....Advice wanted: How to arrange an ^affordable^ break to New York in December 2008...

[WalkinginaWonkaWonderland]

Am planning to take my Mum to New York for her 60th birthday in December next year and just wondered if anyone can offer advice that can help save our pennies, e.g. when will Zoom release tickets for that time of year so we arrange reasonably priced flights, affordable accommodation etc. and have more money to spend on indulging her whilst we are there.

Thank you in anticipation

Bump

I will ask my husband for the details but we stay in a studio flat which I think works out cheaper but is still in a nice area 9near Bloomongdales). I will come back with details over the weekend.

Do a house-swap! Suddenly, you've got a spare £1000!

Thanks for the suggestions.

LV - If we were planning to go for a week or more, I'd definitely consider the houseswap idea but is it doable just for a long weekend?

Malfoy - Sounds ace, I'll look forward to hearing more!

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I did it myself via expedia and saved a packet. We went for New Year 2 years ago, and I got return flights from Heathrow to JFK for £199 each (Air India). Stayed at the Thirty Thirty Hotel (just round the corner from the Empire State Building)for about £120 for 3 nights. Obviously there is no food included, but there are plenty of reasonable places to eat. My top tip would be to avoid trying to see a Broadway show, as they are VERY expensive...go to London if you want the theatre! Circle line tours are good, and worth the money (not hugely expensive) and 'Green Onion' (I think!) walking tours are ace....graduate history students from local uni who do walking tours around specific areas. Very interesting. We also did a helicopter trip that was less than £100 each, which was incredible if you want to splash out. One of the things I did was to involve dhs family (it was a surprise Xmas pressie to him) and got them to buy things like the Circle Line bus tour tickets as Xmas pressie...worth a thought to spread the cost. Also, don't forget your travel insurance.

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E51 & 2av

will post more tomorrow

Hi sorry for short post above.

The details I gave you are for a lettings agent. They manage a building on East 51 around 2nd avenue -so nice & central- in a good neighbourhood.

They actually do one bedroom flats -not studios as I mentioned in my first post- for about US$200 a night. The flats sleep 2 confortably as there is a double bedroom & a sofa bed in the living room.

The flats trhemselves are a bit shabby but very clean.

Thanks for the info malfoy, I'll definitely keep a note of that.

Notyummy - that's really useful, with the sort of prices I'd hoped for! Can I ask how late you booked? Thanks.

If memory serves me, quite well in advance. I think I started looking in August, and had the flights and hotel booked by the end of September. The Thirty Thirty has had quite a lot of press coverage since as 'cheap and chic', which it was (mostly - very small rooms, but quite 'cool', clean and excellent location.) Press coverage means that it may have gone up in price, but just keep searching for options. Expedia and Octopus are both good for accommodation, and check tripadvisor to make sure your intended hotel isn't a complete dive.

Great - we're looking to book well ahead so I'll hopefully be OK. Thanks so much for your help

Have a good time! Having looked at Tripadvosr, it looks like the Thirty Thirty may have gone downhill over the last year anyway!

I think on the 10th of Jan BA and Virgin both launch flight sales (have done the last few years, anyway). Worth checking out.

What's your budget for a hotel? I know some fab hotels in NYC, but none are cheap (good, cheap hotels in NY are like good, cheap hotels in London - they don't exist!).

How exciting! I love NYC. You are a very good daughter, btw.

we booked with expedia and got a really reasonable price. my advice would be to book flights early - my dad told me to wait as the prices would drop but the opposite happened and they went up nearer the time.

Y'aaay - more help !!

Thanks for the date LAG, it's going straight in my diary! ja9 you have confirmed what I feared so early booking it is then.

Regarding hotels, there's no set budget was was hoping to get something for £40 per head per night (there are three of us and we're happy to share etc.). Does this sound realistic?

No probs! Just the thought of NY is making me feel all excitable

What's more important - location or luxury? If you just want a bog standard hotel in a very central location - the theatre district/Times Square etc - you can just about squeeze it on your budget. $150-200 a night will push you into a different class of hotel altogether, but it is an expense you might not want to shell out on (so many better things to spend money on in NYC is one argument!)

Have you considered changing up some sterling into dollars now? Yesterday it was $2.10 to £1 - absolutely fabulous exchange rate, and no guarantee it will be as good in a year's time (although always the chance it could be even better....!).

If you are going with a scheduled airline they release flights 11 months beforehand and this is when they are cheapest.
However Xmas not a 'cheap' time but you should get a reasonable flight for about £250 as long as youre not fussy who with (e.g. Air India/Kuwait Air etc).
Lots of hotels on expedia with flights included but always check your hotels on tripadvisor.

Me and dh hoping to go next september but flights at the moment are still expensive, just hoping someone has a sale on

My husband got an email from Virgin the other day saying they are releasing some sale flights to N. America on Jan 8th. Just keep an eye out on their website!

Muchos gracias LAG !