New York City Thread II

[Gaysha]

Have you tried the Hop-on Hop-Off bus in New York? Is it worth it or better to DIY na lang? Solo traveler here for 5 days:)

Kung first time mo, mas ok to do HoHo, try Big Bus, to cover the major attractions in Manhattan. Of course, you don't want to do it in 5 days. 1 day ok na. Just plan ahead, research online sa route. Kapagod kaya kung DIY mo lahat and then rely on the subway, na medyo magulo at nakakalito.

Plus the cost of a subway ride, 2.75 per ride. $3 pag single ride bought in the vending machine sa station. Although merong $31 for 7 days. Imagine kung baba sakay ka sa mga attractions. Di rin lahat nasa subway line.

Personally, I tried two days ng Big Bus and sulit naman sya with the night tour. I also did not mind the light traffic. Wag lang pag meron talagang big event like gay pride parade etc dabah. Be informed na lang. Saka kung anong season din, take that into account. Also tried Big Bus in Wahington DC and Philadelphia. Very convenient and I would not have been into some other attractions kung ako lang, sa sbrang arte ko at daling mapagod maglakad lakad ng pagkalayo layo lol.

[gorgeous_me]

Have you tried the Hop-on Hop-Off bus in New York? Is it worth it or better to DIY na lang? Solo traveler here for 5 days:)

In my case, DIY for 3days, medyo nakakalito din yung subway, but once you get the gist of it, its easy
I'm not into tour kasi, well it depends on what kind of tourist you are maybe if I don't have time to plan and search ahead of time, I might try the HOHO, but usually I make my own itinerary, and I always get lost (always part of my itinerary anyway, haha) so the 7day metropass was worth it

I used subway and bus, I think I just took bus to "The MET". Some of the places are walking distance..a lot of walk... so warm your legs, if you're planning a DIY

[mama squeak!]

We did 5 days of DIY in New York too. We took the subway most of the time and madali lang naman. After the Paris metro all subways you'll encounter is a piece of cake! And of course we did a lot of walking. We enjoy walking din kasi, exercise na rin. We also bought the 7-day Metro Pass and sobrang sulit sa amin. Basta patient ka lang in planning your itinerary and you're not scared to get lost (just think of it as an adventure), you'll be fine.

[byutijunkie]

Who's in NY now?  Will be flying in next week and I don't know what to pack.  Summer outfit pa or magdala nako ng coats?  Also, where can I buy souvenirs --the cheesy ones na may I love Ny shirts and snowglobes?  Has anyone gone to Carlos' Bakery?  I'm such a fan and I'd like to go to one of the branches sana.  Thanks in advance

[ninja8]

^Me! I live here actually. Its hot today but it gets cooler at times. Always check your phone for weather. Theyd tell what to expect. Parang cross na between summer and fall ang weather lately. Not coats but at least something to keep you warm when it gets cold such as cardigans,blazers.

Souvenirs you can go to Chinatown, cheaper. Carlos ba talaga gusto mo? I mean there are far more better bakeries than it. feeling ko masyado lang sya nahype. Di ako nasarapan sa carlos. Go to Magnolia Bakery and Bouchon all near Rockefeller baka mas type mo.

[rics]

^^the main Carlos bakery is at NJ, bago lang the branch at Port Authority - gulo doon specailly outside.
Souvenirs can be bought all over Manhattan. Even the food vendors has those magnet souvenirs - maganda rin naman designs - 3 for $10 or 5 for $10 depending on the design. I regret that I did not buy that magnetic Statue of Liberty bottle opener I saw from one street vendor. There are also a lot of shops that sell all sort sof NYC knick knacks. Kasi pupunta ka pa sa Chinatown just to buy, konti lang naman difference sa price, not unless you are there as part of your tour.

[byutijunkie]

Super thanks Ninja8 and rics! 

Excited nako grabehhh hehe. Yup, super fan kasi ako ni Buddy and my kids too.  i promised to bring home something from his bakery.  Pero sige will check out Magnolia and Bouchon too. 


Another question, wala ba talagang Target sa NY?  Sabi sa akin ng friend ko, wala raw siyang nakita eh.  Kung wala, what's the equivalent department store diyan sa NY?  Thanks!!!

[rics]

^masarap sa Carlos bakery is the cannoli
Meron yata isa Target but no Walmart sa Manhattan. go up state - like sa Palisades, doon meron Target. or go Bergen mall at Jersey, there is another good Target store there.  Close to woodbury premium outlet is a Walmart Superstore. or maybe some other boroughs in NY has target and walmart

[Gaysha]

Another question, wala ba talagang Target sa NY?  Sabi sa akin ng friend ko, wala raw siyang nakita eh.  Kung wala, what's the equivalent department store diyan sa NY?  Thanks!!!

Atlantic Mall in Brooklyn has a Target. It is located just across the Barclays Center where ASAP NY just had a show recently. It's on the subway line too, Atlantic Avenue subway station and Long Island Rail Road station.

[bagaholic_chewy]

We did 5 days of DIY in New York too. We took the subway most of the time and madali lang naman. After the Paris metro all subways you'll encounter is a piece of cake! And of course we did a lot of walking. We enjoy walking din kasi, exercise na rin. We also bought the 7-day Metro Pass and sobrang sulit sa amin. Basta patient ka lang in planning your itinerary and you're not scared to get lost (just think of it as an adventure), you'll be fine.

Sis, where do you stay when you're in NY? I'm planning on booking airbnb, have you tried in NY? April next year pa naman kami pupunta. Back in 2014 kasi we stayed with family in Scarsdale, but now we're planning on spending few days nearer to Manhattan para mas makaikot. We also plan on going to Bergen Outlets in NJ (nag Woodbury kami last time). And still thinking of a daytrip from NYC - perhaps Niagara? Kaya ba with a toddler in tow? Any suggestions? Last time kasi, we went around NYC/Manhattan for two days lang, uwian to/from Scarsdale pa yun. And what's the weather like kaya mid or last week of april? Sana pwede na tumambay sa Central Park. When we went kasi before e Feb, so walang maupuan sa Central Park kasi me snow. And preggy ako that time so medyo ingat-ingat sa lakad.

[rics]

^its around 6hrs drive from NYC to Niagara. depende pa yan kung hinto ka ng hinto. hindi kaya ng daytrip. Go to Connecticut and see the Mystic Aquarium. Or go to Pennsylvania to the Hershey museum - for sure enjoy both you and your kids.

Mid April might still be a bit cold.

[mama squeak!]

@bagaholic_chewy, sis haven't tried airbnb in NYC yet. Both times we were there we stayed in a hotel since we were able to get good deals. Our first hotel was in the Theater District, two blocks away from Times Square while our second hotel was just a block away from Madison Square Garden. Galing nga kasi we were right smack in the center of all the action.

My friend recently used airbnb and the apartment was located in Harlem. It was just steps away from the subway station so hindi daw hirap umikot. She rented the place for a week and hindi naman daw scary yung location as what have been written about Harlem (I guess depende which part of Harlem).

[_Jasmin_]

Hello sisses! I'm planning to drop by NYC on our way to Florida in December around Christmastime (Dec 20-23), just want to ask for ideas where to go, where to stay and if enough na ba 2 days to just go around the  must visit places.   I'll be with my 11 y/o son.

For places to stay, I'm thinking somewhere near Times Square? Malayo ba from JFK? How to go there from the airport?

Thanks in advance!

[prettypurple08]

Hi!  I plan to go to NYC in November, after the Thanksgiving, 4D/5N--is this enough to tour all main attractions and Washington DC?  I need help sa itinerary.  Pa send mo ng suggested itinerary with transpo details.  Also, any recommendations na very cheap hotel but safe.  TIA!

[mama squeak!]

^^ & ^please back read on the thread. A lot of members have already shared their ITs, tips and suggestions on accommodation/transpo options.

[byutijunkie]

Hello!  Just got back from my trip.  Sayang I should've checked the thread pala kasi Target talaga hanap ko hehe.  Anyway, we weren't able to go ti Carlos Bakery kasi that was the time na nagka-accident sa subway

So, my turn to help out I guess...hehe!

We stayed at an airbnb for the first week.  Sa Brooklyn kami and the apartment was just a block away from the subway.  Super convenient!  We're a big group and we needed a large place that had 2 bathrooms and we got that thru airbnb nga.  Sa Manhattan, mahirap makakita ng place with our reqts kaya we opted sa Brooklyn kumuha. Try it out kasi mas cheaper din kung hindi sa Manhattan mismo kayo magstay.  Just get the Metrocard pass na super sulit. 

We were in NY for around 8 days and bitin pa siya.  So 4 days is not enough specially if you're planning to go to DC pa which is 4 hours away. 

JFK is 45mins to 1 hour away from Manhattan.  We stayed in a hotel for a couple of days before our flight back and we stayed at Pod 39 which is near Grand Central Station.  It was one of the cheapest hotels there but super small rooms lang and no frills ito. 

It took us close to 12 hours going to Niagara.  We rented a van and super traffic so take note of that when planning your iti. 

I bought at Magnolia Bakery (Grand Central branch) and sad to say hindi ako nasarapan.  What I loved though were the small eateries around Manhattan specially yung chicken place na Peruvian ata near Pod and also Scotty's Diner.  Marami ring places that serve rice, yung tinatakal and tinitimbang so yehey sa mga kanin people hehe.

So yun, if you're planning to go to NYC, please allot ample time kasi sobrang madami ka talagang mapupuntahan

[rics]

^wow 12hrs from NYC to Niagara...just wondering kung saan kayo dumaan kasi sobrang haba ng road trip nyo.

[byutijunkie]

^oops sorry around 9 hours lang pala.  i have no idea kung saan kami dumaan 'cause I was asleep most of the time.  My cousin and brother took turns driving and they relied on Google maps.  We left Brooklyn 8am and we reached Niagara around 6pm.  We made 3 pit stops for gas and toilet breaks and we kinda got lost a bit pero sandali lang.  And as I mentioned it was traffic too sa may New Jersey. 

Anyway, Niagara was beautiful pero masusungit yung staff nila sa gift shop.  They were getting mad at us kasi they were about to close na raw.  Pansin ko lang, mga Amerikano tend to watch thr clock too much noh?  Parang laging nagmamadali magsara kahit may konting oras pa before closing...

[rics]

^9hrs travel is still kinda long.
you could have taken I90 west - dadaan kayo sa Woodbury, madami pa rest stops along the way.

[Gaysha]

^^^Dagdag ko lang, if one chose to ride the Amtrak to DC from NYC, mga 3 hours and 20 minutes lang. And sa Penn Station sa NYC ang pagsakay to DC Union Station pa ang disembark, very convenient sa public transpo.