New York, New York

[mancity68]

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn on the edge of TriBeCa. Ok so not the most glam of hotels but really good price, decent sized rooms, great location if you don't want to be right in the heart of things. I'd stay there agin anytime.

[dontpanic]

If you can get a good deal stay at the Standard High Line without question.

That's in the meat Packing District. That's comparable to Shoreditch in distance from centre, hipness, and interesting urban stuff. Its also got incredible views downtown and uptown, has three different very nice restaurants, a bar/nightclub on the top with roof garden, and also is directly straddling the High Line - Google it - its incredible - the best way to see all sorts of bits of NY you'd never normally see.

[*Bob*]

The Standard also features a jacuzzi in the sub-rooftop bar, where you can point and laugh at preppy teenage bell-ends flopping about in beachwear and refilling ostentatiously from their silver Mo?t buckets.

A must for any hotel!

[Alan Dale]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> The Standard also features a jacuzzi in the

> sub-rooftop bar, where you can point and laugh at

> preppy teenage bell-ends flopping about in

> beachwear and refilling ostentatiously from their

> silver Mo?t buckets.

>

>

> A must for any hotel!

Difficult to point with no arms.

[DulwichFox]

Have considered a trip to New York..

Can anyone explain procedure for First visit....

I.E. Visas ??

Do you have to have hotel reserved for first night.

Seems a bit like Chicken & Egg situation with Flights / Accommodation being booked. ?

Any help appreciated.

Foxy.

[Jeremy]

You don't need a visa, fox. You just need to apply for travel authorisation (ESTA). I seem to remember the process is more or less instant.

[*Bob*]

Will you be able to handle the tipping, Foxy?

[DulwichFox]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Will you be able to handle the tipping, Foxy?

I am a very generous tipper... usually about 15% .. Well I think that is reasonable.

One of the reasons I am so popular in many restaurants. :)

DF

[*Bob*]

You're off to a fine start then.

There's no reason not to book hotels before you go, is there? You're paying so much to go, it's not something you want to spend any time doing while you're there. Tripadvisoring is usually a drag but quite good fun when it comes to NYC and can add to the fun, before you go. Book two quite different hotels and change in the middle, for a change of scene.

The best other advice I think is to book at least a couple of really good places to eat, waaaay in advance. We had to book the ones we wanted to go to 4 weeks in advance, otherwise there was no hope. It's great knowing you've got someone in the bag lined-up that you're really looking forward to - and it gave us something around which to hang the day.

[DulwichFox]

Thanks Bob..

I understand I do not actually need a visa but need to sign up with ESTA..

How long does that take. ? Do they require Flight Nos.

DulwichFox

[mancity68]

It's instant, costs about a tender. Don't need flight numbers as it lasts or a year or two so covers multiple visits.

[DulwichFox]

mancity68 Wrote:

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> It's instant, costs about a tender. Don't need

> flight numbers as it lasts or a year or two so

> covers multiple visits.

Thank you.. Will be later in the year when it's warmer...

Foxy

[mancity68]

Here's the link to place you need to get it from https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ - just doing mine at the mo.