The Big Apple

[Interpol Shrimper]

There is nothing wrong with Brooklyn

It's also the 4th biggest city in the USA (if it wasn't one of the 5 boroughs of NYC) which totally blows my mind!

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Thanks for all the tips guys.
Max Jet fly from Stansted direct to JFK. They tout themselves as a business class airline. I am looking at going next June. A long time away I know but I want plenty of time to save as I want to spank it over there as it will also be our 4th wedding anniversary out there. Maxjet are quoting £1500 for two return. I can get a return with Air India for £600 from Heathrow.
Decisions decisions

Try & get a flight into Newark, the Immigration desks there are a whole lot easier than those in JFK (my Mrs was traumatised the first time we went through JFK & confessed as such to the guy in Newark to which he replied "hey, even we're afraid of those psychos!")

Also, you can get a decent bus in for no more than $25 from Newark (we did it the night Fred scored that late late goal against Grimsby on a Friday to which the whole bus looked at me as if I was mentale when I got my text-alert). Taxis from JFK are about the same and a regulated price set by the NY Metropolitan Authority but I think I'd choose Newark everytime now (think the view of the tip of Manhattan (the Chrysler Building was shimmering as if to say HELLO) despite being 20 or so miles away as you walk through arrivals sold me!)

Oh & spend a lot of time in Little Italy & TriBeCa (go to Robert deNiro's restaurant the TriBeCa Bar & Grill for the meal of a lifetime), plus go to the NYFD museum (an amazing tribute to NYC's bravest & the 343)

 

[sufc_girl]

For cheap flights I'd try Zoom. I'm going with a friend in January and it's costing us £255 each for a return flight. The company deal mainly with flights to Canada but added JFK as a route recently

 

[ESG]

American Airlines fly direct from Stanstead to JFK, although as said previously Newark is a better option if you can do it. I always swore never to go in a helicopter but made an exception in New York and woudn't hesitate to do it again....amazing experience !

 

[Uncle Leo]

If they still do it, a helicopter trip over the city, scared the crap out of me, but a great experience all the same.

Seconded. I was lucky enough to have a trip bought for me as a birthday present and it was absolutely brilliant.

 

[Medway Blue]

I can't say enough good stuff about New York. I'd happily move out there tomorrow (especially with the way the football season has started!). Got back from my second trip out there just a few weeks ago and had a great time. There's just so much to do, so much to see. There's even a Reflex (OMG).

Everything is cheap, apart from beer but, even that is reasonable as soon as you move slightly outside the main touristy areas. I hate shopping but in New York it's a whole different story. Stock up on jeans, stock up on shirts, stock up on anything that you're likely to buy in this country in the next six months.

As for where to stay, well the internet is very useful because it's so easy to search all the hotels out there and find the one that you're happy with in terms of price and the reviews it gets. For what it's worth, I stayed in the relatively expensive but brilliantly located Metro in 1999 which is on West 35th, between Fifth Avenue & Broadway and just yards from the Empire State Building. This time I stayed in the Hotel 17 which was cheaper (but not cheap, cheap) and was again in a decent location, this time down by Union Square probably about two miles from the Empire State Building. Distance is a strange concept out there though because you find yourself walking everywhere taking in the amazing views of the stunning skyline and immersing yourself in the culture.

I took hundreds of pictures this time out but this one is my favourite. It's just like being in a movie.

I'm hoping to go back in January for a few days or even a week if I can, a certain Shrimperzone poster's wedding plans permitting.

Hotel Pennsylvania, on the right - I stayed there :D directly opposite Madison Square Garden.

Agree with most of what's been said on here. JFK is an absolute nightmare, and La Guardia is very, very tatty. Newark is definitely a better option. Brooklyn isn't as bad as it's made out to be. What you need to avoid is staying on the Metro too late and venturing too far north towards Harlem. Not very nice.

Oh, and try some of the pizza on offer in Little Italy. You'll mess your pants. Trust me.

 

[andrew_sthnd]

Trust me, whatever you do in NY you will love it! There is so much to do, be it; the empire state, statue of liberty, Madison square gardens, times square or a host of other attractions. I have been there 5 times and there is still something new to do each time I visit. The comments before have been pretty much spot on. As most will know, taxis are pointless in the city so it's cheaper and quicker to buy a metro card and use that. I aim to live there after I have finished uni, the company I am doing my placement with has offices there so here's hoping!

 

[palexander]

I stayed in the 'New Yorker' hotel and can recommend it 100% - was a great location. Its meant to be the oldest hotel in New York (or biggest, or something?!) - anyway, its right across the road from Maddison Square Garden - from our room you could see the 'Garden and straight down the road to the Empire State.

Echo all the other advice on here - Battery Park is pretty cool (we went pre 9/11) and it has a big memorial for the Vietnam soldiers.

We did a guided tour of Maddison Square (Oscar De Le Hoya was in there at the time filming a commercial which was cool to watch). You get to sit in the Million Dollar seats (executive boxes) and its generally a good day.

Personally didnt like Times Square (and definately would not want to stay there), found it very seedy to be honest.

Have a great time!

 

[Leeboy]

been twice now - stayed at the Club Quarters on West 45th Street and the Park Central on West 56th St, can't recommend them and NYC itself enough. Went to a Yankees game the first time and a Mets game the second time - tickets so easy to get (and cheap) they put us to shame.

if you take your missus be prepared to spend some serious cash in Tiffanys and Bloomingdales.........

 

[Prodigal Son]

I spent 5 days in New York last week, a mixture of business and pleasure.

Email with what you really want to know.What I can say is it's a very safe city, very cheap compared to London, and I find the people great too.

The Meatpacking District is my new discovery, great reataurants, bars and clubs. Can't believe I made my clubbing comeback last week!

Restaurants to recommend are Pastis,Spice Market, 11 Madison Park,Balthazar. Try drinks at 230 5th,Ganzavoort Hotel, both rooftop places.

The women are great too.

Can't wait to go back,looks like Octobe is my next trip. would relocate tomorrow.

JFK is OK, those guys have a job to do. The secret is to be first off the plane into the immigration queue, and hope you are not behind another plane.

I left JFK last week at 515pm expecting to be caught up in rush hour traffic, and reached my hotel in Manhattan in 35 minutes.

 

[seany t]

The first day I got there, I was totally disorientated; the buildings are so huge that its hard to get your bearings. So get a good map, learn how to use the grid system swiftly and walk as much as possible - its the only way to see the place (especially as the traffics mental and the underground is unintelligable).

I got a quick trip around Manhattan on this great river taxi service that no-one out there uses. You can jump on / off as you please, and it's a great way to see the city from a distance, and put the sights into context. It goes past the Chrsyler, under all the bridges, into some disused docks in Brooklyn, alongside a huge aircraft carrier, etc. Very cheap and fairly quick too...

http://www.nywatertaxi.com/

Lots of people rate the Statue of Liberty, lots say it isn't worth the effort. The only way to see it is to get a day trip there, but if you can't squeeze that in or decide it isn't worth the effort, then just get the Statten Island ferry as it goes fairly close to it and is free.

Also, if you love Ghostbusters (like me), there are some great sights - Dana Barrett's apartment on Central Park, the Fire Station, the Library, etc.

http://www.bigwaste.com/photos/ny/ghostbusters/

The Modern Art museum is supposed to be superb too, and the Guggenheim is a quite amazing building.

Some of the more out of the way spots are great too. The walk over Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn is great. The chinese / italian areas are great (and where all the cooler / cheaper restaurants and bars are).

Basically, the place has whatever you want; from cocktail lounges and spas to arty underground clubs and theatres. The world is your oyster...