jlab89

Hello everyone,

I know I could google this but I would like to hear from people who really know the city/aren't just tourists.

I am going to be in New York for the first time (I'm a huge fan of America, but usually visit the Deep South) for 4 nights mid April (Thurs - Mon).

I want to see the touristy things like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, but would be grateful of...

1. Recommendations of what area to stay in, and any hotels. Budget is £600 for 4 nights ($900) As it's NY and our first trip we'd like somewhere swanky.

2. Recommendations of places to eat- I want to go away from the tourist trap places and want some real authentic NY eateries within easy reach.

3. Whether it's worth a trip to Jersey Gardens for more reasonable/affordable shopping?

Any helps would be amazing
Thanks

tuscanlifeedit

I'm afraid that $225.00 is not enough per night for a "swanky" place. Actually, that is more like a low to low-mid price room in NYC. However, you can certainly find a room for that price.

There are numerous (myriad) threads here on NYC rooms. Plus others will chime in, I'm sure. If I want to spend that much, I usually look for a blind 4 star on Hotwire, and generally get something in the Empire State Bldg. neighborhood. I've also bid on 4 stars in that area on Priceline.

NYC has so many visitors that most restaurants will have tourists in them. What's your price range? What kind of food do you like?

For more affordable shopping in the city, I like Century 21.

abram

With such a short visit, I wouldn't go to Jersey gardens. There's lots of shopping IN NYC. Department stores, like Macy's, are always having sales.
www.menupages.com is a site I like for searching for restaurants by location, cuisine, price--and you can read menus & reviews.

nytraveler

You don't say how many you are - but if for a couple a "swanky" hotel in NYC is going to be more like $500-$600 per night. (Best places in town will be close to $1K per night.)

You should be able to find something decent for your rate if you shop around since April rates are still fairly low. If there are more than 2 of you (usual configuration in NYC hotel room is one double of queen bed)your rates will go up.

One place you might want to look at s the Newton on the upper west side. This is a reliable budget property in a great mid/upscale neighborhood - tight on top of the subway to get you around the city, near Central Park and many museums and tons of mid/inexpensive places to eat.

For restaurant recos you will need to provide a specific budget in $, what you expect it to cover (just main course or whole meal with wine, tax and tip) and what types of food you like/dislike.

To see SoL you MUST get tickets in advance (it may be too late) to get into the Statue. Go to the web site of the National Parks Service and see hat tickets area available. And remember to get to South Ferry at least 45 minutes before your ferry is scheduled to leave, since there is airline type security to get on. Expect this - ferries, SOL, Ellis Island and back to Manhattan - to take at least 5 hours.

I would do Top of the Rock instead of ESB - IMHO better views and no lines - you can reserve a time in advance and walk right in.

Ad stores in Manhattan are continually having sales - as well as Century 21 discounts - Jersey gardens is not that great and not worth the time.

BigRuss

>

That made me laugh. There's no metropolitan area in the US or the UK where $225 per for a hotel is "swanky." That's 3-4x as true in New York City, where you won't get an average Holiday Inn for that.

As for discounts: What are you seeking? NYC should be fairly inexpensive as a shopper from Europe because the US as a whole is. If you want electronics, go to Best Buy because J&R closed. UK electronics cost far more than in the US. If for clothing or fragrances, Century Twenty-one works fine, and most of the stores in and around Macy's (including Macy's itself) are not that pricey especially compared to their UK equivalents - the costly stuff is on 5th Avenue in the 50s or Madison in the 80s.

For books, go to the Strand (used) or Barnes & Noble. US books cost the same or less in $ than you pay in £.

Restos = what do you eat and what will you spend? Add 25% to the food/drink total for tax and tip. Also, this depends upon where you are because local restaurants depend upon your locale, just like in London. The tourist trap places tend to be in and near West 57th Street. There's not that much tourist trap dining in NYC generally because people live and work throughout Manhattan. There is no central "tourist area": you're dealing with a city on par with London - NYC is far larger than any city in the Western Hemisphere north of the Tropic of Cancer.

IMDonehere

The Strand also sales a great deal of new books.

jlab89

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions.

There are 2 of us staying in NY. We have actually found a few hotels within budget on Expedia (with their special rates). Considering booking The Sherburne NYC (Affinia Hotel) in Murray Hill (Not 'swanky'... but looks clean and a nice 4*). This is coming in at $950 inc. all taxes for the 4 nights. Does anyone know what the Murray Hill area is like?

SOL is sold out But we will book the ferry tour this weekend. Thanks also for the suggestions of Top of the Rock. Can you pre-book tickets for ESB? if not, and if the que is ridiculous we will head to T of the R instead. I hadn't heard of this place, so great to know

Regarding the shopping- I've spent a bit of time in Texas/Florida so was looking for a similar outlet mall type place that you'd find down South. You're right though about Macys's having sales, and Century 21 looks great- We'll stop by there. I'd heard Jersey Gardens was more 'normal everyday' shopping, rather than newest Collections/straight of the catwalk that I imagine you find in NYC. I just want some Abercrombie/American Eagle/MAC bargains! (Can you tell I'm British!) but if Jersey Gardens takes a while to get to then we won't go. (I thought it would only take an hour or so to get there).

Finally, restaurants... I love food!! and just wanted some recommendations of anywhere we shouldn't miss. Not posh- I'm sure 2 nights we'll be looking to spend $150 on dinner (for 2), and other night's we'll grab a burger/pizza... Throw any suggestions at me!

Thanks again for the advice so far.

tchoiniere

Another reason for top of the rock is you get a great view of the Empire State building.

doug_stallings

The Shelburne is a nice hotel in a good area (Starbucks and Pret are just up the street, and there's a good burger restaurant in the hotel). There are several other decent restaurants close by within walking distance, and you're a few blocks from Grand Central for easy access to the subway. I'd jump on that.

Good local restaurants are on Third Avenue, and if you book I can give you some specific recommendations for French, Greek, and even Mexican if you want it. Murray Hill is a big going-out area for young people in their late 20s, and the bars there are very popular.

It takes about an hour to get to Jersey Gardens by bus from the Port Authority, but it's truly not worth the trip. But if you are determined, then go. Count on 20 minutes to reach the Port Authority from the hotel, an hour each way, so 3 total hours of traveling if you are lucky and just 2/3 of a day wasted to get a 20% discount on A&F you could have gotten from the store if they are running a sale. The clothing at all these places will be relative bargains for you since you are used to paying UK prices. You'll find if things are on sale, you'll pay about 70% of what you pay in the UK even when things aren't on sale. Just be aware that the companies that you mention have their largest stores in the US right on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan within 2 or 3 blocks of each other. NYC is NOT all swanky up-to-the-minute fashion. We have all the mainstream stores, too, including Top Shop, A&F, American Eagle, Gap, Banana Republic. They're just not located in malls but rather in freestanding stores. That's why no one gets your insistence on visiting a mall.

You can pre-book the ESB, and if you really want to go, that's what you should do. You don't have to pre-book the Staten Island Ferry, which is a free commuter ferry and gets pretty close. But if you really desperately want to land feet on the island, then by all means take the Statue of Liberty Ferry, but it will take a full day. Please try to book first thing in the morning because you have to arrive an hour ahead, then go through a lot of security and lines just to get on the ferry. If you do not pre-book, then the wait is about 2+ hours even before security.

Underhill

Look for hotel deals on booking.com. We did very well there.

IMDonehere

I used to go to a quarterly meeting at the Shelbourne, they are part of a good organization and there are good burgers in the bar/restaurant on the first floor.

Other good burger places:

Brindle Room
Paul's Da Burger Joint (You will be the only tourist there.)
Northern Spy with fries cooked in duck fat

People will recommend Shake Shack. They are fine nit just the spectacular burgers other claim.

Lexma90

We stayed at the Shelburne on our most recent visit to NYC, and we've stayed in Murray Hill several times. It's close to Grand Central Station for the subway, and several useful bus lines (at least for what we like to do and see). It's more residential (in a big-city way) and quieter than the places closer to Times Square, but if you want to visit Times Square, it's not far away.

If you want a real NYC deli experience in the area, go to 2nd Ave Deli, at 162 E 33rd St. We've also eaten at Sarge's Deli, 548 3rd Ave.

Black and white cookies originated in NYC; we get them from Hot and Crusty Bagel Bakery, which has a location at Grand Central Station.

jlab89

Hi all,

W've booked The Westin Grand Central which was on offer, and totalled $915 for a deluxe room. It's not far from the Shelburne so we are thinking of checking out Pauls Da Burger on the first night (Thanks IMDonehere) and great to know there's a local Pret/Starbucks.

Any recommendations for breakfast around there?

We've pulled together a brief itinerary:
Thurs Eve:
Check in at hotel. Check out local area.

Fri:
Staten Island Ferry & Open Top Bus Tour
Eve: Gig on Broadway

Sat:
-Shopping (Macys and in central NY). Possibly ESB if not on Friday)
Eve: NY Mets Game

Sun:
Sightseeing - Top of the Rock/ 9/11 Memorial
Eve: Nice meal out (Recommendations please.. somewhere nice for around $150 all in- perhaps Italian!?)

Mon:
Anything we want to do on the last day (Maybe Jersey Gardens if Sat's shopping doesn't go well)
22:00 Flight back to UK

Thanks again for all the advice

Can't wait to get over there now we've finally booked a hotel

musicfan

DD and I stayed at that hotel a couple of years ago and loved it! A couple blocks away is a Le Pain Quotidian and we had breakfast there both mornings...we (obviously) liked it...mimosas! And nice breakfast pastries, etc. There might also be some possibilities at Grand Central Terminal just across the street.

IMDonehere

Have fun.

doug_stallings

Just to be clear, the Westin Grand Central isn't that close to the Shelburne, so I'd probably recommend mostly completely different places to go. There's a Starbucks on 42nd Street just west of 3rd Avenue. And while you could go to the Pret on Lexington and 41st, you may find the one across from Grand Central at Lexington between 42nd and 43rd more convenient. There is a good bagel place on Lexington between 40th and 41st.