America - city break or winter sun?

[seyre1972]

75Black said:

Now that you mention Virgin, flights are pretty cheap there too. Damn you cheap flights to America by multiple airlines, I can only fly with one of you!

Ground zero was on my list to do so good to know

Personal choice would be Virgin over BA .... (Virgin cabin crew nickname for BA cabin crew is "Rottweillers with Lipstick") ...... Either way - enjoy - love New York/Love Orlando (have done both as a single traveller/and with family)

My choice would be New York - hire a car and drive over to Pennsylvania (always have the Sopranos Theme Tune playing when i go via the Lincoln Tunnel from Manhatten into New Jersey ..... (sad I know but always makes me smile)) were I go shooting at a range In Easton.

Either way - enjoy !!

[designforlife]

If you want winter sun I would go to LA over Florida every time.

I'll be in LA for 3 weeks over Christmas, and the weather is usually stunning, not tropical but 20c+ and sunny almost every day.

[75Black]

seyre1972 said:

Personal choice would be Virgin over BA .... (Virgin cabin crew nickname for BA cabin crew is "Rottweillers with Lipstick") ...... Either way - enjoy - love New York/Love Orlando (have done both as a single traveller/and with family)

My choice would be New York - hire a car and drive over to Pennsylvania (always have the Sopranos Theme Tune playing when i go via the Lincoln Tunnel from Manhatten into New Jersey ..... (sad I know but always makes me smile)) were I go shooting at a range In Easton.

Either way - enjoy !!

I've pretty much decided on Virgin, they want £300 exactly return on economic classic which has bag/entertainment/food included, whereas BA and Norwegian want over £370 for the same if I upgraded from their basic no frills economy seats.

Since you mentioned a gun range, is there one in NYC where I can pay and blat at some targets as a tourist for a couple of hours?

[Johnniem]

David Beer said:

I only fly Virgin to the states, I have a good deal through Amex

Oooh, interesting! I use a BA Amex card to collect air miles and usually bag a couple of club class seats a year to Caribbean or USA. What is the Virgin deal through Amex then?

[seyre1972]

75Black said:

I've pretty much decided on Virgin, they want £300 exactly return on economic classic which has bag/entertainment/food included, whereas BA and Norwegian want over £370 for the same if I upgraded from their basic no frills economy seats.

Since you mentioned a gun range, is there one in NYC where I can pay and blat at some targets as a tourist for a couple of hours?

Enjoy - I do think they have a seat sale on @ the moment as well.

Unfortunately Gun laws in NYC mean there are no public ranges. New Jersey ranges however used to allow singles to visit, but that changed about 3 years ago (if you are with your father then you could find a range in New Jersey) Typically I'm out for work by myself - hence now having to drive out to just over the State border to Easton Pennsylvania.

One benefit however is that Pennsylvania allows full automatic. PM me if you need more info as I appreciate not everybody takes kindly to shooting talk on the forums.

For info - same issue if you go to Massachusets - very limited public ranges/limited to clay pigeon more or less. However go over State line to new Hampshire .......

Orlando if you change your mind has a couple of good/safe ranges (My daughter had some lessons there)

[David Beer]

Johnniem said:

Oooh, interesting! I use a BA Amex card to collect air miles and usually bag a couple of club class seats a year to Caribbean or USA. What is the Virgin deal through Amex then?

Through Amex I fly virgin gold, all that luggage, upper class lounge even in PE. Upper class check in , private security channel. Having said PE, if I have enough point I will go UC as I did this summer.
Being gold you change flights with no charge, Booked to fly into LA but changed it to Seattle
Always book 11 months in advance and always use points, two tickets twice a year.

[75Black]

seyre1972 said:

Enjoy - I do think they have a seat sale on @ the moment as well.

Unfortunately Gun laws in NYC mean there are no public ranges. New Jersey ranges however used to allow singles to visit, but that changed about 3 years ago (if you are with your father then you could find a range in New Jersey) Typically I'm out for work by myself - hence now having to drive out to just over the State border to Easton Pennsylvania.

One benefit however is that Pennsylvania allows full automatic. PM me if you need more info as I appreciate not everybody takes kindly to shooting talk on the forums.

For info - same issue if you go to Massachusets - very limited public ranges/limited to clay pigeon more or less. However go over State line to new Hampshire .......

Orlando if you change your mind has a couple of good/safe ranges (My daughter had some lessons there)

Thought that might the case, never mind. (Orlando for winter '19/20 )

[mikal83]

75Black said:

seyre1972 said:

Enjoy - I do think they have a seat sale on @ the moment as well.

Unfortunately Gun laws in NYC mean there are no public ranges. New Jersey ranges however used to allow singles to visit, but that changed about 3 years ago (if you are with your father then you could find a range in New Jersey) Typically I'm out for work by myself - hence now having to drive out to just over the State border to Easton Pennsylvania.

One benefit however is that Pennsylvania allows full automatic. PM me if you need more info as I appreciate not everybody takes kindly to shooting talk on the forums.

For info - same issue if you go to Massachusets - very limited public ranges/limited to clay pigeon more or less. However go over State line to new Hampshire .......

Orlando if you change your mind has a couple of good/safe ranges (My daughter had some lessons there)

Thought that might the case, never mind. (Orlando for winter '19/20 )

Stand your ground law in FL, real fun! Will try and find the pix I took of icycles hanging from trees in my back garden a few years ago

[ukaskew]

The planes Virgin use (A330s?) on the NYC route are ropey as hell in economy, don't think they've seen a refurb in 15 years. It was literally like being on a bus on our last flight in Feb this year, if you can find a bus with a 1990s VGA screen in the seatback that is.

The refurbed 767s Delta use are lovely, economy effectively felt like premium economy on other airlines we've used for the route in the past few years (BA, Continental).

Edited by ukaskew on Tuesday 16th October 20:53

[Sheepshanks]

David Beer said:

Through Amex I fly virgin gold,

I might be missing something here, but do you mean you get gold status with Virgin through Amex?

[unsprung]

many people in this thread appear to be well-informed veterans of travel in the US

with apologies in advance for anything obvious or old hat, I offer the following: an edited version of an older PH post (by me)


When visiting New York, you may want to dedicate a large portion of your sightseeing to destinations outside Manhattan -- in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Study that subway map! Get your Uber or Lyft app loaded!

For example: many New Yorkers feel that Little Italy is dead and Chinatown steeped in tourism. Meanwhile, the Chinatown in Flushing (a part of Queens) has twice the Chinese population and is visited by few tourists:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatowns_in_Queens...

And while much of Manhattan is corporate or soul-crushing, Brooklyn offers home-grown brands:

https://youtu.be/DspDrgLcwds

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=breweries&fin...

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/

When in Manhattan, do make time for glorious blockbuster museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) and the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). There are many others. Do plan a visit to Chelsea Market and the High Line on a week day. Same with the nearby Meat Packing District.

You may find that the Lower East Side and the East Village (again, in Manhattan) offer more of the bohemian. I would consider venues and events in those two locations: live rock, live jazz, live comedy clubs, restaurants, and arts happenings. See if a showing and/or lecture is on at Anthology Film Archives:

http://anthologyfilmarchives.org/

If, after a week, you're still in New York, I suggest taking the train to Boston or Washington DC.


THINGS TO DO IN BROOKLYN

https://www.tripsavvy.com/dumbo-vistors-guide-4419...

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/brooklyn...

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60827-Act...


THINGS TO DO IN QUEENS

https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/new-york/queen...

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g616325-Ac...


THINGS TO AVOID

If it would be my time and money, I would avoid the following:

• Times Square and much of midtown Manhattan; BUT... by all means: see a Broadway show, if you'd like
• Fifth Avenue north of Grand Central Terminal; BUT... do visit Grand Central Terminal; it's fabulous
• Little Italy and the Chinatown in Manhattan
• Greenwich Village or the West Village
• Staten Island (BUT... do enjoy the ferry ride there and back -- stellar views and it's free)
• the Bronx
• any tourist destination on any weekend

[David Beer]

Sheepshanks said:

I might be missing something here, but do you mean you get gold status with Virgin through Amex?

Yes ,also Emirates gold.

[75Black]

Well, that's that. Flights booked after my dad finally made his mind up. Unfortunately missed out on virgin atlantic as they hiked their prices up this afternoon by £89 for the same seats as this morning, could have gone with them in their Economy Plus seats with extra leg room for the same price I just booked with Finnair/BA in standard economy. But for £650 I can't complain!

[Nickyboy]

ukaskew said:

The planes Virgin use (A330s?) on the NYC route are ropey as hell in economy, don't think they've seen a refurb in 15 years. It was literally like being on a bus on our last flight in Feb this year, if you can find a bus with a 1990s VGA screen in the seatback that is.

The refurbed 767s Delta use are lovely, economy effectively felt like premium economy on other airlines we've used for the route in the past few years (BA, Continental).

Edited by ukaskew on Tuesday 16th October 20:53

I disagree, we flew out 3 weeks ago on an A330 and it was great, we were in premium mind, definitely wasn't old and tired. The flight home on the A340-600 was another matter, this had certainly seen better days, seats wouldn't stay upright, no power ports, entertainment screen seemed like it was from the 80's.

They are taking deliveries of the A350s in the spring to replace all the A340 and A300 fleet

[ukaskew]

Nickyboy said:

I disagree, we flew out 3 weeks ago on an A330 and it was great, we were in premium mind, definitely wasn't old and tired. The flight home on the A340-600 was another matter, this had certainly seen better days, seats wouldn't stay upright, no power ports, entertainment screen seemed like it was from the 80's.

They are taking deliveries of the A350s in the spring to replace all the A340 and A300 fleet

Sorry, it may have been an A340 judging by your description, it was terrible! Late evening flight out of JFK.

[75Black]

I'm back with one last ask for advice. I'm currently looking at AirBnB's..what with hotel prices being OTT, and a fair few of the cheaper AirBnB's that offer the full apartment not just the room are in Brooklyn/Astoria/Williamsburg etc area. As much as I'd love to stay in Manhattan, what its like around these areas? Connections to the touristy bits is one of the main things I'm looking at and journey times etc.

[groovyjay]

On my last visit I stayed in Brooklyn Heights, the Air BnB was just perfect and even had a roof terrace with bbq. I’ve been to NY over 50 times and find myself engoying Brooklyn more and more. Lots of cozy neighborghoods, cafes, and very nice food all around. We spend few nights on that roof top enjoying the sun setting behind the Manhattan skyline.

[David Beer]

75Black said:

I'm back with one last ask for advice. I'm currently looking at AirBnB's..what with hotel prices being OTT, and a fair few of the cheaper AirBnB's that offer the full apartment not just the room are in Brooklyn/Astoria/Williamsburg etc area. As much as I'd love to stay in Manhattan, what its like around these areas? Connections to the touristy bits is one of the main things I'm looking at and journey times etc.

Not much use as I have only really done the touristy bits. I see on trip advisor the hotels available, cheapest 70 odd quid, not awfull by all accounts.
I don’t think you go to NY on the cheap.
I mentioned ground zero, also a favourite is grand central station, the oyster bar is not exactly “plush” but great atmosphere and great oysters obviously!
I know Times Square is tacky but grab a hot dog from a vendor and take one bite and bin it, you did it!
Just out of interest how much are these air bnb Jobbies?

[75Black]

David Beer said:

Not much use as I have only really done the touristy bits. I see on trip advisor the hotels available, cheapest 70 odd quid, not awfull by all accounts.
I don’t think you go to NY on the cheap.
I mentioned ground zero, also a favourite is grand central station, the oyster bar is not exactly “plush” but great atmosphere and great oysters obviously!
I know Times Square is tacky but grab a hot dog from a vendor and take one bite and bin it, you did it!
Just out of interest how much are these air bnb Jobbies?

Can be as cheap as £40 a night up to 150 depending on area, however found out may be staying with a family friend

[David Beer]

Ok I see the interest, still can’t help with your areas. Uber is your best friend after all, you only sleeping there !
I get offers of upgrades on hotels, Double the standard price for the same sleep, nope.