New York - NYE - Anyone done it?

[Jord]

Me and the good lady are looking to book our Xmas/NY holiday in new year for NYE 2010/2011.
I was wondering if anyone had done it before and had any hotel recommendations in/around Manhatten/Central Park/Upper West/East sides?

[Daniel H]

Last couple of times I've been to New York, I've stopped at the Park Central (http://www.parkcentralny.com/WinterSpecials.cfm?src=ppc_googleuk_brand137) hotel. Really good location, easy to walk to Central park, Times square etc, and got a subway stop right next to it.
The rooms weren't really fancy or anything, but were clean enough and not too small.

One of the tour bus operators had a stop right outside the hotel too. When I went at Christmas, they had a special night tour to show the Christmas decorations and lights :)

[Si T]

Been a few times, once in December, once in January but never for NYE
Best hotel I stayed in was the Hyatt next door to Grand Central station (you get to spot it in LOADS of movies too) and you can't go wrong for the subways.
I found that some of the hotels around Time Square were a bit disappointing and you seem to pay for the location.

[Jord]

Just to give you an idea its between the W Hotel, Lexington, the Waldorf Astoria and the Library Hotel, Manhatten at the moment.

The Library gets the best reviews on trip advisor but the W looks lovely in the photos!

We're budgeting for approx £2500 including flights, which seem to come out at about £800 [which I thought was quite good?].

[Phill]

We went this year - flew out on Saturday the 19th and came back Chrismas Eve. We stayed in the New Yorker Hotel which was nice and close to most stuff really, plus me and the missus don't mind a walk. Came in at just over £1500 with expedia.

[Jord]

The New Yorker is fully booked for NYE already, I checked that first!

[The Chef]

New York is fantastic. Christmas/New Years especially - the yanks are well over the top for Christmas - its mad!

My favorite hotel in New York, without question, is a Red Roof Inn (chain of hotels in USA). They have a Manhattan hotel - 6 west 32nd street (if memory serves me right) basically, its on the block next to the Empire State building, has a subway station at the street (3 min walk) and its basiaclly bang central to downtown and Times Square.

http://redroof.com/reservations/property-detail.aspx?pid=00605

Its cheap too (~$240 a night last time we've just paid for June this year - for a 'business king' which includes a super king bed, fridge etc...) Its a basic hotel but its got spacious rooms and ideally located and thats all you really need in NY.
New York is very hit and miss with regards hotels - you can pay an awful lot for an absolute sh*t hole - thats why I no longer risk it, I stick to what i trust. - so you're doing the right thing - go with peoples first hand recommenations

[Midgers]

We're going tomorrow :eek:
Staying in the Roosevelt as it's literally half the price of anywhere else we found that was 3 star or more, booked through http://www.1800hotels.com/hotel-deals/ Paid £300 ish fo 3 nights and got flights for £800 ish through http://www.opodo.co.uk/ as they were tho ones offering the least changes in planes. We're going from edinburgh to Amsterdam, then from there to JFK, on wednesday were going to Vegas for 4 nights, then from there we go direct to Paris to get the flight back to edinburgh, so you should be paying less than £800 i'd have thought - but then again on new years eve I can see them being morer expensive :)

[Jord]

Have a good trip dude! We looked at direct flights only. I hate taking off and landing and the fewer times I have to do them, the better :D

[AshT_200]

Just to give you an idea its between the W Hotel, Lexington, the Waldorf Astoria and the Library Hotel, Manhatten at the moment.

The Library gets the best reviews on trip advisor but the W looks lovely in the photos!

We're budgeting for approx £2500 including flights, which seem to come out at about £800 [which I thought was quite good?].

Go with the Waldorf-Astoria. You can see what Drug Money can build you then:thumbs:

[Scottie]

I used Expedia to book it.

I stayed in I think The Time hotel, just off Broadway literally 50 yds, on I think 49th street. Opposite Chicago and near to Time Sqquare and walkable to most places.

Good value and spotless :nod:

[SherlockHomeboy]

I was just there for NYE this year... I ended up at the Shelburne on Murray Hill, which wasn't too bad.

But, if you intend to be at Times Square for NYE to see the ball drop, the best idea is to find a hotel within spitting distance.

The police blocks off the entrances as soon as the crowds build... It wasn't until afterwards that I was told you really want to get there and start queuing at 4pm for NYE... When I got there at 10ish I was told by coppers the only way to get in was to head all the way up to something like 57th st. It's absolute madness. Every entrance to 5th avenue from 42nd to 57th were fenced off. Not sure how it is from the south or from the other side (I was on the east) but I expect the same.

We did see some people waltz in past the police barriers but they apparently had reservations / tickets for something within the sealed off areas. May be worth looking into that closer to the date...

On our way back we overheard a couple yapping about how they had booked a hotel within the sealed off areas and just sat pretty until midnight. It'll be pricey but if you want to be in the thick of it, it may be the better option... otherwise, wrap up warm, get there nice and early and bring an empty bottle or two for "emergencies" as you won't be allowed out once you're in.