Getting a deal on a nice hotel in NYC

[dr&momto2boys]

Wow, Leebee! I love all the info, but now I'm all shaken up again. IF you had only 1 1/2 days in NYC and had never been before, what would YOU do?

Thanks for helping me confirm skipping Serendipity. DH actually got the powdered frozen hot chocolate mix from there, so I have a good idea what it tastes like. Good--but not worth our time on this trip.

 

[PatriciaH]

DizGirl--
Wow! That's exactly the kind of recommendation I was looking for! When I started to read about it and see pictures I figured the price tag was going to way too much! I got a quote of $365/night though and considering it includes breakfast and other extras and it's beautiful and well located--this may be the winner!

I would like to spend about a hundred dollars less per night. BUT I want a nice experience so I may splurge!

Thanks for the recommendation!

The Library is wonderful! We will probably stay there in November again.

 

[burnsoc]

As someone who books a room in Manhattan at least once a week, nobody can touch Pricelines make your own bid. I regularly get a $350 per night hotel for $170 - $190. A lot of people get scared by the finality of the transaction, but if your dates are firm there is no way you could get a cheaper rate. If you're interested in booking through priceline, email me at burnsoc@gmail.com and I'll tell you the best way to bid for a room.

 

[burnsoc]

I haven't read through all the responses, but if it's just you and Hubby and you want him to have a real NY experience take him to McSorley's. This is the ultimate old NY experience. I've lived in and around NYC my whole life and I treasure my visits to McSorley's. http://www.mcsorleysnewyork.com/ , it's on 7th St. on the East side. Get an onion and cheese platter with some dark ale, heaven. I agree with the other posters who said skip Serendipity. Unless you have teen daughters with you, it's not worth it. Even if I had teens I would go to Dylan's Candy Bar down the street and then to Patsy's Pizzeria across the street.

 

[burnsoc]

Having read through many of the posts I feel I can respond to your specific situation. As a male who just celebrated his 40th b'day, I salute you on wanting to make your DH's special. If your DH is a steak guy (how many of us are not?), one of the PP is correct in saying Peter Lugers in Brooklyn is the best. However, since you'll be in NYC for only 48 hours the Palm restaurants or Sparks Steakhouse are a close second. Plus Sparks has the added benefit of being part of modern mob lore. John Gotti's crew gunned down Paul Castellano in front of this restaurant. Bon Appetite!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I haven't read through all the responses, but if it's just you and Hubby and you want him to have a real NY experience take him to McSorley's. This is the ultimate old NY experience. I've lived in and around NYC my whole life and I treasure my visits to McSorley's. http://www.mcsorleysnewyork.com/ , it's on 7th St. on the East side. Get an onion and cheese platter with some dark ale, heaven. I agree with the other posters who said skip Serendipity. Unless you have teen daughters with you, it's not worth it. Even if I had teens I would go to Dylan's Candy Bar down the street and then to Patsy's Pizzeria across the street.

Very interesting. I'm reworking our itinerary over and over again, so I'll keep this place in mind. It sounds appealing. Thanks!

Plus Sparks has the added benefit of being part of modern mob lore. John Gotti's crew gunned down Paul Castellano in front of this restaurant. Bon Appetite!

Hilarious! Thanks! Happy birthday!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I just heard from FamousFatDave re: the food tour. He's not available that week. Bummer. I think it would have been very unique and fun. Still have lots of stuff to explore an I don't think I'll finalize anything until close to the trip. I'm even considering Rock of Ages again after doing more reading. Too many choices!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I've been stalking some food tour websites for their Septmeber schedules but now that most are up, I can't find anything I'm excited about. I guess I'm ruling that out. So here's the plan as of now...

Thursday (DH's 40th B-day):
Arrive
check-in
explore Times Square
Dinner at Bar Americain
Top of the Rock &/or drinks/dessert at The View

Friday:
5+ hours morning tour incl. ferry around Statue of Liberty
Afternoon and evening open
(considering some time in Central Park, dinner at the River Cafe and walk across Brooklyn Bridge)

I guess that's a good enough as far as plans, but if anyone wants to throw in anymore ideas, feel free!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

bamor,
Are you back from NYC? How was your Central Park map?

I'm getting excited now! Only about 3 more weeks until my NYC trip!

 

[bamor]

We got back yesterday.

Central Park map would have worked out well, but it was just to hot!! We had the inlaws with us so it was a different experience this time. My FIL had not been back since their honeymoon 49 yrs ago.
Here is what we did:
Arrived on Friday, walked around Rockefeller Ctr then dinner at Tony's DiNapoli.
Sat we walked around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the am, Pizza (but not Grimaldi's as there must have been a hundered people in line) then walked the Brooklyn Bridge back into Manhattan. Wonderful cool breeze up that high.
Saw In The Heights in the evening, my daughter met Corbin Bleu after the show. Got a great shot of them together, this was the highlight of the trip for her.
Sun we walked through the park a little then spent a couple of hours in the Met Museum of Art (nice and cool). Dinner was at Angus McIndoe in the theater district.
Yesterday just poked around Chinatown and Little Italy for a bit. It was so hot we had ice cream from the Chinatown Ice Cream factory for lunch.

Although the hotel we stayed at wasn't the nicest place we've ever stayed, the pool was such a nice feature to have each afternoon.

You are going to have a great time. Just don't overschedule and go with the flow!!!
I will go back with my family walking guide to Central Park sometime in cooler weather!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We got back yesterday.

Central Park map would have worked out well, but it was just to hot!! We had the inlaws with us so it was a different experience this time. My FIL had not been back since their honeymoon 49 yrs ago.
Here is what we did:
Arrived on Friday, walked around Rockefeller Ctr then dinner at Tony's DiNapoli.
Sat we walked around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the am, Pizza (but not Grimaldi's as there must have been a hundered people in line) then walked the Brooklyn Bridge back into Manhattan. Wonderful cool breeze up that high.
Saw In The Heights in the evening, my daughter met Corbin Bleu after the show. Got a great shot of them together, this was the highlight of the trip for her.
Sun we walked through the park a little then spent a couple of hours in the Met Museum of Art (nice and cool). Dinner was at Angus McIndoe in the theater district.
Yesterday just poked around Chinatown and Little Italy for a bit. It was so hot we had ice cream from the Chinatown Ice Cream factory for lunch.

Although the hotel we stayed at wasn't the nicest place we've ever stayed, the pool was such a nice feature to have each afternoon.

You are going to have a great time. Just don't overschedule and go with the flow!!!
I will go back with my family walking guide to Central Park sometime in cooler weather!

Sounds like a good time! It's crunch time for me. I'm going to make a couple of dinner reservations and a reservation for a tour and then we'll play the rest by ear while we're there. At least I'll have lots of ideas for my DH. Thanks for all your help!

 

[djbleach]

I hope you have most of your plans for you DH's 40th bday. That's actually where I took my wife and daughter for my 40th's.
Anyway. It seems like you have alot of things planned and I think It's great, but speaking from a Man's perspective.................
If you are not going to have kids with you.............
This will probably be one of few times you get this much alone time......??
I suggest packing something sexy for 2 nights...............
Most men have a one track mind, and for alot of us........all this other stuff is nice, but what we really want is............
This may be waaaaayyyyy out of line, but I just thought I'd put my 2 cent. Good luck and have fun!!

 

[Freyja]

I hope you have most of your plans for you DH's 40th bday. That's actually where I took my wife and daughter for my 40th's.
Anyway. It seems like you have alot of things planned and I think It's great, but speaking from a Man's perspective.................
If you are not going to have kids with you.............
This will probably be one of few times you get this much alone time......??
I suggest packing something sexy for 2 nights...............
Most men have a one track mind, and for alot of us........all this other stuff is nice, but what we really want is............
This may be waaaaayyyyy out of line, but I just thought I'd put my 2 cent. Good luck and have fun!!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I hope you have most of your plans for you DH's 40th bday. That's actually where I took my wife and daughter for my 40th's.
Anyway. It seems like you have alot of things planned and I think It's great, but speaking from a Man's perspective.................
If you are not going to have kids with you.............
This will probably be one of few times you get this much alone time......??
I suggest packing something sexy for 2 nights...............
Most men have a one track mind, and for alot of us........all this other stuff is nice, but what we really want is............
This may be waaaaayyyyy out of line, but I just thought I'd put my 2 cent. Good luck and have fun!!

That's why I wanted to be sure to keep him busy!

(Although you can see by my signature, that we find time even with the kids around.)

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Just checking back in to let you all know that the weekend went great! DH was completely surprised. The hotel was nice, but had I been really familiar with the city I would have chosen something more in the heart of Times Square. It was a long walk everywhere we went. Once we saw an old lady peeing in the street just down the block from the hotel too. Gross!

I cannot believe how huge New York is!!! Coming from near Chicago, I didn't think anything could surprise me much, but now I think the skyscraper section of Chicago is so small!

Thursday: (DH's birthday) We explored and shopped Times Square and Rockefeller Center. Had dinner at Bar Americain. Delicious! Spent more time in Times Square, then dessert at The View. Pricey and not as good of a view as I expected--next time would go to Top of the Rock and have dessert somewhere else.

Friday: Took a guided "See it all Tour." It was 5 1/2 hours all together. Fanatastic! It included a one hour ferry tour around Manhatten and the Statue of Liberty. Had pizza at Angelo's (under David Letterman's awning.) Very good--but we were starving--it was a 2pm lunch right after the tour. We went to the Top of the Rock and loved the view. Got some great pictures! It was nice to do after having toured the city so we knew a little more about what we were looking at! Then we took the NBC tour. Boring! Skip it! The only cool part was seeing the set of SNL. Next we walked to Fifth Avenue and all the way to the FAO Schwartz store (Aprox. 58th street.) Long walk from Rockefeller Plaza especially considering we then needed to walk back to Times Square for dinner and finally to nearly 9th Avenue and 40th street to our hotel.

Saturday: One final stroll through Times Square and breakfast buffet at Hard Rock Cafe. Just okay. Should have arranged something better for breakfast, but the most important thing was sleeping as long as we wanted that morning so didn't make any plans. Then to the airport and home.

Thanks for all the advice people!

 

[Freyja]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Congrats on your pregnancy. Hope you´re feeling well and that you´ll have a smooth pregnancy

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Thank you!