New York City Thread II

[junetwentythree]

^ Sounds like a much better deal sis!

[shegie_285]

babykiss625 We bought the citypass  (around USD 108 each) last time I to New York (June).  For me pwede na din kase I was able to go to 5 out of the 6 attractions included. We went up to Rockefeller and the Empire State which would be around $25 each, and then included din ang statue of liberty cruise. We went to the Metropolitan Museum, and 'suggested' price dito is $27. My friend said, I shouldn't have bought the city pass kase kapag public museum technically free sya, so Metropolitan museum should be free dahil nasa central park sya. so 'suggested' and nakalagay, pero you could pay $5 lang daw if you want. Hindi ako mahilig tumawad so I would normally pay the 'suggested' price. (Although I gave $2 lang sa WTC memorial rather than the suggested price of $10 kase I feel they shouldn't be charging tourists for the memorial, that was more of a principle).

Sulit ang city pass if you can go to majority of the attractions and kung peak season hindi na kayo pipila for ticket. Although last june, wala naman masyado pila sa mga attractions.

[babykiss_625]

Thanks sis junetwentythree for the inputs. Really appreciate it and looking forward to visit NY even for just a short time. another question, is the Chelsea market worth seeing? My colleague wants to see that too. I know we will be very tired because of the amazing race like time in NY but I also know that it'll be worth it. As soon as we have finalized our ITI, I'll post it here and ask for your comments

@shegie_285: thank you for sharing your experience with citypass. The reason I wanted to get one is just to avoid the long lines for these attractions, Empire State and Top of Rock. We will be skipping the other attractions like MoMa and Metropolitan Art. Question sa Museum of Natural History- pagpasok pa lang ba hanapan agad ng ticket? or may exhibit ba na for general viewing (w/o tickets yet)? For pictorial purpose lang naman habol namin. For the liberty, we plan to avail the liberty cruise up to monument.

So there, torn pa kami if we we'll get the citypass since baka sayang lang. Although, worries namin is maraming tao since weekend ang aming adventure and maubos ang oras namin sa pagbili ng ticket to some attractions.

Sorry medyo napahaba. Thanks again

[junetwentythree]

Thanks sis junetwentythree for the inputs. Really appreciate it and looking forward to visit NY even for just a short time. another question, is the Chelsea market worth seeing? My colleague wants to see that too. I know we will be very tired because of the amazing race like time in NY but I also know that it'll be worth it. As soon as we have finalized our ITI, I'll post it here and ask for your comments

Chelsea Market is nice. It's rather small, small shops and small restaurants - kinda expensive - Food Network films there. You can do it real quick if you really wanted to. High Line is also right there, if you wanted to make a quick(ish) stop.

If you really just want to get a quick picture at the Museum of Natural History, you can just do it outside since that's quite recognizable But as shegie_285 pointed out, it's a donation based museum, once you've made your donation, they give you this little pin thing. But I suppose you can in at entrance area and just take some pictures real quick

[shegie_285]

babykiss_625 When I went to New York na peak season and walang citypass, December/January, super-super haba nga ng pila sa lahat. But we were able to go up sa empire state ng mga 1am, wala ng pila. Even Top of the rock gabi na din kami umakyat. Sa Liberty naman, be there early para una sa pila. depende siguro kung kelan kayo pupunta. Like when I went last June, the city pass didn't really help sa queue..

[j_in_tokyo]

^^ ay ganun sis? di makaka-avail ng city pass pag december-january?
New year pa naman punta namin ng NY :-(

[shegie_285]

j_in_tokyo sorry sis I mean, wala kaming city pass nung pumunta kami..

[j_in_tokyo]

j_in_tokyo sorry sis I mean, wala kaming city pass nung pumunta kami..

ah buti hehe
how was the weather that time sis? december-january..

[shegie_285]

^ it was very cold for me! although at that time hindi pa ako sanay sa lamig. me mga days na negative. actually when we went up sa empire state dahil gabi sobrang lamig. halos nasa loob lang ako para walang hangin. thick winter jacket, ear muffs, gloves and hat talaga ang suot ko.

[j_in_tokyo]

^^snowy na ba those time sis?

[shegie_285]

^ naku sis not really sure kung nagsnow-snow na ng December. depende din siguro. when we went, hindi naman nag-snow. buti naman!

[j_in_tokyo]

^^thanks sis..
sana nga wala pa snow by december, okay na yung malamig wag lang magsnow..
maputik at madulas kasi sa daan..uncomfortable hehe

[mama squeak!]

@junetwentythree, sis help! What's the best area to stay at among the three: Empire State Bldg area, Madison Square Garden-Hell's Kitchen or Midtown East? My concern is the safety commuting at night.

My SIL will be joining us so medyo tumaas our budget for our hotel stay. I'm still doing Hotwire and the hotels we're choosing from these areas average at USD300/night. Would appreciate your comments very much.

 

[junetwentythree]

Hi @mama squeak

All these areas are relatively safe as they stay pretty populated all hours of the night. The trick though is where exactly they might be, whether they border a dodgy area. Sometimes a couple of blocks makes a difference.

Personally I would choose Midtown East to stay in. But only the green subway line runs along the east side, so keep that in mind. You'd have to take crosstown buses or the S (shuttle) subway.

[mama squeak!]

^sis, thanks for your feedback! Ganda sana sa Midtown East but got concerned with only one subway line running thru it. Mas prefer ko taking subways since they're faster compared to taking buses.

By the way, we were able to get a good deal at a hotel two blocks from Penn Station. The hotel has good reviews from Tripadvisor so happy na rin kami.

 

[rics]

Was just in manhattan a few days ago, enjoy naman pero my kid was complaining about the major walkathon. want to go there again today pero baka wala time.

[sandd]

^sis, thanks for your feedback! Ganda sana sa Midtown East but got concerned with only one subway line running thru it. Mas prefer ko taking subways since they're faster compared to taking buses.

By the way, we were able to get a good deal at a hotel two blocks from Penn Station. The hotel has good reviews from Tripadvisor so happy na rin kami.

 

mama squeak, where did you end up booking? at the moment, i'm not looking sa east side area, mostly as west side from Hell's Kitchen pababa.. Be going in Nov.

[mama squeak!]

^sis, we booked a triple at Holiday Inn Express NYC Madison Square Garden.   

[sandd]

Thanks mama squeak.
How is the East side ng Manhattan? Marami rin options pero am I right na mas OK ang West side (based on the readings I've done).

[junetwentythree]

Thanks mama squeak.
How is the East side ng Manhattan? Marami rin options pero am I right na mas OK ang West side (based on the readings I've done).

Both sides have their good and bad... What sort options were you thinking of?