Travel Tips
How Much Will it Cost?
By my calculations a single person paying $300 for their round-trip plane ticket, with $50 a day for spending, could get by an eight-day/seven-night NYC trip with $1,000. (Four days/three nights for $600.) If you're traveling with a companion you're looking at $850. It's possible to bring these numbers down a little bit don't play it too tight...have some fun.
The Plane Ticket
Listen, unless you got some kind of special deal going with a travel agent buy your ticket over the internet. All of those services--Expedia.com, Cheaptickets.com, etc. get you about the same deal. Me, I use Orbitz.com. If you're willing to pay a little more while still flying coach go with JetBlue and book your tickets at their site (jetblue.com). They're the most comfortable, convenient, and dependable.
Be aware that the sooner you book your tickets the better the deal you'll get.
What I really like about the "e-ticket" is that the airline has all of your information and you can't "lose" your ticket. Do this.
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Getting To and From the Airport
When you book your flight make sure you land at either Laguardia or JFK. I prefer JFK because with Laguardia you have to start your trip with a long, miserable bus ride. From JFK its just the airtrain then the "A" train. Simple and clean.
From JFK: After you get off the plane follow the signs that say "Ground Transportation." These will eventually lead to the "Airtrain." Take the airtrain to the Howard Beach station.
At the Howard Beach station you'll pay $5 at one of the Metrocard machines to get an airtrain pass to get you through the gate. At the other side of the gate hit another Metrocard machine to buy a $21 seven-day unlimited Metro pass. Make sure you navigate through the screens and buy the correct card. You'll swipe it to get through the next gate where you'll go wait for the Manhattan-bound "A" train. If you are staying at the Hotel Riverside Studios like I suggest take the train to 72nd Street in Manhattan. It's going to be a long ride (45-60 minutes).
From Laguardia: After you get off the plane follow the signs that say "Ground Transportation." From any Laguardia newstand buy a $21 seven-day unlimited Metro pass. Then figure out where to catch the M60 bus. Don't feel bad if you're not sure how to stick your card into the bus's card reader. (The card should be facing you with the brown magnetic strip running up and down on the right side of the card.) It'll come.
The bus driver will tell you when/where your bus connects with the subway trains. You'll want to catch the 1, 2, 3, or 9 trains. (They all get off at the same bus stop.) Take the "downtown" 1, 2, 3, or 9 to the 72nd Street stop (assuming you'll be staying at the Hotel Riverside Studios).
To either airport: You basically just reverse the process, except with the "A" train to JFK as you should make sure you're taking a "Far Rockaway bound--A" train and not a "Lefferts Boulevard bound--A" train.
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Accommodations
I'm going to make this easy for you. Either stay at the Hotel Riverside Studios or the Greenpoint YMCA. The Riverside is in Manhattan and the YMCA is just outside of Manhattan. These are both places that I've stayed. The Riverside is much better in terms of heat and air conditioning. It's also closer to everything. I'd suggest you stay there. You can read about both of them below. Remember to make your reservations ahead of time.
Pack Light
Look, you don't need a new outfit everyday or all kinds of trendy gear. Bring one or two extra pairs of pants and maybe three extra shirts. Just wear the same (comfortable for walking) shoes the whole time you're here. If its between October and April make sure you have a pair of shorts. Try to limit yourself to two (or three) bags that you can carry on the plane. Waiting for the luggage carousel at JFK is a real drag. Make it easy on yourself.
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indiemusicnyc@yahoo.com
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