New York City Thread II

[byutijunkie]

^^yeah, it did take us a really long time.  Sayang oras talaga haha! 

^That's right but the train is too expensive.  Our bus tickets were just less than 40usd for two na compared to 100usd plus just for one train ticket.  If I only had more budget for sure nagtrain ako

[bagaholic_chewy]

@mama_squeak so Harlem is not such a scary place naman daw? I browsed airbnb kasi and was hoping in booking a place for only $100-$150 per night (for 5 nights) for two adults and 1 toddler. Yung mga medyo pasok e nasa Brooklyn or sa Harlem. We're considering Brooklyn, for now.

We also plan to just drive from NY to Atlanta. We'll stop by Philadelphia and stay the night either there or in DC na. The following day, to Atlanta na. We're thinking of staying another night in North Carolina, meron ba medyo interesting places dun, something that adults and a 3yo toddler would enjoy? If none, baka i-straight drive na namin from DC to Atlanta.

[_Jasmin_]

To those who have tried HoHo or familiar with NYC traffic during different seasons, is it advisable to take HoHo days before Christmas? We will be in NYC Dec 19-21 and since its my first time and I'll be with my 11 y/o son, I'm thinking of just taking the big bus tours and just drop off our selected attractions. Baka kase traffic lang, we only have about 2 days in the city (I'm anticipating downtime during our first day because of jetlag), sayang naman oras. Also, is it okay to take the ferry to Statue of Liberty around that time? Di ba masyadong malamig? TIA!

[pretinnes]

^malamang traffic sis, pero always naman kasi traffic sa NYC. tried HoHo once, because a visiting friend wanted to. Around Feb iyon and umulan, sobrang lamig. Di ko na enjoy kasi naka sandals lang ako and nabasa feet ko. So better be ready with your coats, boots and beanies lang. Mas okay for me na DIY ang tour though para may freedom ka to look around and enjoy, pero as you said may kasama kang son, so baka mas okay nga ang HoHo for you.

Regarding ferry to Statue of Liberty, malamig na iyan, but if you really want to go then go lang. Whenever friends ask me about NYC tour, the SOL tour is one of those i recommend, sobrang nasiyahan kasi ako nung first time ko, feel na feel ko talaga nasa America ako, kaya go for it! be ready lang din with your gears.

[mama squeak!]

@bagaholic_chewy, sis same with my friend since solo sya her budget was $100 a night or less. Medyo concerned din sya when all the airbnb flats na nakita nya within her budget was around the Harlem area. But after reading the reviews of the users on some of the flats she narrowed down in the area her concerns were somewhat allayed. She finally chose an apartment within easy access to the subway.

Just check na lang the reviews of the users and make sure the area will be within easy access to public transportation para di kayo mahirapan.

Re your drive, if budget permits you can also look into taking the train. NYC to Atlanta is around 18 hours and will cost you from $250 (coach seats) to $690 (roomette) for 2 adults and a toddler. I've tried Amtrak from coast to coast (my sister's a big fan of trains kasi) and it was fun! Though we always book either the roomette or the viewliner bedroom since the average travel was 2-3 days. 

[Gaysha]

^^^Why airbnb? parang di naman sya secure esp. kung may bata. At least sa hotel, may guard or concierge and security procedure like sa elevator, makakagamit lang kung may room card ka, etc.

And budget of $100-150 per day is pasok na pasok sa mga subok ng chain hotels in Midtown or Times Square.

[pretinnes]

^^^@pretinnes, thanks so much for your inputs. In our past trips we usually DIY but a NYC-based friend suggested we try HoHo

well yeah, good decision naman ang HoHo, lalo na ayaw mo masyado mag isip kung saan ang next destination. regarding the subway, di din kami nagsa subway when we go to NY. puro lakad talaga sis. And as per byutijunkie, puro hagdan din siya so parang ganun din. Basta rule of thumb lalo na this season is layers layers to keep you warm. enjoy sis

[_Jasmin_]

^^ Thanks everyone for your advice. Much appreciated. How much is the unlimited Metrocard for the subway? Sulit ba siya kahit 2 and half day lang kami in NYC? I'm already preparing myself for the weather, so listing out clothes to wear and bring, sobrang lamigin pa naman ako. May mga sale ba sa stores around Christmastime? Mapapa shopping ba ko don? Hahaha! Im also thinking of buying some clothes there na lang kase hirap ako to lug around  luggages lalo di pa naman masyado nakakatulong magbuhat ang anak ko.

[byutijunkie]

^sandali lang pala kayo sa NYC.  In that case, baka hindi worth it yung unlimited Metrocard?  Per trip is 2.75usd I think and the 7-day pass is 31usd.  Try computing nalang how many times you plan on using the train para malaman mo if worth it.

I suggest bring a thick jacket na since you have limited time there.  Just use your time to sightsee. 

[bagaholic_chewy]

@mama_squeak we wanted to drive sana para we can make some stops along the way (PA & DC, primarily). Husband loves to do long drives din kasi. And para di kami mamroblema sa luggage, in case mapadami ang shopping, hehe. Our other option is to just fly from NY to Atlanta like what we did before, mag-add na lang kami ng luggage if needed. Then we'll just do a daytrip for PA & DC. Pag-isipan uli namin, me few months pa naman kami.

@gaysha why not? i love airbnb. We tried na in Japan, Korea and even around Europe. Safe neighborhoods naman yung mga nabobook namin, and so far ok ang mga naging experience namin. It's fun, actually. Hotels can be so stiff din kasi. Re hotels, wala ako mahanap around that rate for our travel period na malapit-lapit sa Times Square. My husband stayed before sa Hyatt Times Square, so we're considering that, though naisip ko kasi pang additional shopping money na din yung price difference. Haha. 

[Gaysha]

^kelan ba ang stay nyo? I tried looking in tripadvisor and pasok naamn sa budget nyo even for December. You may have a good experience in those countries kasi di naman sya katulad ng sa US na may drug and crime problems in their inner cities. Well this time kasi, Harlem in NYC is definitely not that safe a neighborhood to stay. why not airbnb? well, kasi sa legalities, it's just a private individual renting out/acting as a hotel. Pano na lang kung may mangyari?

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ April pa naman kami next year, kaya in no rush pa. Exploring our options pa. Kaya nga i'm trying to get feedback from those who actually tried airbnb. We're looking at Brooklyn for now, found some nice apartments near subway station. I also thought Harlem is not so safe na area, though madami sana mura dun, haha. If kami lang ni husband baka patusin ko ang Harlem. Haha. But since me toddler na kasama baka pass muna kami dun.

[Gaysha]

^I was in NYC last May 2016 then bumalik uli ng June, kasagsagan ng summer tourist season and we stayed first in Marriot and 2nd in Hilton all in Midtown Manhattan, $120-150/night lang naman sis. Brooklyn is too far for me lang naman. Again for me, if tour, must stay in Manhattan.

[mama squeak!]

^That's super cheap! Did you book direct with the hotel's website or thru a 3rd party booking site? We always stay in Manhattan but our average nightly rate was $200-250 and these prices were in 2013-2014.

@bagaholic_chewy, according to my friend yung Harlem apartment nya is near Central Park. PM mo si junetwentythree which area in Brooklyn or Harlem is okay. She lives in NYC.

[Gaysha]

^for what it's worth, Columbia University is located near Harlem haha..An Ivy league school.

Hilton Honors saka Marriot Rewards member kasi ako. But 10% lang naman discount. May tax pa sya sis. In Hilton Herald Square, I remember paying 19K+ for 2 nights so mali ang calculations ko. LOL..I'm just dissuading Bagaholic to stay in Harlem with a kid in tow..hahaha. It's my American friend kasi from Long Island keeps saying Harlem and Bronx are not nice places to stay.

 

[bagaholic_chewy]

^ actually, baka Times Square and Central Park lang kami mainly sa Manhattan kasi nakapamasyal na kami before sa mga usual sites. Gusto ko lang bumalik ng Central Park kasi di kami nakatambay before kasi me snow, basa mga upuan so mostly lakad lang kami before. Now we want to tambay sa park and maybe bike around since better weather na. Then maybe shopping and kain na lang, meet up with friends. If sasama MIL ko, baka maki-meet uli kami sa highschool classmates niya sa Chinatown, haha. Then parang gusto ko mag-outlet shopping in Bergen for more common brands. Iniisip ko pa kung babalik kami ng Woodbury. Ah, tsaka lalakad ako sa Brooklyn bridge, haha!

Thanks as always, @Mama_squeak! Will browse airbnb again pag medyo malapit-lapit na then i'll message sis June for feedback on my shortlist. pag walang ok dun, either hotel kami or sa Scarsdale uli.

[sdee]

^sis you can try Manhattan Broadway Hotel malapit lang siya sa Times Square Mismo yung malaki yung room niya yun lang elevator niya maliit and mabagal pero location malapit naman and room parang kasha 6pax yung nabook namin lumalabas asa 7500peso per night.

[_Jasmin_]

Hello, asking for inputs again.  Medyo mahal kase yung ibang shows na pwede for kids like Wicked, Lion King etc so I putting it on hold for now. Since it will be Christmas during out visit I'm considering The Nutcracker or Rockettes Christmas Show. Which show is better considering I'll be watching with my son? Hehe.

[rics]

^try TKTS for discount tickets.
Check the tksts booth at time square to see kung shows na naka discount.
Minsan if you arrive early at the theater napapa-raffle ng murang ticket.
Wicked hindi yata naging mura ticket price ever, we wanted to watch last summer pero over $150 so we watched Chicago instead for half the price.

[bagaholic_chewy]

^sis you can try Manhattan Broadway Hotel malapit lang siya sa Times Square Mismo yung malaki yung room niya yun lang elevator niya maliit and mabagal pero location malapit naman and room parang kasha 6pax yung nabook namin lumalabas asa 7500peso per night.

Thanks for this, sis! Will check this out.