Getting a deal on a nice hotel in NYC

[dr&momto2boys]

I sure appreciate everyone's advice! I'll look into the new suggestions for dinner our second night.

 

[krcit]

Remember that there is a TKTS booth at South Street Seaport also.

 

[Angela0917]

My husband and I stayed at The Wellington a few years ago and it was great! I can't remember what we paid, we booked the package with flight through Expedia, but it was reasonable. The hotel was walking distance to everything, you could see Times Square as soon as you walk out the front door! And definately go to Serendipity one night for some frozen hot chocolate, it's the best!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

My husband and I stayed at The Wellington a few years ago and it was great! I can't remember what we paid, we booked the package with flight through Expedia, but it was reasonable. The hotel was walking distance to everything, you could see Times Square as soon as you walk out the front door! And definately go to Serendipity one night for some frozen hot chocolate, it's the best!

I've heard so many mixed reviews about Serendipity. If we go it would be Friday night. Should we just eat dinner there so we can make a reservation? I don't want to spend an hour standing in line for dessert? Any advice?

 

[bamor]

OP
It's not something I would wait in line for. You aren't there for a long enough time.
Check out the menu for Max Brenner's, that might be an option if you are looking for just dessert.

 

[Angela0917]

I've heard so many mixed reviews about Serendipity. If we go it would be Friday night. Should we just eat dinner there so we can make a reservation? I don't want to spend an hour standing in line for dessert? Any advice?

Definately don't go without ressies, you'd be lucky if the wait is only an hour! I think it was close to 3 hours when I was there. We had dinner, and it was pretty good, but the frozen hot chocolate is what we went for!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

You had me excited for a minute, but I don't think this is the hotel I got. My reservation said "Queen room" and the Intercontinental doesn't seem to have any.

I'm kind of regretting this choice already and I don't even know what it is! I settled for a Queen bed when DH and I would have slept much better in a King! Man, the one chance we have of sleeping through the night (without kids) and I blow it!

No way it would be the Intercontinental. Very popular right now...and probably for some time. Is your room refundable or do you just have to deal with whatever they give you? I have never used those sites, but I do work for IHG and I know that the friends and family rate has been available at several of the properties.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

No way it would be the Intercontinental. Very popular right now...and probably for some time. Is your room refundable or do you just have to deal with whatever they give you? I have never used those sites, but I do work for IHG and I know that the friends and family rate has been available at several of the properties.

A deal like that is always non-refundable. My updates say which hotel it is. Can't think of the name right now and in a hurry. But I'm fairly happy with it.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Just thought I'd bump this, because I get great advice or learn something new every time I do!

 

[bamor]

The King Tut Exhibit is in Times Sq, if you go to www.broadwaybox.com there is a discount for $20.00 evening tickets. Fri and Sat open until 10:30pm

Check the calendar of events for both Bryant Park and Central Park.
Take the subway to Brooklyn, have pizza at Grimaldi's (cash only) and walk the bridge back to Manhattan in the evening. Or for a great/special meal, check out the River Cafe in Brooklyn. Jackets are required for men after 5 in the main dining room.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I've been doing much more reading and thinking and these are now my tentative plans...

Thursday Sept 2nd
Arrive at 1:10pm
Check-in and try for upgrade at Distrikt Hotel
4pm Famous Fat Dave's Food Tour (3 hours)
Top of the Rock
Drinks and dessert at The View

Friday Sept 3rd
8:30am Tour (about 5 hrs and includes many major sites incl. Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Times Square, Central Park, etc.)
Spend the afternoon where ever DH decides--probably Central Park
Let DH choose: Dinner at Bar Americain or Brooklyn for Pizza and dessert then walk acroos Brooklyn Bridge at night. (Thanks Bamor for all the cool ideas!)


Will someone please recommend good evening ideas for the 3rd? Central Park carriage ride? (Is it worth it? Is evening a good or bad time for that if so?) Stuff to do in Times Square? We're really not partiers. Possibly comedy club, but I'd rather be doing something uniquely NY.

Also please recommend a breakfast spot or morning activity. We don't have to be at the airport until 10:45am. We're early risers. DH isn't a big breakfast fan--so nothing too expnsive unless it's awesome.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[krcit]

Have you ruled out a Broadway show? I know some people are just not into them but it is a truly New York experience. I'm like a broken record about Rock of Ages but it really is a fun show and if you want to splurge, Jersey Boys was the best show I've ever seen I think the tour will be great. I dragged my kids on one of those double decker bus tours and I loved it and I'm a native New Yorker, lol. My kids on the other hand, thought it was torture have a great trip!!

 

[bamor]

Be sure to take the subway to Brooklyn and walk the bridge to Manhattan.
www.hopstop.com for subway directions
For your second night:
You could take the Staten Island Ferry (free) roundtrip. Great way to see the Statue of Liberty. This isn't that far from where the bridge ends in Manhattan.
OR there is a 2 hour night time cruise that leaves Pier 83, I believe, around 7pm. I know there is a discount offer on www.broadwaybox.com.

I would not do a carriage ride, but they do offer 60 min pedi cab rides/tours through Central Park. I'll keep thinking for other ideas, I'm putting together our plans for next month now.

For breakfast ideas, have a look at www.menupages.com in the west 40's and 50's near your hotel. You'll be too early for brunch unfortunately. Ask at the hotel, there may be a good diner nearby along 9th.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

While I would enjoy Broadway, DH just isn't a fan, and it seems like there is so much more to do anyway.

A ferry ride around the Statue of Liberty is part of our morning tour. I figure I'll give DH the choice for dinner on 2nd night. Since dinner is casual the first night he may want to do Bar Americain the 2nd night--I doubt it though. Especially if the weather is nice he'll probably opt for Brooklyn. Thanks for the links for subway directions!

The pedicab sounds nice. Is evening a good time though?

 

[5forDiz]

Catch some live music at one of the famous NY standards like Iridium Jazz Club at Broadway & 51st, BB King's/Lucille's West 42nd St, Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village.

Lots of great places for pizza in city itself (like John's Times Square, Lombardi's Little Italy, Ray's or Patsy's Greenwich Village) so personally, wouldn't venture over to Brooklyn for that, time is better spent in city. And my New Yorker 'you might not want to do this at night' mindset doesn't recommend walking back to NYC over Brooklyn Bridge beyond early evening. Don't forget famous Carnegie, Katz's or Stage Delis.

If you're looking for restaurants that have beautiful view of Manhattan (pricey but very much special celebration places) Liberty House in NJ or River Cafe Brooklyn (Staten Island Ferry provides as good view & is free LOL ! )

http://www.libertyhouserestaurant.com/

http://www.rivercafe.com/

Carriage rides are around $100 per half hour walk-up, if you make a reservation for a specific time it will be alot more $ and also if temperature around 87 degrees the city shuts them down.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

River Cafe looks nice. I think the menu is too sophisticated for my taste. The Liberty House Restaurant menu looks better to me and more affordable too!

Now I'm leaning back toward Bar Americain and maybe Central Park although the view from the Stanton Island Ferry may be a contender. I get what you were saying about the comfort level of walking the bridge at night. (I live near Chicago.) If we did that though it would be pretty early. We usually eat early and go to bed early. What to do? What to do?

 

[bamor]

I should have been more clear, by night, I meant dusk.
Early dinner and walk the bridge at dusk.
I'm not sure about the pedicab at night in Central Park, sorry.

Also, if time is an issue, skip the Top of the Rock and just head to The View for dessert and drinks.

You've got time. I would have a look at the NYC Forum on www.tripadvisor.com. Do some research, see what appeals to you (and what the weather will be like as you get closer to your trip).

 

[5forDiz]

......I get what you were saying about the comfort level of walking the bridge at night. (I live near Chicago.) If we did that though it would be pretty early........

I'm glad you understood & didn't think I am afraid of my own shadow/lock self in house at sundown type I was telling my DH, he laughed and said " yep, now they are thinking that New Yorkers really are wimps. "

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Maybe we'll go back to Central Park after the tour and do the pedicab then if we feel like it. I want to have Day 1 planned out, but Day 2 we can play by ear more. I want to have several ideas so we can do whatever DH wants.

 

[leebee]

We really, really enjoyed the Grey Line open air evening bus tour. We hopped on about 8:30pm in early July and saw all the sights of the city as darkness fell and the lights came up. They take you over to Brooklyn so you can look back at the nighttime skyline of Manhattan- fabulous! I see you have a daytime bus tour booked already so this would probably be overkill/ redundant, but we really enjoyed it. The only caveat I have about the daytime bus tour is to be prepared to spend much of your time sitting in city traffic

Try "Becco" for dinner. It's affordable (by NYC standards) Italian food; owned by Lidia Bastanich (sp?) who you might know from TV. The food was fabulous, the wine super-affordable (<$25 a bottle), and the atmosphere casual (although we were glad DH was in dockers/collar shirt and I wore capris/nicer blouse). It's between 9th Ave and maybe W. 45th St? Something like that, check their website.

I would NOT go to Serendipity for supper! High prices, mediocre food, of the omelet and sandwiches variety. The frozen hot chocolate was... good, but really it was more of a frozen icy chocolate drink, kinda like a frappucino from Starbucks (but all chocolate). We felt it was a huge waste of our time and money.

Also try Brooklyn Cafe (between W56th? 57th? and 7th ave- check website). Amazingly well-prepared comfort food, although a little pricey. They do great renditions and generous portions of things like brisket, mac and cheese, pot roast, etc. If I remember correctly, we spent maybe $75 on dinner for 3.

Statue Cruises are the only ones that are allowed to dock at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island- everything else is a float-by- but we really, really liked Ellis Island. The immigration story is amazing, and there are many artifacts, documents, etc. We wish we hadn't been so tired and it wasn't so late in the afternoon, or we would have investigated this further. It's on our list for next time, even though the Statue of Liberty isn't!

We really liked MOMA and the Met. I am not an art fan- just don't know anything about it- so I was amazed at how much I enjoyed MOMA. At the Met, there is WAY more than art! Think of entire halls filled with suits of armor, medieval arms, etc. Room after room decorated in different periods from history (like authentic French Provincial), an entire Egyptian tomb. REally, really cool stuff!

If you ever were a Beatles fan, stop by Strawberry Fields on the western edge of Central Park (maybe around 71st ST? check a map). This is a tribute to John Lennon, funded by his wife Yoko Ono (she still lives in the Dakota, across the street, I believe). It's very peaceful there and a beautiful place- and all the tourists seem to catch the spirit of peace and harmony... "Imagine!"

Radio City Music Hall tour is cool, Madison Sq Garden tour also is very interesting and cool to be in the arena, in a box, right down to (but not on) that famous floor. I LOVED the NBC studios tour. (gee, maybe you should skip the day bus tour... do some of the "behind the scenes" tours and take the evening bus tour for the overall view of the city!). Walking around Times Square is a tour all by itself! I also really enjoyed going to the Empire State building.. but didn't go all the way to the top as I didn't want to pay for it, just went to the upper viewing deck! Didn't get to top of the Rock, but wanted to.

OK, enough! I was in NYC for 10 days and still have things I want to go see! Anything you do will be amazing. OH, hey, if DH is an airplane/WWII etc, buff, there is a great exhibit on board the USS Intrepid, which is perma-docked on the Hudson, at the end of 10th? Ave (once again, working from memory, but you can check it all online). You board the battleship and all these really cool planes are parked on the deck. You can also wander around inside the ship, up and down and in and out!