New York.. any tips?

[Ex Footy Legs]

Thanks for all these useful tips. My son is really into basketball but it looks like the season will be over (we're going late May, early June). Time to start some serious planning now..

For a couple of quieter days by the beach take the train through Long Island to the hamptons, find a nice guest house online before hand and book it

 

[NYboro]

For a couple of quieter days by the beach take the train through Long Island to the hamptons, find a nice guest house online before hand and book it

I'd say forget the Hamptons and look at the North Shore instead. It's quieter.

 

[Emmersons_BrazillianDong]

Tipping in New York completely soured the experience of seeing this great city. It's easy to rack up a $200 for the cost of a meal with modest drinks for 2 or 3 people but the to add 15% say $30 takes the edge of the visit. It happens day in and day out, because as previously stated tips are part of the workers wage but when you analyse what the waiter does it's daylight robbery. They come to the table with a jug of iced water and menu, take your order and bring your food when ready. There maybe a revisit to ask "Is everything okay?" as you eat but this is standard process when eating in a restaurant anywhere in the world and a tip should be be for a service above and beyond "standard".

#UTB

I can Kind of see where you are coming from. I think it's just culturally very different and I try to think about it as others have said as a tax that's not listed.

Sticks in the craw less

 

[spanishman]

For a couple of quieter days by the beach take the train through Long Island to the hamptons, find a nice guest house online before hand and book it

I was just reading all of the suggestions to see whether the beaches on Long Island would get a mention.

A company I worked for had a data centre in the centre of Long Island in 80s, 90s and 00s. Whenever I was over there on business we stayed in a small town on the north coast of Long Island. It was really good there.

I have just had a look at a map. I think we used to stay in Port Jefferson. Probably the last time I was there was in the late 90s. No idea what it is like now.

 

[spanishman]

I'd say forget the Hamptons and look at the North Shore instead. It's quieter.

A second vote for the north shore

 

[buffaloboro]

I'd say forget the Hamptons and look at the North Shore instead. It's quieter.

100% , green port

 

[sadgit]

I've not read any replies and not been since 2001, 1 month after the terrorist attack. But I want to go back and the 1 place I will all ways say to go to is Intrepid. That was amazing.

 

[Jonny_Rondos_Disco_pants]

Loads of movie buildings such as the ghostbusters firehouse are easily accessible

 

[NorthumberlandBoro]

Loads of movie buildings such as the ghostbusters firehouse are easily accessible

The whole city is a giant film set.
We stumbled on some filming for one of the Ninja turtles film when were there a few years back.

 

[Jonny_Rondos_Disco_pants]

The whole city is a giant film set.
We stumbled on some filming for one of the Ninja turtles film when were there a few years back.

I stayed in the Westin Time Square, a tv show was being filmed in the bar, I will have been in shot at some point. So much going on all the time

 

[Soutra]

Hockey is great as well don’t forget the islanders either (my nhl team) at their new Long Island home.

Rangers
Islanders
And nj devils aren’t far away either if others are away.

Baseball is a great day out and a chance to sample America’s national Past time

you have the yankees (my team) in the bronx ( a subway ride up town away) or the mets in queens again a train ride away in flushing ( yes the home of the us open)

He said he's going at the end of May, into June, so NHL will be done by then.

Baseball - it's great. America's pastime. Great social experience. Take time to understand it before you go, or it'll just be an expensive baffling afternoon ( or evening).

Explore Central Park. It's always lovely in early summer. I don't mean walking in opposite the Plaza and out two blocks west. Take a picnic and explore as much as you can manage. It's massive.

Intrepid is a WWII aircraft carrier anchored in the Hudson at W46th st if you have a boy or boys. Brilliant.

 

[Laughing]

The tunnels in China Town are fascinating. They were used to move drugs and gangsters around until a few years ago.

Always tip at least 15% the waiting staff get taxed on 15%tips so if you don't tip you are costing them money.

Ellis Island. I love the empire state building. The toyshop in big is in new York too and worth a visit.

 

[Jedi boro]

The toyshop in big is in new York too and worth a visit.

Fao schwarz as you knew it has gone though of rather moved from its iconic location the big piano is now in
Macy’s.


FAO Schwarz, but in 2015, it permanently closed the Fifth Avenue store. The brand was then acquired by ThreeSixty Group, who opened the new FAO Schwarz store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in November 2018.

 

[buffaloboro]

I was just reading all of the suggestions to see whether the beaches on Long Island would get a mention.

A company I worked for had a data centre in the centre of Long Island in 80s, 90s and 00s. Whenever I was over there on business we stayed in a small town on the north coast of Long Island. It was really good there.

I have just had a look at a map. I think we used to stay in Port Jefferson. Probably the last time I was there was in the late 90s. No idea what it is like now.

Port Jefferson hasn’t changed much since you were there, very close to where I live now

 

[spanishman]

Port Jefferson hasn’t changed much since you were there, very close to where I live now

I remember I was there when Bill Clinton won his first election for the presidency. There was such a buzz around the place..

 

[WoodallServices]

Anyone been there? I promised to take my boy (12 years old) a couple of years back then covid happened so I forgot about it, but he didn't.
Now it's on again, but apart from the obvious (Statue of Liberty, Empire State, Central Park etc.) I haven't a clue. Planning on two week with a stay in Philadelphia and possibly a few days by the beach or somewhere quiet between the cities.

Any advice? What to see, where to go? Any tips on being a tourist in the US?

I’ve just posted on the New York hotels thread, get here asap as it’s so quiet. A couple of colleagues are going to the USS Intrepid this morning to see the space shuttle I’ll ask them later how busy it was.