A little more help on NYC Manhattan hotels....
Jan 12th, 2008, 12:19 PM
#21
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I'm just a little curious what your goals are for NYC if you spend one night. When would you be arriving and leaving? I guess, like you, I'd have a hard time justifying an expensive night in NYC unless I had at least a full day to enjoy the city. If your trip requires you to leave by noon or not arrive until evening, it hardly makes sense to me to stay there at all. In fact, if I may be so bold, why are you going to New York at all, and are you flying there or what? I missed this thing about Boston, so now am curious. Are you flying to New York to get to Boston?
Jan 12th, 2008, 01:06 PM
#22
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Patrick, the OP is visiting Boston for a few days and was thinking of fitting in a day trip to NYC. But he avoids public transit when at all possible. IIRC, he has a nonrefundable package deal (airfare, hotel, car) via Priceline to stay in the Boston suburb of Danvers, about 20 miles north of the city.
Jan 12th, 2008, 01:21 PM
#23
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Ah so this is a trip to Boston area, and they'd like to do a day trip to NYC and possibly stay over if cheap enough? So they will be coming into NYC by bus to Port Authority and leaving the same way? OK. Now I get it.
Jan 12th, 2008, 08:22 PM
#24
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Hi Magnum. You may have a problem with prices for the dates you want. I don't know much about NYC hotels, but on checking the Econo Lodge, the prices rise for the weekend and then rise further for the 17th and 18th, presumably for St Pat's day. They don't drop back to the standard rate until the 19th, which may be outside your timeframe. I assume other hotels would do similar with their rates.
Th 13th: $144 + taxes
Fr 14th: $171+
Sa 15th: $189+
Su 16th: $153+
Mo 17th: $225+
Tu 18th: $225+
We 19th: $144+
Th 13th: $144 + taxes
Fr 14th: $171+
Sa 15th: $189+
Su 16th: $153+
Mo 17th: $225+
Tu 18th: $225+
We 19th: $144+
Jan 12th, 2008, 10:46 PM
#25
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The rates speckles posted for the Econolodge seem to be representative for those days. So, you may want to consider Sunday night or Wednesday night. The Econolodge is rather new and receives very favorable reviews on Trip Advisor. It would be ideally located for your excursion.
Port Authority is on 8th at 42nd, so it would be a walk of only five short blocks (about 15 minutes) to the Econolodge, which is on 47th, just west of 8th (where you could drop off your bags, but probably not check in yet). From there, it's just another block and a half up 8th to catch your tour bus.
I, personally, would wait until arriving in Boston and checking the weather forecast to finalize your plans to go to NYC. If you book through the Econolodge website, you may cancel up until the day before check-in.
If there's snow in the forecast, you may want to cancel, or select another day. Or, if the temps will not be in the 30's or above during the day. It's possible to dress so as to be comfortable while out and about, but it's windy on those open top double decker buses, on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, and on the ferry to Liberty Island (and you'll want to be able to enjoy the views outside) along with on the island. If temps are below the 30's, you'll be miserable.
You can download a map of the tour route
http://www.citysightsny.com/new/citysightsMap.pdf
As you can see, most streets are not labeled, so it's essential to have a more detailed street map along so you can find your way back to the bus stop or an alternate stop.
Note that the route is a loop and travels in only one direction, so it would be most efficient to "hop off" in order. Visit the Empire State Building first, then the World Trade Center site, then take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
Fortunately, because of the new daylight savings schedule, sunset will be around 7PM.
So, my advice would be to get off at the World Trade Center site and walk around first. Then, it would likely be more efficient to just walk to the Battery Park (10-20 minutes), rather than wait for the next tour bus to come along. They tell you it's every 10-30 minutes, but it could be longer. Then, take the ferry to Liberty Island. The ferries leave every half hour, and they're not likely to be filled in March on a weekday (but could be). Be sure to ask the drive on your tour bus the time of the last pickup from Battery Park. Usually it's around 6PM. Obviously, if you catch the last bus back to Midtown, you will not be able to "hop off" again on the route, unless you want to get yourself back to the hotel on your own.
Assuming you're on the bus by 10:30-11, spend an hour at ground zero, and catch the next ferry, spend an hour on Liberty Island, you should be able to get back to Battery Park between 3 and 4 or without rushing.
My recommendation would be to continue on the tour and get off at 34th/1st and walk over to the Empire State Building (20 minute walk).
At this point, you'll probably want to stop along the way for a late lunch or snack before heading to the elevators at the Empire State Building. Hopefully, your tour includes a ticket and not a voucher that has to be exchanged at the ticket booth, so waiting in only one line will be required.
If you're able to time it right, you can get yourself to the top of the Empire State Building ahead of sunset, so you can watch the dark fall over the city and the lights come on all over - just magical!
Of course, this means you will probably miss the last tour bus back to your hotel, but you can take a taxi, or a city bus or the subway, back to your hotel.
In the alternative, you could stop at the Empire State Building first, if you don't care about the views at night.
I realize you're on a budget, but I would recommend NOT rushing all over to ensure a "free" ride back. The rest of the loop includes United Nations, the Waldorf, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center. You can easily walk around Rockefeller Center, etc., from the hotel if you stay over.
It also wouldn't be a tragedy if you're unable to stay overnight. You will have seen a lot and missed a lot either way.
Note that there's a magnificent restaurant with reasonable prices, Metro Marche, right at Port Authority, with entrances on the southwest corner of 41st/8th. Food is excellent! Wonderful place anytime for a meal. (See their website for full menu with prices.) Service is swift. But, if you don't want to take the time for a sit-down meal when you arrive, they have an amazing "take away" counter. Or, there's a Starbucks at 770 Eight Ave (between 47th/48th) with a variety of snacks to go with your coffee.
Good luck with your planning! Hope all goes well and the weather is not nasty!
Port Authority is on 8th at 42nd, so it would be a walk of only five short blocks (about 15 minutes) to the Econolodge, which is on 47th, just west of 8th (where you could drop off your bags, but probably not check in yet). From there, it's just another block and a half up 8th to catch your tour bus.
I, personally, would wait until arriving in Boston and checking the weather forecast to finalize your plans to go to NYC. If you book through the Econolodge website, you may cancel up until the day before check-in.
If there's snow in the forecast, you may want to cancel, or select another day. Or, if the temps will not be in the 30's or above during the day. It's possible to dress so as to be comfortable while out and about, but it's windy on those open top double decker buses, on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, and on the ferry to Liberty Island (and you'll want to be able to enjoy the views outside) along with on the island. If temps are below the 30's, you'll be miserable.
You can download a map of the tour route
http://www.citysightsny.com/new/citysightsMap.pdf
As you can see, most streets are not labeled, so it's essential to have a more detailed street map along so you can find your way back to the bus stop or an alternate stop.
Note that the route is a loop and travels in only one direction, so it would be most efficient to "hop off" in order. Visit the Empire State Building first, then the World Trade Center site, then take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
Fortunately, because of the new daylight savings schedule, sunset will be around 7PM.
So, my advice would be to get off at the World Trade Center site and walk around first. Then, it would likely be more efficient to just walk to the Battery Park (10-20 minutes), rather than wait for the next tour bus to come along. They tell you it's every 10-30 minutes, but it could be longer. Then, take the ferry to Liberty Island. The ferries leave every half hour, and they're not likely to be filled in March on a weekday (but could be). Be sure to ask the drive on your tour bus the time of the last pickup from Battery Park. Usually it's around 6PM. Obviously, if you catch the last bus back to Midtown, you will not be able to "hop off" again on the route, unless you want to get yourself back to the hotel on your own.
Assuming you're on the bus by 10:30-11, spend an hour at ground zero, and catch the next ferry, spend an hour on Liberty Island, you should be able to get back to Battery Park between 3 and 4 or without rushing.
My recommendation would be to continue on the tour and get off at 34th/1st and walk over to the Empire State Building (20 minute walk).
At this point, you'll probably want to stop along the way for a late lunch or snack before heading to the elevators at the Empire State Building. Hopefully, your tour includes a ticket and not a voucher that has to be exchanged at the ticket booth, so waiting in only one line will be required.
If you're able to time it right, you can get yourself to the top of the Empire State Building ahead of sunset, so you can watch the dark fall over the city and the lights come on all over - just magical!
Of course, this means you will probably miss the last tour bus back to your hotel, but you can take a taxi, or a city bus or the subway, back to your hotel.
In the alternative, you could stop at the Empire State Building first, if you don't care about the views at night.
I realize you're on a budget, but I would recommend NOT rushing all over to ensure a "free" ride back. The rest of the loop includes United Nations, the Waldorf, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center. You can easily walk around Rockefeller Center, etc., from the hotel if you stay over.
It also wouldn't be a tragedy if you're unable to stay overnight. You will have seen a lot and missed a lot either way.
Note that there's a magnificent restaurant with reasonable prices, Metro Marche, right at Port Authority, with entrances on the southwest corner of 41st/8th. Food is excellent! Wonderful place anytime for a meal. (See their website for full menu with prices.) Service is swift. But, if you don't want to take the time for a sit-down meal when you arrive, they have an amazing "take away" counter. Or, there's a Starbucks at 770 Eight Ave (between 47th/48th) with a variety of snacks to go with your coffee.
Good luck with your planning! Hope all goes well and the weather is not nasty!
