Thetownend.com

booked this weekend to go to New York in Oct.

can't wait to get there as never been before. Staying on Broadway (Ameritania).

Apart from the usual (ground zero, empire state etc) are there any hidden sites to go and see?

How far along Broadway is the hotel?

pass mate.

Partner says it's oposite a subway station if that helps?

Not really, I'll take a peak and see.

Not far from Times Square it would seem @54th Street.  Good location.

yeah we've been told it's a good location and the hotel looks ace too.
dead excited tbh. for me it's one of those places you see in films and on tv etc and think "does it actually look like that and does steam really come out of the sewers etc"  :D

No but the TMNT do

Wouldn't bother with the Empire state - takes ages to get in (even with the 'short cut') and when you get to the 'top' it's not actually the top - to get to the top costs another 25 bucks.

If you go to look at the Empire State then Jack Dempsey's is a good Irish bar right next to it.

Better off going to the Rockefeller - not quite as high but impressive all the same.  Despite the recent hudson river crash the Helicopter rides are good for $75

Century 21 opposite Ground Zero has cheap designer clothes (all be it, last season)

The bus tours are also good going through China Town and such like - they leave from the same harbour as the Helicopters (and don't crash into the Hudson)

If you get chance cross the Hudson and go to Hoboken and eat at the Chart House Restaurant by the Lincoln Tunnel - superb views of New York at night and great food.

Worth going to Trump Tower just for the happy hour Appletini's.

If you are into shooting then they have a Beretta store in Maddison Avenue.

Got to go and see 'Chicago' in Broadway - I'm not into musicals but this was great

man i'm there

Rob you are SO making me wanna go!!!!

I'll probably see you there Magic. :)

Me and a couple of friends have decided to go in October. I've never been before, and with my Dad telling me it's every bit as weird as the movies make out, i can't wait.

I go in January woop! Excited! Staying near the Empire state, are things within walking distance or is it best to get the train thingy?

54th is pretty near Times Square so that's an obvious one. Tourist buses leave from there too so you've got a decent location! I think we had to buy tickets from the office on 19th though (it was only a short walk!)

As mentioned already, the best views of New York are from the Rockerfeller, because you can see the Empire State building! The helicopter rides are also a good shout as long as you're willing to part with the cash. Make sure you book well in advance, and if they try to cancel your ride (like they did with us) then just ask for their manager's phone number and you'll have it sorted in a jiffy!

Oh and another tip, if you're looking for a huge snack, the sidestreet delis are awesome. You can get yourself a HUGE sandwich or a tub of something chinese for next to nothing!

i'm starting to think 4½ days isn't enough.

We were only there for about 5 and it worked ok. You can do plenty in a day!

i just can't wait

Jeez, The Empire State sounds like a right rip off these days, which is a shame because it used to be absolutely worth going up. Not for that money though..fuck em!

Ironically, the best, best place to go in NYC if you never went anywhere else used to be the top of The World Trade Centre...

...anywhoo, I would say there is nowhere quite like Central Park on a Sunday afternoon..jugglers, street theatre, trannies, pretzel sellers, people getting married..you never know what you will find round the next corner..and it's FREE!

It's also probably worth checking out a Comedy Club in Greenwich Village or somewhere like that.

If I was going I would definitely be trying to get tickets for the Jets or Giants..also, the Ice Hockey and Basketball seasons both start in October (or maybe November thinking about it) so depending on when you are going, you might be able to see the Rangers or the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, which may well be worth a visit in it's own right depending on your interests (I've never been)

The Seaport (used to be South Street Sea Port) is pretty cool as well..I suppose you would say it is on the Lower East Side, quite close to the Brooklyn Bridge..it has loads of shops/bars/restarants

And all over the place you will get machines that you put a 1 cent piece into and it comes out in the shape of the Empire State Building or something which is the absolute best thing of all.

Apart from those things and the other stuff mentioned, there's fuck all to do.

I went to see the rangers vs the islanders at MSG, was quality evenin and never seen so many fights break out for no reason on the ice!!

5 days will be fine, always find NYC pretty full on so you'll enjoy it but be shattered at the end of it!!

I'm looking at New York City as a possibilty for my and missus' anniversary in January.

cool thread, im looking for hotels for march as i am djing in club over there :-)

Got quite a good deal for hotels when I am going over xmas.  £600 for 7 nights, used the following link

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/1/en/friendsandfamily?key=BoRoNbBOeZFWSQKT%252FuJHisHr6K8uQC1TJUZXs%252B9PPjo%253D&cm_mmc=DCE-_-FF-_-20090304-_-EM161920

Make sure it says "friends" on the rate preference.

What sort of cost did people get their trips for?  I have always wanted to go with the missus for a bit of Xmas shopping and would love a weekend there late Nov early Dec.

I got flights for £310 each and hotel as above £600 for 7 nights.

America is shit.

I'm in NY with the wife in October, too.  Last time we were there we did a food tour of Greenwich village, and this time we're taking a punk tour. :band:  I'm also going to the see the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets take on Buffalo.  Oh and to any Jets fans out there check out Sanchez's 48 yard pass during the Rams game.  It was his first ever play, a thing of beauty.   The QB battle ended right there.

Right, that'll teach me for replying just as I had to leave work.

If you do have to do the Empire State Building then at night is best, do the Rockefller in daytime for better view of Manhattan - plus you get cracking photos of the Empire State Building.

4 1/2 days isn't long so I would suggest avoiding the Statue of Liberty trip (it takes too long, especially to go up to the top) and instead book a boat trip which goes around the island on the Hudson, past Statue of Liberty and round under the Brooklyn Bridge.  if you do end up going out there though, stay on the ferry until Ellis Island, much better use of time.

Central Park is massive, so target an area you fancy going to.  They have shows on throughout the year so check their website.

If you fancy a posh night out then Gordon's Ramsay's restaurant Maze is in The London Hotel, near where you are staying - about £35 for the meal, but a lot more with drinks!  Cheaper night out around 80th St on Amsterdam Ave, next one over from Broadway, which is a student drinkig area.

Subway is pretty good value, and pretty safe these days.

Just opened and probably worth a visit is a garden on an old above ground railway (as in raised over street level).  It was an old rail line to transport goods I think and they've turned it into the longest public gardens in the world.  Goes from the south of the island all the way up the West Side and free.

Ground zero is gone now, it's a building site where the new tower is going, so not much to see other than boarded up streets and construction workers.  The memorial museum is a bit small but a very moving experience, but in 4 days I'm not sure it's worth it unless you combine it with some sight seeing around Wall St and Battery Park maybe.

For the other questions about deals, we stayed at the Belleclaire Hotel which was cracking value for Manhattan.  To scrimp further, stay at the airport hotels and get a bus in!  If you have some cash, get a limo transfer from the airport and get them to give you a small tour before dropping you at your hotel.  They'll have really good knowledge of the things to do beyond the usual.

I paid £1600 for 7 nights, 4 people in August last year.  You can get cheaper for a few 2 star hotels, you'll be 2 late for the best option of an appartment (well worth it for week long stays) in Queens or other surrounding suburb.

Just go on the Staten Island ferry or get the ferry to Governors Island to get a close up view of the Statue of Liberty and agorgeous view of the Manhatten skyline.

Thought NY was a dank and unfriendly place. Remember shivering in the shadows at Wall St but boiling in the direct sunshine. Noone gives you any eye contact and there was little English being spoken around me. Still, no different to London!

You picked an awesome match. Would have loved to have seen that. I'd imagine the atmosphere was electric for that as well.

IIf you get bored/in the area there is the fire station used in Ghostbusters, the flatiron building and Grand Central Station, with the whispering wall outside the oyster bar.

Or maybe not.

can someone take me please?

I'd be careful making requests like that on a public forum.

With all due respect, New York to me would be close to a nightmare on earth.

I'd much rather fly into SanFran, drive up the pacific coast to Seattle, do Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, drive down through Wyoming and Colorado and down through Utah and Arizona through Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon. Fuck Vegas. Spend a few days chilling in San Diego.

East coast wise, Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, dodge NY and DC, head down the Carolina coastline, through Wilmington and into Savannah. End there as then Florida starts.

I'm in Tampa for 2 weeks in Oct, that will do for the time being!  Hoping to spend more time in the States next year!

I concur

Each to their own, I love the place, and Florida for that matter.  I've equally had a good holiday in some lovely picturesque small towns for very different reasons.  NY is clearly a place to go for people who like the hustle and bustle, and as I don't want to spend my holiday speaking to lots of people I don't know, then it suits me!!

having never been to America i think for me NY is a good place to start.

to do any serious form of travelling like you mention i'll have to wait until the kids are older and have moved out i think

Im going to Tampa with the kids at Christmas

You might like to rethink that statement Fogster.

I'm disappointed in you Nev, you can normally sniff out a well intended pun a force nine gale!

Cheers for the hint!!

Fnar!

Yes, bit below par today. Bravo! Fogster.

what are the laws now adays in getting into the states?

My sisters boyfriend is harping on about visas blah blah blah. i thought it was some form of green card you fill out on the plane

Magic

I went to NY about 3 years ago, its fab! If you walk instead of using the subway over short distances you get to see  whole lot more of the city.

The one place I would suggest you have to go to is the Rockafeller building. There is a viewing platform on the roof, which gives you fantastic views of both Central park and the Empire State. I managed to get a picture of the Empire blown up on to a canvas, which now adorns my living room wall! Best time to go is first thing in the morning as there is no-one there at that time.

If you get chance to go on a boat trip round the harbour then this gives you some really good views as well.

There is a small coffee shop to the side of St patricks cathedral, think its probably part of a chain, but they do the best coffee I have ever tasted!!

Give me a shout if you want any more ideas, have a whole host running through my head!!!  :)

cheers for the info Rich.

do you know what the procedure is for entering the USA?

Do we just fill out a form on the plane?

Make sure you're eligible for the Visa waiver program, otherwise you will have to go to the US Embassy in London.

They are changing system for entry into the US to a new system called Esta - Electronic System For Travel Authorisation which is essentially an online version of the old green Visa Waiver form that you fill in on the plane. Go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov to register , they recommend registering at least 72 hours before you travel.

When I went to Florida in June this year they were still using the green Visa Waiver forms on the plane along with the white customs form as well as asking you to register on the Esta site.

If you are travelling with Virgin you'll get an email before you go to remind you to register ( which was handy!)

cheers for the info guys.

will register with that site and get it sorted

Didn't they try and prosecute Michael Jackson for doing that kind of thing?

Michael Barrymore

Basically, as said above, just click on the ESTA site and fill in the form. There have been rumours about some sites trying to charge, but the genuine ESTA site does not apply a charge (at least for the time being anyway). I think you still have to fill out the Green Card on the plane to hand into Border Patrol at the airport, as the ESTA process looks to see if you have any criminal convictions in the USA etc. Worth printing out the authorisation paperwork, just in case.

I've just filled mine in earlier in the week for my trip mid September, took 5 minutes or so for 2 pax. I did it despite having an A2 Visa anyway - better safe than sorry as I'm going for 'pleasure' rather than business on this occasion.

To save starting a new thread...

I want to take the wife to NYC in August of this year. Is it worth booking as soon as possible, or is it worth waiting? Do I book the plane/hotel separately? Any recommendations on who to book with? Ideally like to pay in installments.

My friend who went recently booked them separately and saved himself a hell of a lot of money.

You can get some VERY cheap flights if you know where to look.  Just allow plenty of time to scour the net.

Thing is where to look. Not sure what is cheap. Its a shame I only get half-terms off, and looking to go in the summer hols.

Make an effort and go into all the travel agents one day...tell them what YOU want(not what they offer)and make it clear to them all that the best deal for you will get the nod...if you book this month they will let you pay in installments up to 6 weeks before you go then they will want the balance...an extra couple of hours effort checking them all out will save you big money.

I wanna go to new york again :(

It was AWESOME. So crazy.

nyc is amazing. www.ebookers.com i book all my flights from here

Definately seperately, also if you dont mind an extra hours flying, check out Air France and Lufthansa, they are often considerably cheaper than direct from the uk.

Brooklyn is the nuts. Best night out of my life most probably. Amazing pizza, friendly people who love the english, strippers, getting a russian girl so drunk she couldn't walk, getting my underage mate in everwhere and him pulling, cooking an egg bap for a fit scouse bird at 3am then copping off with her, and waking up on my birthday with a stinking hangover and not a clue where our hostel was.

Shouldn't pay more than £225 for a flight, STA Travel are doing them for that at the moment, available to everyone not just students. There might be better out there though

New York was one of those places I never wanted to go. But we stopped off for a few days there on the way to Toronto a few years ago and I loved it.

If its just you and the Mrs, and you are on a budget and have the nerve something like http://www.hotwire.com can (usually but not always) save you money on hotels. I guess you'd need the cash up front though, but I'll describe it for future reference anyway.

What it is is you state your destination and checkin/leaving date and it returns a number of hotels, star rating and their facilities. BUT they don't tell you the hotel name. So its a gamble of sorts.

However sites like http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=254& give help tracking down which hotel is which. Research, research, research. See what the travel agent price/direct price would be. Once the hotel is booked and paid for you are committed and the hotel name is revealed. No money back. So make sure you put the right dates in and have a bloody good idea that its a good deal/hotel. I would assume the cheaper prices are had a bit closer to departure, who knows.

Sounds a lot of faffing but can be rewarding.

There is a sales on with BA at the moment.  

I find expedia is pretty good for packages but the hotels are the real expense.  Best bet is cost it all up off a number of sights for a package with and without a hotel.  Then try contacting the hotels you like the look of seperately for a deal.

If you have time to spare and know your location use Priceline:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-priceline-hotel-deals

You select the area you want to stay, the hotel rating and effectively make an offer for a room.  The upside is ther are some real bargains the downside is you don't know the hotels name although if you scour the forums in the link above you can get a good idea of what hotels are on offer.

Oh and if you're on a bit of a budget but want something reasonable try the Washington Square Hotel in Greenwich Village.  Nice medium sized hotel, friendly staff and a decent loacation away from the noise and traffic.

http://www.washingtonsquarehotel.com/

I'm in the process of pricing up an August trip myself.  Virgin are also doing a flight sale right now, so you can get the last week in August for around £350, which is pretty good for that carrier (paying more this time to avoid the "delights" of using a US carrier).

The Affinia Manhattan is offering pretty good discounts right now through most booking sites - around £90 per room per night for a 3.5 star hotel 2 blocks from Macy's/Empire State Building.  If you sign up to a cashback site like quidco.com, you can get up to 10% knocked off by virtue of getting the cashback in 3 months, or you can find discount vouchers from sites like hotels.com which give you 10% off upfront but you risk them checking your booking and disovering you didin't get the e-mail with the offer etc.

I think you can get cheaper flights but the accomodation is very similar on all sites.  It's working out around £990 per adult for a week mid August for us including flight upgrades to Premium Economy.

To follow Batch's point, we booked a place to stay in NY using hotwire.com

They tell you the price, star rating and general location, but not the exact hotel. (Though you can normally work it out using Tripadvisor). You only find out the hotel after you've paid. So it's a gamble, but quite fun.

We ended up staying at the Embassy Suites near the WTC site (we had a proper suite: bedroom, living room, small kitchen) and the Four Seasons in Boston, both for B&B prices.

We stayed at the Best Western Hambee Bowery (just outside/inside Chinatown).  Good location, nice hotel.  The wife is extremely fussy about hotels and liked this one a lot.  Trust me that's good.  Enjoy NY.

Embassy Suites are ace. They (normally) have a two hour happy hour from 5 to 7 pm - all booze free.......beer, wine, spirits the lot......

This just came into my inbox in case its any use?

£71 -- New York: All-Suite Hotel near Times Square
http://uk.travelzoo.com/top20/78859868-723603/
Source: Candlewood Suites