Anybody been to New York?

Friend Just came back Said they have never seen so many Homeless people on the Streets .. 

Yes most definitely, send her to New York for three days and you can go on the pi$$ and get a few brasses in whilst she is away. Winner winner chicken dinner, jobsagoodun and everyone is happy

not very nice Slips

To be serious, I absolutely hated the place and couldn't wait to get out of there. I would not recommend New York as a place to go to even my worse enemy, it is a truly ghastly place full of not very pleasant people. If your missus is set on a city break in America then you just cannot beat Boston, it's absolutely beautiful especially at this time of year, me and my wife both loved our time there, fantastic city.

I was just joshing terry!

Go Vegas instead

I've been to Cape Cod. Nice place.

Thoroughly recommended.  My wife's favourite city and she generally dislike cities. I've been about 40 times but not all for fun. Mind you Slippy is right about Boston - it is terrific but doesn't have quite the buzz of the BA.

Less crime than London.

Cheers guys. Any list of 'must dos' if you're there for a long weekend?

We really enjoyed it, felt a lot safer than London, stay in midtown Manhatten and 3 days will be enough to see most of the sites. If you land at JFK just get a yellow cab fixed fee. Get the express ticket to top of Empire state the view is breathtaking. Take the Staton island ferry it's free and goes past statue of liberty. Check out the eateries under grand central station.

Cheers!

Why not a European City Torq?

Prague is gorgeous. Budapest gets rave reviews.

Went about 18 months ago wife wanted to go
and it was never on my list of places to visit
Must admit i loved it,although it is very expensive
was going to see a show until the cheapest seats where 250 odd dollers each
so gave that a miss and went to a jazz club.
A bloke i work with also says Boston is great.

Agree Slippy, I loved Boston, stayed at the 4 Seasons.

boxing sir, what is it about Boston? I'd fancy that.

Nothing against something closer to home for me, Injera, it's the wife who wants to go. And to be fair it's her mum who is paying as a special birthday gift, so best I say nothing but thank you very much, Ma.

Stay at the Library Hotel. Madison and 41st.  It isnt cheap but no where in NY is, and the rooms are small, but it is a cracker (read the reviews), great location AND   
Free cheese and wine 6 till 8 in the guests bar.

Great fun but 3 days is enough. Sail back with Cunard to stretch it out a bit.

injera,I found the people great, everywhere was very clean, Felt very safe, the 'old Italian' quarter is a real step back in time, having a guide for that is well worth it. Tasted real Balsamic vinegar costing over $100 (didn't buy any) it's made like a good wine, the guide said the stuff we buy is either artificially made or made from the sediment of the real stuff. Many things to do, have a pint in the 'Cheers pub' it's only the outside that was used in the series though, the pub scenes were shot in a studio!. Faneuil Hall marketplace a great place to visit.

Lots to do for all tastes.

Also great shopping for the missus.

As a Londoner I naturally adore New York as the similarities between the two are obvious.

New Yorkers are surprisingly less rude than you’d first imagine, which is mildly disappointing. No matter. Spend lots of time in Central Park which is one of the world’s great urban parks, if not the finest. Do Chinatown. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and try to get to a Yankee’s game in the Bronx (which is safe these days compared to what it used to be: likewise Times Square (although frankly I miss the prostitutes and flagrant drug dealing)). Great little restaurant off of Broadway called Ellen’s Stardust Diner where the majority of staff are extras from the nearby shows and get up on the tables to sing and dance). View the skyline from the Rockefeller Centre rather than the Empire State for the simple reason you’ll see the latter from the former. Take the subway or better still walk - you can get to most places easily enough if you stay in the 40-45 West Street area.

i went a few years ago , found the people very friendly . only was in manhattan though and having seen so much on tv like taxi , kojak etc as a kid i felt as though i was on a film  set .

boxing & Johnny - Cracking reviews, thankyou!

I know Slippy,yes Boston is great but of course vvv cold this time of year

I went 2004 got to the airport,got turned around sent straight back because I spent time in prison,GBH,.....which I did because the **** stamped on a frog

Forgot to say, great history trip to the Paul Revere house.

Keep remembering stuff Boston Duck Tours  uses replica World War II amphibious, goes around town then into the Charles river, great fun.

I went for 4 days 3 years ago and really enjoyed it as a one off trip. Our hotel, Staybridge suites had 'free' beer, wine and food from 5-7pm. I went out to dinner half cut every night! Wine in restaurants is expensive!
Went to all the main sites. Ground zero museum is excellent and tastefully done. Went on a helicopter flight up the Hudson river, that was seriously good but expensive.

We had a couple of hours walking around Harvard University, which was really fascinating and had a bite to eat by the River Charles which separates the city from the campus, which is in Cambridge, afterwards. A lovely place to have a good walk and to see the sights along the Esplanade. We were really lucky with the weather in Boston, it was very cold but it was dry and not too much snow. Fabulous city, I'd go back there most definitely. A very solid 9/10 job and I would recommend it as a place to put on your 'bucket list' most definitely. We never got to see the Boston Celtics play basketball though, that was our only regret.

I never saw the Red socks play.

*Red Sox

GoOnThen
Great fun but 3 days is enough. Sail back with Cunard to stretch it out a bit.

We did this we only downfall was you are on a 23 hour day if you do it the other way it's a 25
hour day so more time for boozing.

Agree with Rockefeller Centre, I went up late at night and the views were great, still lots of people around though.
Consider getting a New York Pass or something similar, gets you into all sorts of attractions and many of them allow you to skip the long queues.

Good bar/restaurant/cabaret in theatre district called Don't tell Mama.

New York is a fantastic city to visit.

I agree with Facts....dont forget to rub the bulls bolloxs on Wall St.

New York City.....unquestionably my favourite city.

First went there aged 21, £99 return with Freddie Laker. Remember him?  Went bust a few months later, so good timing.

Less good timing was the 5 hours late taking off, and then another hour on the tarmac at Kennedy trying to get the aeroplane doors open. I kid you not. The 9/11 hijackers wouldn't have had a prayer if they flown Laker. 

This was in the darkest days of NYC, leaving your hotel and not really knowing whether you'd be coming back in one piece.  Never had any problems personally, but then never went looking for any. Just so many fab things to see and do. Been back many times since. Was subjected to some nauseating racism on my last visit, but I just rose above it, as one should try to do, and walked on.

Torq - I think you should give it a go.

https://travel.usnews.com/New_York_NY/Things_To_Do/

China town, little italy, 3 hour ferry tour, chopper around the skies, Radio city...Trump towers and  horse ^ cart around central park...keep off the subway after midnight !

The famous Waldorf Astoria hotel for afternoon tea

Enjoy

vibe rant

Go halfway between New York and Boston and spend your time at Foxwoods, plenty of gambling opportunities, great entertainment, and days out for the wife at Mystic and Newport RI.

I did'nt come across the Warriors or even the Lizzies

If you're being coupley I believe you can go up the empire state building viewing place at night, which is "romantic" I'd imagine, vs the day. Might need tickets/booking for that time though, but something to maybe consider.

a most fabulous haul

Loved our trip to New York but being a tight barsteward i hated the tipping ...ffs you tipped them 20% and they were not happy

The Guggenheim Museum is wonderful. The attendants are very young, knowledgeable and infectiously enthusiastic, and liable to start chatting to you as you're looking at something. Suppose they are art students (Columbia Unv is just up the road) completely different from inanimate museum staff in England.

When I think of New York, the first memory to appear in my mind is always night-time outdoor  ice-skating at the Rockefeller Centre, (having seen it on film so many times, it just felt so `New York`!), and the second memory is going to the theatre on Broadway, which is surely `a must` when there

When windsor knot said upthread something like; `you know it so well from Tv/movies, you do kind of feel like you`re on a film set`, he was spot on, as you already almost `know` everything you see, which is a bit strange but fun. Fantastic place to visit

Empire State Building and The Statten Island Ferry are to be recommended.

I remember great views of Manhattan around 5 am from the ferry. Manhattan was shrouded in mist but the buildings rose up. It looked like a cross between Tarzan's great Escarpment, something out of King Kong ( the Tiwn Towers were up when I tell the story ) and also something quite primordial. It sent a shiver down my spine and raised the hairs on my neck, a memory I will remember and treasure.

conditor 10 Feb 19 18:58 Joined: 02 Oct 10 | Topic/replies: 2,725 | Blogger: conditor's blog
I went 2004 got to the airport,got turned around sent straight back because I spent time in prison,GBH,.....which I did because the **** stamped on a frog Crazy


Did you declare that you had been in prison or did they know already when you arrived?

I ask because a mate of mine who has been inside wants to go but doesn't want to go through the hassle of applying through the embassy etc. He was talking about just turning up and not declaring but I reckon that would be too risky. Surely nowadays they would know?

Time may be a factor and also computerbility at the time of the offence. I have traveled to the USA with a couple friends who were convicted of drug offences but did not declare them and got through, serious offences. This was before 2007 I think.

Good point whispering - off the top of my head, I am not sure when he did his "time". I know for sure that it wasn't after 2007.

I would guess it was between 2004-2007. Being after 9/11 I am sure that they would have it all on record.

Just don't admit to anything. They even asking you if you were a Nazi. Who would admit to being a Nazi on their embarkation card!

I should add that of course you should obey the law and answer all questions honestly!

Also you have to get an ESTA in advance and I might imagine if there were any problems that is where you would want it to be flagged up, not after you have bought an airline ticket.

Get him to complete an ESTA

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/


Beware there are many moody sites that will try and take money off you. I think that is the official Government site and the only fee is approx $14 and it only asks for that on a secure server at the end of your application.

Yeah, I said to him about filling out an ESTA but he seems to think you can still be turned away at the gate.

Anyway, thanks - i'll pass that onto him.

Much better off applying for a proper visa and sitiing an interview...that way you get a chance to put your case forward..esp if it's something not too serious..On the ESTA they used to ask about criminal record..If you lie and the ESTA is approved it means nothing..they still withhold the right to refuse entry as they will find out when they zap the passport...

I have worked in travel for over 20 years and applied for many estas...as previous poster said,use link mentioned as it is the official one and cost is only usd14...there are many websites offering to do it for you at app 60 quid and they normally f it up any way...

1. Watch "Hercules in New York":
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWGuyo8F7MA
2. Watch and learn how to fight bears.
3. Go to Central Park.
4. Be safe if bears attack (a common problem).

My brother works in New York 5 or 6 times a year,did time in 05....has never declared it and not been pulled.

Thanks for the replies eaglewardy and scaredmoney – I guess the dilemma is if he applies through the correct channels and gets refused then that is that wheras if he turns up and doesn’t declare he may get through but that is obviously a pretty big risk.