New York for a week.

Prophet

Prophet

Prophet

Soldato
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I'm thinking of taking a trip over to New York soon. I'm looking for hotel recommendations and any tips on how best to make use of my time there.

I was thinking of staying for 7 nights rather than a long weekend as I'd like to enjoy sight seeing rather than having to rush around.

Besides all the obvious attractions I'd also like to hear of any less weel known places you would recommend.

Tell me your Big Apple stories

:)
 
I stayed in the Sheraton Manhattan, not a great hotel by any stretch but the Sheraton sweet sleeper beds are fantastic. The hotel is also excellently situated about 5 mins walk from times square and 2 avenues over from 5th. It's on 7th and 52nd something like that.
 
Metallifux said:
I stayed in the Sheraton Manhattan, not a great hotel by any stretch but the Sheraton sweet sleeper beds are fantastic. The hotel is also excellently situated about 5 mins walk from times square and 2 avenues over from 5th. It's on 7th and 52nd something like that.
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That's the kind of location I'm looking for. As long as the hotel is clean etc I'm not to fussed. I'd rather spend my money on sight seeing and shopping than a s****y hotel.
 
I stayed in the Paramount 2 weeks ago. No complaints at all. Decent price, perfect location (about 30 seconds walk away from Times Square ;) [although there was a church of Scientology a couple of doors down :D]), the rooms are very modern, and the restaurant is a tad overpriced I thought, but I never ate there.
 
I stayed at the Hilton Garden Times Sq, nothing flash but great location and perfectly comfortable, 7 days sounds a lot to me, I had had enough after 3
 
I was in the hilton gardens or whatever its called, was their for 3 days. saw not a lot, due to the stupid heat and ridiculous traffic.

anyway have fun!
 
I only went once when I was in college, we went in November and caught Macy's parade and all the Christmas decorations were out, ice skating at the Rockafella centre etc which was fun.

The MOMA was a stand out place to visit along with the obvious, Staten Island, Empire State Buiilding and the very eerie ground zero - although I'm sure they've done something with this now! (I went 8 years ago!)

We stayed in the YMCA!! awesome location though, right on central park
 
Go to Bubba Gumps! A brilliant restaurant and if you're in to muisc the Hardrock Cafe is amazing as well, it's like a museum!

sHo0sH said:
The MOMA was a stand out place to visit along with the obvious, Staten Island, Empire State Buiilding and the very eerie ground zero - although I'm sure they've done something with this now! (I went 8 years ago!)

We stayed in the YMCA!! awesome location though, right on central park
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I went a few years ago and ground zero was basically just a construction site, I would recommend going to the church there but it is very eerie.

We stayed in the YMCA as well, what a ****y place! Our room was barely big enough for me and my mate plus our cases and the showers were all shared D: On the ground floor they made it look all fancy; the wall behind reception was glass so you could see the gym on the other side but as soon as you left that floor it was crap, i've been in hostels which are 100x better.
 
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Stayed at Hotel Chandler (or Hotel Chandler Bing as me and my mate called it :o) when I went with a mate last year, prob about a 10-15min walk to Times Square and just around the corner from the Empire State Building. Hotel was really nice and quite reasonable priced as well.
 
Flare said:
We stayed in the YMCA as well, what a ****y place! Our room was barely big enough for me and my mate plus our cases and the showers were all shared D: On the ground floor they made it look all fancy; the wall behind reception was glass so you could see the gym on the other side but as soon as you left that floor it was crap, i've been in hostels which are 100x better.
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Not to mention all the weirdo's that live there!
 
Rotty said:
I stayed at the Hilton Garden Times Sq, nothing flash but great location and perfectly comfortable, 7 days sounds a lot to me, I had had enough after 3
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Yeah, 3 or 4 days is more than enough to see everything. I actually think Brooklyn is the best thing about New York - Manhattan isn't that special apart from a few tall buildings..
 
Most people say you're better off going up the Rockafella Center than the Empire State Building. One is because it is quieter and two because you get to see the Empire State building. Not sure on the cost.

From what I remember the Staten Island ferry is free and gives you a good view of the Wall Street end of Manhatten Island as you sail to Jersey (then just get it back again.)

Seek out some restaurants and delis that are outside the main tourist traps and not chains.
 
I stayed at the distrikt hotel and loved it, walking to move sites is easy, as others have said top of the rock is better then empire but as your there for a week why not do both? empire at day to see the sites and top of the rock at night because the view of cental park and empire at night is amazing,
 
bsoltan said:
Most people say you're better off going up the Rockafella Center than the Empire State Building. One is because it is quieter and two because you get to see the Empire State building. Not sure on the cost.

From what I remember the Staten Island ferry is free and gives you a good view of the Wall Street end of Manhatten Island as you sail to Jersey (then just get it back again.)

Seek out some restaurants and delis that are outside the main tourist traps and not chains.
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That's what we did, get the free Staten island ferry then swapped around and went straight back on the next one. (It goes to Staten Island however, not Jersey :p).

Rockefella Centre was good too. I don't think it matters which one you do, they're both tall buildings but there wasn't a queue at the Rockefella however the Empire State building did (and was more expensive).
 
I'm doing a lot of New York research at the moment for my trip. My initial findings, which might be useful (And I'd be very grateful of corrections...):

a) For my dates at least, hotels on Manhatten are eyewateringly expensive. We are talking £150-£200 a night for reasonable yet nothing flash places like Holiday Inn Express.

b) There are numerous nice hotels (Various Marriot, Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn etc) in places like Newark and Jersey City. These mostly seem to be either a 20-30 minute bus ride from Times Square, or a 20 minute train ride from Penn Station. They are literally HALF the price per night.

Current thinking is to go with option b).
 
Thanks for all the great info :)

I was planning on a longer trip because it's my first time there and I don't like long flights/short trips.

I guess if I get bored of NY I can jump on a flight to Vegas lol.
 
Spleenus said:
Rockefella Centre was good too. I don't think it matters which one you do, they're both tall buildings but there wasn't a queue at the Rockefella however the Empire State building did (and was more expensive).
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Empire State is actually cheaper but by about 10c after tax or something. It's abotu $23 for the Rockefella Centre and $21+tax for the Empire State building.
 
I'd recommend watching the "Sunday league"-style baseball in Central Park. It's a very, very serious business. :)

If you can afford it, takes a helicopter ride around the Statue of Liberty rather than going up on foot. The queues are usually stupidly long for the ferry.

New York is one of those cities like London that immeasurably more enjoyable if you've got a local as a tour guide. It's hard to find the best bars and restaurants otherwise.
 
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