Orlando to New York?!

[PMKPJK]

Now we might be mad but our three week trip is now looking like a road trip! We wondered if it would be possible to include a few days in New York, has anyone done this and if so have you any tips!? We would just LOVE to go to NYC but couldn't justify a trip from home but the internal flights are showing as about £560 for four (3 as 1 ch) so we thought it would make sense to add it to the trip? It is that or Washington any hints would be helpful!

Thanks

 

[penlanspice]

We done New York and Orlando combo a number of times, both on the way out and the way back, we usually do around 3 nights. We've also done Washington and other places like Chicago and Vegas.
It's very easy to fly into New York do a few days and then jump on an internal flight down to Orlando, you'll be over your jet lag and no immigration by the time you get to Orlando.

Try Jetblue or Southwest they should come in cheaper than £560 for the 4 of you, we usually pay around £100pp

 

[flortlebap]

We haven't done a joint trip like that but we did do NY in March.

It is an amazing and somewhere everyone should visit once! JMO, however, but I wouldn't take children there, unless your child is an older child - ie teens?

It's very busy and I personally would not be comfortable taking my children, but that may just be me and mine are all under 10!

 

[pampat]

We've done Jet Blue from MCO to JFK and La Guardia a few times. If you do it at the end of your holiday you have the choice of getting a daytime flight back to the UK with the benefits of very little jet lag.

NY is our favourite place. A walking food tour is always a good way to spend a morning, learning about the people and culture and trying lots of different foods. A theatre visit is a must, a trip up the Rockerfella Centre for the views and maybe a city bus tour, especially at night. Do lots of walking, the architecture is amazing.

Pam

 

[mgsquared]

We 're doing that on our trip as we love NYC! We're stopping for one day on the way in and 3 days on the way back (I do suggest longer if is your first time). I found the cheapest flights through jetblue. One of the cool things about this is that we willl get to use magical express luggage tags and get to the fun that little bit earlier hopefully! It has been a long time since. I flew into MCO but I do remember immigration there being dreadful. So I am also happy to be skipping that! We got an awesome price with aer lingus and will actually be going through immigration in Dublin.

 

[wayneg]

We stopped of in NYC on our way to Florida in 2002, didn't cost any extra.
Or have you already booked your transatlantic flights?

Our Son was aged 8 back then, loads to do, not enough time in 4 days.

I would also check out Jet Blue but you need to book as soon as they are released, they only have limited cheap tickets then rise.

 

[Elise79]

We did 4 nights in April. Transatlantic flights were in and out of NYC with internals booked separately using Orbiz. AA down and JetBlue back. At Easter that worked out cheaper than flying direct in to MCO and home from NYC.

We enjoyed it

 

[PMKPJK]

Ohh exciting seems it's very doable! We haven't booked flights as yet as we are trying decide what to do, Washington was on the to do list, but I will check out all of your suggestions for flights and trip combinations and see what we can come up with. The boys are 14 and 11 and both want to visit NYC too, I was thinking 3 days excluding flying days ?

Any suggestions on where to stay in NYC please?

Could I be any more excited by this thought! Thank you all xx

 

[BudgieMama]

Any suggestions on where to stay in NYC please?

Not sure what your budget is, but we stayed at the New Yorker Hotel last summer, and it was excellent. Hotel rooms in NYC are small (especially compared to what we saw at WDW!) so go expecting that, unless you're planning on spending a lot of money. The New Yorker is in a great central location, easy to get to on the train from Newark, if you end up flying into there (we taxied to JFK, but I don't think that was a bad train ride either) and we'd stay there again Staff were excellent.

 

[PMKPJK]

Not sure what your budget is, but we stayed at the New Yorker Hotel last summer, and it was excellent. Hotel rooms in NYC are small (especially compared to what we saw at WDW!) so go expecting that, unless you're planning on spending a lot of money. The New Yorker is in a great central location, easy to get to on the train from Newark, if you end up flying into there (we taxied to JFK, but I don't think that was a bad train ride either) and we'd stay there again Staff were excellent.

Thanks, I'll take a look at that one, we don't really have one (not because we don't need one, more like we don't know what the costs are like?) I'm looking for a quite central hotel, family friendly and clean! Thanks in advance xx

 

[Kath2003]

Whilst I prefer NYC, it's worth noting that almost all the tourist attractions in Washington DC are free of charge - most of the museums, monuments and even the zoo (which is superb).

This is not the case in NYC - here, most charge (anything from $5-30 is pretty standard) or have a "suggested donation" (e.g. whilst the Museum of Natural History doesn't "charge", it's suggested donation is $22/adult - and you do have to go to the ticket counter, even if you decide to only donate $1...).

If you are willing to fly into one and out of the other, they are only a 4 hour train ride apart.

 

[mgsquared]

We always use Airbnb when booking accommodations. Especially in NYC! Hotels are so expensive if they are at all decent.
Washington DC has great transportation and you can get there cheap by bus! We did it last year and loved it.
In the US it's not like it is here in Europe. A one way ticket actually costs half and they're not too expensive.

If I were you I would look into a "multi city" booking on kayak where you fly from Washington DC to MCO and then from MCO to NYC.
You can also book the whole trip multi city from Expedia or ebookers too and make the return from MCO to where you live. It's less complicated that way.
Otherwise plan on spending a night in NYC on the way back so as to not risk missing the flight back home!

 

[wayneg]

We always use Airbnb when booking accommodations. Especially in NYC! Hotels are so expensive if they are at all decent.

Never heard of Airbnb until last week. Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam 2 rooms (1 with 2 adults, 1 with 3 adults) for 3 nights in the hotel I like (Krasnapolsky) its going to cost over £1200 so my Brother suggested Airbnb.
Looks good but not had any luck yet, found a place and paid but then got email saying it wasn't available and refunded money so looking again now.

 

[Kath2003]

Be VERY careful with AirBnB in NYC. There are all kinds of laws about renting out rooms in homes which severely restricts most of these agreements. I'd look into it THOROUGHLY before handing over any money.

 

[mgsquared]

Be VERY careful with AirBnB in NYC. There are all kinds of laws about renting out rooms in homes which severely restricts most of these agreements. I'd look into it THOROUGHLY before handing over any money.

The renter doesn't get money until you check in so you can call Airbnb and put a stop to the payment if everything is not ok. We read reviews and have never had a bad experience and we have stayed all over the world with Airbnb. Williamsburg, Brooklyn is our favorite area in NYC.

That said, there are areas where part time renting is now illegal and such and they are really cracking down in NYC! So for this trip we are staying in someone's home in Brooklyn in a private room. That is always legal- if somebody stays with you in your home.

Sharing the bathroom and common areas is not ideal but it is the only reasonable way as a hostel costs the same- is in a shadier area- and is not as comfortable! You're sharing a room with others then!

A private room in a hostel is twice the Airbnb cost and a hotel is our favorite area is $375 per night! It's not even a luxury place. We wouldn't do NYC if weren't for Airbnb.

 

[Kath2003]

Air BnB itself is fine - just gotta be careful with the regulations in NYC.

Wayne - have looked at AirBnB in Amsterdam myself but never found anything cheaper than a hotel

 

[wayneg]

Air BnB itself is fine - just gotta be careful with the regulations in NYC.

Wayne - have looked at AirBnB in Amsterdam myself but never found anything cheaper than a hotel

The one we found was suitable for both us and my Brother and his partner for £800 for the 3 nights. Problem is we are there for New Years Eve, the hotels are crazy prices. Been to Amsterdam about 10 times, always stayed in hotels but my Brothers wants to share a house, I will let you know on Jan 1st if this was a good idea