Might go to New York for 2-3 days (need advice

06/25/2011 04:33:08 PM · #1

Never been but I might surprise the wife and take her there for 3 days just to get away. I have some vacation time in August (Thurs-Sun) and want to go somewhere new that we've never been. What airport is the best (shortest distance to attractions) to fly into with minimal taxi/subway time to hotel. I wouldn't mind catching the main cliche attractions. Time square, central park, statue of liberty (main thing I want to see, and central park? Would staying in Manhattan be good for these attractions? I have no idea if these places are even in proximity so any help would be great. After flight and hotel I'll probably have about $500 spending money for me and the wife once there.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/25/2011 04:44:36 PM · #2

After looking up some info I'm thinking flying into Newark and staying at the Mariott would be nice. The Mariott is 2 miles away from airport and offers complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport 24 hours. Does anyone know how far from the Newark airport the attractions I mentioned are?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/25/2011 05:03:00 PM · #3

My advice is to keep your wallet in your front pocket, especially in Times Square.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/25/2011 06:15:32 PM · #4

Everything you mentioned is within 20 miles of Newark. But the distance is deceptive, traffic can be a beast. Anything from half an hour to an hour and a half to get from the airport into Manhattan. Actually staying IN Manhattan is much more special, but I suppose it's a LOT cheaper to stay at Newark. There's certainly public transportation into Manhattan from Newark, that's not a problem. But it's been years since I've done it, decades even, so I'll defer to our actual New Yorkers here :-)

R.

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

06/25/2011 06:21:31 PM · #5

A coonass in NYC ! That should be fun.
NYC is a fun place. I always stayed near Central Park and loved to people watch. Hated the parking....Hotel charged 30$ just to bring the car down. That was in addition to the daily garage rate.
Don't be afraid of the bus or subway..they work well, just get you a map.

Have fun.

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

06/25/2011 07:24:54 PM · #6

Louis, I'll be delighted to help you since I am a staunch Manhattanite. The one thing I don't know about is the hotel situation which is probably quite grim. But I'm sure that you can get a deal air+hotel through expedia or something like this.
My opinion is, if you stay for only 2-3 days, for God's sake, stay in Manhattan. Unless you get a deal from a Newark hotel that provides free shuttle. It's one of the great experiences though to wake up in Manhattan, ignore the hotel breakfast and just go to a nearby cafe and have croissants or patisserie and coffee or bagel with lox or a huge helping of bacon and eggs, walk all day, take a nap and go back to see the city that never sleeps after 9 PM. NY is quite safe but you surely want to hold on to your goods. People are nice and helpful, so is the police (imagine that!).
As for sight seeing, I'll PM you an entire volume.
I'll be away July and August but will be delighted to give you all the info needed.
Hope you'll get great weather, sometimes it gets awfully hot and humid but the A/C is blasting everywhere to a freezing point sometimes .
It's a mighty place (I always say that it's a nicer place to live in than visit) and totally photogenic.
Just concentrate on getting a good air/hotel weekend deal. From JFK, there is a good subway to Manhattan (about $7.50/person). From La Guardia (the closest airport) a bus for just $ 2.25/person. From Newark, a shuttle for $11 I think. Google "how to get to Manhattan from the airport".
Bon voyage!
More to follow. You can PM me with specific questions.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/25/2011 08:44:26 PM · #7

WOW

mariuca that is some great info and sounds like what I want to do. I have a cousin that works for Mariott and can sometimes get us good employee/family rates on Mariott hotels. I sent him a facebook message. Without a room discount this trip may be out of my money range. I have about $800 to spend on hotel and flight and about $500 walking around money.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

06/25/2011 08:58:11 PM · #8

Originally posted by SEG:

WOW mariuca that is some great info and sounds like what I want to do. I have a cousin that works for Mariott and can sometimes get us good employee/family rates on Mariott hotels. I sent him a facebook message. Without a room discount this trip may be out of my money range. I have about $800 to spend on hotel and flight and about $500 walking around money.

NYC is very, very expensive. You'll have to budget well. It's also extremely hot & humid in August, so most people are trying to get out of the city. You might actually be able to find some good budget hotels during that time frame. Shop around. Here's a link to free events in August... //www.nyctourist.com/events.asp (you may or may not have to change the date, not sure if it resets on opening).

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/25/2011 08:59:58 PM · #9

Hot and humid I'm not worried about. I live in one of the hottest most humid regions in the states. LOL I'm used to it.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

06/25/2011 09:02:57 PM · #10

Second the "stay in Manhattan" advice. Find a way to make it work. Priceline, relatives, whatever! And I'm terribly envious. I want to go back!!!

scooter97

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/25/2011 09:20:16 PM · #11

Yes please stay in Manhattan, you'll never regret it. As the others have said, the public transportation works really well and I felt safe when there last year. Here is the link for the NYC GTG from last year, just in case you missed it ;-)

NYC GTG '10

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

06/25/2011 09:51:19 PM · #12

Yes, NYC is very expensive but once you are here what you need is to eat, to take the subway or bus (or both, you have a free transfer within 2 hours - a tkt is 2.25) and good walking shoes. And if you don't want the "NYC eating experience" that could ruin anybody's budget you can eat very nicely without making a whole in the budget, and not only pizza.
Museum entries are expensive BUT, at the Met you pay what you wish ($1/person is OK anytime especially lovely Fridays and Saturdays when they close at 8:45PM and the view from the terrace is worth a million but it's for free). At the MoMa it's pay what you wish on Fridays after 5PM. Same at the lovely Frick Collection provided you go on Sunday before noon. Same for the Whitney Museum (Fridays)
The Statue of Liberty is not worth climbing. But the loveliest way to see it is for free, from the ferry boat going to Staten Island. It takes 20' to get there and you take the return boat immediately since there is not much in Staten Island (but the view of Manhattan alas, without the World Trade Center, the Statue of L., Ellis Island and Brooklyn is spectacular).
Cross by foot Brooklyn Bridge and walk on the Promenade. (Have a polarizing lens)
If you give me your address I can mail you a lot of discount coupons in advance to get to Ellis Island or Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, etc. But you can have a spectacular time even if you don't go to these places. Most of the great things in NY are free.
Can you guess if I love this place or not?
Stay tuned.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

06/25/2011 09:55:51 PM · #13

Definitely try and stay in Manhattan. However, commuting from EWR Airport in Newark is possible - you're more likely to get cheaper flights to/from there and the hotels might be more within your budget - the commute would be about one hour from your hotel to Penn Station by NJ transit train. Going back at night would be best before midnight. PM me with any questions - I don't live in Manhattan but I'm there every day.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/26/2011 02:15:35 AM · #14

The reason people who live in New Jersey rarely go into New York is the Lincoln Tunnel. That sixteen miles once took me over 2 hours.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/26/2011 09:36:41 AM · #15

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

The reason people who live in New Jersey rarely go into New York is the Lincoln Tunnel. That sixteen miles once took me over 2 hours.

PennyStreet

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 17mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko

06/26/2011 09:59:04 AM · #16

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

The reason people who live in New Jersey rarely go into New York is the Lincoln Tunnel. That sixteen miles once took me over 2 hours.

I travel those 16 miles back and forth to NYC every day of the week. Take the train and/or travel the tunnel route for pleasure trips during off hours.

Message edited by author 2011-06-26 10:00:55.

David Ey

Nikon D80

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

06/26/2011 12:06:35 PM · #17

Originally posted by scooter97:

I 2nd this.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

06/26/2011 05:01:09 PM · #18

Well, my cousin just wrote me back and said he'd check on rates after he gets off work. He told me most likely it will still be pricey being that it is New York.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/26/2011 05:10:56 PM · #19

Originally posted by SEG:

Well, my cousin just wrote me back and said he'd check on rates after he gets off work. He told me most likely it will still be pricey being that it is New York.

There is a Marriott right smack downtown on 47th I believe and if he works for them he might be able to get you a good rate. I was in NYC at the 2010 GTG and stayed at some other location, but if I had to do it again I would seriously consider the Marriott.

As others have stated, the public transit system is quite nice and relatively easy to understand.

Have a fun trip.

Ray

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/28/2011 12:43:42 PM · #20

Well, My cousin is getting me a room for $179/night which seems good considering that it is right in the middle of the main attractions in Manhattan. It's a Fairfield but I am waiting on the actual adress. Once he confirms that he has my reservation in place I will secure my flight. For all those that have helped Thank You!!

I haven't read through this since I am quickly posting this on my lunch break but can the members that were helping me in this thread please PM good cheap subway/train/bus routes from Laguardia (sp?) to Manhattan. Are the buses/ subway etc.. mentioned in earlier posts linked to the airport directly? Can I get off the plane and get directly on these affordable modes of transport?

Thank you again for the info.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

06/28/2011 01:05:53 PM · #21

Although it sounds like a village people song, its cheap to stay at the YMCA. 42nd & Lex. in what was the Vanderbilt mansion over by the UN and the Ford Foundation building. $125 for a small single with an attached bath you share with one other room.

As far as getting to Manhattan from Laguardia the best options are either a car service (local knowledge is required here, ask your cousin, our NYC friends like a Russian company that they have a track record with) at around $40. For half that you can grab a shuttle which line up at the terminals, which will get you to the subway. In my backbacking days I used to get the Triboro Coach for under $5, but these days of greater baggage and less time, its not for me.

The first time I flew into LGA, I took a taxi into town, which was lovely as I got a tour of the five boroughs, and all the choke points the driver could find. It cost me about two days of my food budget, but it taught me why natives instruct drivers what route they want to take the moment they get in the cab.

Message edited by author 2011-06-28 13:06:46.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/28/2011 02:31:44 PM · #22

My cousin lives in San Antonio. He just works for Mariott.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

06/28/2011 02:41:52 PM · #23

Some hotels include shuttle service to/from the airport. It might be worth looking into.

eta: BTW - there are much better room rates on Expedia. Did you check around?

//www.expedia.com/Hotels?action=hotelPackageWizard@searchHotelOnly&packageType=HOTEL_ONLY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_inpPackageType=HOTEL_ONLY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_hotelRegionTypeControl_inpRegionType=CITY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_cityControl_inpCity=New+York+NY&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_hotelSearchRegionControl_cityControl_inpCityRegionId=178293&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_hotelRoomCountInput=1&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_adultCountInput=2&hotelPackageWizard_hotelPackageWizardControl_hotelWidgetControl_roomInputWidget_childCountInput=0&isAdditionOptionExist=0&eapid=13172&semcid=13172-1&kword=0.0.0.0.0.0.nyc%20hotel%20deals!e.ZzZz.2028521093.0.13768106733.NYC%20hotel%20deals.nyc_hotel_deals

Message edited by author 2011-06-28 14:44:17.

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

06/28/2011 04:48:49 PM · #24

I will send you later info. There is a bus from La Guardia also. Marriott generally has its own free busses but you haveto ask if it's true. I can call. It't the one on 47 thstreet?