Summer vacation

We are planning a summer Vacation with kids. We are going to Hershey PA also Goshen New york. We would also like to take a day trip into New york City with a tour company from one of those places. Any help with this would be great.

Summer vacation

I think you%26#39;d have better luck posting on the Hershey and Goshen forums or doing a google search. I%26#39;m not aware of any cos. that do daytrips from either. Goshen is much closer than Hershey.

Summer vacation

PS, assuming you%26#39;ll have your own car, you can easily drive from Goshen to NYC. We can help you figure out a route and organize a day (or hook up with a day tour in NYC if you%26#39;d prefer a tour.) Will be a lot cheaper than paying for all of you on a daytrip.

If you won%26#39;t have a car (or don%26#39;t care to drive into New York City), do you have friends or relatives in Goshen willing to drive you to a train station where you could ride a commuter train into Manhattan?

FYI, Hershey is about 100 miles further from NYC than Goshen.

No we certainly don%26#39;t want to drive into New York city. We are from small town ontario !!

Is there a town maybe in between Hershey and Goshen that we could maybe stay at a hotel there for 1 or two nights and get a train into New york city?

Think you%26#39;d find it very helpful to pull out a map or use Google Maps. Goshen is a serious detour from the route -- Interstate 78 -- you%26#39;d take to get to NYC.

Why not consider spending a night or 2 in NYC before heading to Goshen? You could leave your car outside the City if you%26#39;re apprehensive about driving in Manhattan.

hairdresser to cut this

Tony Awards!

Hi!

I know that the Tony Awards will be on Sunday June 7th....will there be much happening in Broadway that weekend for it???

Thanks!

Tony Awards!

Broadway - do you mean the Theater District? Broadway, the street, is miles long.

Most theaters are not ';ON'; B%26#39;way, they however are concentrated in the Theater District.

Check this website, it may offer some ancillary happenings associated with the Tony%26#39;s; www.tonyawards.com

Poppa

Tony Awards!

Where is the awards cermony on??

Did you check the website??

It gives all the information about the TONY%26#39;S

CHECK THE WEBSITE!!!!!!!!

%26gt;%26gt;Where is the awards cermony on??%26lt;%26lt;

The Tony%26#39;s are broadcast on CBS-TV Sunday June 7th, 2009 at 8:00 PM EDST.

The Tony awards ceremony is held at Radio City Music hall in NYC, same time as the broadcast!

Ya sorry I%26#39;d just logged off!!!

k thanks a million for all your help!

Looking for some good pampering :)

Going to NY between the 8th and 18th of June, solo traveler, and have most things decided.

But I%26#39;m thinking about going to a hair salon or somewhere to get my nails done.

I%26#39;ve seached and got a few plaes, but wondered if any of you had any suggests of where to go/avoid etc.

I usually spend about $60 when I get my nails done, $75 for my hair.

Looking for some good pampering :)

Bump :)

Looking for some good pampering :)

I saw this yesterday but didn%26#39;t know how to specifically advise you. I generally spend twice what you do on hair and half what you do on nails (and I get a manicure and pedicure for my money). But I don鈥檛 go anyplace too fancy 鈥?just a nice, well rated hair salon and my little neighborhood nail salon where they鈥檒l also do waxing. But I don鈥檛 really consider these sorts of services pampering 鈥?just upkeep.

If you鈥檙e really looking to get pampered I鈥檇 give Bliss a call and take a look at their spa menu 鈥?in addition to mani-peddies they do lots of facials and body wraps/massages. But I don鈥檛 think they do hair. If you鈥檙e talking about going someplace very fancy for hair I would think you鈥檙e looking at spending hundreds of dollars.

http://www.blissworld.com/category/spa/spa+menu/complete+menu.do

The Bliss Spa menu for you.

My ';go to'; nail place in midtown is Bloomie%26#39;s Nails on 55th st. between 5th %26amp; 6th. It%26#39;s not the cheapest or the fanciest but the prices are reasonable (prob. ~ $50 for man/ped). Just don%26#39;t let them upsell you with fancy pedicures IF you don%26#39;t want one. They%26#39;re open long hours (9-7pm on most days) 7 days a week and you don%26#39;t need an appointment. Across the street from Bloomie%26#39;s is a place called the Townhouse which is fancier and calls itself a day spa. I think poster Cricri has gotten a pedicure there and thought it was good. I also remember kateoz likes a place called Coco%26#39;s on 33 st. b/w Lexington %26amp; 3rd ave. and it%26#39;s cheaper than my place.

As for hair, really really depends on what you want and your hair. If you%26#39;re looking for a haircut and blow dry, $75 is on the low end.

nymag.com

has a section on salons you might check out. The guy who own Arrojo salon does makeovers on a tv show and several people have mentioned liking that salon.

http://www.arrojostudio.com/

Thank you for the suggestions!

I mainly want to add in the list of things I%26#39;ve done is that I got pampered/nails done/hair done etc when I tell my mates about it.

I%26#39;d quite happily pay about $120 to get my hair done, but not really too bothered if its more, as long as they have great service!

once a year a huge client comes to NYC for a meeting and I always take her for a manicure/pedicure at Saks (last year we did the Peninsula, but they%26#39;re exhorbitant comparatively!)

You can get both for a little over your typical $60, plus tip. They also serve a decent lunch there - you order while they are performing the services and eat afterwards (or before if you dont want to risk messing up your nails)

a guy who lives in my building cuts hair there, but I doubt you can get a cut for $75 - and I have no clue if he%26#39;s good. I go to my hairstylist%26#39;s apartment, pay $80 and thats considered cheap by NYC standards.

There are some interesting discounts here

http://nyc.lifebooker.com/

Advice needed on best NYC tour by bus/Central Park tour

Hi everyone,

I%26#39;m going to NYC with my mum next week as it%26#39;s her 60th birthday. I%26#39;d like to take a bus tour around the city, any recommendations for a reputable company and ideas on price?

Also want to take her around Central Park on her birthday, was thinking of doing so on an open horse drawn carriage. Again, any recommendations/ideas of price?

Advice is much appreciated!

Thanks

Advice needed on best NYC tour by bus/Central Park tour

Grayline does a hop on/off bus tour of various sections of NYC. It%26#39;s popular but requires climbing up and down stairs as seats are up top on old London double decker buses. Price is ~ $45/person for all loops 2 day ticket.

grayline.com/Grayline/鈥ewyork.go

Real NY Tours is a smaller group and takes you around by foot and subway. Gets raves here

http://www.realnewyorktours.com/

The best way to see Central Park is by foot. Carriages are not recommended and limit what you can see. (they only run on roads where cars go). There are pedicab tours (like a bicycle rickshaw) that are a better option. One of our regular posters, tourguidestan provides this service (and also does other areas).

oconnorgreentoursnyc.com/feedback/index.htm

Central Park also has free walking tours daily of different areas.

centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/progra鈥?/a>

The Boat House in Central Park is a lovely spot for a meal.

thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/home.htm

You should also take some sort of boat ride while you%26#39;re here, whether a simple cruise tour like

nywaterway.com

or a fancier ride for drinks or a meal like

bateauxnewyork.com

shearwatersailing.com

sail-nyc.com

Advice needed on best NYC tour by bus/Central Park tour

That%26#39;s great thanks, I might not do the open horse drawn carriage thing then! We%26#39;re on a bit of a budget... $1000 for 3 1/2 days to do all the attractions including meals. Do you think this would be enough?

Hi - as to your budget that will be fine. I%26#39;ve just returned from a trip with my mum and we had a kitty of about $700 between us for taxis, food etc and that was plenty. (and the exchange rate was worse at the start of May when we arrived).

That%26#39;s great, thanks. I%26#39;ve preordered my currency today from M%26amp;S to collect next week before we go. Apparently dollars are flying out now the exchange rate is going up!

Bronx Zoo

My boyfriend and I are driving from Florida to Maine. On the way, we are planning to spend a day at the Bronx Zoo. We want to be there the night before to get an early start at the zoo.

Just wondering if there is anything we should know and/or look out for? Any insider zoo tips, traffic worries or anywhere we should avoid when looking for a hotel. Anything!

Thanks!

Bronx Zoo

I am not sure of the way you are coming but I would suggest you stay in a hotel before the George washington bridge in Fort lee New Jersey area. There is not much choice in the Bronx for a hotel. In the early morning there is traffic going over bridge and if there is an accident.The zoo opens around 10:00 it should be not too long of a ride with normal conditions.

tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g46446-Fort_Lee_New_J鈥?/a>

Bronx Zoo

Wednesday is ';pay what you want day'; which means it%26#39;s pretty much free. I think we donated $5 last time. I%26#39;ve read that%26#39;s when they clean the cages so some animals might not be out, but I don%26#39;t remember having a problem with that last time I went on a Wednesday.

Also note that they have enrichment and feeding activities at specific times of the day, which can be entertaining; schedule here:

bronxzoo.com/plan-your-trip/today-at-the-zoo鈥?/a>

Btw, we were there just this past weekend. Some photos, if you%26#39;re interested:

鈥logspot.com/2009/鈥pring-at-bronx-zoo.html

A big thanks to everyone! We were looking at hotels in the Ft Lee area, so it looks like that%26#39;s where we%26#39;ll stay.

*** Just wondering if there is anything we should know and/or look out for? ***

Lions ..... tigers ..... and bears ..... oh my!

BTW ..... there%26#39;s also a brand new lion cub that%26#39;s a bit of a recent celebrity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og1cH4w_Mgo

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2nd hand book/cd/dvd stores

Finally for today, can anyone recommend a good 2nd hand book store, cd store, dvd store.

That%26#39;s it for now, thanks for your help in advance.

2nd hand book/cd/dvd stores

The STRAND bookstore 12th St and Browdway...........

2nd hand book/cd/dvd stores

Greetings from a Belize Lover! If only I had a Belikin Stout right about now....

There%26#39;s a used CD store on 8th Street between 5th and 6th Ave. This used to be my regular store when it was somewhere else, and I just passed it this weeekend and notice it moved there. They had a store on Bleeker Street too - very good selection - I am blanking on the name but you cant miss the store on 8th Street - its one of the few non-shoe stores on the block.

The Strand Poppa mentioned is great - many review copies and discounted books - the cookbook section is phenomenal. That whole neighborhood has independent book stores as well - but more targeted to specific tastes - the Revolution bookstore, etc.

Thanks so much. I will raise a Belikin to you this evening! And have you sen the temps in Merida this week - I was there a few days ago - beofre getting caught in the earthquake in Belize. Too much excitement.

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Goodbye White Plains

Dear White Plains Resident,

I consider myself to be easygoing and tolerant of the city life having grown up in Brooklyn and living in Manhattan for numerous years. So I expect some noise, some crowds, some traffic, some garbage and even some mayhem. Unfortunately though, White Plains takes each of these categories to the nth degree so I am leaving and never coming back - not even to shop.

After only living here for 1 year, I am leaving White Plains for many reasons; chief among them noise, traffic and the crowds that are allowed to hang around outside at night near City Center, La Famiglia and the fountain near Starbucks among and other places.

Quality of life should be better than it is, but unfortunately the people who like to litter and scream or yell while walking home drunk and loud motorcycles and car mufflers rule this city. There is too much noise and garbage pollution as a result. Quality of life in this city doesn’t even register on a 1 to 10 scale. It’s abysmally wretched, filthy, loud and I would never raise a family in it.

It%26#39;s apparent to me that White Plains is merely a transient city and it will never be anything else unless it literally gets cleaned up. Garbage pickup and street cleaning needs vast improvement. There isn’t a street you can walk in this city without seeing litter or mountains of trash. It’s disgusting and makes me feel like I need to wash myself clean after walking around this city.

The teens in this town need to be removed from the streets at a certain hour unless accompanied by an adult. Not once, not twice but too many times to count have I been out on the town and seen a swarm of teens congregating near City Center, La Famiglia and that no mans land between Sleepys and The Melting Pot. During nights when there is something happening at the Arts center having anything teen related, I simply don’t go past it and make it a point to order in.

Was I an angel in my teenage years? Nope. But I had the decency not to yell on the street, take up the whole sidewalk and certainly not shout curses across the street or avenue to my friends. A curfew for all kids under 18 should be put in place if there is to be some relief. 10pm should be the limit every night of the week unless an adult accompanies them.

Too many people in one place at one time. The people who congregate near the Galleria mall waiting for a bus, either in the mall or outside it need some corralling. It’s almost impossible to walk by there without having to step into the street. I stopped going to the Galleria mall for this very reason. There are plenty of other spots in downtown that need similar corralling such as the bus stop in front of Dunkin Donuts on Mamaroneck and Martine Ave.

Where are the cops? Why are they always just parked in their cars? Why aren’t they out walking the beat and cleaning up the streets? One day I walked by the garage near the Galleria mall on Martine Ave. and observed three suspicious men just hanging about looking in the garage, one was on a cell phone, one walked away as I approached them and another was just looking out at the street. Could they have been waiting for someone? Sure, but I am streetwise and I know a shady deal when I see it. So, I reported it to a cop up on Mamaroneck Ave (once I finally found one) – he was pulling up to the curb to park. So I relayed the story to him, and he responds, “We’ll check it out.” I say OK thanks and go on my way. I turn around and the cop is getting out of his car and going towards the pizzeria! Thanks for caring officer; I guess 9/11 is too long ago for you to remember!

The traffic needs better management - trucks should not be allowed at all hours of the night to drive through the city. They should use 287 to go around it or another highway – unless there is a delivery. The so-called loud muffler rule and “No Honking” signs all seem to be ignored because no one ever gets a fine. I have never heard or read about anyone being given a summons for loud mufflers or honking.

Last time I checked any facts or figures, there were 300,000 automobiles or more going through White Plains on any given day. That is a lot and with it, comes the pollution. Does every bus in the BeeLine depot drive through White Plains? If so, change the routes so that it doesn’t detract from downtown experience. Does anyone really want to eat outside a restaurant when there are loud buses going by spouting noxious fumes?

If you look at the buildings around White Plains you can see them covered in soot – they look drab and only serve me as a reminder of what I am inhaling while walking around downtown. Anyone ever see the traffic around city center garage during Christmas time? It took me 40 minutes to get down the block near where I live! When I asked a cop if there was an accident, he just laughed and said that it’s normal for that time of year. What? Do people really accept this way of life? I won’t be here for another Christmas that’s for sure.

You can put all the Ritz Carlton hotels and Trump towers you want in this city, but it’s really lipstick on a pig. The bottom line is that this city is a thoroughfare not a destination; it’s a discarded Styrofoam cup within the flotsam of Westchester and it will decay for years to come unless it’s cleaned up and someone actually does something about the quality of life issues that are on most residents’ minds. Goodbye White Plains, it hasn’t been real, it’s been a horrible experience. Good luck and clean up your act.

Sincerely,

A future nonresident.

Goodbye White Plains

Is this WP NY you%26#39;re talking about? If you live %26#39;downtown%26#39; you%26#39;re going to experience club and restaurant noise.

If you live in a neighborhood, you%26#39;re going to experience nirvana. Need a cop or ambulance? Two minutes is all you need. Want to talk to the Mayor, just bump into him and he%26#39;s glad to listen to you.

Living in a downtown setting is so different than a residential neighborhood. When you get married and have kids, move back.

I%26#39;m here 23 years years.

Goodbye White Plains

Is this WP NY you%26#39;re talking about? If you live %26#39;downtown%26#39; you%26#39;re going to experience club and restaurant noise.

If you live in a neighborhood, you%26#39;re going to experience nirvana. Need a cop or ambulance? Two minutes is all you need. Want to talk to the Mayor, just bump into him and he%26#39;s glad to listen to you.

Living in a downtown setting is so different than a residential neighborhood. When you get married and have kids, move back.

I%26#39;m here 23 years years.

White Plains Man? White Plains is a major new city,we have over 52 restaurants,new movie complex,outstanding shopping malls,20 minutes to NYC,and a growing number of single young people:%26gt; Don%26#39;t let the door hit you on the way out,just leave. Have a great day. Ciao.

White Plains Man, You are so far off base with your moaning and groaning about conditions in White Plain.The rebirth of White Plains is amazing to all our local residents and the influx of new residents.I believe that you should save that lipstick for yourself.You are a very sad individual and I hope you can find a box to live in. Ciao

Is there a good area of Manhattan for thrift shops?

Here is another question related to trip my bro and I are planning next year. Is there a good area to find thrift shops? Or a really good one that you could suggest. We are not into designer clothes, just normal stuff.

Is there a good area of Manhattan for thrift shops?

There are three of them on East 23rd between 1st and 3rd Avenues, and I think another one in the same area of either 22nd or 21st.

Is there a good area of Manhattan for thrift shops?

there are a bunch in the high teens west of 5th Ave. 18th, 19th streets. Also, on 23rd between 6th and 7th there is a good one. And, down in the Village.

There is a sort of chain called Housing Works that is all over the city - the one in my neighborhood has great stuff - on 18th between 7th and 6th. There%26#39;s another large one on 23rd and Lex.

The designer ones tend to be in the East Village.

Thanks, very helpful.

You know Belize ..... if you expand your horizon just a tiny bit ...... there%26#39;s also a whole confluence of thrift stores in Williamsburg Brooklyn. It might also be nice to get off %26#39;that island%26#39; (Manhattan) for a day.

Good Italian and/or Seafood Restaurant

Looking for a good Italian and/or seafood restaurant, preferably in the theater district, or close to it, that would make a good place to celebrate a special occaision. Not looking to break the bank though.

Good Italian and/or Seafood Restaurant

Esca:

http://www.esca-nyc.com/

Theater Tixs

What%26#39;s the best place, or a good reputable place to purchase B%26#39;way theater tixs that won%26#39;t kill me with service charges? (I hate Ticketmaster and try to avoid them whenever possible.) Thx.

Theater Tixs

Each show sells through an exclusive ticket agency, usually telecharge or ticketmaster. The only way to avoid going through them (unless you%26#39;re buying through a reseller, which is no bargain) is to buy directly from the box office.

getting to Montauk from JFK Airport?

I%26#39;m meeting up with some friends in Montauk in August.

I%26#39;m considering flying into JFK, hopping on the AirTrain to Jamaica station, and then taking the LIRR from Jamaica to Montauk. Anyone advise against doing this? Flights into West Islip are too expensive.

thanks

getting to Montauk from JFK Airport?

That%26#39;s probably the easiest and most efficient option.

getting to Montauk from JFK Airport?

The only problem might be the lack of frequency of trains to Montauk. If your flight doesn%26#39;t mesh with a train, the

hamptonjitney.com

is your other option. You take a taxi to their Queens airport connection. You MUST book a reservation in advance though.

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what are the top hard disk brands

Ritz Carlton Battery Park Club

Its been a while since I was at this hotel. I have heard they are renovating the club rooms and also the club lounge. Does anyone know if and when this will be completed.

I also heard that they have really scaled back the food presentations in the lounge. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks!

Anniversary Trip for Couple in Their 20s

I%26#39;m looking for a nice place in Montauk to stay for 2-3 nights with my girlfriend.

It%26#39;s out 3rd anniversary and I%26#39;d like something nice, a little bit romantic, but mostly just relaxing.

We%26#39;re considering the ';Sunrise Guest House'; and ';Ocean Surf Resort';.

We were not planning on renting a car, but would also like to know if having a car would be a necessity. As I noted, we%26#39;ll only be there for 2-3 nights.

Thanks!

Anniversary Trip for Couple in Their 20s

You can manage without a car at both, but the Ocean Surf Resort is right in town and on the beach. They%26#39;re very different (small b %26amp; b in a house vs. large motel type resort) so it depends on which you prefer. YOu can use taxis to get around if you want to eat or drink in a different area but a car would give you more flexibility.

NY hotel with 3 beds

1st trip to NY in august and wondering if anyone knows of a hotel in NY with 3 beds for 3 adults. 3 males traveling together and I don%26#39;t fancy sharing with my friends. Midtown would be good but open to ideas. Trying to save a few bucks not getting 2 rooms. Thanks

NY hotel with 3 beds

whats your budget and exact dates?

NY hotel with 3 beds

The wolcott pretty basic hotel has 3 twin bed room.

It%26#39;s called the triple room.

http://www.wolcott.com/roomsmain.html

Also the pod has a towne house studio that would suit you.

www.podhotel.com

thanks for the hotels, I had a quick look and the walcott looks good, wouldn%26#39;t give me a quote for the whole week for some reason but will try again. Travel dated are 27th aug to 3rd sept, Buget around 100us a night each, so $300 us a room. But hopfully less.

Hi try here on quikbook they have it for $146 average a night wolcott .

http://www.quikbook.com/avail_search_mix.asp

I was trying to get direct link see if thsi works...

www.quikbook.com/getprofile.asp鈥?/a>

sorry triple room is $166

Hi,

The hotel Metro has a family suite with 3 beds, rates starting at around $350 a night, so a little over budget, but it%26#39;s in midtown and steps from the subway and fifth ave...

www.hotelmetronyc.com

HTH

The Comfort Inn Chelsea is not fancy but has some rooms with 3 single beds. For your week, those rooms are $209.99/night plus tax. It%26#39;s nicer than the Wolcott imo.

With your budget though, if one of you was willing to sleep on a sofabed, any of the suite hotels will have a room with 2 beds and a sofabed. There%26#39;s a special on travelzoo.com for the Eastgate Tower. It%26#39;s like an apartment with full kitchen but there%26#39;s daily maid service. You could either get a 1 bedroom with 2 beds and sofabed for $189/night plus tax or a 2 bedroom (with 2 queen beds in one room and 2 twin beds in the other) for $239/night!! The decor in this hotel is a bit dated, but it%26#39;s clean, well run and located in midtown east. Their Shelburne Murray Hill hotel is more recently renovated and you could get a 1 bedroom there with 2 beds and sofabed for $275/night plus tax (on their website Affinia.com).

HotelConxions.com has a 2-bedroom suite at Radio City Apartments for $270 per night (before taxes) for your dates. One bedroom has 2 beds in it, and the other has one bed. There is also a sofabed in the living room area. It%26#39;s not fancy by any means, but clean and well-located, on 49th St. between 6th and 7th.

thanks all, I will check them all out.

i want wicked tickets but dont have a credit card

i am from england and dont have a CC. any suggestions? i tried to get tickets for pink a while back but because i dont have a cc, i couldnt. plus i couldnt get a friend with a cc to do it for me because to pick the tix up, you need to take the card you paid with as ID.

i want wicked tickets but dont have a credit card

Apply for a credit card!

i want wicked tickets but dont have a credit card

Is there a particular reason you dont have a CC? If I were you, I%26#39;d apply for a cr card and get a low credit limit...such as $500USD......

Your only other choice is to go to the box office when you arrive and hope they have tickets (and pay cash).

If you are going to travel to NYC or elsewhere for that matter - a CC is essential, to guarantee payment at hotels, renting vehicles, well not in NYC, just apply for a card - usually it is no big deal to get one even if you think you are not going to use it - something that any traveler should have.

Pretty much common sense.....

Poppa

Do you have a PayPal account? eBay vendors are required to accept that as payment, and many (but not all) ticket sellers on StubHub will accept that too. Wicked tickets are available via both of those websites.

i do have paypal. thanks for that.

i dont want a CC. more hassle than they are worth over here.

%26gt;%26gt;i don%26#39;t want a CC. %26lt;%26lt;

This is certainly your preogative - however, what I%26#39;m trying to get across is that many hotels in NYC REQUIRE that you guarantee any ancilliary charges with a credit card or leave a large cash deposit with the cdesk clerk.

And if you did have a cc - you would have gotten your tickets, correct??

Don%26#39;t bite off your nose to spite your face - just offering some USEFUL travel information.

POPPA

I have to agree with Poppa. Not only would a credit card help in situations such as above, it would also be very useful in case of an emergency, especially when you%26#39;re travelling and unfamiliar with an area.

You might want to look into getting a Pre-Paid Credit card for the trip.

I agree the hassle of having one is far less than the hassle of not !

maybe its hugely different in the UK, but it takes no effort to get a credit card here.

You dont have to actually use the credit card once you get it but its a good thing to have in an emergency.

I know the frequent flier thing isnt as popular in the UK/Europe, but I%26#39;ve flown to Asia business class FREE thanks to frequent flier miles earned from credit cards.

New Yorker Hotel

hubby %26amp; I planning a trip to NYC near the end of the month (June). Looking at the New Yorker Hotel, as the location seems perfect (we are flying into Newark and hear we can take the train to the station across the street from hotel).

I realize that most rooms in NYC hotels are small, but I am having trouble figuring out which room to book at the New Yorker.

Can anyone help?

New Yorker Hotel

I just came back from New York and stayed at the New Yorker. As I advised them before hand that it was a special occasion we were given a free upgrade to a suite on the 40th floor. I have stayed there numerous times before and the rooms were of a decent size and cleaned daily. The staff were friendly polite.

New Yorker Hotel

There is a special at the Affinia Manhattan which is also right near Penn Station.

hotels.travelzoo.com/new-york-hotels/593102

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Credit card or cash??

Hi,

We%26#39;re going to New York in August and wondered whether we%26#39;d be best to use a credit card or get cash changed before we come for spending money?? Any advice would be very welcome.

Credit card or cash??

Hi SarahHutchinson-

Definitely plan on bringing both. There are many places in NYC that only take cash. I%26#39;d plan on bringing about $20 for each day in the city ($140 per week) - and then use the credit card wherever you can to save your cash for when you need it.

If you can access your bank account through an ATM, you might want to just wait until you%26#39;re in the airport and get your cash (in dollars) then.

Hope this helps-

Tara

Credit card or cash??

The vast majority of businesses take credit cards in New York. The only ones that don%26#39;t are small deli/grocery stores and takeout restaurants (Chinese, gyro, etc.) 90% of your spending can be done by credit card, but you should obviously have some cash on you. I wouldn%26#39;t buy dollars outside the US, it is cheaper to change it here. Once you get to the airport there will be a money exchange counter and there are many around tourist areas. Obviously every bank can change it, as well. There are banks on every block here.

Exchange a few hundred dollars upon arrival.

When i came to New York i came with cash so i could keep to my buget. I also used my debit card which was accepted every where

Hi

Get a couple of hundred dollars before you go , cash in 10/50/20%26#39;s for cab etc when you arrive.M and S do one of the best rates.

get yourself a nationwide credit card, the handling fee is as good as it gets, get your pin sorted, withdraw cash from any ATM when you are there, there are Bank of America cash points on Times Square,for example, if you are staying close.

As a back up bring at least another another cc with pin, I always bring an amex and a couple of others. I allways withdrw funds on the cc and pay cash except for more expensive dinners out.

You can store extra cards in hotel safe, and/ or split with your partner for security.

Its not worth lugging hundreds of dollars from a security point of view, or an exchange one as the nationwide cc beats most currency purchases in the uk.

wow Tararoadtrip, $20 cash a day, your having a laugh right? how many tube/bus rides/cabs/drinks/snacks will that buy? good luck with that ;@)

back blackheads

Priceline question

This is for those of you who enjoy using Priceline and do it frequently. I%26#39;ve used Priceline 3 times and have been very pleased with our hotel each time (Grand Hyatt, Hilton Garden Inn Times Square and a Marriott, the name of which escapes me). I%26#39;ve only used Priceline when traveling alone or with my husband.

We are planning to bring our 4 yr old this time around (July 23-26) and we have already booked both the Hampton Inn Soho and the Four Points Sheraton Soho on quikbook b/c I couldn%26#39;t decide which to go with. $150 and $187 per night respectively.

Here%26#39;s my question. I know Priceline says they can not guarantee a room appropriate for more than 2 people. What are my chances of getting a room with 2 beds? I don%26#39;t care if they are queens or doubles. I would love to try Priceline this time around just to go for a slightly bigger room but I%26#39;m afraid to do it. The Grand Hyatt in which I stayed only had one bed but the other 2 hotels I got had 2 beds. Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks all!

Priceline question

I have gotten both 2 beds and one bed. We use Priceline all the time.

I wouldn%26#39;t chance it myself. I also think that right now you have better chance of watching the deals on Travelzoo and seeing what comes up that might work for you.

We are staying at the Grand Hyatt this weekend for $110, which isn%26#39;t that much better than you have and also have the piece of mind that you have two beds.

Priceline question

I%26#39;ve used Priceline many times and have always been able to get 2 beds. However, I have not used priceline in NYC. Priceline does have a cancellation option for a small additional price. You might do Priceline with a cancellation option and call ahead to see if you can get 2 beds but keep another hotel option as a backup.

Yes, take the cancellation option but when you know the hotel - call them and ask about rollaway beds.

Your chances of getting a hotel room with 2 beds depends TOTALLY on what star level/area you bid on. If you examine the hotels PL uses on betterbidding or biddingfortravel, you%26#39;ll find that some of the hotels don%26#39;t have rooms with 2 beds. So, for ex., I think there are a lot of 3* hotels that only have rooms with 1 bed. Some of those hotels would give you a roll away though, if you wouldn%26#39;t mind that.

But if you want to stay downtown in Soho, that%26#39;s another reason to avoid Priceline. They combine Soho with the financial district and the most likely wins in that area are the Millenium Hilton. If you don%26#39;t mind staying there, it%26#39;s an option.

Hotwire allows you to indicate more than 2 people and you%26#39;d be assured of a room with 2 beds but it%26#39;s not as cheap as Priceline.

BTW, the cancellation option has stipulations and I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s good for not liking the hotel you got or not being able to get the bed set up you want. I think it%26#39;s for things like a canceled trip.

The travel insurance offered by Priceline only covers you for ';unforeseen illness and injury';.

whiz is right, what Platna calls a ';cancellation option'; does NOT give you the ability to get a refund just because you change your mind or the hotel is unable or unwilling to accept your special request for, e.g., 2 beds or a rollaway; it%26#39;s merely travel insurance for which you%26#39;ll receive a refund under narrow circumstances. From Priceline%26#39;s own web site:

';If you or your traveling companion has to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason (e.g., unforeseen sickness, injury, illness or death) the cost of your hotel room purchased through this site will be reimbursed. Travel Insurance is for emergency situations such as those described above only, and cannot be used to cover the cost of a trip that is cancelled for any other reason.';

Honestly, I think your idea is an especially risky (and possibly expensive) gamble for a summer visit to NYC or during holidays when there is more ';competition'; from other guests vying for rooms with 2 beds; those are less common here in Manhattan than in, e.g., Orlando.

Jazz brunch on saterday in mid town

We are leaving this sat afternnon and my hubby really wants to do a jazz brunch. Are there any nice places in mid town u might want to reccommend? We are on a tight budget so somewhere inexpensive will be great. Thanks! And forgive me for my typos as typing in iPod is really awkward for me yet. Cheers j

Jazz brunch on saterday in mid town

Here is a jazz brunch that I know of on a saturday. Don%26#39;t know if you would like this?

www.bbkingblues.com/brunch/satBrunch.html

Jazz brunch on saterday in mid town

forgot to say it%26#39;s Beatles :)

Hi.

I have heard of a good brunch in Garage, its a jazz club in Greenwich Village. I havent been myself for brunch (have been for evening drinks) but it was recommended to me for brunch by a New Yorker friend.. They do an %26#39;all you can drink%26#39; brunch apparently! its unlimited mimosas and other drinks!

http://www.garagerest.com/brunchmenu.html

Carrie

To follow up on Carrie%26#39;s great suggestion, here%26#39;s what Big Apple Jazz (a super website %26amp; Gordon Polatnick, who maintains the site, gives terrific jazz tours BTW) has to say about The Garage:

** A funky and spacious two-tiered restaurant with a gregarious and expansive oyster bar/drinks bar and live jazz nightly. Starting as early as 8:00 PM weeknights and 5:45 Fridays and Saturdays, Garage features aspiring jazz groups and living legends, often fronted by a vocalist. No cover. Plenty of outdoor seating. Jazz brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for $12.00 at 12:00 noon. Check schedule for artists such as Yardena, Joel Forrester%26#39;s People Like Us, Sam Ulano, David Coss Trio, and Howard Williams Jazz Orchestra.

http://www.bigapplejazz.com/nycjazzclubs.html

That%26#39;s a Beatles brunch, not exactly jazz. Most jazz brunches are on Sunday and most are downtown, not midtown. Seppi%26#39;s in the Parker Meridien hotel does a jazz brunch on Sundays. It%26#39;s unclear whether they also have music on Sat. but you might call them.

http://www.seppisny.com/files/34246437.pdf

In Greenwich Village, Rare Bar %26amp; Grill on Bleecker st. has a Sat. jazz brunch. Their midtown Lexington ave. location no longer does jazz.

http://rarebarandgrill.com/

The Garage restaurant, also in the village does live jazz brunch on Sat. and Sun. (but double check if you go)

http://www.garagerest.com/JazzCalendar.html

Hello! We%26#39;re back from our trip and just wanted to say thanks for all the help! We ended up going to the Garage restaurant and enjoyed it very much so. The music and food was great and reasonably priced!

So Thanks all!

Thanks for letting us know you were pleased with brunch at the Garage -- future readers will find it useful :-)

New York must sees and dos!!!!!

Hi!

Going to New York for the first time on Wednesday with my Mum and 16 year old brother....can%26#39;t wait!!!! So excited!!:D :D :D :D So what are the absolute must sees and dos for while we%26#39;re there!!!!

Also would people reccommend %26#39;Behind the Emerald Curtain%26#39;...the backstage tour of Wicked?? Are there any other shows that do these type of tours???

Thanks!

New York must sees and dos!!!!!

Hi TravelSL,

There are no absolute must see%26#39;s but here is a list of some very popular attractions in NYC.

http://www.mustseenewyork.com/

www.frommers.com/destinations/newyorkcity/

New York must sees and dos!!!!!

And do spend some time reading through the FAQ%26#39;s:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k1948627鈥?/a>

You can use the forum%26#39;s Search box (right above your post) to find out comments about ';Behind the Emerald Curtain'; -- just type those words in, and voila!

I think Top of the Rock, Central Park and a play are must dos. For plays, shows, it realy depends on whether you are looking for drama or musicals. I drift toward musicals, but others may have different suggestions. Have fun. It is an incredible city!

How long will you be staying in New York?

Rather than concentrating on any specific sights, I%26#39;d concentrate on seeing different neighborhoods. I%26#39;d spend a morning and afternoon in Downtown/Chinatown. I%26#39;d spend time in Greenwich Village and the East Village and Soho. Your 16 year old would love St. Mark Place in the East Village. I%26#39;d walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and check out either DUMBO or Brooklyn Heights.

I%26#39;d check out some of the great parks in the City. Central or Prospect Park are great. If Mum loves flowers, make sure to visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and nearby Park Slope Neighborhood.

Check out the Frequently Asked Questions section of this forum and the ';Things to Do'; link on the TA sight. Look to the right of this response to find that link.

There are no must sees or must dos. This being a free country, people are at liberty to see or do what they want, what they like, and what interests them. Since everyone does not want the same things, or like the same things, or have an interest in the same things, one pesons ';must see/do'; list will be very different from the list of another person with very different tastes.

I therefore recommend that you determine what you like, and what interests you, and that you plan your sightseeing around your own personal interests.

There are some sights most first time visitors feel they %26#39;must do%26#39; when in NYC. These are The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, Central Park, a Broadway Play, Times Square and more recently the WTC site.

As others have pointed out, this list can grow depending on your personal tastes, but everyone I%26#39;ve ever talked to wanted to visit these sights.

You can add museums into the mix, especially the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

If you are asking opinions, IMO you can get a great view of Lady Liberty from the ferry to Ellis Island (which I consider a better stop than the Statue); Top of the Rock (30 Rockefeller Center) has a better view than The ESB - and takes less time; and Times Square has become a huge tourist trap which should only be %26#39;visited%26#39; when going to your Broadway Play. :)

Central Park is magnificent and the WTC may mean more to a US Citizen than someone from Ireland, but that will depend on your feelings as much as anything else. I also think a stop at Grand Central Terminal is in order for a fist timer as well as a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hope you have a great time!

We have just returned from New York and the highlight of our stay for my 11yr old was going to see the Blue Man Group. Check out www.goldstar.com for discount tickets for not just shows but boat trips, tours etc. Have a great time.

Subway at night

How is it riding the subway after a show on a Saturday night from Theater area to the bronx (pelham station area)?

Subway at night

Busier than it would be at noon. You%26#39;ll be fine.

leave a e mail address

Slice of Brooklyn life - last Sunday's PLG house tour photos

I thought you might enjoy these photos of last Sunday%26#39;s house tour in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Prospect Lefferts Garden (a.k.a. ';PLG'; and to some ';Flatbush';) - a small and highly diverse neighborhood just off the southeast corner of Prospect Park. The photos are by Bob Marvin - a great photographer and expert on Brooklyn housing and history. They show the insides of beautiful houses, but also the great vibe of a classic Brooklyn neighborhood:

Slideshow:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25605294@N00/sets/72157619114678472/show/

Map showing PLG boundries:

http://www.planetplg.com/images/plg-map.gif

There are more house tours coming in June:

nytimes.com/2009/鈥?/a>

Slice of Brooklyn life - last Sunday's PLG house tour photos

Trying the link again:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25605294@N00/sets/72157619114678472/show/

Slice of Brooklyn life - last Sunday's PLG house tour photos

Oy vey - try this:

http://tinyurl.com/mktpxc

Niiiice. Isn%26#39;t it amazing how houses were designed years ago/

Some lovely houses and gardens, one more reason to come back and visit Brooklyn!

Beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing. I%26#39;m going to try and take an upcoming tour.

Bob Marvin is a wonderful photographer, too.

Comedy Clubs.

Be in New York at the end of August with my wife and 20 year old daughter. At 20 is she old enough to gain entry into the comedy clubs.

back blackheads

BA Cancelled our flight! Booooooo!!

Hi there all

Got an email from BA yesterday saying that they had cancelled our flight to New York in November (we like to plan ahead - we booked it last year!). They have rebooked us onto a flight from Heathrow. Problem is, we are flying down to Orlando after New York for some sun and flying back to Gatwick!

BA were the airline which had flights to and from New York and Orlando which both used the same airport - Gatwick. Now they%26#39;ve cancelled it and expect us to pick up the extra cost and hassle of getting between Heathrow and Gatwick (boo, hiss)

Anyone out there know of scheduled flights to Americas top two destinations which use the same UK airport?

Anyway - still can%26#39;t wait for New York in November. Picked out all my favourite places to eat already

Cheers

BA Cancelled our flight! Booooooo!!

Cassiu5,

Try kayak for flights. Looks like Continental and VA fly non stop to both destinations.

www.kayak.com/s/flights.jsp鈥?/a>

BA Cancelled our flight! Booooooo!!

Typical BA,

They stopped there direct manchester to ny last year,so we rebooked with continental which we found to be a better service anyway,

can%26#39;t wait for november also as thats when we will be back in nyc,

Darren

P.s have%26#39;nt BA just posted record losses for last year,not suprising really when they continue to annoy people all the time

Quick update. BA have moved us to a slightly earlier flight which now leaves from Heathrow, not Gatwick as originally booked. This means we now fly from Heathrow and return to Gatwick (we%26#39;re going to Orlando after New York) - which is inconvenient and annoying and not as originally planned

On the plus side, BA have agreed to pay for the cost of the taxi transfer between the two airports - so that%26#39;s a hurrah and thanks to BA!

We also now fly into Newark which looks a lot easier than JFK, especially as we are staying only 4 blocks or so down from Penn Station

So all in all, not as big a disappointment as originally thought

Only 5 months to go!

Newark is fine. JFK is also fine. It doesn%26#39;t make a big difference.

JFK Airport is in New York City. Newark Airport is in New Jersey (not New York City). What this means is that you can%26#39;t get a NYC taxi at Newark Airport. At JFK Airport you can.

So, if you are planning to take a taxi, it is best to prearrange a sedan through a reputable company.

If you are planning to take the AirTrain / NJTransit, you%26#39;re fine.

Both JFK and Newark have AirTrain combinations. Newark Airport to NY Penn Station is $15.00. JFK Airport to New York Penn ranges from $7.00 - $12.00 depending on method and time of day. Both can take as little as 45 minutes.

Just avoid the touts who will ask if you need a ride, they%26#39;re operating illegally.

';On the plus side, BA have agreed to pay for the cost of the taxi transfer between the two airports - so that%26#39;s a hurrah and thanks to BA!';

Get it in writing!!! I guarantee when the time comes, they%26#39;ll deny it or send you in a bus. Going b/w LHR and LGW is a ROYAL PITA. I would refuse and rebook wsith another airline.

What exactly is there to do in Central Park?

Besides roller blade, jog, walk your dog?

What exactly is there to do in Central Park?

Click on the part that says ';Pick an Attraction'; or ';Pick a Sport';:

http://www.centralpark.com/

What exactly is there to do in Central Park?

See free concerts and shows (pop, rock, ethnic, Opera, Shakespeare) go to zoo, ride carousel, go to Museums (Met and Natural History),have a picnic, people watch, sail a sailboat (toysize remote), go to Conservatory Gardens, watch weddingsm, grab a pretzel/ice cream from vendors, see/be artists painting, see ';street'; (park) performers, eat (Tavern on the Green, Boathouse Cafe), hang out near lakes,fountains, bird watch, see bridges and other things designed by Fredrick Olmstead, ice skate (winter), take a walking tour, see marionette theatre

be.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park

http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageServer

http://www.centralpark.com/

http://www.centralpark.com/events.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Park

: )

great suggestions NYNM!

WOW!!! Holy Moly - I had NO idea. Thank you very much!

Not sure what%26#39;s at the end of all those links but rowing a boat in the lake or taking a gondola ride would be at the top of my list.

www.centralpark2000.com/database/rowing.html

thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/gondola鈥?/a>

tourguidestan, a poster here, does pedicab rides through the park

http://www.oconnorgreentoursnyc.com/

My single favorite thing to do in central Park is to rent a row boat ..... it%26#39;s $10 dollars for a half hour ...... right by the Bethesda Fountain and the Boat House Cafe

thecentralparkboathouse.com/sections/boats.h鈥?/a>

Rowing is easy once you get the hang of it. You start out by the elegant looking boathouse with people %26#39;brunching%26#39;, then pass the Bethesda Fountain area (maybe some street musicians playing music in the background), then make a turn and pass under the %26#39;marble bridge%26#39; ..... then you turn into a huge expanse with marshes, turtles, ducks and an occasional egret. All the while you can just about see the roof tops of the tall buildings peaking out above the lake and every so often an Italian %26#39;gondola%26#39; will pass with a guy singing opera and dressed like he just came from Venice. If you go early in the day and during the week then it%26#39;s not crowded at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqDIaZcMusw

This is incredible - I just thought it was a big park with not much to do once you get inside!

JJ - do yourself a favor - check the Central park website - eye-opening!!

By the way, I think I remember you saying that you%26#39;ll be here near the end of June. If that%26#39;s correct, you might be interested to see a free concert by the cast of the musical Hair, which happens on June 26th as part of the Good Morning America concert series in Central Park:

abcnews.go.com/GMA/SummerConcert/story鈥?/a>

JJGeoria .... also realize that that %26#39;The Metropolitan Museum of Art%26#39; (suggested donation and great roof cafe with views of the park) ..... and the %26#39;Museum of Natural History and Planetarium%26#39; (w/butterfly enclosure) ..... are technically located IN Central Park.

Two weeks in Brooklyn: A Trip Blog

We spent a couple of weeks in Park Slope from 23 April to 7 May.

The following is a link to our brand new blog which charts our adventures:

http://livefromtheslope.blogspot.com/

This blog comes with a warning. It is long and detailed. When we say long, we mean long, very long. It is as much a blow by blow account for us to look back on as it is a trip report. If anyone makes it to the end message us and we will send you a certificate!

We scoured these boards before our trip and took lots of useful info from the helpful folks on here. Hopefully we can give a little bit back. Hey, if it wasn%26#39;t for TA we would never have met BrooklynMel!

We have added a few photos to spice things up. Navigation is easy, you can select the post to read from the menu on the right, oldest posts first.

Although the blog is already longer than War and Peace it is only the first 7 days at the moment. 8 days to follow. We will post here as we add more entries, interest permitting.

Enjoy!

Two weeks in Brooklyn: A Trip Blog

Cool blog. Can%26#39;t wait to see week two. One of the best things about trip advisor is not only the advice, but the ability to meet and greet.

I credit my tournament win the day after The Gate to the Fursty Ferret.

Two weeks in Brooklyn: A Trip Blog

Brilliant! I hope you get around to posting week two soon.

I%26#39;ve copied some of your photos. I%26#39;m crazy about your shot of the parachute jump. It was a favorite ride back in ';the good old days,'; hopefully it will one day be restored.

Forgive me for making a couple of minor corrections for your blog. The theater in Central Park is the Delacorte (not Delacroix), and the Blue Note is in the Village -- the club on 42nd St. is B.B. King%26#39;s.

And the subway station you were expecting to find at 59th St. is NOT called 59th St. -- the station name is Fifth Avenue, and there are entrances at 60th St. and Central Park South. The station just east of it is called 59th St.

Thanks again!

Wow... I mean WOW.... Your blog is fantastic. I have not read through all of your first seven days yet, but I most definitely will.

Some wonderful photos in there too!

Thank you for taking me back to New York!

-Brumelmor-

Great blog. Cant wait for the next 8 days....I%26#39;m exhausted from seeing how energetic you are.

I%26#39;m soo jealous off your 2 weeks in NYC! Loving the blog so far

Great blog - great fun! I totally feel your pain on that $60 cab ride - been there-done that - and that%26#39;s why car services are now my mode of transport between JFK and Park Slope.

Bar Toto and Barbes are my 2 most favorite bars in the Slope - Barbes has one of the most interesting musical line-ups in the whole city. Great choices on your part.

When (not if) you come back - remember Blue Ribbon on 5th Avenue for that late night food urge - they are open until Midnight on M-Th and Sunday and until 2AM on Fri and Sat.

Looking forward to the next 8 days!

Thanks all for your kind comments.

Outoftheinkwell - Cheers for pointing out the inaccuracies. We have corrected the references to Delacroix (obviously made that up) and Blue Note. We will have to put you on the payroll as quality control!

The subway at 59th. Your explanation does make sense and I am sure that it is correct. The problem, however, is that MTA mark the station as 59 St/5 Ave on the transit map. Hence, two confused English tourists standing in the middle of Grand Army Plaza scratching their heads. Still, no harm done - we found the entrance in the end.

Next post should be up later today or tomorrow.

Love your blog! I had plans for tonight but got engrossed in your trip report so they went out the window! You gave me a lot of ideas for our trip in October. Thanks for posting this.

Echo home bedding

Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa

This is a great place for spa deals in NYC. The staff is professional and also caring. Ideally located as well.

Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa

I had a wonderful time at Dorit Baxter today. I spent 6 hours of pampering and lunch with a amazing staff. I left feeling like a queen.

Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa

I agree. Not the swankiest spa in the city but nice. Their facials are really great and the price couldn%26#39;t be better.

Deciding between two Lake George places to stay.

I have it narrowed down to tahoe beach club resort and the georgian resort hotel. Can someone tell me which they would recommend of the two and why? Thank you very much

Deciding between two Lake George places to stay.

Well they are 2 very different places and locations. Georgian is very nice, with incredible award winning dining, popular for expensive weddings. The food itself is worth the visit as far as Im concerned. It%26#39;s right in town and on the water. The Tahoe is located off the main strip, a bit of a drive on twisty Route 9 on the way to lovely artistic Bolton Landing. Tahoe looks a little dated to me on the outside, but I%26#39;ve heard good and bad. The main complaint Ive had for there is the musty smell of the rooms, so bring a neutralizer spray if you are sensitive to that and some prefer to bring own bedding. You will need to drive into town if you stay at Tahoe, so stock up on quarters as it%26#39;s $1/hr or $10/day parking in a lot. Parking at Georgian is free and you are right on the strip so you can easily walk to everything in the town of Lake George. Check out my inside pages, look to the right on this page, click on Lake George Overview tab, then on inside pages, that can help you with some dining, shopping and fun things to do to help you plan your trip. Let me know if you need anything else. On www.lakegeorge.com you can also view the webpages for both of those hotels, as well as many other local places to eat, stay and things to see and do, that might help too. Hope this helps!

Deciding between two Lake George places to stay.

thanks for your quick resonse. i%26#39;m going to the georgian.

So glad I could help, I hope you enjoy your vacation!

I just returned from Lake George, we looked at the Tahoe to stay at but thought it was dated, so stayed 1 night at the Holiday Inn, very nice but not on the beach, great pool area, very clean and new rooms and a great view of Lake George. We than moved up on the scale and stayed 2 nights at the Sagarmore in Bolton Landing, which is just up the road from Lake George Village, gorgeous, pricey but worth every penny.

Thanks for the great info Denny! It%26#39;s hard to write about many hotels as a local, I just drive 5 mins to go to the lake. I have checked out some and I try to ask tourists where they stay and what they think as much as I can. Hotel reviews under the hotel review tab are so helpful, I%26#39;d love it if you could put the Tahoe info there as I get asked that alot. I mention I think it%26#39;s dated but visitors word helps. I love the Sagamore too, though last I visited it wasn%26#39;t very kid friendly, has that changed? I just love Holiday Inns, after going to New York City and getting the best new Holiday Inn located at George Washington Bridge for $95/night I won%26#39;t stay anywhere else when I travel unless there isn%26#39;t a Holiday Inn nearby! Thanks again for your hotel info, it%26#39;s such a help!

thanks

andy

The Holiday Inn is an excellent choice! We have been coming to Lake Goerge for over 6 years now and have stayed at the Holiday Inn each and every time. Great family place and many fine amenities! We would not think of staying any other place, while visiting Lake George.

* very professional staff ~ friendly and courteous

* clean and comfortable rooms

* very nice landscape and great view of Lake George

* nice restaurant and lounge

* indoor and outdoor pool

* cozy whirlpool in private courtyard

GREAT PLACE TO STAY ~ GREAT PLACE TO VACATION

The Holiday Inn is an excellent choice! We have been coming to Lake Goerge for over 6 years now and have stayed at the Holiday Inn each and every time. Great family place and many fine amenities! We would not think of staying any other place, while visiting Lake George.

* very professional staff ~ friendly and courteous

* clean and comfortable rooms

* very nice landscape and great view of Lake George

* nice restaurant and lounge

* indoor and outdoor pool

* cozy whirlpool in private courtyard

GREAT PLACE TO STAY ~ GREAT PLACE TO VACATION

Weirdest Canoe Club - EVER!

There are many pristine and beautiful places to canoe in New York State - The Gowanus Canal is not one of them. The Gowanus Canal a/k/a Lavender Lake has been an industrial wasteland for decades. Despite becoming a future ';superfund'; site, the Dredgers Canoe Club is giving FREE canoe rides in the Gowanus.

There are many interesting and weird things to do in New York. Paddling a canoe on the Gowanus Canal may be the weirdest. They have public canoe sessions on alternate Saturdays at 1:00 PM and at Wednesday at 6:00 PM. Come on out and commune with...er...nature?

http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org/dredgers/#

Only in Brooklyn kids, only in Brooklyn.

Weirdest Canoe Club - EVER!

No love? I%26#39;m gonna give er a bump.

Weirdest Canoe Club - EVER!

That is insane. I would do it just for the risk factor!

What fun. Paddling through p00p. blech.

Actually, it sounds like things are on the upswing here...more oxygenated water being pumped in, more water-fowl appearing (rather than foul water....sorry :) ).

Still, I wouldn%26#39;t eat the oysters.

Wow! That is one strange thing to do! My teens love to find new and unique things to do. My teen son and his friends are particularly fond of bathroom humor. It sounds like a perfect match. I am guessing taking part in this activity on a hot, humid, July night, might not be the best idea....Perhaps we%26#39;ll wait for the fall.

Thanks for the odd, albeit intriguing, suggestion! Moms

back blackheads

Calamity Jane

I was wondering: is there anything to be found in NY that refers to Calamity Jane? She didn%26#39;t really spend a lot of time there, but you never know....

Calamity Jane

I know nothing about this, Meyem, but spent my whole weekend in Chicago at the end of May singing ';I just got back from the Windy City, the windy city is mighty pretty...'; :)

Calamity Jane

I did some research on your question and was unable to find any links to NYC, although some of the Wild West shows did come through these parts. She is more associated with the West, than with city slickers like us.

We do have Typhoid Mary however. I hope that she is a decent substitute. She was the cook who was first infected with Typhoid, and ';spread the joy around.'; She was a New York original, and is buried in St. Raymond%26#39;s in the Bronx. Here%26#39;s a site that describes Typhoid Mary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon

Mel, is it %26#39;safe%26#39; to visit there - should we wear surgical masks? Just askin%26#39;

Poppa

Indeed it is safe Poppa, as the ever charming Ms. Mallon has shuffled off this mortal coil. In her time, however, she was a dangerous customer indeed. Here is a statement from Dr. S. Josephine Baker who was sent by the Board of Health to arrest Ms. Mallon:

';Mary was on the lookout and peered out, a long kitchen fork in her hand like a rapier. As she lunged at me with the fork, I stepped back, recoiled on the policeman and so confused matters that, by the time we got through the door, Mary had disappeared. %26#39;Disappear%26#39; is too matter-of-fact a word; she had completely vanished.';

I don%26#39;t think that Calamity Jane had anything on New York%26#39;s Typoid Mary Mallon.

So Mel, that begs the question, who is really buried in St. Raymond%26#39;s??

Perhaps it might be Calamity Jane?

A perplexing situation if there ever was one, eh?

Poppa

I wonder if Mayem dosen%26#39;t actually mean %26#39;Annie Oakley%26#39; who was also with %26#39;Buffalo Bill%26#39;s Wild West Show%26#39; and is much more famous. There%26#39;s a play about Annie Oakley called %26#39;Annie Get Your Gun%26#39;. Was there sometime you saw on television in the Netherlands?

I don%26#39;t think Calamity Jane ever came within over 1,000 miles of New York.

Jeez Poppa, I gotta do everything around here. OK, here is the photo of Mary Mallon%26#39;s grave in the Bronx. However, I do not believe that the Court will allow us to exhume her to satisfy your morbid curiosity. Thus, we can only assume that the mortal remains of the individual so named on the stone, are sequestered beneath.

www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi鈥?/a>

Tomorrow, we deterimine who is buried in Grant%26#39;s Tomb. Exciting stuff kids, exciting stuff.

That used to be my fav question on The Groucho Marx show, You bet your Life!

Mel as long as your not %26#39;doing billable hours%26#39; eh?

thanks for the try, Mel, it was worth a shot (no pun intended ^^)

Who knows I%26#39;ll visit Mary%26#39;s grave. Calamity%26#39;s is a must, some day, and yeah she could up that other lady, but I%26#39;d have to start digging in my books to find a good one :)

@Lotus, Nope, I didn%26#39;t mean Annie. Calamity is definitely more my kinda people...

@Alice, I%26#39;m pretty sure Calamity visited NY at least once. In any case, she did partake in the Pan American Exhibition in Buffalo. No idea how many miles that is ^^

essortment.com/all/calamityjanebi_rdal.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamity_Jane

Cheap Buffalo airport transport to Falls?

Hi there,

We will be flying into Buffalo and hoping to stay at the Canadian side of the Falls. However airport transport seems to be soooo expensive.

Taxi%26#39;s are showing as being $110 per person return on www.buffaloairporttaxi.com/service.php.

Does anyone please know of a cheaper way to get the Canadian side?

We are only able to have 1 night there, and 1 night probably at a motel close to Buffalo airport due to early flight the following morning.

We are both under 25, therefore car hire is costly.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheap Buffalo airport transport to Falls?

Here%26#39;s a list of options you might want to investigate:

buffaloairport.com/GroundTransportation.asp…

Cheap Buffalo airport transport to Falls?

Jewel of Niagara shows $80CDN per person, which would be about $70US pp.

http://www.jewelofniagara.com/transportation/

Sorry, those rates are flat rate, not per person.

By Sivaram:

Here we go guys....the most economical way ...

http://www.megabus.com

Details Price

7:30 AM Depart Toronto, Toronto Coach Terminal

Arrive Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara International Airport 10:15 AM 1 seat = $20.00

10:00 AM Depart Toronto, Toronto Coach Terminal

Arrive Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara International Airport 12:45 PM 1 seat = $20.00

12:00 PM Depart Toronto, Toronto Coach Terminal

Arrive Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara International Airport 2:45 PM 1 seat = $20.00

7:00 PM Depart Toronto, Toronto Coach Terminal

Arrive Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara International Airport 9:45 PM 1 seat = $20.00

9:30 PM Depart Toronto, Toronto Coach Terminal

Arrive Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara International Airport 11:59 PM 1 seat = $17.00

advice and suggestions

Staten island Ferry

I just read several comments on the FREE Ferry. I think that is what we will do instead of taking so long to go over to the Island. Now I need to know where to go to catch the Ferry. Is it at the same place as the Liberty Island Ferry? I think that is pier 83 down at Battery Park, am I right? Thanks for your help.

Staten island Ferry

I don%26#39;t know what ';Island'; you mean; Staten Island is an island, as is Manhattan Island, and Long Island where you find Brooklyn and Queens. Are you perhaps referring to the Statue of Liberty ferry?

The Staten Island Ferry -- which is much, much bigger than the boats to the statue -- leaves from the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Since it isn%26#39;t the same boat, and doesn%26#39;t go to the same place, why would it leave from the Statue of Liberty ferry pier?

Pier 83 is not at Battery Park. Pier 83 is in Midtown Manhattan, on the Hudson River at the end of 43rd Street; you will find the Circle Line boats (but neither the Staten Island nor the Statue of Liberty ferries) there.

The Statue of Liberty ferry leaves from Battery Park behind Castle Clinton. The Whitehall Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry is at the place where State, Whitehall, and Water Streets run into each other.

You really may want to look at a map....

Staten island Ferry

No, the SIF is a bit further south from LIF. About 2-3 min walk.

Here%26#39;s a map. Look at the tip. LIF is near Castle Clinton on the map, while SIF is at ';Ferry terminal'; Just walk a little more along and around the tip of Battery Park.

鈥bout.com/od/manhattan/l/bl_batterypark.htm

Yes, it is FREE which is a deal because a few years ago it cost $0.25 Apparently the first ferry service, which was private, bet SI %26amp; NYC began in the 1700%26#39;s, with a regular ferry in 1817.

It is great. Esp near sunset.

http://www.siferry.com/

First trip to NYC with 2 little kids

Hi there,

We are a fmaily of 2 adults and 2 kids (age 3 %26amp;6).My husband has a conference in whiteplains and we are joining him.Just needs some tips about where to stay.I was thinking about staying in NYC and my husband commutes using the metro but he is not comfortable leaving me in the city by myself with 2 kids..because of the stories we hear that NYC not that safe.

I just want to make sure that I take advantage of the time while he is at the conference is there anything in whiteplains that is kid friendly .How about using the metro with the kids is that safe?? Any recommendation will be very helpful as this is our first trip to NY .

Thanks

First trip to NYC with 2 little kids

Hi

You will be safe in New York city. White plains is nice but not like the city.

Here is one place you can go

http://www.ryeplayland.org/

Have a look at this hotel (example) on the upper west side. In manhattan if you change your mind.

http://www.milburnhotel.com/families.html

I would also suggest reading trip reports etc.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k473208-鈥?/a>

First trip to NYC with 2 little kids

Hundreds of thousands of women are living, and working daily in Manhattan. The Manhattan of CSI NY and Law and Order exist only on TV. In fact, there have been a number of articles about the number of people who are raising families in Manhattan. ( years ago once a couple had kids they moved to the suburbs for grass and family life) At any given time you will find women alone on public transportation with their children. As already said, there is really no much to do in White Plains. Have you looked in the search section or stickies to find out about families who have visited with little kids and what they have done.

I%26#39;m not sure why your husband would assume that White Plains is any more safe than NYC, nor why you seemingly agree and accept that.

We don%26#39;t have a ';metro';- we have a subway, and people of all ages take it day and night. It%26#39;s not as if this is a city where women stay locked inside with their children while the men go out and work.

You hear ';stories'; about New York. Funny, I have heard all kinds of stories about the sort of people who live in the upper midwest. Shall we swap a few, and then both agree that foolish, baseless stories invented by the ignorant and believed by the gullible and the uniformed are not things that sensible people use as the foundation for their plans?

Alice: I think the original poster meant that her husband would take the metro north to white plains while they stayed behind in the city. At least that%26#39;s how i read it.

The city is perfectly safe. Probably even safer then Rochester. Use common sense and you in the kids will have a great time.

I grew up right outside of White Plains and worked there for years. It%26#39;s hard to believe the changes that this city has seen. There are new hotels, malls and Mamaroneck Avenue has a good supply of restaurants. However, in comparison to New York it%26#39;s pretty boring indeed.

I have no idea who told you that New York isn%26#39;t safe. For the past decade or so, it%26#39;s been the safest city in the country. This is a stereotype that is woefully out of date, and simply not true. You and your kids will be safe in both the city and the subway. Your six year old will love the subway, all kids do.

One of the things that New York has done very well lately is upgrade its playgrounds. Here is a list of various playgrounds for the younguns:

nymag.com/urban/鈥laygrounds1.htm

To get from White Plains to NYC you take MetroNorth. Here is the schedule for White Plains

as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_results.cfm

moon716, please know that you and your children (and husband) have nothing to fear. I live in Columbus, OH and I would not hang out in our downtown area by myself at night, let alone with my child, but as for NYC...............absolutely no apprehension about it. I often travel to the city on my own and have never felt unsafe in any way while walking around after dark. My husband and I are taking our 4 yr old daughter to the city this summer for her first visit. I will not hesitate to take her out by myself if hubby chooses to stay at the hotel or do something on his own. Riding the subway is absolutely safe and there is no reason to be fearful. It%26#39;s a shame that so many who have never experienced NYC have no idea how ridiculous the notion is that the place is unsafe. Use common sense and you will have no problems.

As for a hotel, I reco quikbook.com. Great site and you can usually find some really good deals on there, at least I have. Good luck and enjoy planning!

Thanks for everyone who gave helpful information.

Some of the posters seem like they are offended by what I said about NYC not being safe.

First My husband does not think whiteplains is safer,simply he wants us within close proximity in case anything happens,and also I don%26#39;t think we still live in the middle ages where men go to work and women don%26#39;t...please people use some common sense before jumping into conclusions.I gave a brief descripition but not my life story..for whomever got very defensive it makes sense for both parents to be together when you have a special need kid that is one of the info I did not include in my post.Yes I would love to take the kids to NYC and have fun but with the restrictions I have (an autistic kid that runs away if not bound to a stroller)doesn%26#39;t make cruising around NYC by myself so appealing.Yes NYC might be safe but from what I know it is very busy you have thousands of people on the street with a blink of an eye I might lose my kid that what makes it unsafe for my kid.

we have decided to stay 2 nights in whiteplains and 2 nights in NYC.What area in NYC is the best for the kids? Around central park or midtown?

Whatever you do at home with your kids, you can do in NYC.

However, New York City can be sensory overload for many people...lots of colors, lights, crowds, noise, lots of movement, etc. If your kids aren%26#39;t used to that kind of %26#39;busy%26#39; environment, you might just have to plan a bit carefully for a day in the City. You%26#39;ll find much here that will engage your kids. What do your kids enjoy at home?

Montauk vs Block Island

Has anyone been to both Montauk and Block Island? My boyfriend and I want to go away together and are in a toss up between the two. It%26#39;ll just be for two or three nights in mid June. We enjoy the beach and bike riding. We want to have a nice romantic weekend together. Which is better? Any suggestions for places to stay and things to do?

Montauk vs Block Island

Montauk is easier to get to and has more options of things to do.

Montauk vs Block Island

Hi Ninaann-

I%26#39;ve been to both many times - for a romantic getaway, you can%26#39;t beat Montauk. It%26#39;s charming, there are plenty of great restaurants and inns, back lanes for bike riding, cruises and boat rentals, and the Hamptons are nearby if you feel like mixing it up.

Block Island has two sides: one is a family-oriented side where you rent a house with your children and pretty much live on the beach and the other is the ';party'; side, which is both day-trippers and others who are there to get as drunk as humanely possible. I wouldn%26#39;t call either romantic - especially if you plan on hanging out in the downtown area.

The island itself, though, is beautiful. If you%26#39;re planning on tucking yourselves away in a quiet inn or B%26amp;B off the beaten track, the biking is wonderful and there are more beaches to choose from than in Montauk.

Personally, I%26#39;d choose Montauk. If you go - make sure to go to Gosman%26#39;s Dock - their TopSide restaurant overlooking the marina is great (casual)!

Hope this helps-

Tara

Thanks for the advice!!

21 Club closed on our date--new suggestions?

Tried to get reservations for the 21 Club for our pre-theatre dinner night of Wednesday, July 1 and they are CLOSED the whole week for the 4th holiday!

Did disappointment ever set in :-(

We%26#39;re going to the Rodgers theatre (46th and 7th) to see ';In the Heights';, want something in the $30%26#39;ish/person range, maybe something especially good for its price or unique atmosphere or just a nice memory for me to take home to the Midwest.

No Greek, Indian or hot spicey please.

Would anyone care to suggest some options for us, again :-)

21 Club closed on our date--new suggestions?

I really like the $35 prix fixe at Petrossian, but it%26#39;s not as close to your theater. You could take the bus straight down 7th ave. if you allow yourselves enough time.

www.petrossian.com/index.php鈥?/a>

ViceVersa is Italian and a bit closer.

21 Club closed on our date--new suggestions?

Was just on the phone to 21 Club myself and noticed this thread as the phone was ringing - closed the entire week for 4th of July? Crazy!

Any other suggestions?

well, its not like 21 is the hot new place with people banging downt the doors to get a reservation... except for you 2 I guess!

How about Italian? Baldoria is doable if you order carefully (no seafood tower for 5). Firebird is very unique - but check the menu - not sure you can do it for $30/person. Le Marais is also good.

Thanks for the new suggestions. I was so looking forward to the 21 Club.

It seemed like just the right combination of what we were looking for.

The lady at 21 Club that I spoke to suggested either Firebird or Bardetta. I looked Firebird up and it looked interesting, but a bit pricey at $49/person.

Any more dinner suggestions?

evening,

I think Baldoria is closed. I looked for it online and that%26#39;s what came up. Is that correct? Don%26#39;t want to decide again on a restaurant that%26#39;s closed :-) That seems to be our luck so far ;-)

The 21 Club mentioned BarBetta. It%26#39;s Italian in a very pretty townhouse with a lovely back garden BUT, imo, the food is not as good as ViceVersa.

www.menupages.com/restaurants/barbetta/

www.menupages.com/restaurants/viceversa/

nywhiz, thanks for the clarification :-)

My friend has now vetoed Firebird and Petrossian. I think she must not be as adventurous as I.

I will ask her about viceversa.

Can you suggest any other places I can chat with her about? I%26#39;m at a loss as to where to go, there are so many choices and I want to make a good choice.

I apologize if I%26#39;m asking too many questions and am a bit wishy-washy on this dinner decision. I have a tight budget and zero NYC experience, so not too much room for poor choices on my part.

Finding something memorable and in the theater district for $30-35/person is not easy. We%26#39;re not getting any feedback on why places are being ';vetoed';. If she doesn%26#39;t want Italian, you need to say so.

We don%26#39;t normally recommend it, but maybe the buffet at the View restaurant in the Marriott Marquis would be an idea. This is the only revolving restaurant in NYC so changing view at the top of the building. If either of you don%26#39;t like heights, it%26#39;s not a good idea though. Glass elevator to the top. They have a $33/person buffet. The food%26#39;s nothing to write home about but the view is great.

it could be gone - doenst seem to exit on Menupages anymore.... How about Wondee Siam - do they like Thai? You can ask for it to be made non-spicy - and its moderate. If you were willing to go all the way to 21, its about the same distance from the theater - 52nd and 8th. I also like Blue Fin in the W, but have only been there for breakfast.

';21'; isnt adventurous - its a historical place with hamburgers and lawn jockeys in front, so not sure what that all means.

So, it sounds like you want ';meat and potatoes.'; True, ';21'; is good for that, and the decor is ';Old Timey New York.'; Personally, many of us find that a bit staid, but if that%26#39;s what you want, you have other options:

Here are other suggestions that might fit the bill:

Cafe Un Deux Trois (French but not exotic, with a decent prix fixe)

menupages.com/restaurants/cafe-un-deux-trois/

West Bank Cafe (American) A 5-10 minute walk from theater. Very nice place.

www.menupages.com/restaurants/west-bank-cafe/

Chez Josephine (Also French, cool decor. A bit of a walk. You could go afterwards for drinks.)

www.menupages.com/restaurants/chez-josephine/

back blackheads

HELP, the always difficult decision of where to sleep...

Hi, I am visiting NY in october with my wife, I麓ll stay 6 nights and we are in our early 30s.

I don麓t care about the kind of accomodation, hotel, b%26amp;b,... everything is fine.

I want to spend around 200usd per night.

I would like to stay in an area where I can go for a walk after 6pm (when you really feel exhausted after the whole day walking) and have a beer, dinner in a cozy place withouth spending 100usd.

I was thinking about chelsea or greenwich village, which area would you recomend? Do you know a nice place there?

Thxs a lot!!

HELP, the always difficult decision of where to sleep...

You might also want to consider the Upper West Side.

HELP, the always difficult decision of where to sleep...

Chelsea is not a bad area and would be cheaper than around Times Square. I see the Hampton Inn is listed at $229 for mid October on www.travelocity.com. The Hampton Inn is a nice chain and offers a good breakfast which will save you money. You may want to call them and see if you can get a better rate especially if you have a discount like the entertainment book or beomce a Hilton Honors member or have a corporate rate.

Patsy%26#39;s Pizza is in Chelsea and Gene%26#39;s about 10 blocks away also has great Italian food. I recommend you get www.clubfreetime.com for 1 week ($1.95 only) to see about free events or greatly reduced prices for concerts, walking tours and more.

www.menupages.com can give you ideas on restaurants to. Also in Greenwich Village, go to the Comedy Cellar. It is great.

Have a nice trip and let us know how it goes.

First, don%26#39;t worry about safety at all. NYC is very safe. In terms of neighborhoods, not all of them have hotels or b %26amp; b%26#39;s and Oct. is a pricey time so you might struggle right now to find places in that price range. Websites like

travelzoo.com

travel-ticker.com

list hotel sales but usually only within 1-3 months of a stay, so it%26#39;s early for Oct. Picking some arbitrary dates, I see very very high prices for Oct. but I think they will come down.

There are not many options for places to stay in Greenwich Village.

wshotel.com

is a very basic small European style hotel. There are some b %26amp; b%26#39;s in the area that rent what is like an apartment but I think they%26#39;ll all be over $200/night. Have a look at

west-eleventh.com

abingdonguesthouse.com

gvhabitue.com

greenwichvillagehome.com

Since the recession, hotels have actually been better value than the b %26amp; b%26#39;s who have a hard time adjusting their prices. You might have better luck on the lower east side where there are some hotels like

Hotel on Rivington

Thompson Lower East side

which are someimes well prices on

quikbook.com

There are a lot of hotels with the word Chelsea in their name, but few are actually in the heart of Chelsea. The Desmond Tutu Center is part of the Union Theological Seminary and has some lovely guest rooms. You used to be able to book them online, but I see they now require you phone and don%26#39;t list prices. It may be they%26#39;re trying for meetings/conference business. This is truly in the heart of Chelsea and a lovely spot.

www.ahl-tutucenter.com/gallery/index.cfm

Thanks a lot! When I meant to be able to go for a walk is not about security, is because I do not want to be in an empty place after 6pm, as it could be dowtown or in a very touristy place like times square, last time in NY I was at the Pennsylvania and once you go back to the hotel and relax you cannot go outside for a beer or dinner around... I don麓t know if you get what I mean...

Therefore chelsea or greenwich village? What would you choose?

I understand now and agree the Pennsylvania is not a good location for eating and drinking nearby. (It%26#39;s also just a terrible hotel). I think your first challenge is to find any places that fit your budget. I%26#39;d then make a final decision on which to pick based on location.

Both Chelsea and Greenwich Village AND the lower east side, AND Soho AND Tribeca AND the upper west side have good nearby eating and drinking places. The Hampton Inn Soho and the Four Points Sheraton Soho, both relatively new, might be good options. There%26#39;s also a newish Hilton Garden Inn Tribeca that%26#39;s a good area.

I will repeat, there are loads of good places to eat and drink in Chelsea but many of the hotels that say they%26#39;re in Chelsea are really in the area just below the Pennsylvania and not in the heart of Chelsea.

Thanks a lot for your help!!

OK, here we go... I have done a selection of what could fit in our budget:

www.washingtonsquarehotel.com

http://www.colonialhouseinn.com/

www.hotelazure.com

bedandbreakfast.com/new-york-manhattan-charm鈥?/a>

With the last one I could have trouble with the luggage checking out...

Anything we need to have on mind to make a final decission, I like the azure, although I don麓t know if the washington square has a better location...

The las tip?

Thxs

The ONLY one of these I would pick (and not happily for $200/night) is the Washington Square in a superb location. The others either have very small rooms, have shared bathrooms, are illegal b %26amp; b%26#39;s or get poor reviews.

I would also NOT book anything now that requires prepayment or is not cancelable. There are sure to be sales on travelzoo and elsewhere closer to your stay that will make nicer hotels more affordable.

What are your exact dates? Did you have a look on quikbook.com

Did you look at any of the ones I listed like Hampton Inn Soho? It shows up at $159/night on quikbook in Oct. and is much better than any of these (IMO).

I bid on Priceline and got the Hampton Inn SoHo for $87 plus tax and fees. I%26#39;m well pleased, as it was one I was thinking of booking anyway. It suggests they could be open to offers.

By the way, why is something as simple as choosing a hotel a %26#39;difficult%26#39; decision? I find it one of the easiest and most enjoyable decisions I usually have to make. A choice is not a difficulty, just a choice. On this occasion, even if I%26#39;d got a less desirable hotel on Priceline, the price I paid would have been good compensation and I knew the areas I was going for.

I have booked the Hampton Inn Soho in quikbook, I麓ll be aware of any other offers in 2-3 months time, to see whether I can improve the deal, I think is the best idea, thanks for your help.

Regarding the difficulty, this happens specially in big cities where you have such a big offer, and a lot of traps... you don麓t want to pay more for less, and always want to be in a good location for a fair price, unfortunately you don麓t get the help I got this time always...

Thanks again!

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/c4b81/

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