Advice please on interesting/safe area to stay in NYC as a tourist
May 16th, 2011, 04:08 PM
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Advice please on interesting/safe area to stay in NYC as a tourist
We are visiting New York City in the autumn as a birthday present to me and an end of GCSE'S exams for my daughter who has always wanted to come to New York. Any advice please on safe fairly central areas to look for accomodation in and also any local tips to bear in mind. Are the subways safe to travel on in the evenings? Top tourist places to visit in the city? How much do you tip in a restaurant /taxi? Great restaurants/cafes on a budget?
May 16th, 2011, 06:04 PM
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New York is the safest large city in America. No one can ensure another's safety but the tourist areas and the location of hotels are all in safe areas.
I suggest you do a couple of things. Purchase a guide book to see what may be of interest to you and go the box above that reads "view by state" and click on New York. You will find a wealth of information. Then you ask more specific quesrtions.
For tipping in restaurants double the tax. The tip for cabs should be between 15-20% of the fare.
The subways run 24/7. Depending on the line and the time you might not even get a seat at night. In any event look to stand and sit by people who are appear sane. And the NYC undercover cops are excellent they are very difficult to make.
I suggest you do a couple of things. Purchase a guide book to see what may be of interest to you and go the box above that reads "view by state" and click on New York. You will find a wealth of information. Then you ask more specific quesrtions.
For tipping in restaurants double the tax. The tip for cabs should be between 15-20% of the fare.
The subways run 24/7. Depending on the line and the time you might not even get a seat at night. In any event look to stand and sit by people who are appear sane. And the NYC undercover cops are excellent they are very difficult to make.
May 16th, 2011, 07:30 PM
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"For tipping in restaurants double the tax. The tip for cabs should be between 15-20% of the fare."
Doubling the tax is an easy way of computing a 17% tip. If you want to do the math yourself, 15-20% is also a good guideline for restaurants.
Here's a good place to begin answering your questions:
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...new-york-city/
Doubling the tax is an easy way of computing a 17% tip. If you want to do the math yourself, 15-20% is also a good guideline for restaurants.
Here's a good place to begin answering your questions:
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...new-york-city/
May 17th, 2011, 02:52 AM
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Many first time visitors like to stay around Times Square. I can't recommend staying there, but a lot of first timers like it. I would recommend staying in midtown, though, for your visit. You can take a look at the Algonquin, Iroquois, Sofitel, and other hotels in that area. These hotels are especially convenient if you're planning to attend a show.
The subways are very safe. This is 2011, not the New York City depicted in a 1970's movie. It's a diverse city and you will probably see and experience things that you won't in your hometown, but that's the point of travel, afterall.
The subways are very safe. This is 2011, not the New York City depicted in a 1970's movie. It's a diverse city and you will probably see and experience things that you won't in your hometown, but that's the point of travel, afterall.
May 17th, 2011, 02:55 AM
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My last paragraph sounds grumpy! Didn't intend to. Sorry! 
I just reread your post and saw the words 'autumn' and 'budget' included in your question. Unfortunately, these two words don't always go together. Are you staying in a hotel? What's the budget?
I just reread your post and saw the words 'autumn' and 'budget' included in your question. Unfortunately, these two words don't always go together. Are you staying in a hotel? What's the budget?
May 17th, 2011, 03:59 AM
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No worries, any help and advice is great. We are looking to go during my daughter's halfterm holiday for 4-5 days. That is in mid October. We will have a tight budget, that is why I want to plan for it now. I am saving every week but am hoping to save money by staying with an airbnb host and not in a hotel. We live in central London and so are pretty streetwise but I had heard still that some areas were not great to stay in, as there are in London. I will be buying a guidebook and we know we want to see MOMA and also the main touristy things but I was hoping for some other more off the beaten track places to see that any New Yorkers would know of just as I know some great places in London that may or may not be in a mainstream tourist guide, like quirky cafes/shops. We are not intending to go to any shows but my daughter wants to go to 5th Avenue and Tiffany's and she wants to buy Converse boots and jeans!
May 17th, 2011, 04:10 AM
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NYC in the Autumn is fantastic.
As stated, for a central location the area around Times Square is a good option. However, Manhattan is actually relatively small so finding a hotel in Midtown East (as many of the hotel sites will use as a designation) is just as good an option.
You do not indicate what budget means, but when I've needed to stay overnight in the city I've had good success finding a decent rate at both the Dylan Hotel and the Fitzpatrick Hotel which are in the area around Grand Central Station.
If you're looking for a no frills hotel in a nice area, the Pod Hotel on East 51st is just down the street from a subway station. It's also on the same street as a police and fire station so if safety is a concern, that's a pretty good location.
Aduchamp is right when he said "And the NYC undercover cops are excellent they are very difficult to make." I saw a high school classmate on a subway and he looked to be down on his luck and intoxicated. Went over to him thinking I'd try and help him and he whispered in my ear that he was an undercover cop.
As stated, for a central location the area around Times Square is a good option. However, Manhattan is actually relatively small so finding a hotel in Midtown East (as many of the hotel sites will use as a designation) is just as good an option.
You do not indicate what budget means, but when I've needed to stay overnight in the city I've had good success finding a decent rate at both the Dylan Hotel and the Fitzpatrick Hotel which are in the area around Grand Central Station.
If you're looking for a no frills hotel in a nice area, the Pod Hotel on East 51st is just down the street from a subway station. It's also on the same street as a police and fire station so if safety is a concern, that's a pretty good location.
Aduchamp is right when he said "And the NYC undercover cops are excellent they are very difficult to make." I saw a high school classmate on a subway and he looked to be down on his luck and intoxicated. Went over to him thinking I'd try and help him and he whispered in my ear that he was an undercover cop.
May 17th, 2011, 05:58 AM
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There is a stretch of Broadway between 8th Street and Canal Street, where your daughter will be overhwelmed with stores selling jeans and sneakers. It is about 14 blocks and it always filled with European travelers looking for bargains.
There is also a section of young designer owned stores between Avenue A and Second Ave from East Ninth to East 12 St, but those are more expensive. You will probably like walking around that neighborhood any way. It is the best food value area in the city with just about every type of restaurant. It is called the East Village. There is a large Latino population, Eastern Europeans, and many, many wannabe and accomplished artitsts, writers, actors, and musicians.
There is also a section of young designer owned stores between Avenue A and Second Ave from East Ninth to East 12 St, but those are more expensive. You will probably like walking around that neighborhood any way. It is the best food value area in the city with just about every type of restaurant. It is called the East Village. There is a large Latino population, Eastern Europeans, and many, many wannabe and accomplished artitsts, writers, actors, and musicians.
May 17th, 2011, 06:50 AM
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"Autumn" and "Budget Travel" don't mix very well in NYC. A typical hotel room with two beds at that time of the year will be pretty expensive (I'd estimate over $250 to begin with). There are some ways you can help decrease your hotel budget.
1. You could consider the Yotel. If you are from London, then you are familiar with the brand. There's a brand-new Yotel on 10th Avenue in Manhattan. It's pretty far west, and the rooms will be predictably tiny, but the prices seem extremely good for Manhattan. They are $149 as an introductory price, but expect them to be more like $199 by October.
2. Stay in Long Island City in Queens. This is exactly 1 subway stop from Midtown Manhattan and has some of the cheapest simple chain hotels in NYC. My cousin is staying in the Country Inn & Suites this week for $109 per night. That's really a great deal. It will be more expensive in the Fall, typically the most expensive time to visit. But there are other choices, including a Comfort Inn, and some others.
3. Check with a travel agent in the UK. You can often get a good deal on a NYC hotel from a travel agent. Consider booking an air/hotel package.
1. You could consider the Yotel. If you are from London, then you are familiar with the brand. There's a brand-new Yotel on 10th Avenue in Manhattan. It's pretty far west, and the rooms will be predictably tiny, but the prices seem extremely good for Manhattan. They are $149 as an introductory price, but expect them to be more like $199 by October.
2. Stay in Long Island City in Queens. This is exactly 1 subway stop from Midtown Manhattan and has some of the cheapest simple chain hotels in NYC. My cousin is staying in the Country Inn & Suites this week for $109 per night. That's really a great deal. It will be more expensive in the Fall, typically the most expensive time to visit. But there are other choices, including a Comfort Inn, and some others.
3. Check with a travel agent in the UK. You can often get a good deal on a NYC hotel from a travel agent. Consider booking an air/hotel package.
May 17th, 2011, 08:09 AM
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I just bid on Priceline and won the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square for $185 plus tax and fees for 2 nights in September. BetterBidding.com is your friend if you chosse to bid on Priceline!
May 17th, 2011, 08:49 AM
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MoMA is free on Friday evenings. Also free on Fridays is The Museum of American Folk Art (next to MoMA), although that will be closing soon not exactly sure when). The Met Museum and Museum of Natural History have a suggested fee but you can pay what you want. The Museum of Art and Design in Columbus Circle has pay what you want on Thursday evenings.
For budget eating, breakfast is easy, in most small delis and coffee carts, you can get coffee and a muffin or bagel, for just a few dollars. Lunch there's the various "papaya" places for hotdogs and papaya drinks, as well as the pizza places which are on almost every block. Also food and fruit carts are everywhere, and there's always the local Duane Reade store for you bottled water supply.
Dinner, with good research, there are lots of reasonable places to eat. Just wander around the E. Village, and you see all kinds of dining places.
Also menupages.com is a great resource to research restaurants. You can filter and sort but location, price and reviews.
For budget eating, breakfast is easy, in most small delis and coffee carts, you can get coffee and a muffin or bagel, for just a few dollars. Lunch there's the various "papaya" places for hotdogs and papaya drinks, as well as the pizza places which are on almost every block. Also food and fruit carts are everywhere, and there's always the local Duane Reade store for you bottled water supply.
Dinner, with good research, there are lots of reasonable places to eat. Just wander around the E. Village, and you see all kinds of dining places.
Also menupages.com is a great resource to research restaurants. You can filter and sort but location, price and reviews.
May 17th, 2011, 10:55 AM
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Bidding on Priceline is not an option if you need a room for 3 people. PL only guarantees a room with 1 bed for 2 people. Rather than focusing on a location, I think you should be looking at some hotel search engines and identifying hotels that might fit your budget. Mid Oct. is very pricey and US or UK school hols times are always pricey. You might have to consider staying just outside Manhattan if you can't find something in Manhattan that works for you. kayak.com quikbook.com oyster.com hotels.com are all good websites for searches.
May 17th, 2011, 11:35 AM
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If you don't mind hostels rather than a hotel, then you could stay at the hihostel (part of the YHA international network) located on the Upper West Side or at The Gershwin which is off 5th on 27th which is pretty nice
I got a deal for a room at the Gershwin on booking.com, for 3 nights for two people its costing me approx £220 inc tax but i did book that in feb and we don't travel till the end of june!
I got a deal for a room at the Gershwin on booking.com, for 3 nights for two people its costing me approx £220 inc tax
but i did book that in feb and we don't travel till the end of june!
May 17th, 2011, 09:53 PM
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All tourist ares of NYC are safe - even at night. Just don;t walk down bythe docks alone at 3 am.
As for airbnb - well you would have to find uot wher the places are. There are ares of the city that are either 1) not really safe and/or 2) at the end of hell and gone.
For a trip like this you will want to be in Manhattan - preferbly midtown - but I'm not sure yuo'll find airbnb there. Also - short -term rentals are illegal in Manhattan (unless someone wants to rent you a room in their multi-million dollar townhouse).
Also, there is now a crackdwon going on - the police are closing down illegal hostels (no proper permits or fire safety equipment and often way too many people in one room). Just be aware. And ask people her before booking anything - so you don;t end up in the Riverside Towers or the Marrakech.
Give us a budget and if there are 2 or 3 of you and people can advise.
As for airbnb - well you would have to find uot wher the places are. There are ares of the city that are either 1) not really safe and/or 2) at the end of hell and gone.
For a trip like this you will want to be in Manhattan - preferbly midtown - but I'm not sure yuo'll find airbnb there. Also - short -term rentals are illegal in Manhattan (unless someone wants to rent you a room in their multi-million dollar townhouse).
Also, there is now a crackdwon going on - the police are closing down illegal hostels (no proper permits or fire safety equipment and often way too many people in one room). Just be aware. And ask people her before booking anything - so you don;t end up in the Riverside Towers or the Marrakech.
Give us a budget and if there are 2 or 3 of you and people can advise.
May 18th, 2011, 02:47 AM
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We have booked The Inn on 23rd which is in Chelsea. They do have some rooms that can take 3 people but I'm not sure of the price when you want to go. It would be worth checking with them. www.innon23rd.com. It's Fodor's recommended in the New York guidebook. The decor looks a bit quirky but we aren't concerned about that. It's close to an underground station too.
May 18th, 2011, 03:26 AM
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cathies: The Inn on 23rd in Chelsea is so intriguing and not cookie cutter at all. Their rates aren't published: How much a night were you charged? I know rates fluctuate but I was curious if you paid $199.00 a night or $399.00 a night! Thanks.
May 18th, 2011, 03:50 AM
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Thanks to everyone for all your replies. There are only two of us travelling, my daughter and I and we would share a room. Thanks nytraveler for your info, I was really surprised as I am on airbnb in England. We were planning to find an airbnb host to stay with which was why I was asking just about areas to stay, now maybe we should revise our plans. I was optimistically hoping for around £100 per night for accomodation only.
Thanks fredandgingermad for your info. I will check that out, that would be a great price for us. We only really want a room to stay in that's clean and in a reasonable area. Are not intending to spend hardly any time there apart from sleeping!
Also the info about MoMA and menupages was great. I've heard so much about that museum I can't wait to go. Thanks so much for all your help and I will look into all the accomodation ideas! We're getting really excited!
Thanks fredandgingermad for your info. I will check that out, that would be a great price for us. We only really want a room to stay in that's clean and in a reasonable area. Are not intending to spend hardly any time there apart from sleeping!
Also the info about MoMA and menupages was great. I've heard so much about that museum I can't wait to go. Thanks so much for all your help and I will look into all the accomodation ideas! We're getting really excited!
May 18th, 2011, 04:13 AM
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If you find possible airbnb places tell us exactly where they are - street address and borough (county). Th eouter boroughs have some verypleasant residential areas and some that are up and coming. But there are also ares you wouldn't touch with a barge pole. And I have seen a couple of people reco staying in some of these areas - calling them multi-cultural, when in fact thye are actuall veryhigh crime.
New York is very safe in tourist areas - but there are still places you would not want to go.
New York is very safe in tourist areas - but there are still places you would not want to go.
