Traveling to NYC!

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Right, so I'm going to New York at the end of August.  I'm making my Yankee Stadium pilgrimage!

This is my first big trip, and I come to you guys for advice.

I will be riding in an airplane for the first time ever.  Which brings me to my first question.

Are sites like Priceline legit?  Since I'm a student and I only work sporadically, I don't want to be throwing money around when I could save some.  That "Name A Price" feature is mighty tempting.  Has anyone ever used it with success?

And my other area of concern is lodging!  Most hotels in Manhattan average at around $200 a night!  I plan on spending about a week in the city.  There HAVE to be better options.

Any and all suggestions/tips are welcome!

[Chief]

Priceline is legit although i have never used it myself. I think it can be good from what i've heard from other people who have used it.  But then i don't think they give you the full details of the trip before you buy so you have to be a little bit flexible.

I usually look at airline sites or expedia or things like that.

there is so much to see in NYC, i hope you have a great time.  make sure you eat tons of good food!

There gotta be a few people from there on the board.. maybe someone has an extra room??

[Chief]

Oh and make sure you see strawberry fields and check out a good part of Central Park.


Here are some restaurant recommendations , i got these from a friend of mine who showed me around the city the first time i went by myself:


Grimaldi's (if you can make it across the Brooklyn bridge)
http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/entertainment/venue.adp?sbid=107138580

Totonno's Grammercy or Upper East Side (the original Coney Island location is actually the best)

http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?sbid=133602
http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?sbid=106979972

Arturo's
http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?sbid=106910647

Lombardi's
http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?sbid=106910062

John's Greenwich Village, Times Square

http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?sbid=106920486&squery=&uquery=&skip=5
http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/newyork/dining/venue.adp?sbid=106993008&squery=&uquery=&skip=2


For some delis:

www.katzdeli.com or

www.carnegiedeli.com

[Bill 213]

If you're looking for budget hotel accomodations, I highly recommend the Chelsea Star Hotel on 30th and 8th.  It has all types of rooms from hostel baracks style rooms to a single bed room with a shared bath to actual rooms with their own baths.  The twin bed room with the shared bath are the best value you will find during the summer in NYC....it's 99 a night.  I always stay there in the summer and I stay at the New Yorker in the winter. 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

If you're looking for budget hotel accomodations, I highly recommend the Chelsea Star Hotel on 30th and 8th.  It has all types of rooms from hostel baracks style rooms to a single bed room with a shared bath to actual rooms with their own baths.  The twin bed room with the shared bath are the best value you will find during the summer in NYC....it's 99 a night.  I always stay there in the summer and I stay at the New Yorker in the winter. 

Are places like those safe?

Is there an ideal time to book?

[jazjme]

Dude , I am New Yorker, IF you need a place to crash on a weds, Friday -Sunday just pm me. And I think rimbob will attest I'm , cool!, as he stayed a night here during Hammerstein shows!

[Bill 213]

If you're looking for budget hotel accomodations, I highly recommend the Chelsea Star Hotel on 30th and 8th.  It has all types of rooms from hostel baracks style rooms to a single bed room with a shared bath to actual rooms with their own baths.  The twin bed room with the shared bath are the best value you will find during the summer in NYC....it's 99 a night.  I always stay there in the summer and I stay at the New Yorker in the winter. 

Are places like those safe?

Is there an ideal time to book?

This place is absolutely safe.......it's actually a gem in New York.  I first found out about it in Frommers Travel Guide and if Frommers says it's the best budget hotel in NYC, I have to oblige.  But yes it's definitely safe if you stay in the single room or up.  If you stay in the 10 person dorm room, I can't give you any info because I've never done that.  The single rooms are lockable and you have your own key to get into the building also.  It's very safe........they also have safety deposit boxes.  I usually never have problems booking there if I do it at least a month in advance.  But yeah, like I said.....it isn't the Hilton and the rooms are tiny......but for $99 a night in NYC, you definitely ain't finding anything better.  I swear by it.

http://www.starhotelny.com

[MR.BROWNSTONE]

Right, so I'm going to New York at the end of August.  I'm making my Yankee Stadium pilgrimage!

Thats cool you are going to the Staduim. Great idea since it is the last year for it. You might want to check out Little Italy, China town and the Financial District. Have fun.     

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Here is what I have planned so far.

Sunday-Arrival
Monday- Explore the town a bit, and then go to the Iridium Jazz Club and catch Les Paul play a couple of sets and hopefully meet him.

Tuesday- Maybe head out to Flushing and catch some U.S. Open action!

The rest of the week I don't know! 

Friday- My big Yankee Stadium day!

Saturday- Head back to L.A. 

I plan on eating a lot of pizza and street hot dogs! 

If I'm mugged on the subway, I'll take it as a positive experience!

[w.axl.rose]

have fun on your trip dude. my cousin also wants to go see Yankee Stadium before its taken down for his bday and i might go with him.

[mrbucketfoot]

Gray's Papaya for deliciousness! 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Gray's Papaya for deliciousness! 

Oh no way man, it's gotta be Papaya King hot dogs!  Kramer recommends. 

Speaking of which, I've added a few things to my itinerary. 

Visiting all the Seinfeld landmarks (diner, Jerry's apt etc...)

Visiting the Physical Graffiti building of Led Zep fame.  It's the same building they filmed the Rolling Stones video for "Waiting on a Friend."

Shea Stadium.  Might as well, they're tearing that down too after this season.

Ground Zero for obvious reasons.

Should I do Coney Island?

And Gray's Papaya just to compare both hot dog chains! 

[jazjme]

definitive Coney Island, how can you not ride the cyclone!

[w.axl.rose]

yeah and make sure you wear your Warriors vest with no shirt 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

definitive Coney Island, how can you not ride the cyclone!

I'm gonna have like 50 Nathan's hot dogs before I go on the ride, and then spew on the ride!  EXCELLENT!

yeah and make sure you wear your Warriors vest with no shirt 

Dude, I am SO lost right now. 

[w.axl.rose]

dont tell me you've never seen the movie "The Warriors"?

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

I have never seen the movie "The Warriors."

[Bandita]

Make sure you check tripadvisor.com to check out the hotel you book.  If the price is too good to be true, there is a reason.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/

I believe there are some hostels with shared bathrooms and such but the accomodations will be less than stellar.

Priceline is for real but you will wind up with a flight with 3 stopovers and you could get to Japan in the time you will spend trying to get to NY.

Spend the extra money for a regular nonstop, the time you won't lose will be worth the extra dollars.

As a native NYer may I implore you that you fly into Newark, it is the least "hellhole" of our 3 local airports and you will almost have a prayer in hell of your flight being on time.  It is always a little more expensive than flying into JFK or LGA but well worth it and there are lots of ways to get into the city via public trans, trains, etc.

If you don't take my advice, beware of cabbies trying to charge you some crazy rate to get into Manhattan.  I think it is supposed to be a flat rate but I don't know what it is currently.

Get a good subway map online if you can.  Try to map out where you want to go.  The NYC subway system can be a bit daunting.

Should be lots of NYers on here to help you out, I live about 30 mins. north of the city but I know we have a lot of city folk here!

 

[Robman?]

Gray's Papaya for deliciousness! 

Oh no way man, it's gotta be Papaya King hot dogs!  Kramer recommends. 

Speaking of which, I've added a few things to my itinerary. 

Visiting all the Seinfeld landmarks (diner, Jerry's apt etc...)

Visiting the Physical Graffiti building of Led Zep fame.  It's the same building they filmed the Rolling Stones video for "Waiting on a Friend."

Shea Stadium.  Might as well, they're tearing that down too after this season.

Ground Zero for obvious reasons.

Should I do Coney Island?

And Gray's Papaya just to compare both hot dog chains! 

You might think about going to see the Dakota where Lennon was shot

[jazjme]

Well if Garry needs help he will be in good hands here.