New York

peter_hutson said:
Apple also provide a full internation warranty (iphone excluded), so there are no problems with bringing the stuff back home. The mac mini I bought turned out to have a fauty cd drive, apple sorted it out no problem. They did not care that it was bought in the US
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I'm off to NYC in April and thinking about getting a couple of Macbook's. One fore me & one to sell on the bay of e. Good idea? I was thinking I could post one back to myself (using insured US post) and carry the other on with me?
 
TheDean said:
I'm off to NYC in April and thinking about getting a couple of Macbook's. One fore me & one to sell on the bay of e. Good idea? I was thinking I could post one back to myself (using insured US post) and carry the other on with me?
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Hi There,

There is a short thread about just this in the MAC forum, have a quick look. In summary, macbooks in the US are excellent value. But you run the risk of being stopped at customs. If you're buying 1, the best thing to do is chuck the packaging and bring it back in your hand luggage. You could pack the packaging in your checked baggage, but you run the risk of that being checked. If you post it to yourself in the UK, customs will almost certainly stop it. Then say hello to Mr VAT man. Be very careful with the likes of TNT, they pay all charges upfront and then charge you. Gives you little scope to appeal them.

Personally I'd just carry them both back in my hand luggage. The chances of getting stopped are small, but you have to be except that it's a risk and that there are consequences.

Anyway have fun in NY.
 
peter_hutson said:
Hi There,

There is a short thread about just this in the MAC forum, have a quick look. In summary, macbooks in the US are excellent value. But you run the risk of being stopped at customs. If you're buying 1, the best thing to do is chuck the packaging and bring it back in your hand luggage. You could pack the packaging in your checked baggage, but you run the risk of that being checked. If you post it to yourself in the UK, customs will almost certainly stop it. Then say hello to Mr VAT man. Be very careful with the likes of TNT, they pay all charges upfront and then charge you. Gives you little scope to appeal them.

Personally I'd just carry them both back in my hand luggage. The chances of getting stopped are small, but you have to be except that it's a risk and that there are consequences.

Anyway have fun in NY.
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I've heard of people taking a copy of Office with them and some pictures, music and work on a memory stick. Install Office and copy your work onto it in the hope Mr Customs won't stiff you duty + tax. There was nobody about in Customs when we came back through Manchester airport but I'm sure somebody was watching somewhere...

Leatherman multi-tools are good value over there. I got a charge TTi for ~£55. They are £110+ from decent retailers in the UK. The NikeTown shop is worth a visit, some decent savings to be had.

Anyway...

Empire State - open till 1am, so go on a clear night to avoid the queues and get great views.
Top Of the Rock - we went first thing one Sunday morning - no queues and no crowds.
Oyster Bar @ Grand Central - great place to eat if you like fish. If you don't love fish, don't go as out of A3 sized menu, 3 items weren't fish.
Heartlands Brewery - three bars in Manhanttan. One is near Times Square, another near the Rockfeller. Top beer :cool:
Staten Island Ferry - Free and great way to see the Statue of Liberty.
Central Park - Check out the size of it from the Top of the Rock and if it's still open, go ice skating.

We saw the NY Giants play (and lose - rubbish!). Get the shuttle bus from the PA Bus Terminal - takes about 20/30 minutes going but over an hour back with queueing to get through the Tunnel.

Red Roof Inn was a good place to stay. Two blocks from the ESB, clean and comfortable. Nothing swish but then you're in NYC - the only time you should be in the hotel is when you're asleep!
 
if you are coming back through the airport from NYC with lots of purchased goods. just hang around for a bit for a flight to land from somewhere in Africa and just go through with them.

simple :)
 
Can anyone recommend a decent hotel they have stayed in? I'm thinking of taking the Mrs myself and would like somewhere nicely situated. Don't really know anyone that's been.
 
I love NY I'm going back there in April.

Central park, USS Intrepid, Googenheim musem (even if you're not into art), go catch a game at MSG, go see a broadway show. Lots of shopping down 5th avenue. Soho is fun as is little italy. Obviously Empire state is mandatory. Staton island ferry is worthy, union square and all the parks around town are fun. If you want to see the diversity of the area, go over to queens, brooklyn and so on you really get swept away by how different it all is. I found the best thing to do is just go out there and walk around. I spent a few summers day walking around, got from the top of Central park down to the financial district - it took a few hours but came across so many wonderful sights.

Hotels, it depends what you want, they can be quite pricey in NY if you're fairly central. I've stayed at the Pennsylvania Hotel and the Red Roof inn - both very good.
 
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Haven't Apple in the US stopped accepting cash (or gift card that can be cash purchased) for iPhones, apparently its credit card only as people were buying with false info and never taking up the contract with AT&T.

Just what I'd heard, wondered if it was true.

gjrc said:
hotels in NYC are hugely overpriced, all very much depends on your budget tbh
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They have apparently gone up 30% in 2007, partly due to so many Brits and other tourists heading over. I would imagine you wouldnt need the best hotel, in 4/5 days in NYC you'd hardly spend any time in it.
 
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>:|sh4d0w|:< said:
Haven't Apple in the US stopped accepting cash (or gift card that can be cash purchased) for iPhones, apparently its credit card only as people were buying with false info and never taking up the contract with AT&T.

Just what I'd heard, wondered if it was true.



They have apparently gone up 30% in 2007, partly due to so many Brits and other tourists heading over. I would imagine you wouldnt need the best hotel, in 4/5 days in NYC you'd hardly spend any time in it.
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Hotels in Manhatten were very expensive, we struggled to find anyhting below £150 a night, but that was during the Christmas shopping season. If you get a hotel off Manhatten, just make sure it's close to a subway station. Taxis in NY are very good value mind.

The Apple store does no longer take cash for iphones, as there is a limit each customer can buy and they use your CC number as a check. Just buy them with your UK CC, I had no problems.
 
dannyjo22 said:
Can anyone recommend a decent hotel they have stayed in? I'm thinking of taking the Mrs myself and would like somewhere nicely situated. Don't really know anyone that's been.
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As mentioned above, Red Roof Inn (Manhattan). Get a room on the street (32nd) and you'll be looking at the Empire State from the higher floors. Bang on for location IMHO. Macys at the end of the street, five minutes up to Times Square.

You'll pay more for a room on Manhattan but you'll save on time and money getting about (though the Subway is cheap).
 
I stayed at 'On The Ave' on 77th Street. Takes 10mins (if that) to get to Times Sq.
They have a few offers on at Expedia.co.uk

It's a few minutes walk to Central Park, some really nice restaurants nearby too.
 
7 day subway pass is superb value, subway is an essential NY experience itself IMHO
Affinia hotels are superb
Murray Hill East Suites are slightly cheaper and good, nice quiet-ish location
IMHO you MUST get subway to Brooklyn and walk to Brooklyn Promenade and then back across the Brooklyn Bridge
 
dannyjo22 said:
Can anyone recommend a decent hotel they have stayed in? I'm thinking of taking the Mrs myself and would like somewhere nicely situated. Don't really know anyone that's been.
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Affinia Dumont! Got a suite there in October, fantastic room, fantastic staff.

Freefaller said:
USS Intrepid
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Is closed for renovation until the end of the year :(
 
R124/LA420 said:
The former World Trade center complex, just to truly appreciate what happened there. :(
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It just looks like a large building site. It didn't help me appreciate what happened there at all.

Empire State, so that you can say you've done it.

Top of the Rock for taking pictures.

Central Park.

Statue of Liberty.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

Times Square.

Staten Island Ferry (although I'm not sure there's a lot to do once you get there...)

A bus tour is good, you get to see lots, with info given at the same tim.
 
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