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Comments (13)
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Save/ShareThis morning BudgetTravel.com fielded questions from readers in London about fun things to do in New York City on the Times of London's website, with stupendous pro help from Lisa Ritchie, Editor of the Time Out New York city guide, NYC for Visitors, and Shortlist guides (Time Out New York), Chris Heywood, spokesman for NYC & Company (nycgo.com), and Ginny Light, Assistant Travel Editor, Times Online.
"Where are the hottest bars in New York? Macy's or Fifth Avenue for shopping? Where's best to ice skate?" We answered these questions—or at least, did the best we could at 8 o'clock in the morning Eastern time.
Here are some highlights that may be helpful to you if you're planning a trip to New York City soon:
What is a good hotel / apartment website for a young couple with a limited budget wanting to visit NYC?
For truly affordable, airbnb.com offers places to stay in the spare rooms of people's apartments. You book online with a credit card, and you receive a code. The owners of the apartment don't get the money until you meet them in person and enter the code together at a website.
Eurocheapo has hotels in NYC, despite its name. And I'd be remiss not to point out that BudgetTravel.com has listings for stylish hotels in the $100 to $225 a night range. Have a great trip!
Any new music themed attractions in NYC?
You could also check out the new(ish) Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Soho if you have an interest in pop culture; there's a whole room dedicated to NYC emphemera (www.rockannex.com).--Lisa
Avery Fisher Hall just reopened with a brand new gorgeous complex by Lincoln Center, if you want to have a night in high style.--Sean
Where is the best deli for salt beef on rye, pickles etc?
Lisa, Chris, and Sean agree: Katz's www.katzdeli.com
Lisa adds: And it's open until 3am on weekends! Try the pastrami and don't think about Meg Ryan, who had her "fauxgasm" scene here in When Harry Met Sally…
Also, Martin. If you like pickles, stop by Guss' on the Lower East Side too: 85-87 Orchard Street, between Broome and Grand Streets. It's open from 11am-6pm Monday thru Thursday and Sunday and 11-4pm on Saturday. You'll know it by the barrels outside! It's one of the last holdovers of what was a booming pickle industry in this former Jewish neighborhood.
Any good rooftop bars?
Hi Annie, Sean likes the Gansevoort's rooftop and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's rooftop. I personally like going to the rooftop bar at the Peninsula Hotel called Salon de Ning. Or, the spectacular 230 Fifth rooftop bar, during summer and winter. In the winter, they have robes and heaters. The best thing about is seeing the Empire State Building at night! So quintessential NYC! Annie, I also found a piece on www.nycgo.com that talks about winter rooftop places.
Enjoy!
The Times of London also has a guide to NYC rooftop bars.
Shopping advice?
Lisa: If it's shopping you're after, the Times of London's New York shopping guide will get you started. Century 21, across from the World Trade Center site, is amazing, but also check out Gabay's Outlet in the East Village for designer shoes and bags as a less-mobbed alternative: www.gabaysoutlet.com
Also, do check our website www.timeoutnewyork.com or racked.com for details about sample sales: there are several every week in this town!
What about holiday markets?
If you're coming to NYC before the end of January, check out the various holiday markets. The one is Bryant Park is already open; most of the others open in late Nov. I just wrote a roundup of the best: see www.timeoutnewyork.com/holidays. Especially check out Gifted on the edge of the East Village (in the article) as there will be lots of cool handmade things by local designers/maker
See www.timeoutnewyork.com/holidays for all the info you need about Xmaas markets and more.
What about gay nightlife?
Hey NickYC - I recommend Vlada, Therapy, Posh, and Bartini in Hell's Kitchen. Also, if you're going to Chelsea for the gay scene, check out Barracuda, G Lounge, and Splash for dancing. If you like a sports bar for the gay audience, go to Gym Bar on 8th Avenue. The Grace hotel also has a Wed night evening event. Check out www.nycgo.com/gay for more general info. Enjoy!
--Chris
Best areas are for nightlife for 20-30's?
For concentrated nightlife, head either to the Lower East Side or the East Village for great bars and small music venues like (Cake Shop) and faux speakeasies like the Back Room (102 Norfolk Street between Delancey and Rivington). Look for the sign that says the Lower East Side Toy Company, pass through an alley and up the metal stairs. Also, Williamsburg is the city's indie rock mecca: check out small venues like Pete's Candy Store and Union Pool as well as the Music Hall of Williamsburg (see the Music section of timeoutnewyork.com for listings). And finally, the hottest club right now is the new Santos Party House, launched by a team that includes Andrew WK, one of the few new spots to open downtown in recent years (on the Tribeca/Chinatown border). Santospartyhouse.com.
--Lisa
Sean adds: Consider catching a show at Joe's Pub in the Village/NYU area -- it's hipster dinner theater, you and your friends can sit at a table and catch a good show while chatting and relaxing.
Angel Share is a "hidden" old-style speakeasy bar with excellent martinis -- you need at least three people to get a booth. Go to St. Mark's Place, walk up a staircase through an unassuming looking Asian restaurant to an unmarked door nymag.com/listings/bar/angels_share
Have a blast!
Chris adds: Hi, I highly recommend the Sex and the City tour by On Location Tours! You get a real taste for the movie. My favorite part of the tour is when you stop to get cupcakes in the West Village near the Magnolia Bakery. It's cool to also walk down and see Carrie Bradshaw's brownstone (which in the movie is on the Upper East Side, but in real life was in the W Village). Try On Location Tours for this tour along with the new Gossip Girl Tour! Enjoy.
Sean chimes in: But don't take the Sex and the City Official Tour unless you/'re comfortable going to a sex toy shop and a dive bar.
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The full Web chat is archived here: "New York city break travel clinic: ask the experts."
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I like the choices. I'd also recommend Little Branch as a good speak-easy. Just a gray door on 7th Ave and Leroy in the West Village. Amazing gin and tonics among other cocktails.
Posted By Avi on November 16, 2009, 12:51 PM
For accommodations we recommend renting a budget timeshare (we use http://www.redweek.com). For example, the Manhattan Club is in the heart of the city, and the magnificent Central Park, with all of it's free activities, is just 3 blocks away.
Posted By travelnut on November 16, 2009, 2:18 PM
I'm surprised in your article on budget Manhattan hotels you didn't mention the Amsterdam Court Hotel on 50th 1/2 block west of Broadway. It is a clean, nice place to stay in the heart of midtown and rates start at $139/night.
Posted By Bob on November 16, 2009, 7:22 PM
I was completely with them until Chris mentioned the SATC tour. Then I just had to completely doubt their credibility - how could anyone recommend that? Or go ahead and suggest they wear a pink sweatsuit with sneakers to blend in. Magnolia Bakery? Really? In 1994, yes, but today?
Posted By Jeffrey on November 17, 2009, 5:20 AM
You need an editor. So many grammatical errors ! I think you should look at your misplaced apostrophes,and the words you left out...I know they will not harm your message, but the mistakes do harm the image of Budget Travel.
Posted By Diane Drucker on November 17, 2009, 8:39 AM
Hi Sean
Thanks for the tips for 17-yr old fashion-conscious girl & getting to
Newport/RI on timesonline.co.uk (& you even guessed I was into
yachting!).
Any recommendation links for artsy lodgings downtown appreciated (&
flights from Nice, France).
Not been to NYC for 30 years (when I was 18 & walked its length as was
told at JKF airport info that subways dangerous, taxis will rip you
off & I'd get lost on buses.....)!
May not book for couple weeks as fiancee's daughter only just applied
for a USA visa so will be a last minute job.
All the best
Nick
Posted By Nick Jeffery on November 17, 2009, 10:56 AM
although i love Katz deli and I have spent many hours there
"send a salami to your boy in the army"
The best deli in NYC is still the Carnegnie deli !
The hot corned beef freshly sliced is not simply great....... it is incredible....
it has the complexity of a fine wine.... my mouth waters thinking of savoring slices of unbelievable taste. Don't miss it....
and I'd recommend Yonah Schimmels on Delancy Street for the best knishes in the world... they will fed x knishes anywhere in the world if you can't get there. But there is nothing like getting them fresh out of an oven.
Laurence Drell
Posted By Laurence Drell on November 17, 2009, 7:41 PM
Some great ideas, but the Schimmel's knishes are on Houston not Delancy, just up the street from Katz's. They make an amazing egg cream at Schimmel's too.
I visit NYC quite often and seem to go back to the places I love. Although I would never want to go on a Sex and the City Tour it might be just what some fan would love. I love to go to the museums and walk through central park. There are certain times most of the museums have free entrance if you do a little research. My favorite small museum is the Frick Collection, I think they have a free entrance mid-day on Sunday. For a cheap tour of Manhattan you can ride the 5th Avenue bus from Central Park to the Village.
In the west village I recommend Joe's Pizza, Grand Szechwan(sp)on 7th Ave and then go across the street to the Little Branch Bar.
I first visited NYC when I was 14 and I was taken to Ferrara's in Little Italy for pastries. I still go back - it is one of the few things from my teens that I still like. The last time I was there half the people coming in the door took pictures of the display cases. Great service and delicious pastry.
Posted By Sheila on November 20, 2009, 10:32 AM
Is this the best travel review Budget Travel can do? "travelnut" & "Bob" sound like they are the businesses that selling their services.
The best cheap place for young people to stay is the AYH hostel at 103rd St. & Amsterdam Ave.:
www.hihostels.com
Arlene's Grocery, which isn't a food store, but a small venue for live music, is my pick for listening to music in NYC.
Macy's Dept. Store is good when there are sales. For example, chocolate goes on sales after Easter, Halloween, & Xmas. They also have the tradition White sale after the New Year's, & almost one every Saturday, & alternate Tuesday preview days for Wednesday sales.
Grand Central Terminal Market is good for the Holiday sales. Watch for hand made crafts.
The Grace Hotel party Wednesday nights is sometimes on Monday nights. It's a pool party complete with DJ, no cover except for special events, then only $5, it's a blast. Bring a towel & come dressed in a bathing suit under your street clothing! It starts late about 11PM with a fashion show or song performance at Midnight or even 1AM. You don't have to be Gay to attend, just ready to be awed. It does get very crowded & prone to be groped. The producer Lee Chappel knows how to put on a show, & the lighting is cutting edge.
Posted By Bruce on November 21, 2009, 9:18 PM
good subject and good information
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