Hi guys will be in the US next summer, I live in New Zealand but from Britain so thought I would stay In the US for a bit on the way to see family in England.
Looking to spend about a week in NY and need some advice from those in the know! Can someone advise where to look for affordable accommodation in an area that is safe and also a fairly easy commute to the city and sights. Not looking to spend huge as the flights from New Zealand will wipe me out!
Also best way to travel cheaply from NY to Florida, I'm guessing flights, just wondered if there are trains though or something. Appreciate your help!

Nick,
Good news is that you can plan and track prices 7 months in advance. More good news is that there are 2 international airports in the area..JFK and EWR...(LGA is a bootleg airport).

Pizza would be able to give you the best advice about everything.

There are now legit Bed and Breakfast spots all over NYC. Also look into hotel rates/B&Bs in Jersey City,NJ , as it's only a path train ride away from Manhattan ...but a place actually in NYC would be best bet as with a a 7 day unlimited Metro Card...you can go all over the city.


I'm assuming when you say Florida...you mean to Miami. Again..between the three area airports in the area.....you can start tracking ticket prices and score a really good deal.

I wouldn't suggest taking a bus from NYC to Miami unless you just want to absorb American scenery.But Grey Hound or one of the smaller carriers surely has that route...with several stops.


Train from NYC to Miami?
Look out for Pachanga and Benny Blanco(from the Bronx)



I'm sure there are sites and apps that track and graph flight prices, or you can just randomly do it yourself...but trust me..with that much time to plan....just figure out the most you are willing to pay...and just jump on the ticket when it becomes available for that price.(from a real airline, that is)

Thanks gett, just completely clueless about American travel! Also didn't want to end up getting held up for my Iphone lol! I will check the price trackers, thanks for that!

Long Island City ( the bourogh of Queens) has Hotels popping up out of the ground all over.

The Hotels that are already up and operational just off Queens Plaza are very affordable and many tourist are taking advantage of it.

They can get in out of Manhatten within 10 minutes via the F train , 7 train and N train, these train are part of the MTA subway system and use the Metro card mentioned above. These train go to every popular area in the city.

Very doable and half the price of staying in a Hotel in the city.

Have a great Trip.

Thanks dues will check out the long island city area for hotels!

No Prob, good luck.

Look on Crescant Street, just off of Queensboro Plaza ( thats where the trains are) - its a train station.

Crescant Street has several Hotels just two blocks from that train station.
One Stop from Manhatten. Train goes over the Queensboro Bridge ( which is now called the Ed Koch Bridge) - and your in the city.

Easy breezie.

You're welcome. The actual New Yorkers here will be able to give you better advice about neighborhoods and lodging.... Dues Paid brought up good advice about rates outside the city being way cheaper and the entire city being connected by the MTA subway.

Lot of travel options for planning a trip to NYC.

Here's the Port Authority page for area airports

http://www.panynj.gov/airports/

My pm is locked, Nicky. But it's open for pms that I initiate, so I'll pm you tomorrow. But real fast, as Dues said, Long Island City is a good idea because you can grab the N or the Q and be at 59th and Lex in a matter of minutes. But a nice perk is that it's just a short jump to Astoria if you grab the train in the other direction. The strip on 30th Avenue is very attractive to young people today. Bars, restaurants, and, during the warmer months, outdoor cafes everywhere. One of our properties is right off 30th by 37th Street. Get a map for the neighborhood, though. Because it's easy to mix up the streets with the avenues if you don't know the area. Download the Moovit app. It's a great tool for public transit.

They will have that route, but take my advice, you DO NOT want to ride a Greyhound from NYC to Miami or vice versa. It would easily take all of 2 maybe 3 days, as you would make a buttload of stops. Some stops would be quick and some would be LONG. I quit a company one time while working an ice storm and hopped on a Greyhound at about 2am in Texas and it took all of that morning and up to that night to even get me home just 3 states to the East. And it always seems the dirtiest people ride Greyhound buses too. Stink and nosey as hell. God forbid you need to use the head while on the bus too, they are not too forgiving

Plus the scenery down I-95 is not that great. From NYC to about Delaware or Baltimore is pretty cool but after that, there is not much scenery. I've been from the start (or end of going South) of I-95 (which eventually becomes U.S. 1 and goes all the way to Key West) to as far North is Newton Massachusetts and the scenery isn't worth the bus ride

Fly Southwest and find you a cheap flight. Will have better scenery than the best.

Like it has been said do your research before hitting Miami for sure. I have been on Long Island in New York but never up into Midtown to where pizza knows all the good places to visit. Hit him up for sure and he can tell you where to go.

As for Miami stay out of the North side of Miami (Hialeah, Carol City, Miami Gardens, etc.) and stay near the beach. Better views and less chance of getting hurt. Miami is one big ghetto in areas West of I-95. If you stay anywhere East of I-95 then you will see all the great looking women in bikini's and be in better spots without worrying for your life. Be sure to try a Bushwacker while in Florida, not sure if they have them as much in South Florida as they do in Northwest Florida and the panhandle. It's a drink that was started in Florida and is delicious and yes it is a mixed drink (meaning alcohol). If you can get the chance to make it to Key West do it. If you can even visit Key Largo which is the first Florida Key do it. Definitely not much crime down there with some beautiful water. Actually ocean water you can see through. Wouldn't even hurt to go West out of Miami and go see the Everglades and the alligator farms too.

But honestly if it was me, after I leave NYC I would be flying. You can fly from NY to Miami probably direct for $400 on average (just guessing right now without looking) and you make it in a few hours instead of days on a bus. I've never been on a train long distance so I'm not sure how long or how much that is.

Nicky,

There's NO city like NYC. You'll love it!

That being said, I am not from NYC but have been there a few times. A couple words of advice:

When you walk down touristy area of Broadway, crowds will be enormous. You have to walk at a rapid pace AND whatever you do, don't stop to tie your shoe, or light a cigarette in middle of the sidewalk, you'll get run over and some dirty looks. You have to step under a doorway and out of the flow of people walking. Ha ha

Be careful crossing the street. I know. Sounds like a mother hen right? Ha ha. Maybe it's cause I'm in laid-back California, but NYers drive very fast and aren't afraid to honk their horn or yell at you if you cross the street incorrectly.

Enjoy your trip. I am sure you'll have a great time.


TIS

Sleep inn in long island city has the best rates I've found while still being close to the city

Too bad the golden gate inn closed. Very cheap short stay rates when you want company the manager makes a call and presto you have company.

Can you rent company there for a short stay?

When I stayed in NYC I stayed at the Leo House in Mid-town Manhattan and it was great. It's a Catholic retreat house that's more like a hotel for males. You get your own small room and have to share the bathroom like you would at a university. Very low rates. I don't know if you're Catholic, but I'm not sure if that's a requirement.

http://www.leohousenyc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=55

There's also AirBnB:
https://www.airbnb.com/s/Manhattan--New-York?af=1922719&c=A_TC%3Dnkjf82rd4h%26G_MT%3Db%26G_CR%3D83286410522%26G_N%3Dg%26G_K%3D%2Bguest%20%2Bhouses%20%2Bmanhattan%26G_P%3D%26G_D%3Dc&pg_tb=47.21&gclid=Cj0KEQiA1dWyBRDqiJye6LjkhfIBEiQAw06ITvxDS34zttDaAV_5K4t0RXCMrqtSuo8xhv1gNb2aV1saAnqj8P8HAQ

Oh yeah, I agree with the other posters recommending Southwest Airlines. They're pretty friendly and have decent prices.

Not only that, I believe Southwest is the only airline that you don't pay for baggage check in (2 bags free I think) I like SW also.




TIS

thanks PB I appreciate it, know I needed some real local advice! I will use that app for sure!

Thanks guys for some great advice its greatly appreciated! Will be checking out everything you guys have said! TIS beleive me I will be careful crossing the road and not getting in anyone's way,it will take some getting used to as the town I live in (Queenstown) only has about 15,000 people LOL.