New York Hotels

[dajop]

It's also a good idea to book the Supershuttle (tel: 1 800 258 3826) airport transfer the day before for arrival in NYC. We arrived about 2240 into JFK ex VX from LAS and waited for the driver to meet us at the ground transportation desk in the terminal.

How was the supershuttle time wise? When we caught back in '02 into NYC we spent about 90mins travelling in and doing various drops before arriving at our hotel near Penn station. I guess those at the earlier dropoffs were much better off. Since then (solo arrival & departures) I vowed not againg, and I've used Airtrain connecting to either Long Island Railroad for Penn station or Subway for downtown. Although I do realise public transport is not for many people but works for me!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

How was the supershuttle time wise? When we caught back in '02 into NYC we spent about 90mins travelling in and doing various drops before arriving at our hotel near Penn station. I guess those at the earlier dropoffs were much better off. Since then (solo arrival & departures) I vowed not againg, and I've used Airtrain connecting to either Long Island Railroad for Penn station or Subway for downtown. Although I do realise public transport is not for many people but works for me!

We arrived at gate B25 in terminal 4 at JFK and were the first ones in the shuttle bus. We picked up the last of the 7 other pax at 2330 and were at the Cosmopolitan Hotel at 95 West Broadway (or 125 Chambers St) by 0030. I think we were the 2nd last drop off point.

The hour went quite quickly and the stops were on the way eg at Brooklyn, not all over the place. Everything moves fast in NYC so it never felt like a never ending journey.

I'm not against public transport or anything but due to the late arrival I didn't want to try it out. We did catch the BART in SFO but I wouldn't do that again with luggage unless I was staying close to one of the stations.

 

[docjames]

In September 2008, we took the coach from JFK --> Grand Central, took about 50 mins by the time it stopped at T8 then made it's way into town (bus dep JFK at approx 1900). It was raining and slow, but it was a saturday evening. This was post Hurrikane Hannah passing through up the east coast of the US so it was a pretty bumpy ride and we were delayed arriving. Seemed good value @ $17pp + tip ($1pp). To get a cab is currently fixed price to anywhere on manhattan, last year (2009) was iirc ~$45+tip. This would be worth it for 3 or more easily, 2 pax and it's 50/50 whether the bus is better.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I had two weeks on Holiday mainly in NYC last October.
Some Thoughts:

We arrived in NYC for 5 nights, then by train visited Philadelphia for 1 night and Washington DC for 4 nights and then back for another 5 nights in NYC.

Looked at all sorts of booking engines and stay options.
For Philadephia and DC it just happened that Wotif was cheapest bya large margin for the two hotels we selected. DC was a particular bargain with a Suite with a rack rate of $370 being obtained for $100 per night & only a few hundred metres from the Library of Congress and so adjacent to National Mall. Philli was also $100, but was a 3/4 run of the mill hotel. But good value as was opposite the Liberty Bell. Independence Hall etc.


For NYC the hotel prices looked very expensive for what they were.

After a bit of researched we opted instead for Bed and Breakfast type places (though without the breakfasts!!!).

We stayed in two different areas and ended up with 1 night at a hotel in Times Square due to unavailability of our preferred accommodations on that one night.

For $120/130 we stayed at two different well located properties that were both good, with free internet.

A big plus was that each was run by very friendly people that gave you lots of free advice on what to see and do. Plus it was great to have all sorts of random conversations with them which for us greatly enriched our travel experience. At the first one the lady also leant us her MOMA Membership which allowed one free entry and one greatly discounted guest.
Plus. As with our experiences in such accommodations in the past fellow guests are more chatty and one can have interesting and useful travel conversations with your fellow guests. ie Tips on where to go, what to see etc.

Yes they had a share bathroom. But as everyone is mainly out most of the time this was never an issue for us. Bathrooms were always very clean.

Both had lounges and kitchens with free Tea and Coffee. So was great to just pop back in fora bit ofa pause and a quick drink. Breakfast was so cheap we normally ate out. But sometimes just had some DIY cereal.

There is so much to do in NYC that you are rarely at your hotel. On our first day there we went out for breakfast at 6.00am and did not come back till 10PM!!!!!!!!

The $100/200 per night saved (any of the hotels were were happy with were well over $200 per night) was for us better spent on entertainment etc.

Have a look on TripAvisor and you will soon find quite a number of options. just decide on the district that you want to stay in and look for somewhere neara Subway Station.

We saw 5 Broadway Shows. Bought one via the Discount Tkts Office. However we actually found it better to go to the Ticket Office of each theatre where we obtained great rates for better located seats.

ie Phantom and Chicago 8 rows from the stage for only about $50 per person!!

JFK to NYC: We opted for our party of two for the fixed price cab. Was quick and no hassle.

Food: We were expecting NYC to be expensive but even with tipping in the main found it to be cheaper than Australian Capital Cities. The quality and variety of food is also very good in NYC and the east Cost and was much better than our previous trip to the West Coast.

Getting around:

• Did a lot of walking as there is a lot see near wherever you stay.
• Subway. Cheap, ample routes, efficient, safe and regular. So we did not bother with cabs after arrival as there was no need to. we bought a 2 week pass. Bargain!!

Empire State Building: Bought tickets on-line in advance to avoid the queue to by tickets. Also went late in the day rather than in the morning as most tourists visit early in the day. result for us is that we were on the observation deck within minutes of entering the building.


NYC exceeded our expectations and made for a great holiday. With a bit of research good quality and reasonably priced accommodation can be found.

 

[cove]

I think if you use reviews from the various booking places like Priceline ,Orbitz,Travelocity,Expedia and the like but stay with the price range you are comfortable with rather than have that feeling that a vacuum cleaner is running in your wallet...you will enjoy NYC.

 

[RB]

I noticed a thread going on Flyer Talk that relates to
Seafarers & International House : Guest House

Apparently gives discounts to service people also- not sure re qualifications

 

[thill]

All you need to do is ADD an american based state and postcode at the end of your billing address and you will be right. I have been consistently using the state California and postcode 90210 <-- yes, no joke! And it's been working for over three years now.

For example, 1 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW CA 90210

Thanks for tip - have booked into Club Quarters (3 and half *) for 5 nights and got it through Name Your Own Price using your tip - $260 a night including taxes, so seems OK. We'll wait and see.

 

[dajop]

Thanks for tip - have booked into Club Quarters (3 and half *) for 5 nights and got it through Name Your Own Price using your tip - $260 a night including taxes, so seems OK. We'll wait and see.

Which Club Quarters. I spent a night at Club Quarters WTC in Feb and was impressed (I paid around $120 night, so was quite lucky )

Empire State Building: Bought tickets on-line in advance to avoid the queue to by tickets. Also went late in the day rather than in the morning as most tourists visit early in the day. result for us is that we were on the observation deck within minutes of entering the building.

Now I guess everyone has to do the Empire State Building observation deck, goes without saying, and have done so twice myself. But last visit I did the "Top of the Rock" (observatory at the Rockefeller center) and it was a better view than the Empire State ... why? Better views of Central Park for a start, but great views of the most prominent icon on the NYC skyline, which you can't see (other than at very close range ) from the Empire State Building.

 

[thill]

Which Club Quarters. I spent a night at Club Quarters WTC in Feb and was impressed (I paid around $120 night, so was quite lucky )

Club Quarters Midtown - most prices I was looking at were expensive for September. I'm envy of $120 though. Reports on Tripadvisor seemed okay.

 

[Flashback]

Just looking at expedia and it's offering me my first 3 nights at the Thirty Thirty Hotel for AU$567.93. The room is a petite single but I am little .

The hotel website says.........

Located between Park & Madison Avenues on East 30th Street. The hotel is easily accessible by taxi, car, bus or subway.

You may be little, but not single! ha ha ha

 

[RSD]

The DT Metropolitan though is very noisy with a firehouse and precinct over the road.

LOL - that's Engine 8/Ladder 2/Battalion 8 - I will tell Billy to keep his foot off the airhorn pedal when I'm talking to him next

Pretty much anywhere in Manhattan will have some degree of noise - particularly if your room faces the street.

 

[Fantic125]

We (me, wife & daughter) were in New York last month and stayed in the Doubletree Hotel - Chelsea on West 29th Street.
The hotel is quite new and we paid $203.15 per night for a nonsmoking room with 2 double beds. Very happy with the hotel, service, etc. Centrally located - not far from Empire State Bulding, 5th Avenue etc.Close to Penn Station and also near the subway entrance on 28th & Broadway, so very easy to get around.
Found a great spot for food on the corner of W 30th and 5th Ave called Au bon Gout. All sorts of food available and a buffet selection as well. The three of us ate there regularly and didn't pay more than $10 a head each time.