New York New York

[gotoPzero]

valiant said:

gotoPzero said:

I was there a week ago...
]The subway used to be pretty risky but in recent times its much safer. Trips are cheap and trains are clean (ish) and run very regularly.
Get yourself a metro card ($1) and stick $50 on it and you will be good all week for 2 people.[

I wouldn’t bother with a Metrocard. They have ‘oyster’ readers on all the way in gates now and your contactless credit/debit card will work a treat. Safe and cheap way to get around.

Wast aware of that thanks

[Adenauer]

vladcjelli said:

We were there for a few nights in August. You haven’t said when you’re going, but in Aug it was effing hot.

We're going in, err, August.

Just going through all of the other replies now, thanks peeps

[Adenauer]

gotoPzero said:

I was there a week ago...

Don't underestimate how expensive it can be. Remember all prices you see are plus tax. If its food or drink its plus tip too.

My top list to do:

ESB
Intrepid
Ellis / Statue Of Liberty.
One WTC
Chelsea / Highline (really nice area to just wander)
Central Park
See a show / tv show(if you so wish)
Times Square
Cable car to Rosevelt Island (cheap fun)
5th Ave walking around / big stores

As for it being a dirty place. Its improved a LOT.

Yeah you see the occasional weirdo and druggie but its way, way better than it used to be.

The subway used to be pretty risky but in recent times its much safer. Trips are cheap and trains are clean (ish) and run very regularly.
Get yourself a metro card ($1) and stick $50 on it and you will be good all week for 2 people.

After that there are loads of little things you can see and do. Its up to you really, there is a museum for almost anything!

One top tip... consider using the air taxi to JFK on your way home. Its about $250 ppn but trust me the 10 minutes vs the 1.5 hrs on the road you will be glad you did. The helipad is right behind the new Chelsea mall.

I had already planned to use the sky train and e train thing going to and from JFK to Midtown, but I thought it was around 25 dollars pp, not 250?

Thanks for the Metro card tip, we'll definitely do that.

ETA: Just seen the next comment that said I can use my EC card, perfect.

[jfis89]

They’re talking about an air taxi, I.e. helicopter! The train won’t cost you 250

[Adenauer]

satans worm said:

Places to east are too numerous, not sure on PJ, been there for drinks and otsters once but not amazing that I went back

Hmm, not sure I want to have an evening meal on my 60th in a place that's just 'so so'.

We don't do 'stuffy' or pretentious. I'd like somewhere with good food, good beer, and a good atmosphere. Maybe you could recommend somewhere that you think would fit the bill? Mrs A is a vegetarian, but she does also eat Fish, thank Christ.

[Adenauer]

DavePanda said:

Don't be blinded by the glitz of New York, it's a filthy, stinking city with many problems. You'll see a lot of it just walking around.

We just got back from Paris and are going to London in February, we're pretty used to filthy, stinking cities with many problems.

[Adenauer]

Nurburgsingh said:

Not restricted to NYC -

If your hotel biking is B&B change it to room only - the options for amazing breakfasts in New York are boundless. And always better value than bog standard hotel stuff.

We always book room only in Hotels in Cities for exactly that reason.

[Adenauer]

jfis89 said:

They’re talking about an air taxi, I.e. helicopter! The train won’t cost you 250

I think I'll manage an hour for 25 dollars on the air train thing, I ain't no Rockerfella

Just got a quote, 1,875 dollars, one way

Edited by Adenauer on Monday 28th November 10:26

[valiant]

Adenauer said:

I had already planned to use the sky train and e train thing going to and from JFK to Midtown, but I thought it was around 25 dollars pp, not 250?

Thanks for the Metro card tip, we'll definitely do that.

ETA: Just seen the next comment that said I can use my EC card, perfect.

Yep, it’s really easy.

Pay on exit with the sky train from jfk (was about $8 each iirc) and then walk around the corner to Jamaica and the E train into town with your contactless.

If you’re feeling a little more flush then yellow taxis have a set fare into Manhattan plus any tolls so if there’s a few of you and you have a lot of luggage then that may be an option (about $50) but the subway is very straightforward and pretty cheap.

[Adenauer]

valiant said:

Yep, it’s really easy.

Pay on exit with the sky train from jfk (was about $8 each iirc) and then walk around the corner to Jamaica and the E train into town with your contactless.

If you’re feeling a little more flush then yellow taxis have a set fare into Manhattan plus any tolls so if there’s a few of you and you have a lot of luggage then that may be an option (about $50) but the subway is very straightforward and pretty cheap.

Thanks, we did fancy a yellow taxi but we're landing at 4pm on a Thursday so also heard it could take up to 3 hours because of the traffic!! Hence the sky train option looks best.

[Rollin]

Adenauer said:

Hmm, not sure I want to have an evening meal on my 60th in a place that's just 'so so'.

We don't do 'stuffy' or pretentious. I'd like somewhere with good food, good beer, and a good atmosphere. Maybe you could recommend somewhere that you think would fit the bill? Mrs A is a vegetarian, but she does also eat Fish, thank Christ.

I went to Keens for a special birthday and it was very good.

[abzmike]

Couple of other ideas for a summers day... Baseball at Yankee Stadium, or take the subway to Coney Island boardwalk - Old school but fun... If you are there on a Saturday look out for neighbourhood food festivals etc.

[speedchick]

We arrive at 6.15pm on a Sunday. Am assuming sky train and subway are still doable then?

[vladcjelli]

abzmike said:

Couple of other ideas for a summers day... Baseball at Yankee Stadium, or take the subway to Coney Island boardwalk - Old school but fun... If you are there on a Saturday look out for neighbourhood food festivals etc.

We didn’t go to baseball in NY, but in Chicago a week later. Were told the bleachers were where the atmosphere is.

There was more drinking, but the uncovered nature of the bleachers in the August heat made it hard going.

Recommend booking undercover at that time of year.

[craigjm]

speedchick said:

We arrive at 6.15pm on a Sunday. Am assuming sky train and subway are still doable then?

Yes absolutely

[MesoForm]

vladcjelli said:

abzmike said:

Couple of other ideas for a summers day... Baseball at Yankee Stadium, or take the subway to Coney Island boardwalk - Old school but fun... If you are there on a Saturday look out for neighbourhood food festivals etc.

We didn’t go to baseball in NY, but in Chicago a week later. Were told the bleachers were where the atmosphere is.

There was more drinking, but the uncovered nature of the bleachers in the August heat made it hard going.

Recommend booking undercover at that time of year.

I asked an American colleague of mine about the best tickets for Yankee Stadium, he reckoned blocks 212-217 in the main terrace were the seats to go for. We followed his advice, got tickets in row 19 of section 212 and were in the shade all afternoon (mid-June) with a great view.

[Johnniem]

Rollin said:

Adenauer said:

Hmm, not sure I want to have an evening meal on my 60th in a place that's just 'so so'.

We don't do 'stuffy' or pretentious. I'd like somewhere with good food, good beer, and a good atmosphere. Maybe you could recommend somewhere that you think would fit the bill? Mrs A is a vegetarian, but she does also eat Fish, thank Christ.

I went to Keens for a special birthday and it was very good.

Have been to Keens Chophouse a few times for dinner. The steak is their speciality but it would be best to check what the rest of the menu offers as it may not suit.

[speedchick]

craigjm said:

speedchick said:

We arrive at 6.15pm on a Sunday. Am assuming sky train and subway are still doable then?

Yes absolutely

Thanking yoo

[gotoPzero]

Adenauer said:

jfis89 said:

They’re talking about an air taxi, I.e. helicopter! The train won’t cost you 250

I think I'll manage an hour for 25 dollars on the air train thing, I ain't no Rockerfella

Just got a quote, 1,875 dollars, one way

Edited by Adenauer on Monday 28th November 10:26

Blade are $195, its plus tax though so thats why I say $250.

The train is a good option but it still takes over an hour.

[Adenauer]

gotoPzero said:

Blade are $195, its plus tax though so thats why I say $250.

The train is a good option but it still takes over an hour.

When I put my flight details into the Blade website it still spits out 1,875 dollars. Maybe I'll check it closer to the time.

Out of interest, where do they land in Manhattan?