Things to see and do in New York

Really_here said:
When it's cold it's REALLY cold. I'd definitely take a hat and gloves, if you don't I guarantee you'll be buying both very quickly. First time I was there during the winter my ears were almost frozen after walking for 5 minutes. I bought a hat first shop I saw.
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City hat will be out mate. Cheers for the advice mate.
 
Manc in London said:
Just came back from a holiday in the States, including four nights in NY. We really enjoyed DUMBO. It's especially good early evening and staying there for food and drink. Very pleasant atmosphere, food is good and not too high priced and seeing the view of Manhattan in early evening and then after dark is worth it on its own.


We visited San Francisco and travelled down the west coast. Our first time in California. Loved the place. It has a very different vibe to the east coast. It's so much more relaxed, people are far friendlier and more helpful and generally has a nice vibe. I know the US is expensive at the moment, for pretty much everything, but in NY you feel you are being constantly being scammed and the city is built to try and extract as much from you as possible.
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Yeah - it's mad barking bonkers expensive mate. I took the missus and daughter there in 2023 and a bottle of beer, glass of wine and a coke was regularly around 45 dollars. You can pay over 100 dollars for a steak in a decent restaurant. Still a great place to see, but you almost need to remortgage to go !! We burnt through about 3 grand in 5 days without even especially pushing the boat out !!
 
donkinho said:
Yeah - it's mad barking bonkers expensive mate. I took the missus and daughter there in 2023 and a bottle of beer, glass of wine and a coke was regularly around 45 dollars. You can pay over 100 dollars for a steak in a decent restaurant. Still a great place to see, but you almost need to remortgage to go !! We burnt through about 3 grand in 5 days without even especially pushing the boat out !!
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We went in 2023 (NY, DC and Vegas) and this year (California and NY). Both holidays being over two weeks. I won't be spending money on much else for a while! On the most recent holiday, we avoided restaurants and mostly ate at counter service establishments to save money.

We sorted out car rental and hotel bookings months in advance (refundable). Two or three weeks before, after the value of the dollar decreased and tourism was dipping in the US, we checked the hotel prices and car rental. Cancelled and rebooked. Saved over £1,000 :)
 
Arrived back from New York this morning-quite an adventure.

Booked through Hays (who booked it with TUI and then the flight with Aer Lingus).

Went to the shop several times to go through things, including pointing out I couldn't 'manage my booking' through the TUI link -'why do you want to?' 'Because there's a hyper link'...'Can you assure me I never have to read what that says?' 'Yes'.

Few days before the travel agent got obsessed with adding my friend and I's middle names...5 days before holiday I received an email from TUI 'Dear BertJohn'.

Went into shop, 'is this going to be a problem, thats not my name-its bert john not bertjohn? I was told 'No.'

So onto last Sunday-first in line to check in with Aer Lingus (app was down so unable to check in before).
Instantly there was a problem-'the tickets don't match your names'...

Hours of stress thinking we were never getting on the flight before at the v last second a phone call from Hays (blaming TUI for not updating tickets) and we were checked in and our check in baggage sent through-from first to last...

Get to JFK and my case nowhere to be seen. Dismissive uninterested staff 'your case is still in Manchester.' Filled out lost buggage claim.

Fabulous.

That was Sunday evening-spent hours buying shite t shirts and underwear and toiletries..and numerous phone calls.

Tuesday morning hotel checked aer lingus web page 'luggage located' didn't say where.
Thought I'd tweet aer lingus and immediately get a message 'Follow and DM with your telephone number'
Got a phone call from bloke-now I'm ex police and witnessed numerous people getting scammed when they are vulnerable-and that was me..Put through to 'manager' on phone-'your luggage is with the courier and will be with you today!' Great I thought-and he then said here's a link, fill it out and we will send you £700 compo..alarm bells were ringing but (stupidly) I clicked it 'hang on I'm paying you £700'...and yes, I clicked....

I then added a new problem, aside from washing my smalls in the sink I now had to ring santander, luckily they blocked the transaction-but then stopped my credit card..so now I had to rely on mate to pay for things (and I hate owing money).

Finally my case arrived Wednesday....holiday ruined.

I rang Hays Thursday to make sure there wasn't going to be a problem coming back-'you'd assume not'..'and its TUI's fault'...I told them I have never spoken to TUI, I gave you my money and because of your error I was late to check in and ultimately that was the direct cause of my case being left in Manchester..and if booking a third party holiday with you meant there was a chance you'd never get on the plane or your luggage would even be with you, then you could never sell third part products without informing customers of that real risk . They did ring back and say there was 'absolutely' no chance of that happening on the way back-and the return was fine.

Flew back Friday.

My intention is to start with Hays because they missold me a holiday by not ensuring the tickets were correct (with the third party) which directly resulted in most of my time being without my luggage-and all the associated stress involved, without my meds I needed, scammed, unsure if my luggage would come to the hotel after I'd returned home etc etc..and the $200 spent on shite to cover for it-clothing/toiletries..

I am insured through police so I can contact them and also some responsibility sits with Aer Lingus.

Apologies for the rambling post but it was a nightmare.

If anyone has had similar experiences I'd appreciate some pointers.
 
Last edited:
mscenterh750 said:
I’ll keep an eye on this thread because I’m meant to be going in December with my lady friend. I’ve never been to America.
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Be prepared to be treated like shit at JFK airport by fascist jobsworths. Ordering you around into lines and offering no help as you queue for hours to get in.
 
A trip to Coney Island is worthwhile, a short ride away. A faded mini Blackpool that had seen better days but fascinating.

Personally I like the open bus tours, you see so much more than if you were just wondering around. We went round Harlem, Brooklyn etc.... I liked The flat Iron Building, very unusual.

We went a few weeks after 9/11, there was dust all over the place. Our taxi driver from The Airport said his cab had been parked a few streets away at the time.

When the Police opened the cordon around the area a few days after, his cab was six inches thick with dust.
 
bert38 said:
Arrived back from New York this morning-quite an adventure.

Booked through Hays (who booked it with TUI and then the flight with Aer Lingus).

Went to the shop several times to go through things, including pointing out I couldn't 'manage my booking' through the TUI link -'why do you want to?' 'Because there's a hyper link'...'Can you assure me I never have to read what that says?' 'No'.

Few days before the travel agent got obsessed with adding my friend and I's middle names...5 days before holiday I received an email from TUI 'Dear BertJohn'.

Went into shop, 'is this going to be a problem, thats not my name-is bert john not bertjohn? I was told 'No.'

So onto last Sunday-first in line to check in with Aer Lingus (app was down so unable to check in before).
Instantly there was a problem-'the tickets don't match your names'...

Hours of stress thinking we were never getting on the flight before at the v last second a phone call from Hays (blaming TUI for not updating tickets) and we were checked in and our check in baggage sent through-from first to last...

Get to JFK and my case nowhere to be seen. Dismissive uninterested staff 'your case is still in Manchester.' Filled out lost buggage claim.

Fabulous.

That was Sunday evening-spent hours buying shite t shirts and underwear and toiletries..and numerous phone calls.

Tuesday morning hotel checked aer lingus web page 'luggage located' didn't say where.
Thought I'd tweet aer lingus and immediately get a message 'Follow and DM with your telephone number'
Got a phone call from bloke-now I'm ex police and witnessed numerous people getting scammed when they are vulnerable-and that was me..Put through to 'manager' on phone-'your luggage is with the courier and will be with you today!' Great I thought-and he then said here's a link, fill it out and we will send you £700 compo..alarm bells were ringing but (stupidly) I clicked it 'hang on I'm paying you £700'...and yes, I clicked....

I then added a new problem, aside from washing my smalls in the sink I now had to ring santander, luckily they blocked the transaction-but then stopped my credit card..so now I had to rely on mate to pay for things (and I hate owing money).

Finally my case arrived Wednesday....holiday ruined.

I rang Hays Thursday to make sure there wasn't going to be a problem coming back-'you'd assume not'..'and its TUI's fault'...I told them I have never spoken to TUI, I gave you my money and because of your error I was late to check in and ultimately that was the direct cause of my case being left in Manchester..and if booking a third party holiday with you meant there was a chance you'd never get on the plane or your luggage would even be with you, then you could never sell third part products without informing customers of that real risk . They did ring back and say there was 'absolutely' no chance of that happening on the way back-and the return was fine.

Flew back Friday.

My intention is to start with Hays because they missold me a holiday by not ensuring the tickets were correct (with the third party) which directly resulted in most of my time being without my luggage-and all the associated stress involved, without my meds I needed, scammed, unsure if my luggage would come to the hotel after I'd returned home etc etc..and the $200 spent on shite to cover for it-clothing/toiletries..

I am insured through police so I can contact them and also some responsibility sits with Aer Lingus.

Apologies for the rambling post but it was a nightmare.

If anyone has had similar experiences I'd appreciate some pointers.
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Kinell sounds like a nightmare all that. Fuck all that. I wouldnt go to the USA anyway til this dangerous fucktard is not in charge of the place anyway
 
donkinho said:
Yeah - it's mad barking bonkers expensive mate. I took the missus and daughter there in 2023 and a bottle of beer, glass of wine and a coke was regularly around 45 dollars. You can pay over 100 dollars for a steak in a decent restaurant. Still a great place to see, but you almost need to remortgage to go !! We burnt through about 3 grand in 5 days without even especially pushing the boat out !!
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Lol you must have been upmarket at those expenses!
 
Having a great time - last full day tomorrow.

Done absolutely tons and have clocked just over 100 miles walked in 8 days.

Most enjoyable bit so far for me was Summit one. That first floor with all the mirrors is totally trippy and felt like a scene from
Inception.
 
WT86 said:
I'm a little disappointed to read how many City fans are going to Yankee games. You could have an excellent early dinner in Flushing and watch a much better team for the same money!
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Spot on.

Mets are a true NY team, with a more local fanbase and far better than the Yankees too as is the ballpark.
 
My daughter is traveling in America after working in a summer camp and when she hits New York she wants to go to a big shopping mall nearby, any suggestions? She will be using public transport
 
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