New York tips and discussion

[tennisfan]

Got back this morning from an awesome trip. Done loads & spent a fair amount too Will update more tomorrow when i'm more awake

 

[disney_princess_85]

Got back this morning from an awesome trip. Done loads & spent a fair amount too Will update more tomorrow when i'm more awake

Welcome home! Glad you had a nice time.

Looking forward to hearing about it.

 

[tennisfan]

We did loads of the tourist bits:

Saturday, we went to Woodbury Common Shopping Outlet, got a few bargains there. My friend got a pair of UGGs for about £100, we ate at Hard Rock Cafe in the evening.

Sunday: Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Immigration Museum, Ground Zero but they have started to build the new structure there, Century 21 shop, Bodies exhibition, Financial District, Chinatown (on Chinese New year! very busy) then we walked all the way back up to our hotel (about 8 miles away)

Monday: Central Park, American Museum of Natural History (featured in Night of the Museum film), we saw T-Rex, Central Park Zoo, Bloomingdales (don't rate here personally), FDNY shop/museum where you can try on the fire coats & speak to a firefighter, ate at Planet Hollywood, Madame Tussauds finishing off with the Empire State Building (visibility was poor due to it snowing) but we enjoyed it.

Tuesday: Snowed all day but it didn't lay, we did the Madison Square Garden tour which was great, Macy's, was going to do Top of the Rock but visibility was zero but they gave us tickets for our last day as our passes ran out today, F.A.O Schwarz & a few other shops before going back to the hotel as it was very cold with the snow/sleet

Wednesday: Top of the Rock, amazing views in the sunshine, Intrepid Museum. A little bit more shopping & looking round until we had to head to the airport for our flight home.

It was an amazing trip, we were just on the limit with our luggage too coming back there was loads of snow but all the roads & paths were kept clear. We got our photos taken with the police & a very cute fireman We covered many miles walking, my feet are still paying for it but it was worth it. We hope to go back next year to catch a baseball game. Definately get a NY pass, we made good use of it as we got in to all the places listed for nothing. It cost me about £70 for 3 days, most attractions cost approx $25-30 each. We also got $20 off our meal in Planet Hollywood, making it about £25 for 2 meals & alcohol

Here are a few photos:

Brooklyn Bridge:

Financial District:

USS Intrepid Museum:

I have more on my Facebook, if you PM your link I will add you

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks for that Nikki, it sounds like you had a great time!

You actually did a lot of the things I'm planning on doing. Was Century 21 any good?

Definately get a NY pass, we made good use of it as we got in to all the places listed for nothing. It cost me about £70 for 3 days, most attractions cost approx $25-30 each. We also got $20 off our meal in Planet Hollywood, making it about £25 for 2 meals & alcohol

Sounds fab!

I'll PM you now.

 

[tennisfan]

Century 21 is good for bargains but usually very busy! you could easily spend ages in there. Feel free to ask any questions (I will try to answer them)

 

[Sarah84]

Sounds like you packed loads in, lovely photos

 

[tennisfan]

Sounds like you packed loads in, lovely photos

Thanks We managed to do loads, it was a bit tiring towards the end but wouldn't have done any other way really

 

[Sarah84]

Thanks We managed to do loads, it was a bit tiring towards the end but wouldn't have done any other way really

Glad to see it's do-able though as Im going for 4 nights for the first time in June and plan to do lots (pretty much same things as you)

 

[tennisfan]

Glad to see it's do-able though as Im going for 4 nights for the first time in June and plan to do lots (pretty much same things as you)

1st time I went for 3 nights & didn't see much at all, this time we went for 5 nights, which still didn't cover everything but was long enough. Plus an excuse to go back soon

 

[disney_princess_85]

As my trip draws ever closer, I'm trying to do some planning. First and forthmost, how much spending money do you guys think is a good amount for five days? We're going to buy our passes before we go so I need money for food/transport/shopping. I like to shop but I'm more Forever 21 than Louis Vuitton! I was thinking £600-£700 (just for me).

I have more on my Facebook, if you PM your link I will add you

Thanks Nikki, I really enjoyed looking at your pics!

 

[tennisfan]

As my trip draws ever closer, I'm trying to do some planning. First and forthmost, how much spending money do you guys think is a good amount for five days? We're going to buy our passes before we go so I need money for food/transport/shopping. I like to shop but I'm more Forever 21 than Louis Vuitton! I was thinking £600-£700 (just for me).



Thanks Nikki, I really enjoyed looking at your pics!

I took $500 for 5 days but also spent about £200 on my credit card so it worked out about £500 I came back with $2 in change. That was with us eating one proper meal a day & grabbing snacks/drinks during the day. Our hotel had a fridge so we bought drinks to have in the room. Word of warning chocolate & McDonalds is expensive compared to the UK but sit down restaurants like Planet Hollywood, TGIs were reasonable.

We only used 3 cabs in the whole trip 2 to & from airport & the other to get to Battery Park from near our hotel, we walked back which was about 7 miles

Don't know who you are flying with but most airlines its only one checked suitcase, my friend was dead on the limit, I was close & I had bigger hand luggage then she did coming back so you need to see if you can fit everything in that you buy.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Thanks Nikki!

7 miles?! I don't think I'll be walking that far! I bet you saw some good sights though.

We're flying with Air France and the limit is 20kg, so we're going to purchase extra baggage on the way back to fit all our purchases in!

 

[tennisfan]

Thanks Nikki!

7 miles?! I don't think I'll be walking that far! I bet you saw some good sights though.

We're flying with Air France and the limit is 20kg, so we're going to purchase extra baggage on the way back to fit all our purchases in!

Over the course of our trip we probably walked about 20 miles, it was easier for us to do this. Our luggage allowence was 23kg & I didn't think it was worth the cost of another suitcase & an extra $50 to bring the case back. We plan on going back soon anyway

 

[disney_princess_85]

Our luggage allowence was 23kg & I didn't think it was worth the cost of another suitcase & an extra $50 to bring the case back. We plan on going back soon anyway

I think I'm just going to take one big case and bump the allowance up to 32kg. I shouldn't be taking too much stuff out there seeing as we're only going for four nights.

When are you planning on going back? You're quite the jet setter! NY, Vegas...

 

[tennisfan]

I think I'm just going to take one big case and bump the allowance up to 32kg. I shouldn't be taking too much stuff out there seeing as we're only going for four nights.

When are you planning on going back? You're quite the jet setter! NY, Vegas...

Not sure, my mate says I have to be half way through a paramedic course by the time we next go

There have been a few years where I haven't had a holiday so making the most of it, my plan was to get my own house by the end of the year but its not going to happen as my salary isn't going to change & that is what is stopping the bank from lending me more I have saved loads for a deposit but need to double it to get anywhere round where I live. So i'm going on trips instead

 

[disney_princess_85]

There have been a few years where I haven't had a holiday so making the most of it, my plan was to get my own house by the end of the year but its not going to happen as my salary isn't going to change & that is what is stopping the bank from lending me more I have saved loads for a deposit but need to double it to get anywhere round where I live. So i'm going on trips instead

Don't blame you. I still live with my parents so I'm going on as many holidays as possible while I have no responsibilities!

 

[disney_princess_85]

Saturday, we went to Woodbury Common Shopping Outlet, got a few bargains there.

I'm considering going here, do you think it's worth it? It's £24 per person for a return trip (Attraction Tickets Direct). Is this how much you paid?

 

[luke]

I'm considering going here, do you think it's worth it? It's £24 per person for a return trip (Attraction Tickets Direct). Is this how much you paid?

I'd say it's definitely not worth a visit taking time out from NYC, it's an hour's car ride (probably longer by the bus and in traffic) and looks no better than the likes of Cheshire Oaks and the outlets near WDW.

Personally we swerved it thinking that it was time out of our 'shorter' holiday and that we can hit the outlets in Orlando

 

[irisheyes123]

I'm considering going here, do you think it's worth it? It's £24 per person for a return trip (Attraction Tickets Direct). Is this how much you paid?

They are nice outlets I didn't get much in it though I got lots of bargains in jersey gardens they had an Abercrombie & Fitch outlet and Hollister Outlet among other shops

 

[disney_princess_85]

I'd say it's definitely not worth a visit taking time out from NYC, it's an hour's car ride (probably longer by the bus and in traffic) and looks no better than the likes of Cheshire Oaks and the outlets near WDW.

Personally we swerved it thinking that it was time out of our 'shorter' holiday and that we can hit the outlets in Orlando

You're probably right Luke. We're only in New York for four nights so we don't want to waste any time. Also, we're off to Orlando in August so we can do all the outlet shopping we want there!

They are nice outlets I didn't get much in it though I got lots of bargains in jersey gardens they had an Abercrombie & Fitch outlet and Hollister Outlet among other shops

Jersey Gardens looks pretty good but it's a bit far out for us to visit. Thanks for the tip though.