Althought we have been over much of the world we have never into NYC.

IF we have a choice which would be the best airport to land in since we are to be at the Hyatt Grand.??

Would a shuttle service (fr' instance BlueVan) be the best way to get into town or would a taxi be better? How much?? Cash or VISA ?

How much should we budget for eating?? We do not want, or need ***** but we don't want Joe's Greasy Spoon either.

We live in SoCal and usually wind spending
$35$40 for dinner. :-B

The closest airport to the city is Laguardia.
If there are two or more of you, the best way is probably a cab.
As for meals, yes, you can eat dinner for $35-40 a person. That won't get you in to a lot of A-list places, but you'll do okay with that budget.

I don't think any of the cross country flights land at LGA. Of the 2 remaining airports, JFK would be your best bet staying at the Hyatt. The Hyatt is directly above Grand Central Station. There's the NY Airport Shuttle bus that goes directly to Grand Central and actually drops you at Park and 42st almost across from your hotel. It costs $15/person or $27 roundtrip.

A taxi from JFK costs a flat fare of $45 (FROM Jfk to Manhattan)plus toll & tip so the total winds up being $60-65 for up to 4 people. You need cash. They're evidently testing credit cards but for now, most only take cash. (don't use Super Shuttle that takes you to hotels---it will take forever). There's also train service, but given your hotel location, you'd have to change trains twice. The bus is easier.

If you can fly Jet Blue, I highly recommend them. Have done the San Diego/JFK flight several times. They also go out of Long Beach.

$35/40 for dinner for 2? Hard to do in NYC but not impossible. Per person it's easy.

Thanks

I meant $35 - $40 for two I guess that I'm living in a dream world. (We're both children of the Depression) but we can do that here. Oh well

We have lots of FF on UAL and hope to get business class.

Because of the reason for the trip we will have lots of luggageamp;

Although NY has a couple of notorious restaurants that could cost $350 to $400 for two, it also has an abundance of great places to eat that would be within your budget.

One of my favorites is B&H, which is a hole in the wall soup and sandwich spot on 2nd Ave below St. Marks. I've had great meals there for under $5 (the potato soup is my favorite).

Even coffee shops that look like "greasy spoons" can be excellent ethnic restaurants. For example, there are a number of good ukranian restaurants (many in the East Village).

You should also try one of the authentic delis (unless you're vegitarians), such as Katz's or Berger's.

Even several of the local watering holes have reasonably priced and decent food.

Yes, you can actually eat in NYC for $35-40 for two.

If you eliminate alcohol, you have a huge savings.

Try ethnic cuisines for cheaper prices--all the Indian restaurants on E. 6th St have $6.95 complete dinners! (Yes, I know, not high cuisine, but you get an appetizer, soup, entree, and dessert for $6.95 and all the Christmas lights, tinsel, and sitar music you want.)

Leave central midtown (precisely where you are staying) and the prices go way down.

Some restaurants have early-bird after-nine prix fixe menus that are good values.

Save money by sharing an appetizer.

You can eat for that if you don't drink and if you stick to ethnic food and casual places. Here's a guide for cheap dining (and other things)

nymetro.com/cheap

Inside Grand Central are a number of good inexpensive places. Two Boots has great pizza. Junior's is an old fashioned deli famous for their cheesecake. Pershing Square is right across from your hotel and is not pricey. Good for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There are a lot of restaurants that have 3 course prix fixe dinners in the $20-30/person range.

On the flights, I shouldn't "butt in" but I personally wouldn't use ff points for business class cross country if you're "world travelers." I'd save them for a more expensive route.

With lots of luggage, take a cab and be dropped off at the front door of the hotel.

I find it hard to believe that you've been all over the world and still expect to get away with dinner for 2 in the $35-40 range in an expensive metropolis like New York.
Sure you can eat for that amount, but fine dining it ain't.

I agree that $35-40 for two people is very hard in NYC. I wouldn't expect to eat at any place with a tablecloth on that budget. Nevertheless, you can eat well. A few suggestions for cheap, but great NYC meals:

Pongsri Thailand restaurant in Chinatown
Joe's Shanghai in Chinatown
Nha Trang in Chinatown
Virgil's BBQ in Times Sq.
Afghan Kebab House in Times Sq.
Hallo Berlin near Times Sq.
Mandoo Bar in Koreatown
Le Pain Quotidien (all over)
'wichcraft near Union Sq.
Grimaldi's Pizza in Brooklyn or Lombardi's Pizza in Nolita
Have fun!

The Village Voice, New York Magazine and Time Out New York have all had recent features on the best cheap restaurants in NYC (but they mean $25 per person). I would look on their web sites for some additional ideas.

Keep in mind that if you stay away from midtown (upper west side, lower east side, village, etc) and don;t drink there are tons of good casuale neighborhood places where you can have a pleasant dinner for $40 or not much more. Or you can even do some coffee shops for lunch and use the money for one or two nicer dinners.

Many thanks to all><.

I quite agree about use of FF but we have reached the point where we use packaged tours for overseas.
We have never tried to make our tours gourmet tours. Just a place to get good food and get off our feet and get enough to energy to be tourists.:-B