wrote in message =
news:1154600818.906877.273780@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
Hello all
There are 4 of us from the UK planning a shopping fest in New York at
the end of August (and over the Labor Day weekend) courtesy of some
stupidly cheap flights on BA (=A3149 return!). Somehow I've been landed
with organising it and I've got a few questions which I'm hoping
someone can provide the answers to.
1. Travel to/from Manhattan & JFK.
Since we are arriving very late at night we are planning on just taking
a cab from the airport. I understand this is a flat rate ($45?) plus
tolls & tips.
How much do the tolls come to?
What is the appropriate %age to tip the driver?
Does the flat rate apply from Manhattan to the airport as well? Most
reference seem to have it going the other way... If not, does anyone
have an idea as to what sort of costs we'd be looking at to have a cab
get us to JFK for 5.30pm on a weekday evening?
2. Shopping: Out of Town
A bit of an internet search has identified an outlet mall about an hour
outside the city (Woodberry Common) as a place we might like to spend a
day.
Can anyone recommend this place?
What would be the best way for 4 people to get there?
3. In Town Shopping.
I've heard of Century 21 at the WTC. What would be the other shopping
places to aim for?
Are the department stores like Bloomingdales etc. worth a visit?
4. Taxes
I have to admit to being a bit confused by these. I've tried to read
up, but am sure I'm misinterpreting. It seems simpler to just give the
total price to someone coming from the UK, but I can understand the
rationale for separating it out.
Is there a sales tax on clothing/shoes/etc in NYC?
I read somewhere that it doesn't exist below $110. Is this per
individual item? If a single item is over $110 is tax then applied to
all items in the purchase?
Does the tax system work the same inside and outside NYC - eg at the
Woodbury Common mall?
5. Eating
We'd like to eat well. Particular favourites kinds of food are Chinese,
Italian and Indian - and it has to be said that the chaps can eat for
England (though neither has encountered US portions before!). Any
recommendations as to decent restaurants to give a try? We'll be
staying at West 63rd St, so anything withing walking distance (probably
30mins tops) would be perfect.
6. Touristy Stuff
Statue of Liberty - Is it possible to go up inside the statue these
days?
MoMA - Is the new place worth a visit?
Labor Day - Is there anything that will be shut due to the holiday?
We've got 5 whole days in the city which I'm sure won't be enough, but
I'm hoping that with a bit of forethought we can pack a lot in.
Thanks in advance=20
J
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As a person very familiar with New =
York, I would=20
advise the following. You will not go wrong with this overall approach, =
I can=20
assure you that and you can check with anyone else that you know who =
knows about=20
NYC and you will see this is on the mark.
1. tolls are about $4. tip the driver =
$5 - $10=20
total and you will be fine. I would say just $5 but there are 4 of you =
so that=20
has to be taken into consideration. these drivers are not professional,=20
well-bred individuals. They are modern day "chariot drivers" and =
they will=20
be happy with whatever tip you give them, but be fair so use the range I =
gave=20
you above.
2. 5:30pm time is tough with NY=20
employees/locals/tourists all coming out at almost the same time to go =
home,=20
shop or just get somewhere. The simple solution is just leave ahead of =
time.=20
Take the taxi, all these suggestions of taking a rail, train etc are =
ridiculous=20
and you and your party will curse each other by the time you get to the=20
airport!
The other option is to take a cab =
service, like=20
Carmel or any other (there are hundreds) that have decent cars and =
decent fixed=20
rates to the airports, especially since you are a party of =
4
3. Woodbury Commons is overrated, not =
very good $$$=20
wise and relatively far away and a pain to get to from NYC. Someone had=20
suggested Jersey Gardens in NJ and I would second that. In fact ANY of =
the North=20
Jersey shopping Malls will be absolutely perfect for you and your group =
(no=20
taxes, easy to get to from NYC, etc).
You are 4 people, so take the taxi/car =
service=20
since it will cheaper once you split the bill. train/bus will be the =
same or=20
even more expensive once you factor in the cost/aggravation x 4=20
people!
Bloomingdale's and Century 21 are great =
places to=20
visit. Don't discount Macy's on 34th street and the whole stretch of =
34th street=20
shopping. It is affordable, all in one place and a lot of =
variety.
4. What are you so worried about =
taxes for,=20
when you are here to have fun! Just add 8.5 % to whatever price you see =
in the=20
stores and that will be a safe bet for your calculations. If there is no =
tax=20
applied when you get to the cashier, then you will be pleasantly=20
surprised.
5. Eating....I have 2 very good =
websites for you=20
(menupages.com and newyork.citysearch.com). read the actual customer =
reviews and=20
make a decision about that. you will not go wrong! menupages has the =
actual menu=20
online for you to review before you go.
for Italian: Trattoria Alba on E.34th =
street, is=20
authentic, very good $ wise and good portions. You will enjoy=20
it.
for Indian: too many to list and only =
you know what=20
type of Indian food you like (north, south, Pakistani, etc). E 6th =
Street is=20
called "curry lane" and it has a couple of decent ones among many on the =
whole=20
block. Just consult the 2 websites I gave you above and you will be=20
fine.
for Chinese: too many as well, =
(Schezuan,=20
Cantonese, Taiwanese, *real* Chinese (you may not like this, usually =
found in=20
Chinatown) as well as your "fast food" Chinese (I would like #3 with a =
Shrimp=20
eggroll, get the picture). just consult the 2 websites and be prepared =
to dish=20
out some Chinese to the waiter for a warm reception for the entire=20
evening.
6. Touristy stuff -- just go on the =
spur of the=20
moment, don't plan out things too much. Think of this way, go to those =
places=20
that you will feel BAD about later when you return to the UK wishing you =
had=20
visited them.
If MoMA fits that, go for it. If =
Bloomingdale's is=20
higher on your list, do that instead (unless you have time). Don't do it =
cause=20
it's the "thing to do." New York is about being real to what you like =
and who=20
you are. There are many many New Yorkers who have NEVER visited MoMA or =
the Met,=20
because they don't care for it. They like other things the city has to =
offer and=20
that's what they enjoy and make them happy.
On a side note: GO to the Statue of =
Liberty but=20
skip the going up part. It's a lot of aggravation without much in =
return. With=20
this policy, you will be fine during your trip here, I.e. go to the =
tourist=20
sight, but don't get caught up in having to do everything there! =
Enjoy the=20
initial experience and move on to the next spot. You will see =
more, you=20
will maximize your time and you will be less =
aggravated.
My one recommendation: go to the =
top of the=20
Empire State Building - At Midnight! It is gorgeous and =
they are=20
allowing people for a limited time to experience this very unique=20
experience. Go to the Empire State Building and for more info=20
and ALWAYS buy the tickets in advance - you DO NOT want to wait on =
that=20
crazy crazy line to get to the top. If you buy the tickets in advance, =
you save=20
a whole lot of time and everyone there will be jealous of you as you fly =
past=20
them. :-)
Let me know if you have any other=20
questions.
Have fun J!
-Brett
<
href=3D"mailto:patersoj@...">
size=3D2>patersoj@...
> =
wrote in=20
message
href=3D"news:1154600818.906877.273780@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com">
=20
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2>news:1154600818.906877.273780@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com
>
face=3DArial size=3D2>...
Hello =
all
There are=20
4 of us from the UK planning a shopping fest in New York at
the end =
of August=20
(and over the Labor Day weekend) courtesy of some
stupidly cheap =
flights on=20
BA (=A3149 return!). Somehow I've been landed
with organising it and =
I've got a=20
few questions which I'm hoping
someone can provide the answers =
to.
1.=20
Travel to/from Manhattan & JFK.
Since we are arriving very late =
at night=20
we are planning on just taking
a cab from the airport. I =
understand=20
this is a flat rate ($45?) plus
tolls & tips.
How much do the =
tolls=20
come to?
What is the appropriate %age to tip the driver?
Does the =
flat=20
rate apply from Manhattan to the airport as well? Most
reference seem =
to have=20
it going the other way... If not, does anyone
have an idea as =
to what=20
sort of costs we'd be looking at to have a cab
get us to JFK for =
5.30pm on a=20
weekday evening?
2. Shopping: Out of Town
A bit of an =
internet=20
search has identified an outlet mall about an hour
outside the =
city=20
(Woodberry Common) as a place we might like to spend =
a
day.
Can anyone=20
recommend this place?
What would be the best way for 4 people to get=20
there?
3. In Town Shopping.
I've heard of Century 21 at =
the WTC.=20
What would be the other shopping
places to aim for?
Are the =
department=20
stores like Bloomingdales etc. worth a visit?
4. Taxes
I =
have to=20
admit to being a bit confused by these. I've tried to read
up, but am =
sure=20
I'm misinterpreting. It seems simpler to just give the
total price to =
someone=20
coming from the UK, but I can understand the
rationale for separating =
it=20
out.
Is there a sales tax on clothing/shoes/etc in NYC?
I read =
somewhere=20
that it doesn't exist below $110. Is this per
individual item? If a =
single=20
item is over $110 is tax then applied to
all items in the =
purchase?
Does=20
the tax system work the same inside and outside NYC - eg at =
the
Woodbury=20
Common mall?
5. Eating
We'd like to eat well. Particular=20
favourites kinds of food are Chinese,
Italian and Indian - and it =
has to=20
be said that the chaps can eat for
England (though neither has =
encountered US=20
portions before!). Any
recommendations as to decent restaurants =
to give=20
a try? We'll be
staying at West 63rd St, so anything withing walking =
distance=20
(probably
30mins tops) would be perfect.
6. Touristy=20
Stuff
Statue of Liberty - Is it possible to go up inside the statue=20
these
days?
MoMA - Is the new place worth a visit?
Labor Day - =
Is there=20
anything that will be shut due to the holiday?
We've got 5 whole =
days in=20
the city which I'm sure won't be enough, but
I'm hoping that with a =
bit of=20
forethought we can pack a lot in.
Thanks in advance=20
J
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