Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and newyork

Getting to Atlanta on the Chinatown bus

greta simone — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 07:11:08 -0800

Please tell me about your experience on the Chinatown bus from NYC to the southeast. Should I put my friend on it so she can get home? I have had a friend visiting me in NYC this weekend whose flight to Atlanta today got canceled. All the flights that the airline can reschedule her for will make her miss her Christmas plans.

So I looked up buses at gotobus.com and found a bus that leaves Chinatown run by Horse Run Tour. I am assuming this is the Chinatown bus, as it's the only bus leaving from Chinatown that I could find.

I have read previous threads about the Chinatown bus but they either seemed like they were from people who hadn't necessarily taken one or by people taking a different route (i.e. possibly run by a different carrier).

For what it's worth, we have already looks at tons of other options, and they are either too expensive or won't put her in Atlanta on the day she needs. Also, this trip says 14 hours to Greyhound's 23, so we figured it would be better.

Could you tell me if this bus is reasonably safe and reliable or any other experiences you have had?

Canadian ISO antibiotics in NY.

rebekah — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:18:57 -0800

Where can my Canadian boyfriend go in New York to get antibiotics? We went to Guatemala. He came back with something nasty living in his stomach. He doesn't go back to Canada for several more days. Where can he go in New York to get a prescription for antibiotics? He has a Canadian health card, and I have health insurance through school. Any suggestions for clinics, etc. welcome.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

SLC Mom — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:53:39 -0800

Please recommend a simple route on public transportation to go from JFK airport to White Plains Airport (Westchester County). Something cheaper than a taxi is desirable, but I don't want to change buses a dozen times either.

We are flying into JFK, but I don't want to rent a car at those prices. We'll be staying near White Plains, and their airport has much cheaper rentals.

Thanks!

(I asked a couple of weeks ago about cheaper rentals at JFK. Thanks to all those who offered suggestions then, too!)

So what's going on in NYC this weekend?

paxton — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:11:58 -0800

I know this is a semi-silly question with near infinite possibilities for answers, but what should I be doing to feel a little less like a tourist while I'm in Manhattan this weekend? There's obviously no shortage of things to do any day at any hour, but for those of you who call NYC home or are simply more familiar with its underbelly than I, what are you doing this weekend?
Suggestions for museums, food, gallery openings, off the beaten path shopping or even great people watching spots will all be entertained.

A good retreat is better than a bad stand.

Sophie1 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:37:52 -0800

I'm attending a writer's retreat from Oct. 15-18 in Ancram, NY and need some info on staying around for a few more days. I think Ancram is near the Hudson River looks from Google like it's near Catskill. I have booked my flight home on the 22nd because I would love to spend a few days somewhere continuing my writing after the planned retreat.

So. I have 4 days in upstate NY. I'm assuming that the leaves will be changing and it will be difficult to book anywhere soon. Where should I stay? Anything I shouldn't miss? Any other good tips I need to know while I'm there.

As a bit of information, I'm not a huge fan of B&Bs - I don't enjoy forced social interactions or floral prints. I'll be alone. I'd love a quiet town with a little hotel, a diner and some shops where I could wander, write, read, knit and watch the leaves turn.

Also, I'm taking a planned bus in from Manhattan so I expect I'll need a car once I get to my destination. If the hive mind has any suggestions for that please include any information.

Thanks!

Last-minute July 4th plans for NYC wanderer

jckll — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:36:59 -0800

Last-minute July 4th plans for NYC wanderer? My plans for July 4th fell through over the weekend so I'm left with nothing to do. I beseech you, AMeFi armchair travel agents: Help me find something fun for the long weekend!

I would prefer to travel outside the city, and would do so by plane, train or bus. Don't own a car. I will spend a reasonable amount of money, but cheaper is, of course, better. Would also consider city-based activities or maybe a daytrip or two to a nearby locale. I am a Manhattan-centric NYCer, so recommendations of things going on in the outer boroughs would be very welcome. Help me show myself how cool Brooklyn and Queens are!

Things I like: hiking, interesting food and restaurants, camping (but all my camping gear is elsewhere! boo), biking (bike=with the camping gear), reading, water (to play and to drink), music/concerts, sports, documentaries and movie screenings, outdoor festivals, etc etc etc

I am open to almost anything. Even if I didn't list it above, and you know of something cool going on, tell me!

NYC Filter: Help me get a good picture of NYC's most famous lady...

Ashman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:45:46 -0800

NYC Filter: Help me get a good picture of NYC's most famous lady... Where are some good places to get pictures of the Statue of Liberty?

My brother and I are going to be in NYC for the first time next week and we were thinking about taking the Staten Island Ferry to get picutres of the Statue of Liberty because it looks to be free.

But after reading on another thread here how long it takes, I'm not sure that is the best option and it looks like there are other ferrys that get closer but for a price.

I've done the search here and read through tons of NYC+ and NewYork+ threads but I haven't seen anyone talk much about where to get good pictures of the various landmarks so I thought I'd ask.

As a corolary, if anyone knows a good company for a tour, we're only going to be in town for 3 days, so I'm thinking that a guided tour of Manhattan might be worth the $. I haven't seen that question answered yet either, but I may have just missed it. For example, are these Grayline tours any good and is the New York Pass worth it?

Thanks in advance for any help, and I'll apologize in advance if I'm asking a redundant question.

Help suggest NYC attractions that don't require tons of walking?

btkuhn — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:04:21 -0800

Suggest some New York attractions for my walking-challenged parents? My parents have planned a trip to New York ths coming May. They will be arriving on a Friday early afternoon nd leaving Monday late morning. I've lived in New York for about a year and was all excited to plan their trip (I will be out of town), but my mom called last night and told me that my dad's hip is painful with excess walking, so I'm a bit stumped. I was planning on suggesting some of the things I love: walking the Brooklyn Bridge, seeing Chinatown, exploring Greenwich Village, Central Park, etc.

So I ask you, fellow mefites: please help me plan a fun trip for my parents without a ton of walking. They will be staying in Manhattan so please no suggestions in other bouroughs. My Mom would like to see Ground Zero, but other than that their agenda is completely open.

Thanks!

Parents coming to visit in NY. Where should I take them?

falameufilho — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:23:07 -0800

Parents coming to visit in NY. Where should I take them? My parents are coming to visit me in New York for a week in late March. They are in their 60's, have been all over the world and like to try new things. I want to take them to see some great stuff around the city, but there's one problem - they don't speak a word of English. They have been many times to NY in the past so all the obvious touristy stuff has been done already.

An example of what I'm looking for: last time they were here I took them to the ballet (Kirov) and to a couple of lowbrow shows (Fuerzabruta and Blue Man Group). They loved it all.

So, what can I do with them that they'll like and will be able to enjoy even with the language barrier? I know you know the answer, hive mind.

P.S.: I'd like to avoid Broadway musicals if possible. They would probably like it, but I fucking hate musicals. Thanks!

How can I book a sane vacation?

mhz — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:41:25 -0800

What's the safest/best way to book airline tickets? Hey…

I'm planning on flying from New York to Melbourne. I don't have a credit card. What is the best way to make sure my trip is hassle-free?

I've flown many times in the past and have never had a problem with lost baggage. But I figure I'll get screwed sometime, and with the multiple connections (and chances for things to go wrong) I'm seriously debating the extra $60 or so that the booking website charges for insurance. So as far as insurance is concerned:

- Is it worth it?

- What do these things usually cover? I'm landing in Australia a day before my friend's wedding – what exactly happens if Gaffubid my stuff gets lost?

- Is it possible to get a third-party insurer after booking my tickets, with a better cost/benefit ratio? If yes, please provide a link.

- Is there a credit card that helps? I vaguely recall something about AmEx guaranteeing something – does it only work for the cardholder? How about someone in the cardholder's household? How about a companion? If so, does the companion ticket need to have been bought together? Are there any other credit cards that would offer this?

- I'm going to start and end in Melbourne, but I will be in Sydney and possibly other cities as well. Is there a better traveler's insurance which will cover all flights and incidentals during my trip?

slightly offtopic
- I will probably be flying Virgin Blue (MEL-SYD-MEL), and I can't seem to figure out from their website if there's a 1 bag limit (using the super cheap fares) or not. I know there's an $8 charge – I just don't know if I can take two bags.

I've flown between the US and Australia multiple times, so I think I've got everything covered, but if there's anything else that may help…

If it helps at all as far as getting insurance things are concerned, I'm 22, male, US and Australian citizen.

Thank you very much

I'm not a Yankee, please help

bach — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:36:54 -0800

Traveling to NYC during Thanksgiving... I am a chaperon for my students marching in the Macy's Great American Marching Band that performs for the Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving Day. While the majority of the week will be devoted to rehearsal and group sight-seeing, I do have some personal free time.

My question is what is the easiest and/or an inexpensive way to get to NYC from Hilton Woodcliff Lake-200 Tice Blvd, Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey 07675

Other questions include what is there to do nearby, things not to miss, etc...

Need advice on somewhere to go on the Thanksgiving weekend in the greater New York area

falameufilho — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:02:03 -0800

Need advice on somewhere to go on the Thanksgiving weekend in the greater New York area. Hello, hive mind. Me and the wife are expats living in New York City, so we don't have any family to visit on Thanksgiving. So we're feeling like doing something different that weekend - like getting out of the city, breathing some fresh air, taking a couple of days off from our ridiculously small apartment, you get the idea.

So here are the constraints:

1) It must be reasonably close to the city
2) It must be reachable by public transportation - train, bus, etc (I don't feel renting a car unless absolutely necessary)
3) It must be reasonably cheap
4) Not being crowded is a big plus
5) If we can see some nice fall foliage that's great as well (it might be too late for that, but maybe we're lucky)

That's about it. Thanks, hive mind!

Cheap travel from Delaware to NYC?

viewofdelft — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:23:54 -0800

What are the cheapest ways to get from Newark, Delaware, to New York City? I'm a research assistant at the University of Delaware and as part of a long and wonkish I-95 corridor project, we've decided to produce a map or informational pamphlet letting students know the cheapest ways to get from here (Newark, Delaware) to New York City.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Any mode of transportation is fair game (air, rail, highway, seaports, etc.), as is any type of vehicle (plane, train, automobile, bus, shoes, etc.).
2. Be creative, but within reasonable limits of safety (i.e., no airmailing oneself).
3. It's alright if many of the suggested travel methods begin in Philadelphia (and maybe even Baltimore) if these departure points are more familiar to you.
4. Cost is the most important factor, although I don't want to discourage that outlandish teleportation idea you've been waiting to uncork.

After we've completed the map or pamphlet, I'll contact each of the contributors about mailing them a finished product. Thank you.

If Oscar the Grouch could do it, so can we.

Miko — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:42:50 -0800

Chirstmastime ice skating at Rockefeller Center: Pro tips? My mom has had a lifelong wish to skate at the Rockefeller Center ice rink under the big Christmas Tree at Christmastime. I'd like this to be the year we do it. However, I have never seen the rink without an enormous long line of would-be skaters spending most of the day waiting. I don't want to plan what is supposed to be a delightful magical experience only to end up in a long, exhausting wait on concrete steps.

So I decided I'd start my research now.

Is there a day of week or time of day at which the line will be shorter?
How long can the wait be? I've read that the rink can hold 150 skaters at a time.
Is there any advantage to bringing your own skates?
Other than an engagement on ice, is there any way to get a pass to bypass the line?
Does the whole skating party have to wait on line, or can one person placehold while others wander the plaza?

Any other ideas for making this a smooth experience would be most welcome. We're flexible as to time and day, just wanting to be sure to skate when the tree and decorations are up. Thank you!

Do you know of small towns in the Adirondacks?

Nillocsoc — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:47:29 -0800

What are some small towns in the Adirondacks (NY)- with nice community, local food, and art? I am looking to spend a few months in the Adirnodacks and am searching for small towns that offer a nice sense of community: art, food, music, books, outdoor activities. Ideally not too touristy, but even that would be okay.

All ideas are appreciated, and anything details about the places would be great!

Thanks.

Where to go between Key West and NYC?

lodev — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:10:42 -0800

Road trip from Florida to NYC. Where to go, what to do? I'm flying in to Ft. Lauderdale from San Francisco on September 24th. I need to be in New York City on October 4th. What to see/do in the meantime?

Tips on where to go in New York are readily available, but I'm sort of stuck on the part before that. I've got 1,5 week in which I'd like to see Key West, Washington DC, Miami. But where else can I go and what's a reasonable route to take? I'll be renting a car. Thanks in advance for your tips!

And of course, should you live along my route I'll be happy to buy you a beer!

Leaving New York, Never Easy... Car hire?

tomble — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:59:42 -0800

I'm currently in Astoria, NY, and planning to drive to DC tomorrow in a hired car. The question is - where should I hire a car to get a good rate? Is it worth it to travel to New Jersey as was suggested to me, or should I just go to La Guardia airport? Anything I should know about car hire? I'm from Australia, so the main thing is to remember to drive on the right side of the road.

New Orleans fell through, so let's try something else that's new!

sperose — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:25:42 -0800

As luck would have it, my previous question has fizzled out. Same people travelling, but this time, we're heading to New York City from Waverly, NY, and only staying for the weekend (5/22 or 23-5/25). The biggest question is: how do we get into the city? We do have access to a car, but I'd be the driver and I really dislike driving in big ass cities (such as NYC). How could we get from Waverly to inside the city?

Where can we stay that would be good for general partying-ness and some sight-seeing, but also relatively cheap (the main reason why this trip was cut down to a weekend instead of a week)?

Is there some sort of easy carryaround map I can use? (I like maps that have subway lines/stations and bus service on them.)

What is 'not to be missed'? I've been to NYC once (pre-9/11), and seen the big attractions, but have no desire to see Ground Zero (neither does my friend, for that matter.)

How much is this going to hurt in the wallet? I know that cigarettes are expensive (my friend smokes), but for alcohol, what would be standard prices for stuff like beers and mixed drinks?

Lastly, any words of advice? This is my first vacation that I'm planning by myself and I'm trying to not screw it up. (Of course, leaving one week to plan things isn't helping matters, but was out of my hands.)

Hobo dreams

doift — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:39:17 -0800

Please recommend me some day/weekend trip destinations from NYC, especially if they involve trains and don't require renting a car. My husband grew up in relatively car-centric, train-free areas, and now that we live in the East he really wants to go on a long train ride and see the rolling countryside, etc. Being more experienced in the ways of train travel than he is, I pointed out that his original suggestion (just get on any random train and ride it all day) is boring and a bad idea. But it would be nice to have some Saturday or whole-weekend trip ideas in reserve, so we're looking for destinations.

We like: food, museums, movies, theater, interesting shopping, quiet beaches, interesting scenery, longish unstrenuous walks, going to states that we haven't been to yet (which includes most of them), activities and amusements that are usually intended for children, and not spending very much money.

We don't much like: when walking becomes hiking, froofy B&Bs, having to rent a car.

Where should we go? Where should we stay? What should we do?

Family trip to NYC/Philly/DC

mr_crash_davis — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:18:51 -0800

Taking the family to a game at Yankee Stadium before it closes, and would like suggestions for where to stay/what to do/what to see. We have the week of May 19-24 tentatively penciled in, and we're considering three possible itineraries:

Fly into EWR, take the train into NYC for the game on the 21st. Drive to Philadelphia one day for sightseeing.

Fly into PHL, go to NYC for the game on the 21st (drive? Is there a train?) Drive to D.C. one day for sightseeing.

Fly into JFK, see the game on the 21st, see Philadelphia and/or D.C.

Suggestions/hints/alternatives/help? There will be me, Mrs. Davis, and our three kids (20, 17, and 15)

Start spreadin' the news!

tomble — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:41:39 -0800

What can't we miss when we're in New York in June? So, I'm off to the U.S. for a month with my partner in June, hooray! First stop is New York for up to a week. Neither of us have been there before and we're really looking forward to making the most of it.

The question is - what things can't we miss when we're there? We're planning on taking in some shows, maybe getting to a filming of the Daily Show, walking around Central Park for a bit, but what can't we miss? I'm happy to contemplate both highly touristy and `off the beaten track' type experiences. We might even hire a car, so good portions of the state are open to us.

As well as good sights, recommendations of good restaurants and cafes are welcome too!

A few more of these questions to come as we work out where we will be travelling to over the month. Thanks all!

Photography trips in NYC area

lsemel — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:36:30 -0800

I'm looking for ideas for interesting, off-the-beaten-path places to go and take photographs in New York or the surrounding areas. It would be good to take photographs that not absolutely identical to things you see in travel books, so no touristy or centrally located areas. Recent visits been to the abandoned buildings of Ellis Island, the recently-collapsed smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island, Astroland, Vinegar Hill, and Washington Rock (in NJ). What are some other photo-worthy places?

Cheap overnight parking in New York?

Dasein — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:14:47 -0800

How can I find parking in New York from Tuesday to Friday next week? Ideally it would be on Upper West Side Manhattan and not very expensive, but I could park farther afield. I'm hoping to drive to New York next week (from Toronto), arriving Tuesday evening and leaving on Friday. It would be super if it were relatively secure parking (i.e., I could pack some stuff into it on Thursday and it wouldn't get broken into overnight), but I understand if that's not possible.

I'll be staying at W 84th St and Columbus, so any space near there would be great, but I would be willing to park farther away if that's what it takes to make it affordable. The real constraint is money - if parking is $50 a day, the trip won't make financial sense (and my girlfriend will move her stuff out another way).

Any advice is much appreciated.

How do I make the most of New York?

Dasein — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:33:45 -0800

I'm in New York until September 9. What should I do? I'm staying in Manhattan, at W 84th St and Columbus. What should I do to make the most of my time here? Advice on couples activities welcome. I'm not averse to spending money on special experiences, but budget-conscious suggestions are welcome.

Where can we let Kitty run?

skryche — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:11:42 -0800

New York City Dog Lovers: Where can two car-less Manhattanites (and one miniature poodle) go for the weekend? We just need to get out of the city for three days and would love to find a place we can let our pup run around safely (within a fenced area). Any advice/experience?