NYC Hotels

Check for bedbugs when you arrive before you even unpack.
While it is a known issue in New York I do think it's a bit over-exaggerated at times. I've been to New York 4 times and never had an issue. I think the minority that have an issue just make a lot of noise about it.
 
I stayed in New York for three days in late November - I went hotel hopping and used the "HotelTonight" app to book a new hotel every night :D Went for three hotels, all under 100$, and they were all really good :)

The best I stayed in was Homewood Suites (Hilton). Can't believe how I got it for under 100$, as I went to try and get another night and they charged almost 300$ a night! But there can be some great deals using that app :)

Another I stayed in was The Brooklyn A hotel - Very new, a bit out of the city (Brooklyn), but very easy transport lines and was a nice, big modern room :)
 
My favourite that I've stayed in is the Marriot Marquis in the heart of Times Square. Not a cheap hotel but perfectly placed for the things we like to do when we're there. Right next to Junior's Cheesecake as well, one of our favourite places to eat in NYC.
 
I thought I'd update this for anyone searching for NYC info in the future.

Flight wise, cheapest for us was a four hour drive to Heathrow and then hopping on United over to NYC, going out it had a new, touch screen entertainment set to view films, tv shows and play multiplayer games (played poker vs the wife for a couple of hours!) coming back was the tired old system with tiny screens and unpasuable films.

Flew into Newark and got the air train to Penn station, way cheaper than a cab. Walked from Penn to the hotel.

We stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel, it gets a mixed bag of reviews but four nights at £335 was good considering the location. It was in the middle of everything so ideal for those wanting to stay in Manhatten. The lobby looks brilliant, the staff were friendly, the room was large and clean enough, nothing on previous rooms we've had in America but certainly a lot better than we anticipated.
The mad46 rooftop bar was closed for the season and I was actually looking forward to having a drink there so annoying the website listed nothing about that.

We visited the Skylark that someone mentioned in previous threads, really swanky bar with fantastic views of the Empire State. Expensive drinks galore...!
Keens steakhouse, we had visited this restaurant before and it didn't disappoint a second time. You have to have the chateaubriand, it is simple divine! Amazing place.

We walked to Wall Street on the Friday 22nd, it was bitterly cold and a right trek but we always try walking rather than cabs to take in the sights, we went up the Freedom Tower, the lift was the highlight! I was a bit disappointed once up there, the glass separators aren't ideal for decent pictures but it was a nice experience to do it, last time we were in NYC it was only about 10% built.
We did the 9/11 museum, was really interesting actually and I think we were in there two hours, it was really well done, a very morbid atmosphere in there.
We walked around the finance district and got some lunch and walked back, did the cinema that night and both of us fella asleep, lol. That's when the snow started...

Saturday 23rd, woke up to a lot of snow! Plan that day was to walk to the Central Park zoo, through the park and onto the national history museum, on to Macy's then Broadway show; Misery.
We had warm clothes but not footwear for snow but went out anyway, Central Park was completely covered and we were walking in a blizzard not having a clue where we were! The zoo was shut due to snow, we walked on which seemed like miles to the museum, got in there, spent half an hour looking around before getting ushered out as they were closing. Everyone got an emergency text to say all cars need to be off the road by 2:30pm!
On our way we went to the shops, again they were all closing/closed so we walked back to the hotel, Sarah's hair was frozen it was that bad!
We got an email saying the Broadway show was cancelled but could rebook for the following day which I did. We contemplated room service for tea but decided we wanted to get out and see what was open, found an Irish bar and spent a horrid amount on food and alcohol!

The last say, Sunday the roads had been cleared of snow, just slush remained, the pavements were still covered in about a foot of snow and crossing the road was a nightmare! We did get our shopping done though, went up the Rockefeller and got some great pics with the snow, Broadway show at 3pm, Misery was amazing, 3 seats away from big Brucey Willis. Went to the shake shack for lunch and pottered about in Macy's for three hours and my wife spent a small fortune.

That's it. Great experience, again! Wrote this on the iPad which wasn't the best idea.
 
Flying out in 4 days, can't wait. Hope the streets are clear by then.

Went similar time last year and the temperature hovered around 0c....but like you didn't bother me too much.

The walk to the financial district must have been killer. I did the length of the highline and back to times square last year. Think on one day my iphone logged we walked 24 km :eek:

Any food recommendations, I have fairly simple tastes, casual dining and looking for a cool experience. Not a fan of fine dining but don't want out and out tourist spots either.

Favourites last year was the Counter; build your own burger place and Bills in the Rockafeller Centre to give you an idea of my taste.
 
Any food recommendations, I have fairly simple tastes, casual dining and looking for a cool experience. Not a fan of fine dining but don't want out and out tourist spots either.

Favourites last year was the Counter; build your own burger place and Bills in the Rockafeller Centre to give you an idea of my taste.

I loved The Counter, was an awesome burger bar. There's several other good restaurants in that area that fit in with your casual requirements. Ruby Tuesday (really close to The Counter) was lovely, and did a gorgeous burger on a pretzel bun. Junior's Cheesecake is my favourite in that area, it can get really busy but there is loads to choose from on the menu, and the desserts are to die for. If you're a fan of seafood then you can't go wrong with Bubba Gump's in Times Square as well, excellent fish there.
 
Flying out in 4 days, can't wait. Hope the streets are clear by then.

Went similar time last year and the temperature hovered around 0c....but like you didn't bother me too much.

The walk to the financial district must have been killer. I did the length of the highline and back to times square last year. Think on one day my iphone logged we walked 24 km :eek:

Any food recommendations, I have fairly simple tastes, casual dining and looking for a cool experience. Not a fan of fine dining but don't want out and out tourist spots either.

Favourites last year was the Counter; build your own burger place and Bills in the Rockafeller Centre to give you an idea of my taste.

Mad. Sq. Eats is like an outdoor food hall.
Friend of a Farmer is also good, but I think they are best known for "brunch".
If you fancy a donut go to a place called Dough, amazing!!
 
The mad46 rooftop bar was closed for the season and I was actually looking forward to having a drink there so annoying the website listed nothing about that.

We visited the Skylark that someone mentioned in previous threads, really swanky bar with fantastic views of the Empire State. Expensive drinks galore...!

What was the dress code for Skylark? Were you suited and booted - I did tweet them before Christmas to ask but they didn't get back to me. I'm hoping Mad46 is open by the time we go out there but it'll only be the end of Feb? Did they mention when they were going to open it?

I can't wait to go now after reading your post! I'm glad the hotel was ok too :D
 
What was the dress code for Skylark? Were you suited and booted - I did tweet them before Christmas to ask but they didn't get back to me. I'm hoping Mad46 is open by the time we go out there but it'll only be the end of Feb? Did they mention when they were going to open it?

I can't wait to go now after reading your post! I'm glad the hotel was ok too :D

I wore a jacket and shirt, no tie and black jeans. I think you'd get away without a jacket.
I think it will still be closed in Feb, presumably when it gets warmer again it will re-open, bit of a shame although we never had time to visit it anyway.
 
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