Trip from BNE to JFK

[Kalan]

A friend of mine wants make the following trip:-

1. Brisbane (or Sydney) to Las Vegas
2. Las Vegas to LA by train
3. LA to NY.
4. NY to Brisbane

She wants to get frequent flyer points for all flights if possible. Does anyone know of any reasonable accommodation in New York.

She wants to book for February 2009 - and she's having trouble finding a place that will accept bookings that far ahead. Anyone know of a place that will?

 

[file51]

For the Vegas to LA option I would forget the train.... nothing much to see in the Mojave... and given the price of flights and the amount of airlines that service this route it just isnt practical.

If they are set on seeing the desert, and making some stops along the I15, then a one way rental car is an option, and it would be quicker than in a train.

In regards to bookings, most airlines and booking facilities only allow bookings up to 50 weeks in advance, some a little less (46-48 weeks)

 

[simongr]

Define reasonable price for accommodation in NY. I am paying US$350 and that is reasonable compared to the US$500+ I paid in September. There are of course much cheaper options but some context of what they expect to pay would be useful.

I am guessing that she is not seeking advice on the flights - there is a nice combination of a couple of tickets that could make that journey potentially a little cheaper if she is interested.

 

[NYCguy]

Does anyone know of any reasonable accommodation in New York?

What, are you trying to kill me with these crazy questions? Fuhgeddaboutit!

Seriously, though, Feb is the dead of winter, and so hotel tariffs are somewhat less lofty than in May or September. NYC is, however, not cheap to visit, so unless your friend wants to stay at a motel under the EWR flight-path, it's gonna cost...

There is a website I sometimes use that you might find useful - tablethotels.com. Tablet feature interesting, independent hotels, and often at keen prices.

 

[drron]

Yes you are too early to book now.
For the airlines wait until at least March.A lot of airlines currently with specials to the US have them running until March 08.However as February is basically the slowest month for aussies travelling you could leave it longer.With airfares you can consider a circle pacific fare but in economy those book into L class and on AA,JL,CX that class only earns 0.5 per mile flown so maybe not what she wants.
New York.It has become very pricy but february is the least pricy month mainly because it is b***** freezing.Saying that because NYC is so expensive even the winter months have become more popular with tourists.For example 4 years ago we stayed in January for just over $US100 a night.3 years ago it was just under $200 a night but this january was $250 a night.So 2009-who knows?At the moment the cheapest Hiltons for this February are the Hilton garden Inn times square at $US220 and the Doubletree suites Times Square at $US245 per night.
As far as I am aware no hotel group opens up their bookings more than 12 months in advance and groups such as Affinia(good apartment hotels in NYC and Chicago often a lot less than that).I would suggest booking a cancellable rate at the 12 month window because this time of the year is probably the only time in NYC that you just may get a cheaper rate close to the time.For next week the Hiltons,dts and Embassy suites are sold out but the Hampton Inns have beds available from $US159-179.
Las Vegas.If your friend is the type of woman who loves shopping(and there are not that many I've met who dont) then definitely drive back from Vegas.It really isnt difficult and from Vegas to LAX you basically dont have to get off the freeway.However in Vegas itself are factory outlets.Another good one at Primm on the Nevada border.Next are in the town of Barstow-basically Erin Brockovic territory.Then at Ontario you come across Ontario Mills at the junction of I15 and I10.If she hasnt had enough by then then Desert Hills a little west towards Palm Springs is another.And yes I have been taken to every one of them!

 

[NYCguy]

NYC is great in February - not only because there's a big novelty factor for Australians who haven't experienced a genuinely cold winter (and no, Canberra doesn't count), but also because there is lots happening indoors. I personally think NYC is much more interesting in winter than in summer, when half the population desert the city and the other half go troppo because of the humidity, the heat, and the millions of tourists.

 

[JohnK]

Define reasonable price for accommodation in NY. I am paying US$350 and that is reasonable compared to the US$500+ I paid in September.

Have you paid this rate personally or on the company account? It would also depend on how long you stayed. I can understand paying US$350 for 1 night but would you pay this for a 2 week stay. I don't know New York that well but I am sure one can find reasonable accommodation for a lot less than US$350/night especially if the holiday was self funded.

 

[drron]

John NYC aint for you.Just out of interest I did a search on Flight centre for NYC hotels this coming September.Their cheapest was a 1 star with shared bathroom at jusst over$A200 per night and their top picks were the Milford Plaza at just over $A 300 (known in NYC as the Mildew plaza) and the Pennsylvannia at $A 400 (known as home of more bed bugs than guests).It has become one expensive town.
Out of interest there is a new hotel grouping-preferred hotels with a frequent guest program(I prefer Global Guest Benefit Program) which includes such hotels as the Dream,Michaelangelo and Kitano in NYC.I was able to get a room in the Kitano for $310 a night for christmas 2008 and signing up for their program get promise of an upgrade and free wifi in room.This is cheaper than the Hilton or SPG group and the hotels do get favourable reviews.
Edit-You also get 500 aa miles or 1000 qf points per stay.

 

[JohnK]

John NYC aint for you.

How did you guess? Although I would love to visit for 2-3 days sometime in the future.

I have only been once and that was an accident. Back in 1990 a TWA flight ATH-JFK was 3 hours late and I missed the connection on DL from JFK-CVG that night. The airline put me up in a Best Western including limousine transfers and I mean limousine. All I saw of New York was the freeway from the airport to the hotel which was situated in a one-way street about 300 metres long and the return back from the hotel on the freeway to the airport. Did not feel comfortable in New York.

Now Cincinatti was a much nicer place for the week long conference....

 

[Kalan]

Thanks for the help guys. She was very grateful.

 

[BlacKnox]

For reasonable hotel options in NYC, you could try travelzoo or Priceline.com though both specialise in offering last minute options.

 

[justinbrett]

Just a word of advice, there's not much to see in LA other than Disneyland, and if your keen, an hour or two in Hollywood.

It's not a nice place to visit.

 

[Kalan]

I'll pass that onto her, but I doubt it will change her mind.

 

[trooper]

Don't quite agree about LA... I always seem to revisit the Gene Autrey Museum (of Western Heritage - or whatever it's called now!) when I'm in LA... and I must admit I enjoyed a visit to Universal Studios....

Not far from both of those is the "Nethercutt Collection"... which you have to 'write in" to for inclusion on a (free!) tour.. but e-mail is acceptable.... Love that place... "Functional art" is I think their description of the collection....

Apart from those... hmmm... yup... not a place I spend much time...:mrgreen:

The train from Las Vegas to LA?... Well.. I love train travel but that one - the "Southwest Chief" is over 20 hours.. and while the Coach fare is USD$83.. the "bedroom supplement" is another $246!! I wouldn't do it in Coach.. but there are much better AMTRAK deals available for similar overnight trips elsewhere.....WITH a sleeper of course..... IIRC we did LA to ABQ on that train.. with a "bedroom" ....for about 2/3 that price.... Of course if she is travelling with a partner/friend the "bedroom supplement" is per room.. NOT per person.... makes a BIG difference...

 

[file51]

Just a word of advice, there's not much to see in LA other than Disneyland, and if your keen, an hour or two in Hollywood.

It's not a nice place to visit.

Totally disagree.

There is an abundance of stuff to do in and around LA, it really comes down to what rocks your boat. Oh, one criteria is, you must have access to a car...

Plenty of museums and galleries, Santa Monica beach/pier/mall, Venice beach, inland a little bit there are the mountain playgrounds of Big Bear and Arrowhead. Easy drive to San Diego and Tijuana, plus all the usual tourist haunts, B Hills, H Wood, theme parks etc etc etc...

Just like every big city, it has its attractions, and some detractions...

 

[justinbrett]

Seriously though, IMO, if you are already making the trip to NYC there are so many better cities to visit on the East coast than LA.

 

[NYCguy]

Seriously though, IMO, if you are already making the trip to NYC there are so many better cities to visit on the East coast than LA.

By all means fly into LAX, but hire a car and get out of there immediately. The drive up to SFO, and on to SEA, is lovely. LA is a dump.

When I heard that the Aceh earthquake in 2004 had busted through 9.0 on the Richter scale, I immediately thought what a shame it was for Indonesia to suffer, when a 9.0 'quake would have been much better placed directly under LA.

 

[BlacKnox]

By all means fly into LAX, but hire a car and get out of there immediately. The drive up to SFO, and on to SEA, is lovely. LA is a dump.

For some info on the drive to SFO, see here.

 

[littl_flier]

For some info on the drive to SFO, see here.

Sorry to hijack your thread Kalan but we've covered off on the drive in that thread but I'm after suggestions of which side of the aircraft so sit on for a view of the coastline. I'm flying SAN-LAX-SEA.

 

[file51]

I have flown LAX-SEA at least 18 times and for the most part the flight tracks northbound inland, to the extent that you cannot see the coastline at all, not including the first 75-100 miles if ATC has outbound flights taking off to the west.

Most of the time the aircraft tracks directly over Sacramento, CA - Salem, OR before heading into Seatac, South bound is much the same with some variences according to ATC requirements.