New York tips and discussion

[disney_princess_85]

I flew to Florida twice with Delta can't fault them!

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[wideeyes]

When are you going we're staying there as well this year

We are going in less than 4 weeks.

 

[petals]

We are going in less than 4 weeks.

We'll be there later than you so!

Has anyone had any experience with Half price ticket booth for broadway tickets? How hard is it to get tickets for a particular show? We wanted to see Wicked and the lion king but not sure whether to book them in advance or take a chance when we get there!

 

[scottishgirl87]

We'll be there later than you so!

Has anyone had any experience with Half price ticket booth for broadway tickets? How hard is it to get tickets for a particular show? We wanted to see Wicked and the lion king but not sure whether to book them in advance or take a chance when we get there!

I'm not 100% sure but I've read somewhere that the Lion King is almost never discounted so I'm not sure if the TKTS booths would be selling them! Not sure about Wicked. Looking for more info on these myself as I know last time I was in NY we gave up waiting as it was about a 3 hour queue

I've heard though the discount is normally around half price so I think we'll definitely be braving it next year!

I really hope the Lion King is still on when I go as that's what I wanna see

EDIT: Has anyone got any good websites they recommend for NY? You know like the DIS only for NY. Even though I've been before it was a few years ago now and I'd like to catch up a little!

 

[petals]

I'm not 100% sure but I've read somewhere that the Lion King is almost never discounted so I'm not sure if the TKTS booths would be selling them! Not sure about Wicked. Looking for more info on these myself as I know last time I was in NY we gave up waiting as it was about a 3 hour queue

I've heard though the discount is normally around half price so I think we'll definitely be braving it next year!

I really hope the Lion King is still on when I go as that's what I wanna see

EDIT: Has anyone got any good websites they recommend for NY? You know like the DIS only for NY. Even though I've been before it was a few years ago now and I'd like to catch up a little!

3 hours wowsers that'll take alot of sight-seeing time!
Travel agent told me as well at Half price ticket booth only opens at 1pm??

 

[disney_princess_85]

EDIT: Has anyone got any good websites they recommend for NY? You know like the DIS only for NY. Even though I've been before it was a few years ago now and I'd like to catch up a little!

The Trip Advisor forum is good. It's full of locals so there's a lot of helpful information.

 

[kieras nana]

The Trip Advisor forum is good. It's full of locals so there's a lot of helpful information.

i find the trip advisor,new york forum,one of the most unfriendliset places ever.i sit & read through it & think to myself,my god,i hope the people are alot friendlier,when we get there,than you lot are.
it's definately not like here!
tracy

 

[scottishgirl87]

Travel agent told me as well at Half price ticket booth only opens at 1pm??

Not sure to be honest! I think this time we'll head there for as soon as it opens, or maybe a little while before. If anyone has any hints or tips for that?!

The Trip Advisor forum is good. It's full of locals so there's a lot of helpful information.

i find the trip advisor,new york forum,one of the most unfriendliset places ever.i sit & read through it & think to myself,my god,i hope the people are alot friendlier,when we get there,than you lot are.
it's definately not like here!
tracy

Thanks, have had a quick onceover on the TA Forums but I'll read a bit more of it. Difficulty I'm finding is working out what's a good rate for a certain hotel, or when will offers be available for March etc. I've drawn up a table of about 7 hotels which I've priced up and have found the range of different prices from different websites unbelievable! Obviously book where's cheapest but I don't want to tie myself in with a UK agent (such as Expedia or Alpha Rooms) incase of price drops, but at the same time if we could book direct with a certain hotel to get the American style of T & C's we'd probably go ahead and book now (but the rates with them are currently way more expensive).

Argh! I'm just confusing myself, I could find all that type of info for Orlando or Vegas quite easy, but with NY I'm struggling I've even checked out the NY thread on MSE (as the Vegas one was a godsend when we went) but it doesn't seem that helpful

 

[disney_princess_85]

i find the trip advisor,new york forum,one of the most unfriendliset places ever.i sit & read through it & think to myself,my god,i hope the people are alot friendlier,when we get there,than you lot are.
it's definately not like here!
tracy

No, it's definitely not like here. Some people can be a bit blunt and some are simply rude. Saying that, there are also plenty of friendly people who are willing to help. They don't like vague questions so it's in your best interests if you're as specific as possible!

Thanks, have had a quick onceover on the TA Forums but I'll read a bit more of it. Difficulty I'm finding is working out what's a good rate for a certain hotel, or when will offers be available for March etc. I've drawn up a table of about 7 hotels which I've priced up and have found the range of different prices from different websites unbelievable! Obviously book where's cheapest but I don't want to tie myself in with a UK agent (such as Expedia or Alpha Rooms) incase of price drops, but at the same time if we could book direct with a certain hotel to get the American style of T & C's we'd probably go ahead and book now (but the rates with them are currently way more expensive).

If you post your dates, budget and choice of hotels on the TA forum, someone will be able to help you. They definitely know their stuff.

 

[scottishgirl87]

If you post your dates, budget and choice of hotels on the TA forum, someone will be able to help you. They definitely know their stuff.

Thanks Lauren, I'll give it a bash! I've found the NY Palace (which I've quickly fallen in love with due to this thread) for £200 a night (which is our budget really), the official website is currently around £266 a night. But I've also found some good rates for places like the Waldorf Astoria and Marriott Marquis. Just looking for somewhere "special" as it's for my mum's birthday and as yet she doesn't have a clue about it, lol. My dad seems to be leaving the hotel down to me so I don't want to disappoint!

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks Lauren, I'll give it a bash! I've found the NY Palace (which I've quickly fallen in love with due to this thread) for £200 a night (which is our budget really), the official website is currently around £266 a night. But I've also found some good rates for places like the Waldorf Astoria and Marriott Marquis. Just looking for somewhere "special" as it's for my mum's birthday and as yet she doesn't have a clue about it, lol. My dad seems to be leaving the hotel down to me so I don't want to disappoint!

£200 a night? That's very good! I would definitely go for it at that price.

As for the other hotels, I think the Marquis is meant to be quite nice but I've heard the Astoria is past its best.

If you want somewhere "special" then the Palace is a fab choice. It's the best hotel I've stayed in.

 

[irisheyes123]

Travel agent told me as well at Half price ticket booth only opens at 1pm??

The hotel I stay in in nyc is right beside the TKTS booth im not sure of the opening times but noticed people Que a while before it opens and does be a big enough que at time some days was a lot quieter but I go feb/march time
here is a site that gives more information
http://www.tdf.org/TDF_ServicePage.aspx?id=56

 

[NatalieMT]

I'm hitting NYC again in just over 2 weeks! I feel so unprepared this time around though - like nothing sightseeing wise is booked. Just going to have to wing it when we get there!

Good to read about the TKTS booth, I would really like to see a show. Wanted to do the crown tour of the Statue of Liberty but it's just so booked up in advance that's going to be impossible.

 

[petals]

If you're over this side of the pond attractionticketsdirect.ie or attractionticketsdirect.co.uk have tickets for broadway etc for sale. I dunno what price they are when you get over there or in half price ticket booth but we're thinking we might book from them so we don't have to cue and waste sight-seeing time esp not if cue is 3 hours long
Also I was reading on a website earlier that HPTB is open from 10 til 1 for matinee tickets and 3 til something (can't remember sorry) for evening tickets but then you can only get tickets on the day for show on that night!

 

[tennisfan]

I'm hitting NYC again in just over 2 weeks! I feel so unprepared this time around though - like nothing sightseeing wise is booked. Just going to have to wing it when we get there!

Good to read about the TKTS booth, I would really like to see a show. Wanted to do the crown tour of the Statue of Liberty but it's just so booked up in advance that's going to be impossible.

Thats all I did when I went in February, we just decided the night before what we wanted to do the next day by picking an area & seeing the attractions that were there

 

[Sarah84]

Ohhh we can help each other as I'm at a total loss myself!

The last time I went we stayed at the Millenium Hilton which is right on Ground Zero, in the Financial District. And we it! I would happily go back there but alot of reports say due to the construction on Ground Zero there's alot of noise, etc. Tbh, it's still an option and they were working on it back in 2006 when we went as well.

I'm not sure if I want to be more "part of the action" this time, but have read people say stay a little further out of Times Square as it's manic so I don't know

Really love the look of the New York Palace you're all talking about but at the moment it's out of our budget Will be keeping an eye on any offers though!

When we stayed there in June we had a room overlooking Ground Zero and honestly the noise didn't not bother us one bit, infact I hardly remember hearing anything at all
We are thinking about a few nights in NYC again before or after a week in Orlando in December 2012. I loved going in June but i've always wanted to see it with all the xmas decorations even though I'm sure i'll hate the cold. If they price was right, i wouldn't hesitate to book the Millenium hilton again

 

[Sarah84]

The only thing I have decided is I dont want to stay next to Time Square as it looks manic and too touristy!!

Going to hang on to book a hotel in January to try and get a good rate in the sales, would love to stay at the palace if a gold rate comes up!

It is, I loved NY and did enjoy seeing Time Sq but i HATED the crowds and would hate to stay there. You'd have a traffic jam of people in your way if you just trying to get out of the hotel doors.

 

[disney_princess_85]

It is, I loved NY and did enjoy seeing Time Sq but i HATED the crowds and would hate to stay there. You'd have a traffic jam of people in your way if you just trying to get out of the hotel doors.

Agreed. Times Square was fun but we wanted to get out of there pretty quickly!

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

We'll be there later than you so!

Has anyone had any experience with Half price ticket booth for broadway tickets? How hard is it to get tickets for a particular show? We wanted to see Wicked and the lion king but not sure whether to book them in advance or take a chance when we get there!

I haven't been to NY for 10 years (have my next trip booked in 7 weeks ) but still remember the lines at that place! No way could I do it! I'm desperate to see Wicked so booked on line a few months ago. If you definitely have a show in mind you want to see and can afford the full amount I would do that. I'm not sure how long you are travelling for but its a big chunk out of a short trip queuing up there!

Re hotels we have booked the Comfort Inn, Manhattan. I actually found it in the Virgin brochure originally. It's not glamorous, but gets really good reviews on trip advisor, has breakfast included each day, and just a few minutes walk from the Empire State building so a nice location. I can't wait!!

 

[scottishgirl87]

When we stayed there in June we had a room overlooking Ground Zero and honestly the noise didn't not bother us one bit, infact I hardly remember hearing anything at all
We are thinking about a few nights in NYC again before or after a week in Orlando in December 2012. I loved going in June but i've always wanted to see it with all the xmas decorations even though I'm sure i'll hate the cold. If they price was right, i wouldn't hesitate to book the Millenium hilton again

Thanks for an up-to-date review, Sarah It's still on my list of options certainly, but we may try and move a little closer to Times Square.