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#1
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Going to New York - Need Some Advice Please
I will be travelling to NYC, for the first time, in mid March.
I always do my own travel planning but I must admit I am bewildered by the variety of options for finding accommodation in New York. Most websites break down the locations into 10 or more sub-areas, with at least 5 in Manhattan alone. I dunno; is the Upper East side a better place to be than Midtown, Soho, etc..? If you could advise a first timer, where would you suggest that they situate themselves? We will get all over Manhattan in the 4 days, I'm sure, so being really close to a couple of the major sites (museums, etc.) is not critical. But we would like the location of the hotel to afford some local ambience (and I'm not into "edgy" ambience) that we can enjoy every day. No car, obviously, we will cab it or use the subway. 3 or 4 star (4 if it is a good deal) accommodation, with some character is our style. Any specific hotel, or activity recommendations would also be appreciated. 4 days will leave so much undone, I think I'm already committed to a return trip. Thanks, |
#2
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Claim Guy wrote: I will be travelling to NYC, for the first time, in mid March. I always do my own travel planning but I must admit I am bewildered by the variety of options for finding accommodation in New York. Most websites break down the locations into 10 or more sub-areas, with at least 5 in Manhattan alone. I dunno; is the Upper East side a better place to be than Midtown, Soho, etc..? If you could advise a first timer, where would you suggest that they situate themselves? Functionally, midtown is a good place. This is basically because it literally puts you in the middle of Manhattan. It will cut down on your travel time to many places. The Village and SoHo are nice too although much further south. But they might just be a tad more equidistant between the places you'll actually visit (basically from Battery Park up to about 90th or so in Central Park). To some extent you probably have to decide where you'll be spending your evenings since that is probably when being "close to home" has it's greatest value. Gonna do theater at night? Midtown. Tend to eat more down in the Village? Some folks prefer the uptown restaurants on the Upper West side. We will get all over Manhattan in the 4 days, I'm sure, so being really close to a couple of the major sites (museums, etc.) is not critical. But we would like the location of the hotel to afford some local ambience (and I'm not into "edgy" ambience) that we can enjoy every day. No car, obviously, we will cab it or use the subway. The question is which local ambiance. Manhattan, and the other buroughs are extremely distinct. One of the more interesting part of NYC is the large, and rapid, variation. There is no singular character. That said, downtown near Battery Park is kinda dead after 5 pm so that may not be your best bet. The Upper East side always has a "on the outside looking in" feel to me where as staying down in The Village I get more of a feeling that I live there. Midtown will have more of a feeling of being in "NYC World" especially over around Times Square. Upper West side has a bit more of a Village/SoHo feel to me as well. But these are all personal impressions. Truth is, if you want to live with the majority of New Yorkers, you'll stay across the east river in Brooklyn or the Bronx, maybe even Queens, but I wouldn't personally recommend that for a first time visitor. 3 or 4 star (4 if it is a good deal) accommodation, with some character is our style. Any specific hotel, or activity recommendations would also be appreciated. 4 days will leave so much undone, I think I'm already committed to a return trip. Especially that time of year, I'd seriously consider making a bid at Priceline.com. As long as there aren't more than 2 of you, you should do okay. I've seen some rooms going for around $125 lately. |
#3
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wrote in message oups.com... Functionally, midtown is a good place. This is basically because it literally puts you in the middle of Manhattan. It will cut down on your travel time to many places. The Village and SoHo are nice too although much further south. But they might just be a tad more equidistant between the places you'll actually visit (basically from Battery Park up to about 90th or so in Central Park). To some extent you probably have to decide where you'll be spending your evenings since that is probably when being "close to home" has it's greatest value. Gonna do theater at night? Midtown. Tend to eat more down in the Village? Some folks prefer the uptown restaurants on the Upper West side. The question is which local ambiance. Manhattan, and the other buroughs are extremely distinct. One of the more interesting part of NYC is the large, and rapid, variation. There is no singular character. That said, downtown near Battery Park is kinda dead after 5 pm so that may not be your best bet. The Upper East side always has a "on the outside looking in" feel to me where as staying down in The Village I get more of a feeling that I live there. Midtown will have more of a feeling of being in "NYC World" especially over around Times Square. Upper West side has a bit more of a Village/SoHo feel to me as well. But these are all personal impressions. Truth is, if you want to live with the majority of New Yorkers, you'll stay across the east river in Brooklyn or the Bronx, maybe even Queens, but I wouldn't personally recommend that for a first time visitor. 3 or 4 star (4 if it is a good deal) accommodation, with some character is our style. Any specific hotel, or activity recommendations would also be appreciated. 4 days will leave so much undone, I think I'm already committed to a return trip. Especially that time of year, I'd seriously consider making a bid at Priceline.com. As long as there aren't more than 2 of you, you should do okay. I've seen some rooms going for around $125 lately. Check out the Inn on 23rd. It is in Chelsea, close to several very good restuarants and run by very friendly ex Texans. Also you get free phone calls anywhere in the US, they let you use there membership cards for museums, rooms are attractively furnished, they have two refrigerators with free food (cheese and stuff), includes a breakfast, easy walking distance from two subway lines and from Penn Station. Look at Tripadvisor.com for other comments. By the way Chelsea is sort of a mixed area, becoming more popular with the gay crowd (which for me is always an endorsement of an area to stay in). I enjoyed staying there because it seemed a relaxed area, non touristico. S |
#4
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On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 11:25:49 -0500, "Claim Guy"
wrote: [snip] I dunno; is the Upper East side a better place to be than Midtown, Yes, if by "Midtown," you mean the West 40s-50s around Broadway (see below). Soho, Where in Soho? If you're considering the Holiday Inn, that's basically in Chinatown. Soho is a very touristy neighborhood of expensive boutiques - quite a change from what once upon a time was the bohemian quarter - but yes, I think it's a lot more fun than Midtown. One caveat, though: I think what you mean by Midtown is the area centered around Broadway (8th Av., etc.) in the 40s and lower 50s. If you mean the East Side in the 50s, that's much better, and 9th Av. in the 40s and 50s is also alright. etc..? If you could advise a first timer, where would you suggest that they situate themselves? I have a bias toward downtown (below 14 St.), but most anyplace other than the Times Square area is worth considering. We will get all over Manhattan in the 4 days, I'm sure, so being really close to a couple of the major sites (museums, etc.) is not critical. But we would like the location of the hotel to afford some local ambience (and I'm not into "edgy" ambience) that we can enjoy every day. [snip] I'm not sure you should be looking for local ambiance in your hotel. What's more important is that you find it on the streets. If you have some more specific questions, I'd be happy to try to help you. Michael If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the TRASH, so to speak. Please do not email me something which you also posted. |
#5
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On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 11:25:49 -0500, "Claim Guy"
wrote: I will be travelling to NYC, for the first time, in mid March. I always do my own travel planning but I must admit I am bewildered by the variety of options for finding accommodation in New York. Most websites break down the locations into 10 or more sub-areas, with at least 5 in Manhattan alone. I dunno; is the Upper East side a better place to be than Midtown, Soho, etc..? If you could advise a first timer, where would you suggest that they situate themselves? The upper east side wouldn't be my favorite place to stay. It also depends just how "upper" it is, and what avenue it's on. The east side has fewer transportation options than the west side, and to me it's a bit boring. We will get all over Manhattan in the 4 days, I'm sure, so being really close to a couple of the major sites (museums, etc.) is not critical. But we would like the location of the hotel to afford some local ambience (and I'm not into "edgy" ambience) that we can enjoy every day. No car, obviously, we will cab it or use the subway. I don't know what options are being offered to you, but midtown is convenient, Soho is fine. Greenwich Village would also be fine, and the upper west side would appeal to me more than the upper east side. 3 or 4 star (4 if it is a good deal) accommodation, with some character is our style. Any specific hotel, or activity recommendations would also be appreciated. 4 days will leave so much undone, I think I'm already committed to a return trip. I don't have any specific hotels to recommend, as my star level is lower than yours. -- Barbara Vaughan My email address is my first initial followed by my last name at libero dot it. |
#6
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"Rita" wrote in message ... Why don't you do some research, choose a few hotels that look appealing to you in your price range and then come back and ask for specific comments on them. Also use Trip Advisor to check out reviews by others who have stayed in them. Okay, what are people's views on these: Excelsior Hotel 45 W 81st Street Belleclaire Hotel 250 W 77th Street Wellington Hotel 871 7th Avenue Millennium Hilton 55 Church Street Thanks |
#7
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Don't know the hotel, but the location of the Belleclaire is probaby the
best for you. Without being in the complete middle of town, it is closer to the action -- you can walk back to it from many places in midtown if you want. Ambience? Let's face it -- New York "ambience " is big city bustle. The Times Square area -- say from 42nd to 56th, is the center of it all. The comparative 'Neighborhoodiness" of the Village, et al, is what residents like. But you are visiting the city for its excitement, not laid-backness, I assume. rjf "Claim Guy" wrote in message ... "Rita" wrote in message ... Why don't you do some research, choose a few hotels that look appealing to you in your price range and then come back and ask for specific comments on them. Also use Trip Advisor to check out reviews by others who have stayed in them. Okay, what are people's views on these: Excelsior Hotel 45 W 81st Street Belleclaire Hotel 250 W 77th Street Wellington Hotel 871 7th Avenue Millennium Hilton 55 Church Street Thanks |
#8
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On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 10:06:12 -0500, "Bob Fusillo"
wrote: [snip] Ambience? Let's face it -- New York "ambience " is big city bustle. The Times Square area -- say from 42nd to 56th, is the center of it all. The comparative 'Neighborhoodiness" of the Village, et al, is what residents like. But you are visiting the city for its excitement, not laid-backness, I assume. Do you really think masses of slow-moving tourists around Times Square equate to excitement? Michael If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the TRASH, so to speak. Please do not email me something which you also posted. |
#9
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"Claim Guy" wrote in message
... I will be travelling to NYC, for the first time, in mid March. I always do my own travel planning but I must admit I am bewildered by the variety of options for finding accommodation in New York. Most websites break down the locations into 10 or more sub-areas, with at least 5 in Manhattan alone. I dunno; is the Upper East side a better place to be than Midtown, Soho, etc..? If you could advise a first timer, where would you suggest that they situate themselves? We will get all over Manhattan in the 4 days, I'm sure, so being really close to a couple of the major sites (museums, etc.) is not critical. But we would like the location of the hotel to afford some local ambience (and I'm not into "edgy" ambience) that we can enjoy every day. No car, obviously, we will cab it or use the subway. 3 or 4 star (4 if it is a good deal) accommodation, with some character is our style. Any specific hotel, or activity recommendations would also be appreciated. 4 days will leave so much undone, I think I'm already committed to a return trip. Thanks, I'd recommend the Novotel, it's a nice modern 3 star hotel with spacious rooms. If I remember correctly it's on 7th and 52nd St. See also www.novotel.com lin |
#10
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Claim Guy wrote:
"Rita" wrote in message ... Why don't you do some research, choose a few hotels that look appealing to you in your price range and then come back and ask for specific comments on them. Also use Trip Advisor to check out reviews by others who have stayed in them. Okay, what are people's views on these: Excelsior Hotel 45 W 81st Street Belleclaire Hotel 250 W 77th Street Wellington Hotel 871 7th Avenue Millennium Hilton 55 Church Street Thanks Of these I have gotten good reports on the Excelsior; it's across the street from the Museum of Natural History, on the 81st street Crosstown bus to get the the Met Museum and the Guggenheim and other East side attractions, and in a residential neighborhood, so there are a lot of local restaurants. The Millenium (yes it is the way they spell it) Hilton is across the street from Ground Zero (and a couple of blocks from my office). It is in the financial district, which makes it a 10-30 minute subway ride from where you will probably be spending most of your time. There's very little nearby nightlife, but it is a good hotel. |
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