New York City

[MiamiE]

Carlos ill call you up tomorrow. Duane I am on Priceline now.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

Carlos ill call you up tomorrow. Duane I am on Priceline now.

See what the regular priceline rate is and then do the name your own price...literally start around 50% of those prices yet. The hotels they list at a particular star level will give you a good idea what hotels you'll be looking at for a particular part of NYC and star level you want to bid at.

I think the ONLY time I've not used priceline for traveling in the last 10+ years was when I had to have a place that I was guaranteed to allow dogs. Other than that, as long as I'm staying within a certain radius of where I want to be and generally a 3+ star hotel, I'm good to go.

[forgop]

Also, this was the feedback from a BOTL on another board who lives a little north of NYC about shops/lounges.

There are many nice lounges in the city. Davidoff in Columbus Circle and on Madison as well. Then there in Barclay Rex's where Skipper goes. There is also a huge JR Cigars and Nat Sherman.

[MiamiE]

I found the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square. Its $172 a night and 3 stars. I did the Priceline price deal at $90 and was accepted, but who knows what hotel thats for. Kind of tough to give CC info!

[forgop]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

I found the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square. Its $172 a night and 3 stars. I did the Priceline price deal at $90 and was accepted, but who knows what hotel thats for. Kind of tough to give CC info!

Tough to give out CC info? I'm lost, cuz in order to name your own price, you have to provide your cc info when making your offer.

[MiamiE]

I meant tough to give it out without knowing what hotel I am getting.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

I meant tough to give it out without knowing what hotel I am getting.

Well, you have a pretty good idea of what hotels they're choosing from in a particular area and star level. If knowing the exact name of the hotel you're getting at is worth an extra $50-100/night, more power to ya.

I've probably used priceline for no fewer than 50 different hotels over the years and I can say I was disappointed with just one. Nice name brand chain that is usually in the 3.5-4 star category, which was much higher than I felt they should have been rated for this particular location. I think it was part of another chain purchased and they were a long way from renovating it up to their standards elsewhere.

[MiamiE]

Maybe I will take a risk and save the money! $380 for 3 nights in 3 star NYC Times Square hotel seems like a great deal.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

Maybe I will take a risk and save the money! $380 for 3 nights in 3 star NYC Times Square hotel seems like a great deal.

Just think-the money you save will help you buy a lot of smokes and pay for dinner at Sparks.

Honestly, I've even stayed in some 2 star Holiday Inns that were more than adequate IMO to bring price down if I wanted to be at a certain price point.

[PeteSB75]

If you are looking for cigars, hit De La Concha on 6th Ave between 56th and 57th St. Better service than any other shop I've been to in the city. Barclay Rex is ok but they don't let you bring in your own cigars, only allowed to smoke what you buy there. I'd skip J&R, I've bought from them a few times and everything I've gotten from them has been far too dry. Davidoff on Madison has basically the same selection as De La Concha, aside from a larger selection of Davidoff cigars, but since they are both owned by Davidoff, DLC has quite a bit as well.

As far as lounges, we generally go to Merchants East on 1st Ave/62nd St for herfs. It's a nice room, more casual then the other clubs, they don't charge a cutting fee, and their food is pretty good. Carnagie Club on 56th is fairly nice, as long as you are dressed for it - no sneakers, collared shirt. They charge a $10 cutting fee if you bring your own. I've not been in Club Macanudo, but they have a similar dress code, not sure about a cutting fee.

[MiamiE]

I will definately be checking out Merchants East! Thanks.

[MiamiE]

I don't know if I can make it down to southern Brooklyn, but I'll definately check out Grimaldi's!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

I don't know if I can make it down to southern Brooklyn, but I'll definately check out Grimaldi's!

Be prepared to stand in line.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

Be prepared to stand in line.

I'd go as soon as it opens, usually the line is 30-90 minutes.

[SvilleKid]

Even if you don't like shopping, you have to go inside, and walk around all the levels of FAO Schwarz! It will blow your mind!!! You owe it to your wife to take her in and thru Bloomingdales, and/or Macy's! Both are single stores that have more square footage than many malls! A warning: Unless it has changed, the higher the level at Bloomingdales, the higher price the items. So, keep your wife on the lower levels!!

When I was there, it was a month or less before Christmas, so everything was rocking!

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by SvilleKid

You owe it to your wife to take her in and thru Bloomingdales, and/or Macy's!

I must admit that I love the aesthetics of the cosmetics floor of Macy's. It's decorated for Christmas right now, so it doesn't quite have the usual magic, but they've found the perfect balance between ancient Egyptian spa and advanced science laboratory/clean-room. It's a trip and you have to see it, even if you have zero interest in cosmetics, like me.

[Mugen910]

You want a good deal in nice clothes find your way to Century21 Department Store. It's like a TJMaxx but nicer brands.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

You want a good deal in nice clothes find your way to Century21 Department Store. It's like a TJMaxx but nicer brands.

That place is a must and it next to Ground Zero, so you can see two things.

[MiamiE]

Don't know that we'll be doing much shopping, we will go broke! More sightseeing to try and see all the main places. I've got Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Brooklyn, Yankee Stadium, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Empire State Building on the list so far.

[landhoney]

Originally Posted by MiamiE

Statue of Liberty

Skip it, seriously. Once you've been a couple times and have more time then take the time to go out there. On your first trip (and with only 3-4 days) don't take up the better part of a whole day just to see this, too much other stuff to do and see. Again just my I have been to NYC almost a dozen times, we try to go once a year, and each time we discover new things. If you do go, pick me up a fake Rolex in Battery Park, seriously.

The only pizza place not already mentioned (Moses really covered two great ones) is Patsy's in Harlem (the original Patsy's), I think the quality has gone down in recent years, but it's still great coal oven pizza. It's kind of out of the way though, unless you're up that way for some reason.

How about Rockefeller Center? Museums (The Met, MoMA, Guggenheim, Natural History)? Wall St.? Chelsea Market (food galore)? Central Park? Etc, tons of other stuff to do!