New York and Orlando split trip - June 2011

[philinmerthyr]

My wife has finally agreed to our 4th Orlando trip next summer. The kids are doing A levels and GCSEs so we hope to go around 30th June.

Our family will be 2 adults, daughter (18) and son (16)

As a treat we want to spend 3 nights in New York before flying to orlando for 11 nights. With our Daughter going to Uni next year we want to do this on a budget.

Looking at DIY I can get this trip for around £3100 if we stay off Manhatten. I would welcome advice on whether DIY is the best approach or if a travel agent could compete with this price.


Proposed itinery

Fly from London on 30th June to New York
3 nights in New york (happy to stay off manhatten in a double queen bedroom in a basic hotel)
3rd July (am) fly from New york to Orlando
11 nights in a 3 bedroom condo/appartment/townhouse/villa in the south I-Drive area
Car hire - medium SUV
14th July return flight to London (cheapest option, happy to stop on route)

Thanks for your help.

 

[NicolaUK]

I'd say be careful of hotel prices for then as it's July 4th weekend. Maybe price up flying in and out of Newark, staying in New Jersey and getting the train in to the city each day? http://www.njtransit.com

If you can get it for that price for 4 adults definitely DIY it, you won't get a package close to that IMO. Passes not included though obviously?

Nicola - used to be in Merthyr

 

[philinmerthyr]

Thanks. The price I have is without tickets £3,157

As a quick breakdown

flights from Opodo - £2057
New Jersey Hotel - £160 (3 nights)
Cypress Point Resort (11 nights, 3 bedroom) - £684
Medium SUV (Dollar) - £256

Seems pretty good. Am I better taking this or waiting to see if there is a flight sale?

 

[NicolaUK]

I just had a quick look and flights came in at £2200, if you can get them for less I think that's pretty good

 

[irisheyes123]

I have often stayed in Secaucus new jersey in Meadowlands I have only stayed in the Embassy suites but they have plenty of hotels in that area also a bus to nyc drops off at the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd street around $6 return could be a little more take about 20 mins tends to be cheaper than staying in the city

 

[jns]

for us we always try and stay in the city
with only 3 days I would not want to spend to much time traveling in and out
plus its nice to be able to go back to r room during the day

 

[wayneg]

for us we always try and stay in the city
with only 3 days I would not want to spend to much time traveling in and out
plus its nice to be able to go back to r room during the day

This is the way we did it, stayed at the Crowne Plaza Times Sq with a view of the Empire State building, made the stay extra special.
But saying that if we visit London I prefer to stay a 30 min tube ride away so whatever works best for OP.

If I have dates correct a £20 saving at Cypress Point, Alpharooms with cashback, only slightly better than you have. £699.04 - £34.95 cashback with Quidco = £664.09

Who is your car with? seems a good rate.

 

[philinmerthyr]

This is the way we did it, stayed at the Crowne Plaza Times Sq with a view of the Empire State building, made the stay extra special.
But saying that if we visit London I prefer to stay a 30 min tube ride away so whatever works best for OP.

If I have dates correct a £20 saving at Cypress Point, Alpharooms with cashback, only slightly better than you have. £699.04 - £34.95 cashback with Quidco = £664.09

Who is your car with? seems a good rate.

Tha car with with Dollar direct quote from their website for 11 days. I'm sure I can get that cheaper. The priority is the flights I think. Waiting for my wife to confirm that she can get the time off work.

 

[wayneg]

Tha car with with Dollar direct quote from their website for 11 days. I'm sure I can get that cheaper. The priority is the flights I think. Waiting for my wife to confirm that she can get the time off work.

Well let us know if you beat that for a SUV, USrentacar.co.uk who are usually competative are about £100 more, best prices I have found recently for SUV's has been with Airnet, they are about £50 more so I can't see you beating it.

 

[NicolaUK]

Tha car with with Dollar direct quote from their website for 11 days. I'm sure I can get that cheaper.

If it's the .com site you need an additional insurance policy.

 

[philinmerthyr]

Just checked again. Got a price of £235 fully inclusive. To upgrade to platinum is about £60. This is for a Ford escape or similar. A jeep is £310 fully inclusive.

I was looking at the .co.uk site.

Also went back to opodo and the flights are showing as £1,941. Seems very cheap. They are with Delta and KLM. Anyone flown with them?

 

[wayneg]

Just checked again. Got a price of £235 fully inclusive. To upgrade to platinum is about £60. This is for a Ford escape or similar. A jeep is £310 fully inclusive.

I was looking at the .co.uk site.

I got £235 also when I looked earlier, I wondered if you had put in arriving early and departing late, that would probably turn it into 12 days and about £256.

 

[team harris]

My wife has finally agreed to our 4th Orlando trip next summer. The kids are doing A levels and GCSEs so we hope to go around 30th June.

Our family will be 2 adults, daughter (18) and son (16)

As a treat we want to spend 3 nights in New York before flying to orlando for 11 nights. With our Daughter going to Uni next year we want to do this on a budget.

Looking at DIY I can get this trip for around £3100 if we stay off Manhatten. I would welcome advice on whether DIY is the best approach or if a travel agent could compete with this price.


Proposed itinery

Fly from London on 30th June to New York
3 nights in New york (happy to stay off manhatten in a double queen bedroom in a basic hotel)
3rd July (am) fly from New york to Orlando
11 nights in a 3 bedroom condo/appartment/townhouse/villa in the south I-Drive area
Car hire - medium SUV
14th July return flight to London (cheapest option, happy to stop on route)

Thanks for your help.

We have just returned from a 10 day stay in the Big Apple!
It was fantastic and such a lot to do. Could not believe that it really is the city that does not sleep.
We booked flights, hotel and airport transfer through Expedia. All excellent and efficient. Although to get from JFK to Manhattan is cheaper by taxi/bus etc
We stayed at the Hilton Garden Hotel near Times Square. Located on 8th Avenue and 49th Street. Fantastic location and on top of most sites. Look into the New York Pass, we had a seven day pass costing about £100 each, however gets you free into most places and discounts and immediate seating at Planet Hollywood. I would say that the passes paid for themselves by day 3. Passes come valid for single days too.

Bought a 7 day Metro pass and used it constantly on subway and buses. Subway was fast and efficient, buses slow, but volume of traffic is very high so understandable. Walking is great fun, but don't expect to amble along together in a row, it's more linr zig-zagging your way through one behind the other

Queue at booth in Times Square from about 2:30pm for cheap theatre tickets.

Food prices are mixed, we found some very cheap places in the Hell's Kitchen area and China Town and used the deli opposite the hotel for breakfast.


Oh and if planning on going up Statue of Liberty, check dates as closing next year for a while for refurbishment and if open need to book in advance of 3-4 months to enter the statue to plinth level and an American lottery style ticketing system takes place for entrance to the crown - having said that Liberty Island is like National Parkland and you can get amazing views of the grand lady walking around the statue.

If you want more info on New York contact me and I'll answer any questions as best as I can.

 

[DjdBrit]

Your deals sounds pretty good. My only concern would be staying in NJ. Do you know where the Hotel is? It could be alot of travelling time back and forth.

I am in MA (hubby from NY originally) we have been trying to plan a NYC trip but I want to stay in the city, its worth for especially if you are only staying 3 nights. I do wonder what kind of hotel is only 160 pounds (sorry don't have a pound sign) for 3 nights. Just my thoughhts.

Good luck and happy planning

 

[philinmerthyr]

It's not our first trip to NYC but the kids haven't been there. The non direct flights made the split trip an obvious choice especially as the kids are 16 and 18 and have been to Orlando 3 times and Disneyland Paris 7 times.

We may only spend a couple to days at disneyworld. My daughter is a huge Harry potter fan so that will be the priority.

I expect we'll pay around £300 for the NYC hotel. We'll made sure we are on a subway route and have only around 15 mins travelling.

Our plans are to get on the tour bus for a couple of days and show the kids the city. Our last trip was for our 40th birthdays and we stayed in a top hotel on time square and even did the helicopter ride over the Hudson. The budget is tighter this time but it will still be superb.

 

[disneyholic family]

It's not our first trip to NYC but the kids haven't been there. The non direct flights made the split trip an obvious choice especially as the kids are 16 and 18 and have been to Orlando 3 times and Disneyland Paris 7 times.

We may only spend a couple to days at disneyworld. My daughter is a huge Harry potter fan so that will be the priority.

I expect we'll pay around £300 for the NYC hotel. We'll made sure we are on a subway route and have only around 15 mins travelling.

Our plans are to get on the tour bus for a couple of days and show the kids the city. Our last trip was for our 40th birthdays and we stayed in a top hotel on time square and even did the helicopter ride over the Hudson. The budget is tighter this time but it will still be superb.

for £300 you should be able to find a hotel in manhattan for 3 days...
i would definitely stay in manhattan and not in new jersey..
you lose a lot of magic from the new york stay when you don't stay in town..
and 4th of july weekend, the rates will actually be lower rather than higher..

hotel rates in new york are typically higher during the week, not on weekends and holidays..

so again, i would look into the economy intown hotels if i were you..

 

[sandshal]

Following this thread with interest as I've just booked flights to NYC on the 24th July and have no idea where to stay for the 3 nights before travelling on to MCO ............. guess this has narrowed it down to Manhattan!!!!

Any help, guidance or hotel recommendations would be greatfully appreciated