listen to the string quartet while surrounded by 3,000 year old Ming dynasty art!! Priceless experience.... Well about $12 a drink actually!

Bars - For a real "Only in New York" moment try The "Rodeo bar" on 3rd Avenue, number 375 to be precise! instead of a bar... the owner at some point in the past just drove an old school bus into the building and uses it as the bar.... there are peanut shells all over the floor and the place has a great feel to it with live music every night... Norah Jones shows up from time to time to play there as it is her local....!!

I'll stop rambling now but I'll post more as I think of it....!!;)

Jean05

Hi

Thanks for all the tips about shopping etc.
I'm interested in doing a tour of the usual tourist spots like
The Statue of Liberty,
The Empire State Building and Ground Zero.

What's the story with these? Is there anything to know, any touristpass or something I should get or some tour of the city to see the hotspots?

PaulyB63

Hi Jean,

I can't comment on the statue as we bypassed that in favour of Ellis island due to time constraints... Ellis Island was a really great experience too!!

In the empire state... The queues are mighty! There will be a guide walking up and down the queue offering you the opportunity to buy a pass for Skyride or something like that... I can't recall the exact name... It's an extra $10 or something like that and your brought into a simulator for a ride around new york but it cuts the queue from 1 and a half hours to about 30 minutes!! Well worth it!! (I think... Especially when you see the featureless hall you've to queue in!!!)

We did the horse and trap reide around central park.... OK.... Not great but pretty good!

The natural history museum and the planitarium were BRILLIANT! They totally blew me away with the sheer scale and quality of the exhibits... A life size Blue whale hanging out of the ceiling is pretty spectacular!!

BuffyBot

Go the Empire state either very early or towards closing time. The queues will be a lot less then.

lord lucan

or go to the internet cafe on w33rd around the corner,buy your ticket online,print it off there and then and skip the que for tickets in the empire state and go straight to the lift;)

Gordon

If you are thinking of going to the statue of liberty I wouldn't bother tbh. You will wait for a while to get on the ferry and then you have to go through a metal detector and security just like at airports.

Then you get on the island, and if you want to go up the statue (nothing special imo, unless you like loads of steps and the same view as you get on land) you have to go through the whole procedure of security again, and it takes even more time in the queue. You even go through a device that sprays stuff on you to smell if you are carrying explosives.

So, maybe go out to the island but I wouldn't waste your time on waiting in line for the actual statue.

tabatha

was going to book this hotel in new york and was just wondering if anyone has ever stayed there. it is rated number one on trip advisor for hotels in new york to stay in. thanks.

Davy

is the newyork city pass worth the money?? any one use it over there? im going in two weeks wondering if its worth it, seem good not queing etc..
link here

Jotter

Seems quite steep in money terms? $125 for a 7 day pass.

Not sure if it's good value though.

Dave3x

Broadway Tickets:

Head down to the TCKTS booth in South Street Seaport, rather than Times Square. Shorter queues, especially when they open (and getting there early morning is HIGHLY reccomended). For those who don't know they sell seats from drop-outs, unused business or guest list places etc. on the day of the performance for hugely reduced prices. Went to The Producers and Chicago (for centre seats a few rows from the front in Chicago) at 50% off.

South Street Seaport is also hugely interesting. Overlooked by shiny buildings and a stroll down from Wall Street, it has plenty of shops (in a shopping centre constructed on the old pier) bars, water taxis, etc.

Another top reccomendation of mine would be the Strand Bookstore, 12th Stret and Broadway (or the 'ancillary' store near South Street Seaport). The main store contains 18 miles of books, and a rare book department that included a first US edition of Dracula for $2000 when I was there. A bookworm's dream.

Groucho10

Six of us to get from JFK to Midtown on Sunday.I was going to book a shuttlebus online for 105 dollars. Seems good value. How would this compare to two taxis ?

BuffyBot

Pretty much equal really. Cab (including tip) would set you back approx $50-55 anyway.

Groucho10

Thanks Buffy

paddyc

hey folks


I was just looking to see if anyone can reccomend some good hotels in NY but at reasonable prices as well... if thats possible rather than googling them and not know my ar*e from my elbow

web sites would be great if you had any many thanks

PaulyB63

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....:D

Femelade

this is where i have booked..

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.