Brits to NYC for 4 days - Report
Feb 12th, 2003, 01:34 PM
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Brits to NYC for 4 days - Report
Left Heathrow 2.5 hours late on the early (0825) flight, due to blizzard the night before. (British Airports Authority to blame. Our BA captain made it very aware just who was to blame and how he felt about it without being unprofessional and slagging off BAA directly!) We made it into JFK just 2 hours late (at 1315) and since we had only hand luggage, we were on our way quickly.
Took a yellow cab with a flat rate of $35 (plus tip and tolls) to the Westin in Times Square. We got a discount, quite a considerable one, and though we were happy with the room and the service and the location, it is not a special hotel and really not worth the high rack rates. Add to that the THREE different taxes, and it makes NYC a very expensive place to stay.
First night - Ate at Agave in Greenwich Village. Kind of modern Texan food. Nice atmosphere. Good food. Very good service and not too busy. Mains about $16. Very tired, so then went to bed.
We got around mainly by Subway, using Metro card fun passes. Very easy and very good value.
Next day we did a self-guided walking tour of SoHo and the Village, always looking up at the lovely buildings. Since we had both been to NYC a few times each before, we were just happy to potter about, looking at the people, drinking in cafes etc. Had a late breakfast at Grey Dog's Cafe (?) in Greenwich village which was excellent and full of locals. We got the hint from a very friendly man who offered us help as we did battle with a rather useless map. Thanks to that man! That night we met a Brit friend in the lower East side, I think, at a bar called Rue B (good atmosphere, very local but welcoming. ICE COLD BEER - fabulous!) To eat we went next door to Radio Perfecto, which was about 80% full but we didn't have to wait too long. Good atmosphere - the theme is the golden age of radio, and all over the restaurant are old posters for radios and old radios themselves. Service good, food OK to good and not at all expensive (mains about $12 or so.)
More mooching around on Sunday, followed by brunch at Balthazar. Great to meet 2 friends and their new baby, who was completely at home in this lively bistro. IMHO, it was too busy and the food was good but overpriced, but I know it was a very NYC to do.
On a whim, we got tix at half-price from the Times Square ticket booth for Cabaret. Very, very good performance at Studio 54. Since we were right at the front, we had a, ahem, bird's eye view of all the lovely lads and lasses of the Cabaret chorus, who would come onto the stage to entertain us before the show proper. One comely lady blew cigar smoke into my face during one rather fruity number. A muscular male thrust his saxophone (very shiny) into my face. I cooled myself down with a nice Sam Adams that had been brought to our cabaret-style seat and tables, complete with 1920s style red table lamp.
Final day was spent shopping, preceded by a breakfast at Le Gamin cafe in Chelsea. We had been looking for Empire diner, which we found, but fancied something lighter than eggs, bacon etc.
Took a yellow cab with a flat rate of $35 (plus tip and tolls) to the Westin in Times Square. We got a discount, quite a considerable one, and though we were happy with the room and the service and the location, it is not a special hotel and really not worth the high rack rates. Add to that the THREE different taxes, and it makes NYC a very expensive place to stay.
First night - Ate at Agave in Greenwich Village. Kind of modern Texan food. Nice atmosphere. Good food. Very good service and not too busy. Mains about $16. Very tired, so then went to bed.
We got around mainly by Subway, using Metro card fun passes. Very easy and very good value.
Next day we did a self-guided walking tour of SoHo and the Village, always looking up at the lovely buildings. Since we had both been to NYC a few times each before, we were just happy to potter about, looking at the people, drinking in cafes etc. Had a late breakfast at Grey Dog's Cafe (?) in Greenwich village which was excellent and full of locals. We got the hint from a very friendly man who offered us help as we did battle with a rather useless map. Thanks to that man! That night we met a Brit friend in the lower East side, I think, at a bar called Rue B (good atmosphere, very local but welcoming. ICE COLD BEER - fabulous!) To eat we went next door to Radio Perfecto, which was about 80% full but we didn't have to wait too long. Good atmosphere - the theme is the golden age of radio, and all over the restaurant are old posters for radios and old radios themselves. Service good, food OK to good and not at all expensive (mains about $12 or so.)
More mooching around on Sunday, followed by brunch at Balthazar. Great to meet 2 friends and their new baby, who was completely at home in this lively bistro. IMHO, it was too busy and the food was good but overpriced, but I know it was a very NYC to do.
On a whim, we got tix at half-price from the Times Square ticket booth for Cabaret. Very, very good performance at Studio 54. Since we were right at the front, we had a, ahem, bird's eye view of all the lovely lads and lasses of the Cabaret chorus, who would come onto the stage to entertain us before the show proper. One comely lady blew cigar smoke into my face during one rather fruity number. A muscular male thrust his saxophone (very shiny) into my face. I cooled myself down with a nice Sam Adams that had been brought to our cabaret-style seat and tables, complete with 1920s style red table lamp.
Final day was spent shopping, preceded by a breakfast at Le Gamin cafe in Chelsea. We had been looking for Empire diner, which we found, but fancied something lighter than eggs, bacon etc.
Feb 12th, 2003, 01:48 PM
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I agree that New York is a very expensive place to stay, and I'm glad you got a discount. But in all honesty, I think when you compare apples to apples, between London and New York, you'll actually find the comparable hotels less expensive in New York than in London!! And I think it is generally easier to get special rates at major hotels in New York than it is in London. The real sticker shock does come when they add all those taxes on to the total though!! But I'm including those in my comparison.
