LA and NY

30 May 2007 hoobastankel said

• About
• USA and Canada
• la
• travel advice

• 0 people like this
• Add to discussion 7 comments so far

• 1 Jun 2007 PinaI said

  

  Probably not much help but my first thought would be to try and even up the times on each end. I would definitely recomment more time in NY when compared to LA. Also, take note that the Contiki hotel is in Anaheim, so, if you’re staying there you’ll actually be about 45mins-1hr away from downtown LA.
  
  Now, as for what to do…here’s an email I sent to a mate of mine about NY – hopefully it will help:
  
  Like I said on msn, the lines are killer in NY…we went to the Empire State at 2pm and had a four-hour wait ahead of us. We ended up going back the next morning at 8am (when it opens) and although there was no line outside when you got inside they had those cow rail things set up and it took us over an hour to actually get to the top anyway! Just go early, the earlier the better!
  
  Statue of Liberty – again like on msn, the hop on hop off tour bus will give you a ferry ticket over (great view while you’re going over can I say) but you have buy your ticket up Miss Liberty separately and ring up and book your place to climb Liberty the day before you want to go over. I found that out the hard way because once we got over there the mongrels wouldn’t let us up. As for going over/up – I got to the ferry port pretty early, about 8am I think it was, it was pouring with rain and the line was still huge, be prepared!
  
  The hop-on hop-off bus is pretty good value and a good way to get around. They have three or four different loops you can take and you really do get to see everything. Worth the money. The only thing that pissed us off about the bus is that because it was soooo busy in New York, outside Empire State we got stuck waiting for a seat on a bus for over an hour. It was a real pain and people were starting to get really angry. I think because it was so busy and so cold, people opted not to get off. Just be cautious of that. http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/
  
  Now, as for things to do! Go see a Broadway show, if you can. I really wish we had been able to do that but the tickets were all sold out for the ones we wanted to see or really, really expensive. Maybe if you know you can go, book for something now!
  
  Also, check out if there will be any concerts at Madison Square Gardens – I think that would be awesome to do!
  
  Letterman gives tickets away for his shows, the TV studio is between west 53rd and west 54th street. You can go there in person or you can fill out a form online and pick your availability. I think that would be fun too. We didn’t get any tickets, but we tried! I think Ellen does her show in NY too, if you like her!
  
  Go inside Toys R Us in Times Square and there is a ferris wheel, yes INSIDE the shop! I think it was $4 (all goes to Charity). That toy store rocks!
  
  FAO Schwartz is pretty cool too (remember the movie BIG where Tom Hanks plays on the piano on the floor? That’s in this shop)!! There was a line there too but it’s a great shop and you can get cheap teddies in there! It’s on 5th avenue (at 58th street).
  
  In Central Park we got a tuk-tuk to take us around and that was great fun, saves a **** load walking after a lot of walking during the day too! It cost us $US25 each for an hour (there was two of us). The guy that took us around was a black dude with dreds, if you can find him, get him! He was situated outside Trump Tower on One Central Park, West NY (near the big gold and white statue (dunno what that was))! The guy took us all around central park and pointed out sites where some movie scenes where shot, the friends fountain, famous houses, where john lennon was shot…there was lots to see.
  
  If you like Seinfeld, the Seinfeld restaurant is on 112th street. Was a really friendly place, great food and cheap!
  
  Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and see the WTC site too. There is a fire station just across from the site that sells merchandise to raise money for the families of the attack. The firemen there are really nice (as in friendly and talkative)!
  
  I don’t think I would recommend Madame Tussards. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen ‘em all and it was like $30 or something to get in, not worth it if you ask me!
  
  I cant think of what else to say at the moment so im gonna write places I can think of:
  
  Carnegie hall, might has well get your pic of the sign and say you’ve been there, done that!
  
  Grand Central Station…
  
  Rockefellor – ahhh helloooo, nothing better than that big tree and watching people stack it on the ice rink below! There’s normally a long line to skate but if you time, do it, it would be fun. Right near there is the NBC store (tv merch, if you’re keen) and radio city music hall.
  
  United Nations, pretty cool building and did you know, once you’re in there you are no longer in the US of A?! True story!
  
  Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, if you’re game (pardon the pun)!
  
  Oh oh oh, Macy’s and Bloomingdales and Saks, every girl MUST! Worth a look my love…leave your wallets at home!
  
  —
  
  For LA, try Hollywood Tours, I used them for the Grand Tour of LA and really enjoyed it. Great way to catch a glimpse of all the main sites.

  Probably not much help but my first thought would be to try and even up the times on each end. I would definitely recomment more time in NY when compared to LA. Also, take note that the Contiki hotel is in Anaheim, so, if you're staying there you'll actually be about 45mins-1hr away from downtown LA.<BR><BR>Now, as for what to do...here's an email I sent to a mate of mine about NY - hopefully it will help:<BR><BR>Like I said on msn, the lines are killer in NY...we went to the Empire State at 2pm and had a four-hour wait ahead of us. We ended up going back the next morning at 8am (when it opens) and although there was no line outside when you got inside they had those cow rail things set up and it took us over an hour to actually get to the top anyway! Just go early, the earlier the better!<BR><BR>Statue of Liberty – again like on msn, the hop on hop off tour bus will give you a ferry ticket over (great view while you’re going over can I say) but you have buy your ticket up Miss Liberty separately and ring up and book your place to climb Liberty the day before you want to go over. I found that out the hard way because once we got over there the mongrels wouldn’t let us up. As for going over/up – I got to the ferry port pretty early, about 8am I think it was, it was pouring with rain and the line was still huge, be prepared!<BR><BR>The hop-on hop-off bus is pretty good value and a good way to get around. They have three or four different loops you can take and you really do get to see everything. Worth the money. The only thing that pissed us off about the bus is that because it was soooo busy in New York, outside Empire State we got stuck waiting for a seat on a bus for over an hour. It was a real pain and people were starting to get really angry. I think because it was so busy and so cold, people opted not to get off. Just be cautious of that. <A HREF="http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/</A><BR><BR>Now, as for things to do! Go see a Broadway show, if you can. I really wish we had been able to do that but the tickets were all sold out for the ones we wanted to see or really, really expensive. Maybe if you know you can go, book for something now!<BR><BR>Also, check out if there will be any concerts at Madison Square Gardens – I think that would be awesome to do!<BR><BR>Letterman gives tickets away for his shows, the TV studio is between west 53rd and west 54th street. You can go there in person or you can fill out a form online and pick your availability. I think that would be fun too. We didn’t get any tickets, but we tried! I think Ellen does her show in NY too, if you like her!<BR><BR>Go inside Toys R Us in Times Square and there is a ferris wheel, yes INSIDE the shop! I think it was $4 (all goes to Charity). That toy store rocks!<BR><BR>FAO Schwartz is pretty cool too (remember the movie BIG where Tom Hanks plays on the piano on the floor? That’s in this shop)!! There was a line there too but it’s a great shop and you can get cheap teddies in there! It’s on 5th avenue (at 58th street).<BR><BR>In Central Park we got a tuk-tuk to take us around and that was great fun, saves a **** load walking after a lot of walking during the day too! It cost us $US25 each for an hour (there was two of us). The guy that took us around was a black dude with dreds, if you can find him, get him! He was situated outside Trump Tower on One Central Park, West NY (near the big gold and white statue (dunno what that was))! The guy took us all around central park and pointed out sites where some movie scenes where shot, the friends fountain, famous houses, where john lennon was shot…there was lots to see. <BR><BR>If you like Seinfeld, the Seinfeld restaurant is on 112th street. Was a really friendly place, great food and cheap!<BR><BR>Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and see the WTC site too. There is a fire station just across from the site that sells merchandise to raise money for the families of the attack. The firemen there are really nice (as in friendly and talkative)!<BR><BR>I don’t think I would recommend Madame Tussards. If you’ve seen one you’ve seen ‘em all and it was like $30 or something to get in, not worth it if you ask me!<BR><BR>I cant think of what else to say at the moment so im gonna write places I can think of:<BR><BR>Carnegie hall, might has well get your pic of the sign and say you’ve been there, done that!<BR><BR>Grand Central Station…<BR><BR>Rockefellor – ahhh helloooo, nothing better than that big tree and watching people stack it on the ice rink below! There’s normally a long line to skate but if you time, do it, it would be fun. Right near there is the NBC store (tv merch, if you’re keen) and radio city music hall.<BR><BR>United Nations, pretty cool building and did you know, once you’re in there you are no longer in the US of A?! True story!<BR><BR>Yankee Stadium is in the Bronx, if you’re game (pardon the pun)!<BR><BR>Oh oh oh, Macy’s and Bloomingdales and Saks, every girl MUST! Worth a look my love…leave your wallets at home!<BR><BR>--<BR><BR>For LA, try Hollywood Tours, I used them for the Grand Tour of LA and really enjoyed it. Great way to catch a glimpse of all the main sites. or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 3 Jun 2007 cdm115 said

  

  For a broadway show, if you’re not too picky, you can go to the TKTS ticket booth. They sell last minute tickets at a discounted rate (25%-75% off), but it depends on availability. There is one in Times Square and one downtown, i think near South Street Seaport.
  
  Also Empire State Building – I think it’s a better view at night and if you go late the line will be shorter.
  
  Statue of Liberty – best bet is to book on-line ahead of time. From what i remember you need to book like a week in advance, they have limited tickets day of and i’m sure the line is massive.

  For a broadway show, if you're not too picky, you can go to the TKTS ticket booth. They sell last minute tickets at a discounted rate (25%-75% off), but it depends on availability. There is one in Times Square and one downtown, i think near South Street Seaport.<BR><BR>Also Empire State Building - I think it's a better view at night and if you go late the line will be shorter. <BR><BR>Statue of Liberty - best bet is to book on-line ahead of time. From what i remember you need to book like a week in advance, they have limited tickets day of and i'm sure the line is massive. or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 9 Jun 2007 jimmalenko said

  

  Just did the Grand Northern and these are what I would recommend:
  
  NY
  - Movies & TV Shows tour
  - Hop on, hop off bus tour
  - Staten Island Ferry (free) – goes straight past Statue of Liberty
  - Just walk !!! most of Manhattan is relatively easy to walk to (depending on your fitness levels)
  
  LA
  - LA City Tour
  - Movies & TV Stars Homes Tour
  - Universal Studios
  - Knott’s Berry Farm
  - California Adventure Park (Disney)
  - Disneyland

  Just did the Grand Northern and these are what I would recommend:<BR><BR><B>NY</B><BR>- Movies & TV Shows tour<BR>- Hop on, hop off bus tour<BR>- Staten Island Ferry (free) - goes straight past Statue of Liberty<BR>- Just walk !!! most of Manhattan is relatively easy to walk to (depending on your fitness levels)<BR><BR><B>LA</B><BR>- LA City Tour<BR>- Movies & TV Stars Homes Tour<BR>- Universal Studios<BR>- Knott's Berry Farm<BR>- California Adventure Park (Disney)<BR>- Disneyland or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 3 Jul 2007 jackieNY81 said

  

  OMG you guys going on a bus across the US? Yikes! I was thinking about moving to LA from NY at one point…it’s a total of 41 hours.

  OMG you guys going on a bus across the US? Yikes! I was thinking about moving to LA from NY at one point...it's a total of 41 hours. or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 3 Jul 2007 hoobastankel said

  

  hehe, nah we are flying!
  thanks for all your posts its great!

  hehe, nah we are flying!<BR>thanks for all your posts its great! or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 18 Sep 2008 steve said

  

  NY
  - Movies & TV Shows tour
  - Hop on, hop off bus tour
  - also visit statue of liberty
  LA
  - LA City Tour
  - Movies & TV Stars Homes Tour
  - Universal Studios
  - Six flags magic mountain
  - knotts berry farm
  - Disneyland

  NY<BR>- Movies & TV Shows tour<BR>- Hop on, hop off bus tour<BR>- also visit statue of liberty <BR>LA<BR>- LA City Tour<BR>- Movies & TV Stars Homes Tour<BR>- Universal Studios<BR>- Six flags magic mountain<BR>- knotts berry farm<BR>- Disneyland or Cancel
  • 0 people like this

• 16 Jun 2009 Zak C. said

  

  Never been to LA but for NY take a tour from Uncle Sam’s New York. They cover the essentials in only a few hours and the price is right

  Never been to LA but for NY take a tour from <a href="http://www.unclesamsnewyork.com" target="_blank">Uncle Sam's New York</a>. They cover the essentials in only a few hours and the price is right or Cancel
  • 0 people like this