NYC Travel Guide

Five Reasons To Use New York Hotel Deals

2011-06-16T10:51:00.002-05:00

New York Hotel Deals searches over 30 hotel websites at once to find the lowest rates on hotels in NYC available anywhere on the internet. If you were to go through this process by hand it would take you many hours to complete and you still couldn't be absolutely sure that you found the best deal (it would be easy to miss a site.)
Verified guest reviews. It's great to read reviews from real guests before making your reservation. Of course the sales pitch from a hotel is always going to make it sound great, but what do real guests think about it?
New York Hotel Deals lets you easily refine your hotel search with all kinds of different criteria. This allows you to easily find a hotel that fits your needs. An example would be if you have to have a pet friendly hotel in Manhattan. To refine your search use the "refine your search" area on the left sidebar of the NYC hotel search results.
By using the "Location" tab you can find a hotel in any particular neighborhood or near any particular landmark that you wish. New York City is a big place so this is an important feature for finding a hotel in precisely the part of the city that you want your hotel to be.
You can combine search criteria to narrow down the search results even more. You can really narrow it down to the point where you are finding a hotel with particular features in a particular neighborhood in a certain price range (although you should be aware that hotels in NYC are pretty expensive, even in Brooklyn!)

Greenwich Hotel

2011-06-07T11:44:00.002-05:00

Greenwich Hotel in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Manhattan combines old world charm with modern technology to make this 4.5 star hotel a unique place to stay in NYC.

Each room is individually decorated for a unique experience for every guest of this fine boutique hotel. The guest rooms feature a wide range of furnishings from Moroccan tiles to Tibetan silk rugs.

This hotel was featured in a 2008 issue of Elle magazine.

(Find the lowest room rates: CLICK HERE.)

Amenities/Features

A/C (very important in the hot New York summers!)
Pet Friendly (take your little dog with you!)
Security Guard (feel safe.)
Room Service.
Mini-Bar.
Parking (in NYC parking is a big deal!)
Fitness Room/Gym (stay fit.)
Massage/Beauty Center.
Italian Restaurant.

Location

The most important thing in New York City is location, location, location! And the Greenwich Hotel is wonderfully situated in one of the most interesting parts of Manhattan. This is a great spot for those who want to experience "real New York City" and not the glossy over the top tourist attractions (ie: Times Square.)

Celebrity Sightings

Many famous people live here or have lived here in the past including Robert DeNiro (who is a co-owner of the Greenwich Hotel), Jon Stewart, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, David Letterman, Billy Crystal, Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, M. Night Shyamalan, Michael Stipe, Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman, Justin Timberlake, Kate Winsley, Scarlet Johansson, and Derek Jeter.

New York Hotel Deals

With our service you will find the lowest possible price for your reservations at the Greenwich Hotel because we check the rates at over 30 different hotel websites to find the absolute best deal. Sure, you could do that yourself but it would take you hours to do. We do it for you. In seconds. CLICK HERE to find the best deal and make your online reservations now.

Greatest New York City Bands of the Last 50 Years!

2010-10-10T20:24:00.002-05:00

What follows are seven of the greatest New York City bands (and solo artists) of the past 50 years. Mostly based on my own personal opinion, but I also considered critical and commercial success.

Bob Dylan - No, Dylan wasn't from NYC, but he moved there in January of 1961 and his most famous '60s albums were recorded while Dylan was living there. Dylan, arguably the greatest songwriter of the 20th century, definitely has a strong link to the greatest city in the world.

The Velvet Underground - One of the most critically acclaimed and influential bands ever despite their lack of mass commercial appeal (their peak on the US album chart was #171.) Lou Reed could also arguably be on this list as a solo artist.

Ramones - Like The Velvet Underground, the Ramones had limited commercial appeal (peaking at #44 on the US album chart) but they were extremely influential. They are probably the most influential punk rock band of all time. Their shows at CBGB's in the '70s are legendary. CBGB's was in Manhattan's Lower East Side. It closed in 2006.

Talking Heads - Another very influential band. That seems to be the mark of great NYC bands: More influence and critical acclaim than album sales. Not that the Talking Heads never sold any albums. In fact, 1985's Little Creatures has sold over two million copies in the US. But they've never charted higher than #15 on the US album charts (1983's Speaking in Tongues.)

Blondie - Four #1 hits in the US from 1979 through 1981: "Heart of Glass," "Call Me," "The Tide is High," and "Rapture."

Sonic Youth - Definitely a part of the "more critical acclaim and influence than album sales" NYC thing. Their highest charting album ever is actually their most recent. 2009's The Eternal hit #18 on the US album charts.

Animal Collective - There are many current NYC based indie bands that I also considered for this list (Dirty Projectors, MGMT, Yeasayer among them) but I decided this list should have a bit of history instead of just being a run down of what's happening right now. I may do a separate list of just current NYC bands. For this list I had to go with Animal Collective as they are arguably the second most critically acclaimed/influential bands of the last 15 or so years (if I need to say it: Radiohead.)

Where's The Rap?

Yes, this is a "Rock" list. I like some hip-hop, don't get me wrong - but when it comes down to it, I'm not as into as I am as this kind of stuff. And I just don't have space to put a bunch of hip hop guys in here too. Ditto for the many other styles of music I ignored.

New Year's Eve In Times Square

2008-12-03T13:18:00.002-05:00

Every year a ridiculous amount of people (about one million) go to Times Square in Manhattan to see the Times Square Ball drop live in person.

Before deciding whether or not this is something you want to do you should think about whether or not you are the type of person who can handle being squeezed up next to a million other people. Times Square is almost always crazy but on New Year's Eve it is truly insane. If you are a claustrophobic type you will likely not enjoy yourself.

But it is a unique experience to actually be there in person. Think about it, this is something that about 100 million Americans (and about ONE BILLION people worldwide) watch on video. To see it live is a special experience.

Make your Times Square hotel reservations online.

Ono - Japanese Food In Manhattan

2008-11-13T11:25:00.002-05:00

Ono is a fantastic Japanese restaurant located in Greenwich Village. It's address is 18 Ninth Ave.

This is a pretty fancy joint so reservations are recommended (212-660-6766.)

How about the hours? It's open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1 AM on Friday & Saturday.

How about the prices? It's not cheap but it's not over the top expensive either.

How about the atmosphere? Well this is not your usual calm serene Japanese restaurant. Ono includes murals of tattooed body parts, an illuminated sushi bar, and private cabanas in the outside dining area.

And no, Ono has nothing to do with Yoko Ono (except that whole Japanese angle.)

We Endorse Barack Obama For President

2008-10-14T13:07:00.004-05:00

We've decided to take a break from our usual NYC travel guide blogging to add our voice to all of the other Americans who are calling for real change. Who are tired of the nasty negative campaigning of John McCain. And who are even more tired of the horrible George W. Bush policies that got us into the mess we are in now over the last 8 years and which John McCain would like to give us for another four years.

Not only do we ask you to vote for Barack Obama for President on November 4th, we also ask you to join the millions of Americans who have donated to the Barack Obama campaign (that's real public financing!)

CLICK HERE to donate to Barack Obama at his website.

We also ask you to try and make a real difference by not only voting for and donating to Barack Obama but by also campaigning for him using his great Neighbor 2 Neighbor program!

A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for the future. A vote to move America forward into a prosperous future. A vote for John McCain is a vote for fear, a vote for negative politics and baseless character assassinations, and a vote for more of the same. America cannot afford four more years of George W. Bush's policies.

W New York: The Court

2008-09-08T15:25:00.002-05:00

Make your reservations for W New York: The Court online right now through New York Hotel Deals. CLICK HERE.

This luxury 4 star hotel is located in the Murray Hill neighborhood in Manhattan. It's within walking distance to such great destinations as Bryant Park, The United Nations Headquarters, F.A.O. Schwartz, Grand Central Station, The Empire State Building, Times Square, & Madison Square Garden (Home To The Knicks, Rangers, & Islanders.)

Photos (guest room and a shot from the street.)

Click Here To Make Your Reservations Online Right Now.

Omni Berkshire Place In NYC

2008-08-11T22:32:00.002-05:00

The Omni Berkshire Place Hotel on 52nd St & Madison Ave. is a beautiful luxury hotel in the heart of Manhattan.

Among the nearby attractions are Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, & Times Square.

This is a great hotel to stay at whether you are in NYC on business or on pleasure.

It's a good idea to make your reservations for this hotel online right now because it is often sold out. The earlier you make your reservations, the better your chances of getting a room are. Make your reservations right now: CLICK HERE.

The exterior of this hotel is beautiful:

The guest rooms are also lovely:

Click Here to make a reservation now.

Brooklyn - Seaside Summer Concert Series

2008-07-18T18:24:00.002-05:00

Last night I saw Brian Wilson (songwriter/musician/producer/singer/genius for The Beach Boys) in Coney Island. It was a free concert and there's more of them coming each Thursday. Although none of the other performers are near Wilson's legendary status as a musical genius (few are) - there still may be some shows you'll enjoy seeing.

Upcoming Shows

July 24 - Smokey Robinson
July 31 - Starship
August 7 - Liza Minnelli (with Christopher Cross)
August 14 - Salsa By The Sea (dance music.)
August 21 - Huey Lewis & The News

Click Here for complete info.

Coney Island - The Last Summer (2008)

2008-06-15T13:37:00.004-05:00

Lately every summer has been the "last summer of Coney Island." Maybe this year it really is the last summer of Coney Island? I hope not. I think it should stick around forever.

Some photos of Coney Island taken in late May:

Nathan's Hotdogs

One of the rides at Astroland:

Another view of Astroland:

I'm not actually sure what this is. All I know is that it is tall. I think maybe people do "free falls" from it. I would not do this.

The Wonder Wheel

Make your NYC hotel reservations at New York Hotel Deals!

The Carlton On Madison Ave.

2008-06-01T17:05:00.002-05:00

The Carlton On Madison Ave (Make Reservations Now!) is a luxurious 4 star hotel in the Gramercy neighborhood in Manhattan.

The building was originally constructed in 1904 and used to be known as the Seville Hotel. But although the building is old (or "classic" as we prefer to say) the hotel is still modern as can be with cutting edge amenities like wireless internet and iPod clock radios!

It's located between 28th and 29th streets on Madison avenue. The address is 88 Madison Ave.

CLICK HERE to make your online reservations right now.

An example guest room:

Photos From The East Village

2008-05-03T12:59:00.002-05:00

The East Village in Manhattan is one of the coolest parts of New York City. We went there last weekend and took some photos and today I wish to share them with you. If you are interested in the cooler, hipper, side of Manhattan then you'll definitely want to make your way to the East Village during your visit to the city.

BAMN! is the only operating Automat in the United States and it's located in the East Village. I can't really recommend their food but it is an interesting place.

Of course you'll want to make all of your NYC hotel reservations at NewYorkHotelDeals.us - Here's the St. Marks Hotel.

I'm not sure exactly what this is, but it's pretty cool looking.

Weird fish:

Bike:

Atomic Wings (Great place to get hot wings. The East Village is filled with Japanese restaurants which is great but sometimes you only hot wings will hit the spot.)

As with just about everywhere else in Manhattan, there's always plenty of cabs on the street:

Freddy's Backroom In Brooklyn

2008-04-24T02:56:00.005-05:00

One of the coolest bars/small music venues in Brooklyn is Freddy's Backroom which is located in an area that will be destroyed if Bruce Ratner gets his way and the New Jersey Nets move to Brooklyn. So take this chance to visit Freddy's now while it's still around.

Freddy's features reasonably priced beer, a cool crowd, and unique videos which are created by the bar's owner. The videos are played in the bar all the time and they are.... well hard to describe. But they are very interesting.

Freddy's hosts music (and other events) almost every night. And there's never an admission fee. Brooklyn's Scumbo has played there on numerous occassions and became somewhat notorious for their wild show with strobe lights and smoke machines which went along nicely with their unique brand of psychedelic rock music.

It's address is 485 Dean St. It's near the Atlantic Center which means it's easy to get to from almost anywhere in NYC. Take the 2 or 3 train to the Bergen St. stop.

Yankee Stadium's Final Year

2008-04-02T11:15:00.002-05:00

The most storied stadium in baseball history is being destroyed at the end of this season. That means this year is your last chance to see the Yankees in the "House That Ruth Built."

(Buy Yankees Tickets At Our NYC Tourist Shop)

Yankee Stadium has been hosting Yankee's home games since 1923.

It also used to be the home of the New York Giants (NFL) and it hosted many famous fights (boxing.)

It's certainly an historical place for all baseball fans. Even if you are not a fan of the Yankees, you should really go to a game at Yankee Stadium before it's destroyed at the end of this season.

Gray's Papaya

2007-11-15T20:24:00.000-05:00

Gray's Papaya HOT DOGS is one of the more "New York" of restaurants you can find in the city. It's a unique place that bases their menu on hot dogs and on papaya juice. A very interesting combination!

There are multiple locations in the city. They are all standing room only! This is not a sit down restaurant.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

2007-11-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

One of the biggest tourist attractions in NYC happens every Thanksgiving with the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Most people have watched the parade on television and are excited to be able to see it in person for the first time.

The parade starts on 77th street and marches down Central Park West until it gets to Columbus Circle where the parade turns onto Broadway until reaching Macy's on 34th street.

The parade goes from 9am to 12pm but if you want to get a good view you'll have to find a space long before 9am as the crowd is huge!

www.MacysParade.com

Hall of Fame for Great Americans

2007-11-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is a huge monument with 98 busts that memorialize legendary Americans such as President Abraham Lincoln, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, and author Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens.)

The monument was designed by Sanford White and is located on the Bronx Communicty College campus at 181st St. and University Ave. Take the 4 train to 183rd street to get there.

It's open from 10am to 5pm daily. Admission is free.

The architecture is truly stunning:

Using The Subway & Buses

2007-10-30T10:49:00.000-05:00

Using the subway is a must if you want to really experience NYC the way most New Yorkers do. 3.5 million people use the NYC subway system every day. It's easily the biggest and most complex subway system in America.

You can buy an unlimited MetroCard (this is a pass for unlimited trips for both the subway trains and for the city busses) for $7. Please keep in mind that each MetroCard can only be used by one person. It will not work to run the same card through twice in the same station as it will say "just used."

You can also buy a MetroCard with a money value so that you pay for each ride ($2 each.) This may be the more cost effective plan if you are planning on just using the Subway train for one specific trip but if you are planning on making a day of it then you'll probably get a better deal by buying the unlimited card.

As I mentioned previously the MetroCards can also be used on the city buses. The charges for bus rides are the same as the charges for a train ride.

Using the subway and buses will almost definitely be more cost effective than buying taxi rides.

Traveling around Manhattan using the subway system is quite fast. In fact often times you'll get where you are going faster using the subway than you would if you were driving or riding in a taxi because traffic can be so bad in Manhattan.

Seeing The Statue Of Liberty

2007-10-29T09:18:00.000-05:00

You can see the Statue of Liberty from south end of Manhattan, the south east side of Brooklyn, and the northern part of Staten Island. You can also get a nice look at it on the free Staten Island Fairy which goes back and forth between the southern tip of Manhattan and Staten Island.

But if you want to get close to this landmark you will need to get to Liberty Island. How do you get there? Take a Ferry from Battery Park in Manhattan. The ferries start leaving every half hour starting at 9 AM and going to 4 PM. During the summer ferry hours may be extended. You can buy ferry tickets in advance online at StatueReservations.com, but even if you purchase tickets beforehand you should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your trip to the island due to security checks. The trip to Liberty Island takes about 20 minutes.

Once you are on Liberty Island you will be able to take a tour of the Statue of Liberty, although it should be noted that since September 11th access has been limited. Visitors are no longer allowed to go up to the crown.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the France to the USA in 1886 symbolizing the friendship between France and the United States and as an expression of freedom and liberty. It was designed by a sculptor named Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and an engineer named Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel (yes, the same Eiffel that designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.)

The statue weighs 225 tons (450,000 pounds) and stands 152 feet tall. To get an idea of the statue's size consider that the Statue of Liberty's index finger is 8 feet long.

A stop at Ellis Island is included in the ferry's fare. Ellis Island is one of the most historically important places in America. Consider the fact that about 40% of Americans can trace their heritage back to Ellis Island. In other words 2 out of every 5 Americans have an ancestor that came to America through Ellis Island!

From 1892 to 1954 over 12 million people came to America through Ellis Island.

Dahesh Museum of Art

2007-10-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

Most art aficionados know about the Met and the Guggenheim Museum but those are just two of the many art museums in New York City. Among the less known NYC art museums is the Dahesh Museum of Art. It's a small museum that is dedicated to 19th and early 20th century European academic art. This was a continuation of the Renaissance, baroque, and rococo traditions.

The Dahesh Museum of Art is located at 580 Madison Ave. The cross streets are 56th and 57th streets. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children.

Flor de Mayo

2007-09-30T21:34:00.000-05:00

Flor de Mayo is a Cuban/Chinese restaurant located at 2651 Broadway, that's between 100th and 100st streets.

Cuban/Chinese food is something that is distinctly New York. The phenomenon started up in the 1950s as Cubans of Chinese heritage immigrated to NYC after the Cuban revolution. Most of the Cuban/Chinese restaurants that opened up in the 50s are closed down but the Flor de Mayo west the best of the bunch and has stuck around to this day. If you want to eat somewhere with a "only in New York" feeling then this is definitely somewhere to consider!

There's a new Flor de Mayo branch now open at 484 Amsterdam Av, that's between 83rd and 84th streets.

Hotel Inter-Continental The Barclay New York

2007-09-17T14:11:00.000-05:00

Make Your Reservations Online For Hotel Inter-Continental The Barclay New York. Making NYC hotel reservations online with New York Hotel Deals is safe, fast, & easy.

King Size Guest Room At The Hotel Intern-Continental New York:

Hotel Inter-Continental The Barclay is located at 111 East 48th Street in Manhattan between Lexington Ave. & Park Ave. It's very close to the shopping of 5th avenue (including Saks Fifth Avenue.) It's also close to landmarks like St Patrick's Cathedral, The Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and The United Nations.

This hotel exudes an elegance of a long ago era as it was built in the "Roaring Twenties." It offers a combination of luxury & convenience that is hard to match.

Make Your Reservations Online Now.

The hotel features the Barclay Bar & Grill. See the beautiful dining room pictured below:

This luxurious hotel has had many famous & distinguished guests over the years including Nelson Mandela, Francois Mitterrand, and President Ronald Reagan.

You too can stay at Hotel InterContinental The Barclay. Make Your Reservations Now.

Hotel Amenities Include:

+Gym
+High Speed Internet Access
+Mini Bar
+PA System
+24 Hour Room Service
+Sauna
+Fitness Center/Spa
+Satellite TV
+Concierge
+In Room Movies
+Laundry/Valet Services
+Bidet
+Fax

Stay At Hotel Inter-Continental The Barclay in New York City

Park Slope - Lesbian Paradise

2007-09-11T12:51:00.000-05:00

Park Slope, Brooklyn is known as a lesbian paradise. It's even acquired the nickname "Dyke Slope."

One of the most popular lesbian bars in NYC is in Park Slope. It's called Cattyshack and you can visit their website at www.cattyshackbklyn.com to learn more about it.

Don't be afraid to venture into Brooklyn! Much of the best stuff in New York City is in Brooklyn.

Landmarc - Mediterranean Restaurant

2007-09-02T16:01:00.000-05:00

Landmarc is a Mediterranean restaurant in TriBeCa. The address is 19 W. Broadway, between Leonard and Worth streets. Their phone # is 212-343-3883 & their website is here is Landmarc-Restaurant.com

This is a distinctive version of an Italian/French bistro due to owner & chef Marc Murphy who adds his unique spin to the meals. Among the recommended dishes are the pasta of the day and hangar steak. The main courses vary in price from about $15 to about $33.

Along with great food Landmarc offers affordable wines sold by the bottle or half bottle & simple low priced (none over $3) desserts.

Brooklyn Marriott in Downtown Brooklyn

2007-08-02T14:51:00.000-05:00

Do you want to stay in Downtown Brooklyn? If so then an excellent choice is the Brooklyn Marriott on 333 Adams St. This modern 25 story hotel has 659 rooms. It has the perfect Brooklyn location and it's also easy to get into Manhattan as it's just across the East River.

Make your online hotel reservations at the Brooklyn Marriott in Downtown Brooklyn.

Among the amenities at this beautiful hotel are:

- No Smoking Rooms & Facilities
- Parking (this is a big deal in Brooklyn!)
- Free Newspaper
- Fitness Center
- Laundry/Valet Services
- Wired High Speed Internet Access (bring the cable)
- Wireless Internet Access In Meeting Space & Public Areas
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Pool
- Room Service
- Coffee Maker
- Cable Television

What are the nearby attractions:

Really everything in New York City isn't that far away. You can get to almost anywhere in NYC from this location within an hour.

But the closer area attractions include the Atlantic Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Make Your Reservations Now.