LOL, they're calling it "Solita" now? I'm not sure what I'd call it, I mean I still think "Nolita" is a ridiculous name. I didn't even know there was a "solita", I mean I (and everybody else) just call that area "Chinatown" or "little italy", because that's where it is. You're right on the edge of C-town and Little Italy and Soho, so you really can't go wrong as far as that location goes. Some of the streets may appear slightly dodgy but I've walked around there late at night and had no problem. Plus you are a stone's throw from one of the best pizza (Lombardi's) and one of my favorite bars (Spring Lounge) A gym I used to go to was nearby on Howard street, so I think I have walked past this place a bunch, not sure about the inside, I would imagine it's fairlyh basic, but like I said the location is killer, and you're close to the 4/5/6 subway line too.
Yep, that's the one we stayed at in May. You are correct, it was probably the best bargain in that area. Nothing special, but it was clean, comfortable and had free Internet access.
Independence Air and Air Tran on the East coast. I got to Syracuse for $35 on Independence Air from DC. It was amazing. http://www.flyi.com/ http://www.airtran.com/Home.aspx
There's a hotel near the Garden/Penn Stn. called the Pennsylvania, I think its not very expensive. You could fly from LAX to Newark and take the train to Penn Stn($14). The LAX thing--I dont think its worth saving $20 to go to Long Beach. Cab to Long Beach will be more than $20 as said above.
thats what i am thinking but we are thinking of spending the day in LA and then getting the night flight, both of us can sleep well on planes and then we get to NY first thing saturday morning the only thing with this option is the bags and what we do with them all day in LA and also when we arrive in New York first thing in the morning
seems like a great spot the hotel itself is pretty small and new, august 2004 and pretty much can't find a bad review
cohen, also don't forget we have to go through customs/immigration i think getting to LB for the early flight is a going to be near impossible, we are leaning torwards either stay at LAX and get the 11:15am american airlines flight or stay in LA for the day and get the 9:45pm at Long Beach, maybe do something wacky like Universal studios or another theme park... guess the only question is bags... could we check out bags in early at long beach or do they still have lockers???
If you fly around back and forth, think about an airpass, e.g. http://www.staralliance.com/star_alliance/star/content/faq.html#StarAllianceNorthAmericanAirpass You even earn miles on that, and you should be pretty sure you have a decent quality carrier and not some ValuJet/AirTran potential fiasco. And if you want to fly around, it could actually be cheaper, because many airlines only sell roundtrip fares at cheap prices. America West also offers a systemwide airpass, which might be cheaper. Considering your routing, you might also potentially want to combine an America West airpass (for the Houston/Phoenix etc. part) and a Star Alliance airpass (Chicago is a United hub). Skyteam (Delta, etc.) has an America Coupon Pass as well, and there is a "Visit USA" pass by US Air. Some mergers going on in the US airline industry right now, so be sure to watch out for that. If you really want to find bargain fares, check the "Mileage Run" forum at www.flyertalk.com, but for a newbie, it is kind of hard to decipher the lingo there. What is a reasonable amount to you, and what category of hotel are you shooting for? Even the large chains tend to have nice promos from time to time, I always watch out for those, could let you know if something comes up. For how many nights? 10 years ago, I stayed in the Hotel Wolcott (http://www.hotelwolcott.com/) in NY a few times, not part of a chain, but prices were very reasonable at the time. Of course not as chic as the Soho Grand (which has a cool bar and is in a cool area, too), but right around the corner from the Empire State Building. Do you travel in Australia for business sometimes? If yes, might make sense to collect points/participate in promos like the Hyatt Faster Free Nights promo (2 stays = 1 free night at any Hyatt in the world) and then use those free nights in hotels in New York which would otherwise be ridiculously expensive. For budget travel advice, you could also check the budget travel forum at www.flyertalk.com and ask your question there (many Flyertalkers are from New York or travel there frequently and have great insider tips) or other websites specialized on budget travel. Let me know if you want me to look for something specific.
I dont remember them having lockers at Long Beach, might not have noticed though. Its a pretty small airport. One thing you might think about is renting a car at LAX and returning it at Long Beach. The car return is real close to the terminal. Getting a car will prob. be cheaper than taking cabs, and you can keep your bags in the car.
I thought that there were some outside by baggage claim...if they were there they might well be gone now. Would have to call the airport to check, Smeg. Your idea about the rental car is good...would also save them a trip down to Long Beach then back north to Universal. That would be a lot of driving.
Did forget about immigration...never took me long at LAX but who knows...another variable. I've checked in bags way early before...don't even know if there is a restriction...but prob a moot point since driving down to LB then back north to Universal is a pain. As for parks, Universal Studios w/ the city walk is prob the way to go. What day of week are you travelling? A serious consideration is if you're at Unversal and need to catch a flight from LB. If you plan Universal, you should seriously try for Burbank airport (if at all possible).
will certainly check out the locker situation, if there aren't any then a car rental could be good idea, so we could one get around but also have the luggage in the boot. it will be a friday if we stay for the day we will be trying to get to long beach for a 9:45pm flight on a firday night... what sort of trip/traffic are we talking from universal studios to long beach checked out the jetblue site, they have a flight from Burbank direct to New York leaving at 9pm (there is also one at 11:00am), what sort of drive is it to get from universal to burbank SJC - will check out the airlines passes, could be a great idea... although using various airlines via sidestep seems amazingly cheap.... as for NY hotels, we were looking between $150 and $200 a night..... at the moment we are happy with that Clarion one in Soho.. but willl see if we can find anything to beat it btw do all the jetblue flights have the good seats and screens on the back??? ps we have driven in LA before pps are there any good sites for cross country mountain biking around phoenix or houston???
My experiences on Friday heading south on the 405 were all between 5 and 6 pm ... and it was a parking lot. You would be leaving a short bit later, so maybe someone else could help more. As for Universal to Burbank, about 5 or 6 miles, prob 10-15 mins.
thanks Cohen, looks like we have a plan for that day now, so is Universal worth visiting or is there another theme park of note you reccommend looks like we will do the 9pm red eye to New York on jetblue, there planes certainly look nice, pity they don't fly to more the cities we are going to....
i didn't think airports offered lockers anymore since post 9/11 security measures have taken effect... can anyone confirm or disconfirm this?
from what i understood after 9/11 lockers were removed, i haven't even checked i just assumed that happened
Smeg, ask yourself this. If LA is not your preferred desitination, don't stop there, and spend more time in NY. If you take the overnight option from LA to NY, you are going to be absolutely shattered. You will get off the 14 hour flight, spend all day in LA, get interrupted sleep on the flight, and then arrive in NY for another full day before sleeping (bear in mind check in time will prob be ~2pm). I say fork out $20 for that AA flight from LAX, get to NYC at a decent hour, check in and go out for a nice meal Which airline do you fly from Aus to NYC? Several of the Qanats flights now go through new facilities at the American Terminal (including customs) and it is much quicker than the regualre international terminal. The 11.30 connection at Long Beach is too short. Your international flight could easily be an hour late.
Although davo might have the right idea (and I sure that ya'll have been considering it) ... ... but for adults in LA...Universal Studios and the City Walk (w/ small kids it would of course been Disneyland). Might plan on catching a bite at a restaurant at Universal City Walk on the way into (or out of) the park.
davo, my longer response..... yeah not a big fan of LA, we both do sleep on planes quite well so i guess that was one of the reasons for thinking the day in LA would be ok, but certainly NY is our favourite and it probably makes more sense to get there immediately .....it wasn't so much the cost thing, the jetblue flight/airline seemed impressive compared to the normal bland American airlines.... the AA flight at LAX is at 11:15 i presume we will make that after landing about 9:30 flying with Qantas ... QF 11.. so not sure if it lands at the new American terminal... any ideas if the American flight to NY would also depart from that terminal
