DELETEME 249 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Afternoon all! I’m after a bit of travel advice… My girlfriend and I are planning on booking 4 nights in New York towards the end of the year, and at the moment it’s looking likely to be around November as it’s the cheapest! Just wondering how many people have been to the Big Apple (or live there!!) and can say what days are the best to visit on? I’m not sure which will be the best for tourists, Monday-Friday or Thursday-Monday? I don’t want to book Thurs-Mon and then find out that it’s absolutely heaving everywhere at weekends and we would have been better off booking during the week! Also whilst I’m on the subject, which is typically the best airport to use? I can find flights to/from JFK and Newark for around the same price, is there a reason to use one over another? Thanks in advance! Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WT 232 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I've been a few times and on most occasions have flown in and out of Newark with Continental. I did the same with Virgin but flew out of JFK on the return flight. It's a bustling city so you'll find it's pretty busy on whichever days you go....although I've never really had issues queuing/getting in anywhere for long periods of time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I have to echo the above; no matter which days you go it'll be busy but in theory it should be a bit quieter in Manhattan over the weekend as many, many people commute into the island to work during the week. One of my tips is to go to Top of the Rock during the day as the queues aren't too bad when you have a timed ticket and your view will include the Empire State Building. Do the ESB at night, preferably after 10pm, as there will be very little queuing and it won't be anywhere hear as crowded at the top. The views from the ESB at night are exceptional. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebs1546081084 561 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 It's cold at that time of year, pack for warmth! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin820 32 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I'm going in two weeks. We fly out on a Sunday and fly home again on a Friday so we're there during the week. I shall let you know upon my return. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E29NP1546080952 1,383 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I stayed in 92 at the Lyden Gardens Hotel. E 64th St. Cracking place, very reasonable. Not sure what prices are like there now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin820 32 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I stayed in 92 at the Lyden Gardens Hotel. E 64th St. Cracking place, very reasonable. Not sure what prices are like there now. I think he's asking whether it will be less busy at the weekend or during the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadsBeat 31 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I've been a couple of times but have only been during the week so can't comment about how busy it is during the weekend. One advantage of JFK is that we used the train/subway to get into Manhattan at a fraction of the cost of a transfer or taxi. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen + 263 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 We are going at the end of May Thursday - Monday - can't wait for it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrative Account 7 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Sometimes having a saturday night helps reduce the airline cost 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrative Account 7 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 I went once in 2010, awesome place. It was one of those places I had to visit, and did finally do it. I walked through all those areas we see and hear so much of and was thinking 'I am walking down Broadway' or 'I'm in Central Park' etc. When I booked, I thought of the romaticiised notion of going in winter for all the snow and wrapping up and Christmas presents etc but, in the end, I am so glad I went at the end of August/beginning of September. It was baking and looking back, it was the sensible thing to do. I wouldn't have thought it much fun in all that cold and snow to be honest. The snow, I feel, in US idiom, is strictly for the birds. My feeling is that it is romanticised on TV - I mean what do we see? Impossibly good looking people wrapped up snug laughing getting back to their massive apartment, dropping their presents on the floor as their flatmates laugh back and cuddle... nah. Stick to the warmer months! I flew Virgin to JFK and had pre-purchased a communal taxi, but should I go again (I really want to) I will book my own hotel, close to Times Square, fly to JFK and catch the shuttle train to the railway station for a train that stops at Pennsylvania Street Station which would be close to where I would want to stay. I was there 5 days Saturday-Thursday (I know it's 6 but given travel times etc it reduces to 5) and I have nothing to gauge against but it was pretty busy the whole time. And I will say, though I fully admit to 'tourist eyes' here, I felt safer in the centre of New York at 2 and 3 and 4 in the morning (in and around the vicinity of Times Square) than I do in London these days. How's that for a turnaround and a shocking indictment on the UK? But for goodness' sake don't forget to take out travel insurance and ensure all your paperwork is in order before you get there - passport in date and an ESTA form which you can complete online. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldfgy + 16 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 NYC has plenty to see and do every day. Travel is easier to and from JFK than it is from Newark. There are a large variety of restaurants and theatres, and a huge amount of shopping and museums. NYC is not inexpensive. Do some research before you come. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DELETEME 249 Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Thanks for the help everyone, I’ll try and go over a weekend and fly in and out of JFK! I shall let you know upon my return. That would be great, thanks! But for goodness' sake don't forget to take out travel insurance and ensure all your paperwork is in order before you get there - passport in date and an ESTA form which you can complete online. Travel insurance is something I'll never forget! My girlfriend was peppersprayed by some thugs on the underground in Berlin, and the travel insurance covered the ambulance and treatment bills at hospital! I believe the EHIC card would have covered us anyway, but obviously that wouldn't apply in America I'll make sure I look into the paperwork side of things thoroughly before hand, thanks for the advice :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] 51 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Ive been a few times to NYC. Its an awesome city and you will have a great time there. Ive stayed in E 30th street a few times and the last time I stayed in the Hilton overlooking the world trade centre site. The subway is a great way of getting around/and its easy to use. There are so many places to see- statue of liberty, madison sq garden, central park etc. Go and have a blast. Enjoy! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRegulator1546081364 188 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 I've only visited NYC once, back in 1993. Twas February and it had snowed like billy'o' and the temperatures were down to about -16c I seem to remember. I was in the Navy at the time and because the weather was so rubbish, I spent most of my four day visit there in nice warm bars doing what sailors do best, drinking and trying to trap. So I didn't actually get to do any of the sightseeing stuff, though sailing up the Hudson into New York, seeing the Statue of Liberty and the Twin Towers (RIP) was about the best of it. Oh, I did stand in Times Square and I saw the Empire State Building. I'd love to go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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