First time to NYC on 22Sep

[nimm12]

Will touch down at JFK Airport on 22nd Sep 10am in the morning. Thought of deposit my luggage at the Airport and take public transport from the Airport to Central Park. (Will check in to my hotel in the evening) Whats the best way to get from JFK Airport to Manhattan / Central Park on the Saturday morning (22Sep is a Saturday) ? How bad is the Traffic should I opt for bus instead ($15per trip) ? Planning to do a 2day tour in Manhattan. But the hotel I booked online is near the JFK Airport, so I need to return to JFK Airport from Manhattan in the evening. I have read on the internet about taking the Subway from JFK Airport to Manhattan being the cheapest method ($7 per trip) , but the online rail-line drawing looks way too complicated to me. Cant figure out how to go about taking the Subway to Mahattan... Appreciate if you guys could shed some light!

Capecod/Martha's Vineyard - Rhode Island - Mohegan Sun Casino - what's there to do at these places ? (my land tour includes these places)

will be spending about 3days in NYC Manhattan - the hotel rates are scary ! thinking of BnB on my last 2days at Manhattan (30Sep to 2Oct)... any recommendation ?

[Robb]

Take a cab!!! There is no way I would drive in.... I did it once and it was a terrible mistake!

[daunwaun]

cab is the way to go do it everytime, or limo

[RichK]

A cab is most certainly the easiest way, I believe costs upwards of $50 with tolls just to give you some reference point. I wouldn't worry about traffic on a Saturday morning.

I do believe there are shuttles that head to Grand Central (a major train station in the middle of Manhattan) at regular intervals and are fairly cheap as you noted (your hotel should be able to tell you some names, I haven't used them myself). If you do take a bus to Grand Central, it is a nice walk up Fifth Avenue or Madison Avenue past all the high-end shops (including the two major Rolex ADs, Wempe and Torneau) to get to Central Park. I've taken the subway to JFK once and it isn't worth the time and effort to me.

Central Park should be very enjoyable this time of year, not too hot so you can enjoy the walk! I hope you have a good time in New York!

Best,
Rich

[nimm12]

thanks guys , planning to take shuttle from JFK (round trip) to Central Park.. if traffic is good on Saturday mornings and evenings, that is... will not be going straight to the hotel from JFK (waste of time) , so my luggage will have to stay at JFK once i touch down at 10am ... how much per luggage does JFK charge for safekeeping? wont be taking cab though , if the shuttle cost half the price for the same amount of time to reach my destination.

[unclesallie]

i don't think you can store luggage anymore at JFK. drop off luggage at your hotel. will hotel provide shuttle? if so, from the hotel, get the concierge to give you the train numbers/times/construction delays. if too daunting, take a bus or cab. traffic delays should not be too bad on saturdays, but even with delays, no more than 1 hr. to get to Manhattan. I would take trains, because they are not only cheap, but much faster. I doubt you will get lost, ask a transit cop or transit employee for directions. NY needs to be seen away from mid-town manhattan to be seen at all. this time of year is perfect, and i agree with others who have recommended central park...go to Strawberry Fields, boat house, various sites within central park. take a walk down 5th ave. or on the west side...central park west. go to greenwich village(Washington Square Monument is a great landmark for the village...one of the most colorful areas you will see...right by is
SOHO(great stores/art galleries) and not far from SOHO is Chinatown. Corner of Pell St. and Mott: 'Joe's Shanghai' Seafood restaurant...you will not eat better anywhere in the world if you like Cantonese style seafood. If you are adventurous, try the other end of town and hike across the George Washington Bridge...yep, you can walk across, and it's fun! You can always try Hyatt Waterfront, Jersey City, rooms and views are gorgeous, rates low....views of Hudson River and NY skyline from NJ side. But here you must take trains. Try BB King's House of Blues....call ahead for show tickets. Save money at the bar and listen to music anyway(show is on the other side of the bar). You can stand in line at 1/2 price ticket line at Times Square for shows. You will not sit down front, but on the other hand you will not pay $125 dollars for a ticket either. With a single, you can see any show in NY! Check out the China Club, if you like rock and roll: crowded, and very public, still lots of interesting people, music: http://www.chinaclubnyc.com/
Do not miss: new, renovated Metropolitan Museum of Art; same for Museum of Modern Art(MOMA). Finally, two points: the little parks and bars in NY are the very best NY has to offer. Personal Safety: DO NOT FLASH MONEY IN NY, NOR LEAVE ANY PERSONAL BELONGINGS UNATTENDED FOR MORE THAN 2 seconds. DO NOT BUY ANY ROLEX WATCHES IN NY, UNLESS AT AN AD WHERE YOU WILL PAY TOP $$(but you already know that,right?).

[unclesallie]

[jimbo1mcm]

Be careful. There are "gypsy", ie not regulated, cab drivers that will overcharge you dramatically. Get on line for a normal cab. There is usually a place that says, "taxi" and a dispatcher that blows a whistle and summons up cabs. These are legitimate. Make sure he puts the meter on and ask him how much to go to NYC. Use hand signals if you don't speak Russian!!!!!

[CEG]

Set price is $45 plus tip for a cab..

Well it was 3 weeks or so back !

[nimm12]

thanks guys , your info is really helpful !

[Jocke]

Just take a cab, leave your luggage at your hotel.
Go for a 2 days sigthseeing bus to navigate at the
Manhattan. You can go for some different tours and jump
on and off where you like.

Here is some pics from my NYC visit in May.

http://www.watchwallpapers.com/nyc07.htm

Have fun.

Jocke

[nimm12]

great pics Jocke !

[S2000 Driver]

Have to add a few:

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Have a nice trip!

Be sure to take LOTS of photos of Rolex from AD's!

[Gaijin]

You guys are so helpful. I love this place!!

[nimm12]

I must say this is one of the best , if not the best , forums around !

[nimm12]

Hi people ... going to NYC for the first time , my itinerary includes places like NYC , Boston , Washington DC, Capecod/Martha's Vineyard - Rhode Island - Mohegan Sun Casino ... question is , whats there to do at places like Capecod/Martha's Vineyard - Rhode Island - Mohegan Sun Casino?

[S2000 Driver]

Originally Posted by nimm12

Hi people ... going to NYC for the first time , my itinerary includes places like...Mohegan Sun Casino... question is, what's there to do?...

Given that Mohegan Sun Casino is in my home state of Connecticut, I'll address that one.

Not sure how much time you have in the Mohegan Sun Casino area, or what your interests are, but here goes:

Mashantucket Pequot Museum (located at the nearby Foxwoods Casino Resort)

U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum: Home of the USS Nautilus

Mystic Seaport

...and a great old New England Inn for Sunday Brunch/Lunch:

Griswold Inn

Where are you going in Rhode Island, Newport? If so, I can make a few recommendations for there, too.

[S2000 Driver]

By the way...

Don't forget to visit this place while you're in New York City:


Rolex Watch USA
665 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022
212-758-7700

[S2000 Driver]

Well, how was your visit to the USA?

[unclesallie]

yeah, how was it? time for pics and a response!

[nimm12]

just got back to my country Singapore from New York , wow , amazing places i went. you know, buildings and places u usually see in Hollywood movies , i saw them all in real life , and yah , Rolex NYC too. weather was good , slightly hot for fall but not too bad, people were great (used to hear that NYC folks are unfriendly , but not true at all) , and the food was fantastic. thanks to all the friendly folks in this forum who have given me good advices, made my trip alot easier. definitely would like to visit NewYork and Boston and most of New England again

[S2000 Driver]

Originally Posted by nimm12

just got back to my country Singapore from New York , wow , amazing places i went. you know, buildings and places u usually see in Hollywood movies , i saw them all in real life , and yah , Rolex NYC too. weather was good , slightly hot for fall but not too bad, people were great (used to hear that NYC folks are unfriendly , but not true at all) , and the food was fantastic. thanks to all the friendly folks in this forum who have given me good advices, made my trip alot easier. definitely would like to visit NewYork and Boston and most of New England again

Great to hear to you had a positive experience and enjoyed yourself!