trip to new york city
 

I received several good ideas from my last post. Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas about our trip to New York City. We are still in need of some information, however. We are going to use mass transit from the airport to our hotel (Embassy Suites in the Financial District). We need to know if you can purchase a Metro Card at the airport. Also, if anyone hears or reads about a cheaper price at the Embassy Suites than $179/night for February 15 through 18th, please let me know. We need that big of a room for all five of us. Also, Sandy, if still want to send me your family's itinerary from when you were there, you need to give me your e-mail address. The one at the top of your post (9sandi [email protected]) did not work.<BR><BR>Also, any ideas of cheap dinners (we would prefer to keep it under $50 total for the five of us) would be great.<BR><BR>

Under $50 for dinner for 5? If that's the type of spending you expect to do in NYC, you are in for a big, big shock! Unless, of course, you plan on going to MacDonald's.<BR>And, I'm not being sarcastic!

Marcia,<BR>For dinner, try Carmines in the theater district at 200 W. 44th St. (bet. B'way &amp; 8th Ave.) your family can order a few entr&eacute;es and share; this will not be looked upon as being &quot;cheap&quot; the portions are large and you are encouraged to share. (entrees are around $15, so you could order 3 and be within your budget, not including tip)<BR><BR>Also, as some money-saving options, try to eat your larger meal at lunch,and then have a lighter meal at dinner. And, encourage the kids not to order sodas - that can quickly run up the bill. Order ice water (tap - not bottled) not only is it free but it's much healthier for you!

Metro cards can be purchased a the train station. The bus from the airport to the train station is free. Restaurants near the hotel tend to be pricey. You could eat in Chinatown for under $50 - 3 dishes for the 5 of you could be sufficient. If in Times Square you can eat for less than $50.at the Dallas BBQ - 43rd just east of Broadway.

Marcia, try John's Pizzeria at 260 West 44th. Your family can split a few pizza pies, or you can order some very good pasta dishes that are reasonably priced. This is a busy spot pre-theater, so plan accordingly. Neat building too - it was once a church!

You might be told &quot;eat at the delis!&quot;, which is good advice if you keep a few things in mind . . .1) NYC deli sandwiches are HUGE, have 2 of the kids split one. 2) Since the sandwiches are so big, they are not as cheap as back home. Order carefully (watch out for the by the pound salads, etc. - they add up fast) and you'll be ok, just don't get carried away with 5 whole subs, 5 sodas, 5 bags of chips, 5 cookies etc . . . before you know it, you could have gone to a &quot;sit down&quot; restaurant for less money.<BR><BR>And be forewarned the TGI Fridays in Midtown is priced WAY WAY higher than the one you might have at home! <BR><BR>Do a little planning and you can stay within your budget.

Sorry, Sue, but I doubt very much that you would spend less than $50 at Carmine's for dinner for 5, even if you order only 3 main dishes.<BR>Let's get real here folks. Drinking only water at meals for four days?<BR>Marcia, you're going to have a tough time keeping your dinner bills under 50 and have decent meals.

Howard, you sound VERY negative tonight - not like you!<BR><BR>Anyway, the water thing isn't so strange - I usually order ice water with my meals (although occasionally a beer or glass of wine too), especially when traveling. I hate soda, and it's easy to get dehydrated when &quot;on the go&quot; - even in the winter! If everyone in the &quot;traveling family&quot; above ordered a soda it would add at LEAST $10 to their bill.

Marcia,<BR><BR>You and the kids will have a great time while you are here, and I disagree that if you look around, you can eat for under $50.<BR><BR>Soto Cinque -3rd Ave and 29th St, <BR>Good Italian and most of the entrees are around $5-$7. They will even make you a Beef Carpacio (spelling?) if you ask, and it's great, (not on the menu).<BR><BR>Alot of the Subway and Blimpie sandwhich shops will give you a deal on meals $5.00 with free soda refill. That's a sandwich, chips and soda.<BR><BR>Pizza is a big staple here and there are lots of local pizza places all over town, and that would fit your budget.<BR><BR>Olie's in Time Square, and near Lincoln Center (asian food) order just a couple of dishes and share.<BR><BR>Chinatown for Dim Sum, several places on Mott St (our fav is on the corner of Mott and Moscoe, across from the church).<BR><BR>In Times Square, a hidden favorite is a food court on 42nd upstairs from Applebees, several choices there.<BR><BR>California Pizza Kitchen (at the food court and uptown on 3rd across from Bloomies).<BR><BR>I would also get a copy of Zaggat to carry around, for more ideas as you travel.<BR><BR>You didn't mention which aiport you are arriving into, but LaGuardia is the most convenient into the city and there is a shuttle bus that will take you to the train station or you can take a bus from the airport to Manhattan and transfer, but you will need to have enough change for everyone, so I would probably take the shuttle to the train, and it's a pretty easy ride from there.<BR><BR>Take the kids to the Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium for an unforgetable day. You might also go to the Coney Island Aquarium or the Central Park Zoo or the Bronx Zoo.<BR><BR>One thing the kids will love is the trip to Staten Island on the ferry, and back, but try to do it at sunset, the views are spectacular, and the city lights on the way back are beautiful.<BR><BR>Have a great time.

Marcia - buy Metrocards at the newsstands in the baggage area of the airport. According to MTA vendor locations website http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/metrocard/mcml/mcmlqs5.htm , they are avail at<BR>Laguardia Marriott (718) 533-3002 <BR>Hudson News La Guardia Airport (718) 533-9535 <BR>Hudson News Rm. 224 W. La Guardia Air Port (718) 424-6500 <BR>Hudson News Marine Air Terminal (718) 424-6500<BR>Call them if there's any question about which TYPE of metrocard is sold.<BR>If you do not use Metrocard for the bus, you will need CHANGE, not bills, for the MTA bus ... I assume you've decided to use that.<BR><BR>Many Embassy Suites have a &quot;Managers Reception&quot; on weekdays around 4-7, with some free eats. Not a full meal, but a good way to take the edge off before going out to eat. Most have a kitchenette too, another way to snack a little before meals. Hope you enjoy your visit with your daughter. rb12303

Pizza is still a bargain in New York. Sorry, but you cannot eat at Carmines for under $50, entrees are $25.<BR><BR>You can eat cheap if you stay out of Midtown. Since you are staying downtown, you will find a lot of reasonable places.

Fran, I didn't mean to sound mean. I was trying to be a realist!<BR>When someone asks about dinner for 5, I think of a group going into a restaurant, sitting down and being served a meal. <BR>I don't think of coming to New York and eating a pizza as my evening dining experience, just like you would do at the local pizza parlor on a Friday night at home. Nor, do I think of going to an Appleby's, CPK or any other chain.<BR>Don't get me wrong, we often have that pizza or go to the chain at home...and yes, even fast food.<BR>But, hey, this is New York!<BR>I was also trying to get across the point that when you come to New York you should be prepared for what it's likely to cost!

thanks for all your suggestions. I believe that we have decided that we will eat pizza and deli foods since we are only going to be there 3 days. That way we can see a play and do some other touristy stuff. Our goal is to spend less $2000 and we already spent about $850 on air tickets and about $600 on our hotel.

If you are in the village and wanting to try something a bit more adventurous than pizza/deli and equally as wonderful, try Mamoun's on MacDougal street between W.3rd and Bleeker. Yum yum! Might be a good place for lunch instead of dinner. There are some tables inside, but it gets crowded as it is so good. If the weather is nice, get your order to go and go eat in Washington Square. It's a bit of a dive, but great middle eastern food. <BR>

Marcia, I'm a new yorker who eats out a lot and most of my meals are about $10- 15 per person so it's very possible.<BR><BR>No, you're not talking about highly acclaimed restaurants most of the time, but just &quot;good eats&quot;. <BR>Best bets are Asian restaurants (not just Chinese but Indian, Thai,Vietnamese --Japanese is usually more expensive). Also, plan to explore a little in different residential neighborhoods--it's harder to find where &quot;real people&quot; eat on a budget in midtown or the financial district. Even if you stay only in Manhattan, you'll find more reasonable places in the east village, chelsea, upper west side than in some other areas.<BR><BR>Lunch is also usually cheaper than dinner so if it fits your plans<BR>you might want to have a bigger meal for lunch.<BR>For example, the chinese restauranst that would cost about $10 per person for dinner in many parts of town have lunch specials (soup or eggroll, main dish w/fried rice) for abou $5. Have a filling lunch, then &quot;bank&quot; the savings for a &quot;fancier meal&quot; the next day.<BR> Also, The New York Times just had an article on Hamburgers and noted that world renowned Peter Luger's steakhouse (in Williamsburg Brooklyn) had a burger plate, only at lunch, for $5.95(including fries). Considering it uses the meat from what many consider the best steaks in the country (where an average full dinner is closer to $100 per person), it was rated one of the best bargains in the city.<BR><BR>There are several &quot;cheap eats&quot; type books on NYC (most talk aboput $5-$15 per person budgets) so if you can;t find any of these where you live, pop into a Barnes &amp; Noble bookstore when you're here<BR>(And BTW, I routinely have only water as a beverage with meals at home, so why change that routine at restaurants. But a few juices or sodas during the day if you want, but having them at meals can really add up! Personally, I'd rather spend it on the main course or an occasional dessert...) <BR><BR>Happy traveling (and eating!)

Your room rate includes a cooked -to- order breakfast doesn't it?<BR>That is the norm in Embassy suites that I have stayed in.<BR>If so, it seems $179 for 5 people is very reasonable for a NYC hotel, that is less than $40 per person for lodging and breakfast each day.

Marcia, visit www.restaurant.com. You can purchase a $25 gift certificate for $12.50, plus 50 cent fee. There are several good ones there for NYC. John's Pizza on Bleeker for example, where with the $12 savings you will do very well (I think that covers one pie). You might even be able to squeeze in a soda or two. There are also coupons for Sotto Cinque, which is already cheap, and many others that I have never eaten at. But, if you click on the right side of the page for 'more information', a lot of times it lists the menu and you can get a handle on the pricing. Just make sure you read the special conditions. Some of them are for dinner only, or not on a Saturday, etc. Overall a great deal though and you print the certificate out right on your computer.

I will also add:<BR><BR>Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Third Ave and 35th St. HUGE (and one of the best you'll ever have) burgers. Order a burger for each of you (~$6-7) and a couple order of fries or onion rings for the table.<BR><BR>Island Burger- i THINK 9th ave in the high 40's/low 50's... i've never been but i've heard great burgers and shakes (i hear will cost about $9-11 per person total)<BR><BR>Osaka- Third Ave b/w 26th and 27th St has &quot;Sushi Happy Hour&quot; from 5pm-7pm (Mon-Fri) where all the sushi and rolls are 1/2 price. You could get 3 rolls each and walk out for about $10 each.<BR><BR>I'll also second the John's Pizza suggestion on 44th St, as it's decent pizza and a great NYC atmosphere. I would also recommend taking the subway (i think it's the A or C train) to the first stop in Brooklyn (High St) and go to Grimaldi's for some of the best pizza NY has to offer.(expect to wait on line here if eating doing &quot;normal&quot; meal hours)<BR><BR>Chinatown is also a great place to eat cheap. My wife and i like the &quot;hole in the wall&quot; Wonton Garden on Mott St... order some noodles and wontons in soup for a great $5/pp meal.

Mamouns was a good suggestion in your price range. Also Veleska for good Polish food on 2nd Ave and 9th Street. One block from there is 2nd Ave Deli, best deli in the city. Sharing a sandwich b/w kids is a good idea. Down the block is B &amp; H Dairy, on 2nd Ave between 7th St and St. Marks Place. Great soups. There is also Cucina de Pesce on 4th St just west of 2nd Ave. Good plentiful Italian, entrees all under 10-, although with tax and tip you will probably be at $12 per person. In other words, your best bets for good cheap eats is in the Village. The Time Square area is pretty bad in terms of quality and price, although there are some passable choices.

Wow - there have been some great suggestions here for money-saving eats in NYC. <BR><BR>I think that the OP's budget was scoffed at because some of the &quot;Foodies&quot; don't know what it is like to take a family of 5 to a restaurant - for 3 days!! YIKES! Eating solo or with a companion on a trip is vastly different than eating on a trip with a family. Alone you opt for a more &quot;adventurous&quot; experience, with a family you go for good (reasonably healthy!) food at a reasonable cost!