Guys
I'm looking at a 5 night stay in the big apple this coming Christmas, I've never been before and would welcome any tips or advice?
i'm looking at sorting it myself, ie booking flights and hotel online without involving a travel agent.
Does anyone know which is the best district to look for a hotel in? I'm looking at doing all the touristy things if that helps.
Will I need a Visa etc?
Looking forward to your help! :thumbsup:

You shouldn't need a visa with the new laws that America have installed... unless you have a criminal record:thumbsup: which I doubt.

I can recommend the Wellington Hotel (http://travel.hotels-and-discounts.com/index.jsp?pageName=hotAvail&cid=59562&hotelID=112522&isHRN=true&hotnetrates=true&requestKey=&isCondos=false&isHotels=true&mode=1&location=&star=null&propertyType=H&showInfo=true&showPopUp=true&generic=true) on 7th Avenue NYC.

It's 3 mins walk from Times Square and 10 Mins walk from Central Park. Great location, Great Hotel.
Carnegie Deli is opposite the hotel (featured in When Harry Met Sally.... the faking it scene;) ).

NYC is one of my favourite places in THE WORLD I love it.
Everything you need is on the doorstep of this hotel. Well worth the $$$.

Flights should be cheaper these days, I think BA are doing cheapo's to NYC at about £200 RTN.

You'll need warm clothes for winter in NYC it's colder than here!

Excellent choice mate!

spook...
I'm off to New York next month...I go twice a year :D

I have stayed in Times Square at the Crowne Plaza and can honestly recommend staying in Staten Island. It's a bit run down but much cheaper hotel rooms (B&Bs generally) and the best thing about New York is the Staten Island Ferry, it's free round trip to Manhattan and you get THE most AMAZING view of Manhattan from it, New Yorker style entertainment on board (street bands)...it's New York from a New Yorker's perspective and I wouldn't miss it for the world. After riding the ferry you end up at Battery Park which is fab, it's the park which was created with the earth brought up by the construction of the World Trade Center, and the Sphere is situated there (symbol of world peace originally situated between the WTCs.)

Generally around September you will find promotions offering two for one flights if you fly just before or just after Christmas time (I did this last yr with American Airlines) you can in turn easily find a reputable airline for a reasonable amount of $$.

let us know if you want any more help...

star :thumbsup:

An amazing place, you will love it.

Top 10 tips.
1. TRAVEL – Travel as light as you can, preferably with hand luggage because the Americans are utterly paranoid at the moment and you can spend hours in the airport otherwise. Get a Yellow Cab as soon as you walk out of the main door at JFK. It’s a fixed fee to anywhere on the island. If there are enough of you (4/5 people) consider hiring a helicopter, its not bad value at around £250 dollars if you haggle and agree a price before you go). Best travel tip wherever you go in the world is to not look or behave like a tourist – it’s a much better experience when you blend into a place like a local.
2. WRAP UP WARM – it’s VERY cold at this time of year. All New Yorkers seem to wear trainers with business suits and carry everything on trolleys. You will soon work out why - Manhattan is a BIG bustling place
3. HOTELS - Stay in "Midtown" but avoid being right on Time Sq - it's mental and you will find it hard enough getting to sleep. The tiny cupboards that masquerade as standard hotel rooms can be shocking. Many dont have windows and have picture frames with landscapes behind the curtains. If you can afford a better room or suite then go for it. Try to get as high up the hotel as you can otherwise the only views are of office workers on the 10th floor across the street when you open the curtains at 7.30am.
4. BEST KEPT SECRET - Hang around above the main entrance in “The Met” (The Metropolitan Museum – a truly amazing place) after 5.00 pm on Thurs / Fri / Sat when the Gallery Bar appears on the gallery above the main entrance hall. The museum closes its doors and you get to stay in, drink lovely wine listening to a string quartet surrounded by the world’s most valuable Chinese pottery before going back into the 20th C art gallery. Be sure to stroke the Degas Ballerina’s foot whilst security looks the other way :) Make sure that you have visited the “Temple of Denda” by 2.00pm – you will see why when you go.
5. UNEXPECTED SURPRISE - Visit “The Intrepid” museum. It’s an aircraft carrier, naval destroyer and submarine on the river. Loads of stuff to see including the last Concorde that is now on the deck alongside an SR71 Blackbird! Start at Time Sq and head West through Hells Kitchen (Its safe is you don’t behave like a tourist) until you hit the river.
6. ARCHITECTURE - Go up the Empire State Building, stand at the bottom of the Chrysler Building, hang around Rockefeller Plaza, and spend a morning in the Guggenheim.
7. EATING AND DRINKING - Weigh your own $5 breakfast at the Chinese Deli on 45th/Madison under the classy Roosevelt Hotel (www.theroosevelthotel.com - nice suites on the top floor). Find a friendly Irish bar somewhere between 5th and Madison to ensure that you don’t go bust in the hyper price tourist bars.
8. GETTING AROUND - Avoid the Subway, just walk or Taxi. See note above about footwear!
9. ROMANTIC MOMENT - Central Park on Sunday morning – ice skating and hot dogs from a Rumanian refugee before a walk around The Pond.
10. BOOK ANOTHER TRIP RIGHT AWAY - you will need it to even scratch the surface

There are no bargains in tourist NY so if you insist on spoiling it by shopping…
Madison = sensational boutiques
5th = Oxford St stores
Macys = Debenhams
Saks = Harvey Nic’s.

Have fun :thumbsup:

Originally posted by starchild
spook...
I'm off to New York next month...I go twice a year :D

You Jammy Bugger.

I have friends that live in NYC (Park Avenue baby) and I don't even get to go visit each year with work commitments and what not.

I'm a big lover of NYC and have been 4 times now.... first visited the place when I worked at Camp.
NYC is sooooooooooooo much better than other big cities such as London... there's just something about it. It gets under your skin and you want more and more. The city that never sleeps is correct.... when I last visited NYC I stayed in the Wellington Hotel (won the trip on the Radio). I got up one morining and looked outta the window and the street was as busy as it is at lunch time. So I got dressed, went to the deli over the road and brought back some yummy breakfast begals, fresh coffee and a couple of muffins to share with the better half.

NYC is amazing, and if I won the lottery ever I would definately buy an apartment there!

Lucky you...having friends in New York...my relatives are New Yorkers but not fortunate enough to live on the island. New Yorkers seem to have this irresistable charm that most big city people seem to lack. They have an incredible knack for starting up a conversation with a complete stranger. :D

I agree though about it being unique from other big cities though, a trip to NYC is unpredictible and exciting...one of the highlights of my trips to New York was visiting the ex-Observatory deck in the Chrysler building...see---> http://www.luciddreams.com/chryslerbuilding/cloudclub.html (scroll down to the bottom of page.) The view is out of this world.

Seeing as no one here has advised spook on places to avoid... New York has 3 airports, one of which is situated just over the New Jersey border. If you happen to land at Newark airport, and fancy visiting the city itself...don't...it's one of the most violent places in the States. And the Bronx (north of Manhattan) is pretty rough.

Above all, have fun. Try visiting Rockefeller Center and go ice skating, visit the home of Saturday Night Live and maybe even see a live show for free!! (Conan O'Brien) You can see off-broadway shows for free if you volunteer and usher for the afternoon. It's quite a laugh I've tried it myself :thumbsup:

The best value for your money to try all the tourist attractions for free...and here's the best bit...skip all the lines which are sometimes 1-2hrs long...The New York Pass (http://www.newyorkpass.com/index2.asp) I used it last year and it was fab.


star :)

Good point about the bad areas.
I never think of those, because I only ever stick to Manhattan... having said that tho... if you've heard of the place being iffy... it's best to stay away from it.

Newark is definately an unfriendly place to visit, I wouldn't go back!

Best to stay clear of Harlem too (at the top of manhattan).
Brooklyn has cleaned up in recent years, but there's nowt there you'd wanna see anyway!

NYC Rules!

Originally posted by DaBouncer

Brooklyn has cleaned up in recent years, but there's nowt there you'd wanna see anyway!


Hey...Brooklyn has plenty to do...wouldn't recommend visiting it on your first trip though. Check out the New York Transit Museum http://mta.info/mta/museum/index.html situated in an old derelict subway station.:D

Don't know what sort of budget you're on, but if it's not a lot I can actually recommend the subway, it's not the cleanest in the world but is very cheap ($2 from JFK into Manhattan), goes everywhere and I always think that experiencing public transport is a good way to get to know a city.

As for things to recommend, there's so many but a few of my highlights were:

Going for cocktails in the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Times Square - in the revolving restaurant on the 44th (?) floor - great views.

Spending a day in Williamsburg, Brooklyn - really nice Thai restaurants (cheap but quite snazzy) and the Brooklyn Brewery gives a tour with free samples on Saturdays.

Walking the length of Broadway (this takes hours but is cool as you get to walk through so many different districts)

N.B. there's a visitor centre in Times Square where you can email for free - there's nice loos too!

Originally posted by starchild
Hey...Brooklyn has plenty to do...wouldn't recommend visiting it on your first trip though. Check out the New York Transit Museum http://mta.info/mta/museum/index.html situated in an old derelict subway station.:D
Ohhhhh derelict subway station.... score! That's what I wanna see when I visit NYC. LOL:D

It just show's some people want to see somethings, and others dont!

However:
Originally Posted by Jayne
Brooklyn Brewery gives a tour with free samples on Saturdays.
That sounds interesting to me!

go on the new york sightseeing tour i got a 3 day pass, this allows you to get on and off the bus at any time, there are loads off busses running all the time and go all over new york plus you will hear alot of information about new york. This works out better and cheaper than getting a taxi everywhere, theres also a night tour which was great i stayed on the bus all the tour it takes you accross the bridge so you can see the new york skyline at night and all around the area.

guys thanks for all the advice. :thumbsup:

Now.....

2 things

when's the best time to book flights? now or just before crimbo?

secondly i'm thinking of going down on bended knee and popping the big question to the missus whilst there - your ideas for romantic locations please? :blush:

Oh man advanced congratulations.
Does she know??? Of course she doesn't.... stupid question eh.

Flights... you can probably get em cheap just before Xmas... however given this is a 'big' occassion I'd book now to avoid disappointment and to make sure your plans are set.

Now we need info from you.
Do you want to do it in a public place (i.e. restaurant)
Or a local attraction (i.e. top the Empire States Building)
Or Quietly between the two of you?

Well there is a fantastic little restaurant inside Central Park (best to advance book) that has a nice atmosphere and obviously the surroundings are great. I forget the name but if you google you'd surely find it. This could be your restaurant option.

Attraction... Well top of Empire, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Battery Park (might not be as desireable), Carnegie Hall take your pick.

Quiet.. maybe while strolling through central park or get a horse drawn carriage to take you through the park and ask while on the ride. They usually line central park so you'll find one.

Speaking of Hotels (if you aint found one yet) The Plaza Hotel is right outside central park. I doubt it's cheap but would make the date that bit more special.

Those are my top tips... if it was me doing it again... I'd do the horse and carriage thing. Might be a good idea to get a womans opinion on this though... Que Starchild:thumbsup:

Good luck with everything dude!

Dabouncer has it spot on for romantic locations in the top of the Empire state building.

I have been twice to NYC this year (July and November), and November was fantastic at night with the crimbo decorations, I stayed with my friend in Tribeca on manhattan but a good hotel is the Pensylvania hotel, it's opposite Madison square garden where there's usually something good on there, I managed to see the NY knicks. It's the best holiday I have ever had, it wont dissapoint you!

(sorry for butting in starchild, anyway i'm sure you have something more constructive to put in than me)

The ESB is great, but very crowded most of the time. If you want somethign a little more romantic and personal Central Park is the ONLY place that you will find your own little secluded spot. Under a tree by The Pond, or for something a litttle more memorable how about trying something like asking her when your on your backside in the Ice Rink? :)

[i]
Attraction... Well top of Empire, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Battery Park (might not be as desireable), Carnegie Hall take your pick.

Quiet.. maybe while strolling through central park or get a horse drawn carriage to take you through the park and ask while on the ride. They usually line central park so you'll find one.

Those are my top tips... if it was me doing it again... I'd do the horse and carriage thing. Might be a good idea to get a womans opinion on this though... Que Starchild:thumbsup:
[/B]

Well if it were me hands down I would pick the horse drawn carriage option. It's romantic, and no matter how exciting standing on top of the Empire State whilst popping the question might seem (being on top of the world etc) romantic it is not, unless your idea of romance is having tourists talk in 15 different languages while you say the magic words :P And the same goes for Times Square...way too busy. Last few times I checked they weren't letting people onto Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty (since 9/11) so you may want to check up on that one. Good luck:thumbsup:

Originally posted by starchild
Last few times I checked they weren't letting people onto Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty (since 9/11) so you may want to check up on that one. Good luck:thumbsup:

You can get on to Liberty island itself but you can't go inside the statue to look out, that was in november, I asked about the re-opening and it looks a long time off:(