New York on Budget (mid - late May)
 

We are planning a trip to NYC in May. Flying for the three of us from Halifax to NYC will be approximately $1500. Because of exchange rate hoping to keep costs down. Right now it looks like it will cost approximately $2,500 - $3,000 Cdn. for a three night stay, which is more than I anticipated, but we really want to make this trip. Is anyone familiar with The Red Roof Inn? I was quoted a rate of $109 per night, which seems very good (approx. $150 Cdn including taxes). How much is a cab or limo ride from LaGuardia to 32nd St? I've heard good things on this forum about the Apple Greeters, but need more info. Where do we find them, how much are they and are they tipped, etc. Wondering about the weather. Is that a rainy period? Have many questions. Any advice on or suggestions would be appreciated.

Big Apple Greeters<BR>(www.bigapplegreeter.org) is a FREE service--people are volunteers and do it for the love of the city.<BR> <BR>NYC gets rain fairly evenly throughout the year. May weather is variable (as is April-- (last week we had several 90+ degree F days, now it's more like 50) Check the weather websites for a few days before your trip to get a better idea.<BR><BR>Taxi should be from about $20-$25. I can't give you more detail since I've never gone specifically to that hotel, but it is a metered (not fixed) rate and will depend on traffic, which bridge or tunnel the driver uses (0$ or $3.50) etc, but I thought an approximate idea would help.Airport Busses or shuttle services will be more expensive if there are 3 of you, so taxi really is the only way to go (public busses and subways are cheap--only $1.50 for each of you--but extremely cumbersome and really not worth consideration unless you have lots of time and no luggage)

A lot of people told us to try priceline.com but, they only guarantee a room for two people so, we ended up booking a room with Super 8. It is located at 59 W46th St. continental breakfast was included for $107.00 US a night. It was a small hotel, but very clean and comfortable. It was very close to Times Square and between 5th and 6th Ave. There was also a Comfort Inn near by that looked very nice also. The phone number for the Super 8 is 212-719-2300. This hotel was formly known as the Quality Inn but had a name change the first of April. We used the Airport Super Shuttle and the round trip ticket cost us $17.00 US. An excellant place to eat is the Galaxy Cafe located on the corner of 46th St and 9th Ave. We ended up eating there 3 times, the Saturday & Sunday brunch is wonderful. Lots of local people eat there.

supershuttle is $17 r/t PER PERSON. Nova is traveling with 2 others so a taxi would be about the same and more convenient (no waiting to pick up and discharge other passengers in the van--that can take over an hour extra, if you're as unlucky as I was)

I've had some luck with priceline.com for hotels in New York--got a 4 star in midtown for my visiting family for $95/night. You can call to see if a 3rd person can be allowed in the room, but only after booking it, so I agree that that might be risky (but worth it if it works). However, you might want to try it for your flights--I just looked over at www.biddingfortravel.com and noticed that someone got LGA-YHZ for less than $200 USD for travel in July. It might work.<BR><BR>Good luck, and enjoy our beautiful city!

I just returned from a 10 day trip staying half a block from Red Roof on 32nd. Feel free to email me with any questions.

Thanks so much for all your replies! I think we will contact the Big Apple Greeters, what a brilliant idea - sounds too good to be true. We're considering all your suggestions, places to eat, etc., too. Thanks again.

I am from Florida and 5 of us are flying into NYC for $145.00 per person. We searched the internet alot to find this great price but finally found it at jetblue.com. We also found a hotel suite at Howard Johnson for 189.99 per night! All of the above was booked for Memorial Day weekend also. Try expedia.com for some good rates on travel packages. Have fun.

I stayed at the Red Roof for two nights during March and really liked it. The hotel is very convenient to subway stations and bus stops and has a lot of 24 hour Korean places around it, which is great for late-night dining. I would stay again.

We've been able to get reservations at the Red Roof Inn and have decided to stay 4 nights. Too excited!! Thanks for your posts. Melinda and Iluvny, my son wants to know how tall the hotel building is (he likes tall buildings), and I'd like to know if the rooms are fairly soundproof. What was the continental breakfast like - enough to sustain us for a few hours?

Hate to break it to you Nova, but $109 US hasn't been approximately $150 Canadian for a long time. It is closer to $172 Canadian with current exchange rates. Add to that the 13.25% hotel tax plus $2/day NYC occupancy tax and you're talking almost $200 Cdn/night.

Nova:<BR><BR>I usually stay a nearer the other end of the block, so I can't give you specifics on the Red Roof. However, Macy's and Manhattan Mall are just a block or two away and there is lots of other shopping in that area. You are also not a far walk from Times Square.<BR><BR>In the hotel I usually stay in, I find that the rooms are not all that soundproof and the building has perhaps 10 floors. I would imagine Red Roof to be similar in those respects. It is a newer building, however, so I could be wrong. The building itself isn't new, but it's been renovated since the hotel is farily new (under two years old I believe).<BR><BR>Have fun on your trip. NYC is a great place!<BR>

Ok. I live in NYC and I've read some of the things here and I want to clear them up. First taxi. Cabs from any of the three airports (LGA, JFK, NWK) are all $30 (or $40, might have gone up) flat fee to anypoint in Manhattan. We have so much traffic, without the flat fee, tourists would pay too much of a range for the cab fair. I think if there are three of you, it is the way to go because even taking a charter bus is $10 one way (but going back home, I totally suggest it, either catch the bus at Port Authority or Grand Central because you will never get to the airport for cheaper-there is no set fares going TO the airport in a taxi). Second, the Red Roof Inn. Its a tourist class hotel in NYC. That means its close to all, its clean, and in a safe place. It won't be fancy, the rooms won't be big, but for $109, what are you expecting? I think that's a good deal.

Just for the record:<BR><BR>I paid $35 plus tolls and tip from JFK to Manhattan a week or so ago. Yes, the rate into the city has gone up from $30 to $35.<BR><BR>

Nova:<BR><BR>I stayed at the Red Roof. Nice Hotel, great rate! People were friendly, rooms clean, nice size. It is on 32nd street which is Korean row. Nothing wrong with that! Near Empire State Bldg. For a good bargain lunch/dinner walk down to 31st and Madison for a nice 'red sauce' Italian resturant called "Casa Bella" It has great pies and wonderful salads and subs (hero's,Hoagies)..not sure what you call it in Canada! But the price is right!<BR>JOHN

Sorry...Bella Napoli is the resturant on 31st and Mad.<BR>JOHN

Thanks for the posts. We've never had Korean food - is it much different from Chinese? We are actually seriously considering taking the subway from LG to Manhatten. We arrive mid afternoon so won't mind spending an hour or so on subway if it saves us $ that we could put toward a nice meal. People have mixed feelings on this. Some say not to and others say to do it - it's worth the extra time to save. Will definately take bus or cab to the airport. N

If you have luggage other than a small rolling carry-on, the bus/subway routine may be inconvenient. As for Korean food... I'm an adventurpus eater and enjoy Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese very much (in that order). I'm not especially fond of Korean despite having tried it on a number of occasions. The pickled vegetables they sometimes serve as a complimentary appetizer are very tasty as is kim-chi. Korean BBQ is interesting as well but the other dishes I've tried have all been a bit too similar to one another. I have not tried it in Koreatown in NYC and it may well be different/better there.

There is no flat rate from LGA - it is metered will usually be under $30 to Manhattan. <BR><BR>JFK is now $35. EWR IS $34. <BR>(both plus tolls as is the metered rate from LGA.)<BR><BR>If you don't believe me you can go to the web site for the port authority (which runs the 3 airports) and click on an airport, go to getting to and it has taxi information for each. The web site also lists alternate means of getting to the airports, which may be helpful to some tourists, especially if you're traveling alone.<BR><BR>http://www.panynj.gov/aviation.html

more clarification: <BR>As nyc ([email protected]) mentioned, there IS a fixed rate from JFK to Manhattan, there IS NOT a fixed rate from LGA, but also<BR>there IS NOT one fixed rate from Newark to Manhattan. It goes by location, and according to that same website listed, can be from $34 up to $59 --all plus tips.<BR>(And, don't forget, there are no set fares TO the airports. JFK metered fare is likely to be higher than the set fare (which is why cabbies keep trying to have the set fare raised again), LGA about the same, and Newark probably comparable (it's metered fare plus $10 surcharge)but remember when you're<BR>going form Newark,you're taking a Newark NJ cab company, TO Newark, you're using a NYC cab company so don't expect the same fares)

Confirming there IS NO SET RATE to or from LaGuardia. <BR><BR>I went from Times Square to LGA for $18 plus toll and tip in FEb. All time record low fare. To 32nd st. will be a bit more.<BR><BR>Can't comment on taking the subway from the airport, but I strongly suggest it as a cost saving measure for getting around town. We used cabs for our 1st several trips to NYC because we were worried about safety and/or getting "lost". Finally braved it and are now hooked. It's much cheaper and not that hard. Buy a pass at one of the vending machines for the number of days you will be traveling - then you need not buy any more tokens.

The subway does NOT go to LGA. There is a train from JFK, but not LGA. There is a city bus that makes the trip for $1.50. I have never taken it, most people find it too much of a hassel. You will have to change from the M60 bus to the 1/2 subway at 116th st and ride down to 34th st. I don't know if you can buy MetroCards at the airport, but if you can your transfer to the subway will be free.

earlier, i gave the flat rate for newark based on the post which had Nova and friends staying at the red roof inn.<BR><BR>as a side point, for the record, if you ever get on a bus without a metrocard, you need $1.50 in change (yes change) (unless it is different on the airport M60 bus - I've never taken it) and can still get a free transfer - just ask for a transfer and they'll give you a card.

Thanks for all your great advice. Leaving two weeks today!!!

Nova, I would love to hear a report upon your return. I will be going to NYC the second week in June with three friends for our 50th birthdays (two of them have never been out of the "South", much less to NYC) so we could use any travel tips. Have fun!

Pat - you may want to do a forum search under the New York heading and wiht a keyword or two targeted at the thigns you have most interest in. Combine that with a bit of online research and then post with some specific questions. I'm not trying to evade your request for helpful travel tips that might aid new visitors to NYC but there's so much to see and do and so many different takes on what activities people might have... it's nearly impossible to offer generic tips. Having said that here are a few designed to make your trip easier:<BR><BR>1) learn the street grid system of number streets and Avenues and remember that 5th Ave is the dividing line for the east and west number streets<BR>2) learn a few key streets (e.g. Houston, Bleecker, 7th Ave South and Bowery) if you plan to explore the Village or other areas below 14th Street. Streets are not as easy to decipher there but you can always get re-oriented if you know a few key streets at east, south, west locations etc..<BR>3) get a Metrocard - either a one weedk unlimited ride or the one day Funpass. Allows unlimited rides on the subway or bus and free transfers (e.g. subway uptown and then onto a bus for crosstown). Get a subway map and ask a few questions here and there - it's easy to learn how to use the system and the worst case scenario is that you miss a stop or get on going in the wrong direction - when that happens just get off, cross to other side of tracks and get back on!<BR>4) Stand to the right going up escalators if you're not walking fast (this seems to elementary but too many people block escalators - even a few real NY'ers who should know better!<BR>5) When you stop as a group to discuss your next move, acticity or which way to walk, step to the side away from stairs, escalators and out of the flow of sidewalk traffic. Although it's not intentional, many people stop to confer on their activities andd block sidewalk passage. If you think an NY'er is grumpy it's probably not true - they're just in a hurry walking somewhere and need to get through or around you!<BR>5) Try to get out of the main tourist areas and walk around some neighborhoods where people live such as Upper West side, Upper East side, Murray Hill or Chelsea - it's a somewhat different pace and you'll gain an appreciation for what an interesting city it is and how friendly people are<BR>6) Be sure to get out of the main tourist areas for some meals - you'll be amazed at what great food you can have for a reasonable price.<BR><BR>Please do post back for specifics - you'll get lots of help in this forum

We arrive in NYC on Friday - weather is supposed to be rainy, windy, and cold. Disappointed, but what can you do.<BR><BR>Ordered three tickets to Blue Man Group - very, very last row - worst seat in the house! Won't be able to read the message board apparently or see the band, but will see the Blue Men the entire time. Hope it's worth it!! <BR><BR>