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New York
I'm heading there next week and was wondering if anyone could give me any little bits of information that are not shown on the travel programs? Or generally any advice or past experiences are welcome!
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If shopping on 5th Ave and you need a coffee there is a Starbucks in the Trump Building which is worth going into for the marble wall with the waterfall running down! Use taxis - they are cheap (my friend and I used them a lot when we were there in December). We walked most places until we couldn't walk another step then got a taxi back to the hotel! It's well worth going to Top of The Rock, the recently (November) reopened top of the Rockefeller Centre, you get amazing views of Central Park and the Empire State. Grand Central Station is also definately worth a look, it is just amazing. Have a fantastic time (I'm sure you will) - just wish I was going with you!
visit www.nycvisit.com excellent web site, returned 2 weeks ago from new york and this was the main site/guide we used (you can order the official guide from this website which i did but it failed to arrive, all the hotels have them in lhe lobbys though so i picked one up when i arrived). get to attractions as early as possible, we did empire state at 10am, as we left about an hour later the queue was halfway out the building. circle line tours, we went from battery park, cost $11.50 (about �7 ish) got off on liberty island (where the statue is) if you want to go up the statue, book as early as poss, it was fully booked the day we went. we also stopped off on ellis island (web site gives details of what this is). v. good value for money. Food at the ROXY in times square is lovely, dont know how old you are but if you are over 21 go to hard rock cafe times square for a drink, dont queue for a table unless you want to eat, just say bar and the staff will point the way, no need to queue. central park is a must see, go any time during the day (avoiding nighttime is recommended). Use the subway as much as possible, we got the $7 day pass unlimited ride so you just jump on and off as much as you want. individual journeys cost $2, doesnt matter where you get on or off - set price. dont be daunted by subway maps, really easy, trains are lettered or numbered, see what train stops at your destination then find a subway station displaying that number/letter and away you go. the top of manhatten is uptown, the middle is mid town and the bottom is down town make sure you get the train in the right direction. simple. let me know if you need more info. have fun..its brilliant.
This might be interesting to you.
(1) Hailing a cheap limousine: My wife and I visit New York from time to time. You will occasionally notice a limousine driver without passengers. If the driver makes eye contact with you as you walk along the sidewalk, this is a signal that he might give you a cheap trip to your next destination. If you are interested, signal a little with your hand. Not a huge HELLO LOOK AT ME, but a somewhat discreet little wave. He will pull over. You ask him how much he would charge to take you to (wherever you want to go next). He will tell you a price. If you agree, hop in and off you go in luxury. In addition, sometimes at the airport, you might see a chauffeur with that same eye contact look standing around. He might be standing with other drivers who have a cardboard sign with the last name of their customers. You can walk up to him and ask if he is heading into Manhattan (or wherever you are going). We have found the cost to be about the same as a taxi cab. Drawback: you do not see the limousine until you are in front of it. Could be old. But, this driver will help you with bags and help you get around the airport quickly. Mrs rampart and I do this regularly.
(2) Carriage rides. They are costly. But, ask the price and immediately say that is too high. You can then negotiate a price for the ride. Mrs rampart does not find it particularly romantic to watch me do this, but if she wants a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, I will not do it unless we haggle!
(3) Doormen: your hotel will have a doorman. He/she knows much about the city. If you ask a question that requires some effort from the doorman, you should likely tip US$2. If you simply ask which way is the Waldorf and he simply says left, you do not need to tip. This is the person to ask about safety concerns, fun spots, and more. They are great.
(4) Check out time. Check with your hotel. But often, we have to check out early, but still have business about the city. Ask an employee about leaving your packed bags at the bell-hop station. Usually you can do this for a tip or a small charge. Then you can pick up your suitcases later.
(5) Must see: Empire State Building. Has a great gift shop with affordable gifts for all your friends at home. Wonderful tourist site. Rockefeller Center. You can rent ice skates here. Go have fun. Waldorf Astoria. Have a cocktail at Peacock Alley. It is beautiful. So is St. Bartholemew's Church next door. Buy something at Tiffany's.
(6) Church: for very high mass, St. Mary the Virgin (Episcopal) at 145 W. 46th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue.
(7) You will get a city map somewhere probably for free. Wherever you go, be sure you know the address and cross streets. Taxi drivers are likely to ask you. See (5) above as to how to verbally give a street address.
Have fun!
The subway does a good free map; it will fall apart by the end of your trip because you will use it so much - but it IS free, so get another one! Getting from JFK is a great experience if you use the Airtrain; this is a new system on a monorail round theedge of the airport and connects with the subway system. We catch it to Jamaica and then get the subway into Manhattan. It costs $5 one way last time we were there and we then got a 7day Metro tickets for $21. This will get you all over NY on the Metro for a week - brilliant value. Don't be intimitated-the subwayis a basic, cheap and efficient way of getting round the city. Use the common sense you would use in any city and you'll be safe. You will see a great variety of NY life there. Central Park is magnificent; New York goes out to play there at weekends and it's a great place to man-watch. We watched a roller-blading dance session last time - a great exhibition of exibitionism! There are so many iconic things in New York that we've all seen on films and TV so many times and that lie in our subconscious memory. But to step out onto a busy Manhattan street fo the first time, or to see the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge etc is amazing-you'll probably immediatley start talking with a NY accent!! On all our trips we have found New Yorkers to be very friendly and helpful. You only have to stand and look at a map for a moment and someone will probably ask if they can help. Ofcourse, there are areas that are probably left alone - but every city has those. If you visit with an open mind, good walking shoes and a smile on your face you'll love it. Good luck, enjoy it and give it my best love!!
Hi
if its your first time in new york i would definetly recommend you go on a open top tour bus, these are usually run by gray line and you can pick it up at time square (oposite the TKTS stall where you can get huge discounts on broadway show tickets!), for the all loops tour it was $48 this takes you everywhere you could possible want to go, its a hop on hop off tour and is valid for 48hrs well worth it plus you get coupons for money off in differents shops so handy if your planning on going shopping.
One good thing i did was go on the staten island ferry its free and sails right past ellis island and the statue of liberty, the tour bus has a drop off right near to the ferry terminal.
if you want some cheap designer bags and watches etc then china town is the place for u, when your walking down the streets the women come up to you and say "gucci, prada, louis vuitton" be descrete about it and follow them they usually take you into a back room of their shop were they have a huge selection of fake bags for about $15 and you can haggle with them.
if your looking for a nice place to eat, then for breakie i would recommend astro cafe we stumbled across it so not sure of street name but its near to radio city music hall, if u google it u will find the address, for dinner we loved planet hollywood (avoid it of a weekend though far too bust) the steak is to die for! Another nice place for breakfast is in macy's in the cellar they have like a buffet place you can get coissants fresh fruit coffee etc quite resonable and then you only have to go upstairs to do some shopping!
also becareful when you first arrive at the airport as you get a lot of people that are allegal taxi drivers touting for business this one russain man asked me where we where going when i said time sq he took my suitcase off me and started walking off to the car park say i'll take you there!!!!
so i had to tell him thanks but no thanks and give me my bag back!!!
when ur going back to the airport on ur way home most hotels run a taxi shuttle which from memory was about $50 for the 2 of us i think, this was a lot easier than trying to hail a cab to get it to take u to jfk.
have a great time if ur only going to be there for a short time then try to plan ur days cos there is that much to do u have to cram it all in but definetly go on the tour bus well worth it!!!!!
have a good time take care
vicky
just reading what magse wrote about how new yorkers are helpfull, they really are me and my friend were kinda lost down near wall street we had our map out looking proper touristy this lady came up to us asked if we were ok and could she gives us any directions! so new yorkers are'nt as harsh as alot of people make out i dont think.
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