the big apple at xmas

Hi there scotty,
firstly visas, no you don't need them. You'll need to fill in an I94w visa waiver form,(1 per person), as well as a customs declaration (1 per family of up to 4 people) before you get there. They give the forms out on the plane, but you may be able to get some via you travel agent beforehand if you wish.
Things to do?
Blimey, its a bit like London. There is loads to do, depending on your tastes. Down town, you have greenwich village, soho, the twin towers memorial site, canal street, little italy, etc, great for coffee shops, some good (italian & chinese) restaurants, etc. Uptown, you have the bigger shops, 5th avenue, etc, central park, the Strawberry fields memorial. Quite a few good museums, (MOMA etc), the boat ride around the statue of liberty, mind you, it'll probably be freezing cold, (even for a scotty!).Some great musical instrument shops very close to times square, as well as a couple of good shops for LP's! What sort of stuff are you & yours into? 5 days is a good amount of time there. You may even want to get out of the city to see the coast, or something. There must be a few new-yorkers here to give you more ideas.
Matt.

Breakfast! NY home fries are the best.
If the others go off to do some shopping and you get some time on your own, there is nothing better than sitting in a bar with a beer and a newspaper and maybe talking politics with the locals. I even got into a game of darts once in bar near Wall Street. Winter is a great time to go, probably the best.
If you've never seen inside Grand Central station in morning sunshine then you must.
HHmmm...I might just have to go myself now that you mention it.
I think 5 days is a lot to stay in Manhattan so it might be an idea to have some days out planned to call on if needed.

thanks guys,
matt - where are these record shops exactly ?
you can tell what im interested in seeing. LOL
hope the missus doesnt read this !
thought wed catch a show. any more suggestions.
regards, scotty

what about the empire state building. is it worth going up ?

Many people say the best view of the city is the "Top of the Rock". There is an observation deck at the top of Rockefeller Plaza that is open until late at night, I haven't been but I hear it is spectacular. I live 20 minutes outside of NYC, I really should take a ride over some time.

Also, go all the way downtown and see ground zero (where the World Trade Center was). It's quite a site, very sad. You'll be a few minutes walk from the Statue of Liberty at that point also.

oh I forgot to mention, my personal favorite is the Museum of Natural History.

Take the boat to the Ellis Island museum. You may have to get up early to beat the crowds but it is well worth a visit. The boat also stops at the Statue of Liberty

Hi Scotty,
The record shops I've been to a while ago were on Broadway & about 47 or 48th street, iirc. I think it was called colony's, & sold a lot of sheet music & broadway show stuff, as well as a good selection of jazz. There was another one downtown in/near the village, but the details escape me for now. I'll try to put my thinking cap on!
I'd say the Wmpire State building is well worth going up. OK, I guess it is a bit touristy, but on a clear day you do get a great view especially of the Chrysler building, which is still one of my faves. Cliched, I know, but I love it.
There are the musical instrument shops along W.48th, between 6th & 7th, which even if you don't play can be worth a look at some beautiful guitars.
The ice-skating rink at Rockefeller PLaza will also be open, skating isn't that expensive, but even if you don't skate, its still a nice spectacle.
Remember that the Avenues go North/south, & the streets go East/West. The subway is pretty good/safe/cheap, & is OK to use in the daytime, at least. Navigation is fairly easy.
You'll probably do a fair bit of walking, so make sure the family are in comfy shoes. The Deli style food is pretty good, although I tend to steer clear of the hot deli food in the evening, as sometimes it may have been sitting there for quite a while. The prices in the shops have to have tax on top, (17.5%) I think, so bear that in mind when you see a bargain. Waiters in restaurants expect tips in the region of 12-15% of the bill.
The girls in the family will probably love the Canal street area, where there are loads of shops selling fake handbags, designer jewellery,watches etc. They even give you fake 'Tiffany' boxes & ribbons with the jewellery, if thats your thing. The horse & buggy ride in/around the park is pricey, but bargain hard & its a treat for the family.
Hope that helps a bit,
up the 'ammers,
Matt.

Matt, Scotty

NY State Tax is only 8.25%

thanks again guys, very useful stuff. cant wait now.
scotty

hav'nt made it along myself but I am told that the Christmas show at Radio City is a must see

if you want the best pizza in the world, you'll have to go over the hudson to new jersey. on the way (near the george washington bridge, remember him??), stop at the cloisters, great if you like that sort of thing (medieval museum and gardens). i spent a day there last time i was in n.y.c. the hudson river valley is beautiful, and full of what history we have in the states, even if a little ice-locked at christmas. i went to private school there. little italy has fantastic restaurants. just walking around is fun, but hold on to your wallet. stop by the dakota after wtc site for a really depressing day.

can anyone shed any light on this: missus has come home today and reckons we cant go to the big apple for xmas as the rules have changed for visas etc, if you have been arrested at any time and its on your record they wont let you into the country. i have a so called record for running onto a football pich (to celebrate NOT - violence) many moons ago when i was young and silly. surely this cant stop us enjoying xmas in ny !! can it ?
perhaps you american guys can shed some light for me.
regards, scotty

Go to the US Embassy website on Visas and read the rules on the Visa Waiver program, you may have to go to the Embassy to get a visa

start reading here

derek,
thanks for that but are you telling me that if i book 5 days in ny at xmas and i fill in the visa form thingy on the plane that they wont let me into the country ?

That is what it looks like to me on the Visa Waiver page - it says

"Important: Some travelers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law), certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the VWP. Such travelers must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they may be refused entry into the United States.
"

I suggest that you read the page I gave the address for and then follow the link to
Visa Waiver Program in the section called "Who needs a visa"


Be aware I am only an interested observer in US regulations as I like to visit the country so I try to keep up to date with the web site.

oh i understand derek and appreciate your input.
i see it as this.... i book the holiday fill in the temp visa on plane and have a nice time for 5 days. its not as though im an alcaeda suspect ! in truth i havent got the time to go to the embassy and queue all day, this is my busy period up to xmas.

Another thought - a few weeks back on this forum or on Pink Fish someone had a similar question but it involved his partner. They checked wth the police to see if the incident had been recorded - it had not so there had not been an arrest - were you formally arrested or just detained (I assume there is a difference) - can you check with the police to see what is on your record in any way?

Have you seen the reverse side of the visa waiver form? You can see the questions they ask by following the Visa Waiver Wizard on the web site.

Before you leave the country you will have give to the airline the address where you will be staying for the first night.

it did go to court where i was fined for "pitch encrouchment" believe it or not and yes it is on record. IF WE GO AS IM GETTING A BIT WORRIED NOW - we will book flights and hotel online as a package. thats why im tempted to just book it and not worry.
scotty

Empire estate building - check out the queue as the one to get in is only the first, there's another queue to change lifts, and then another. If the one downstairs is long you could spend 3 or 4 hours to do the empire estate. You can (I think it's $50 instead of $15) get an express ticket that lets you skip the queues - if your in NYC for a short time it's well worth it.

Rather than pay to go on the boat trip to the empire estate you could take the free Statton island ferry - good views of the city, liberty and Brooklyn bridge. Can't see the point of going to the statue of Liberty as you can't go up it since 9/11. Walk across the Brooklyn bridge.

Interesting restaurant (if you like that sort of thing) WD-50 the tasting menu is an experience. I'd reserve a 1 -2 months before you go, 2 months for this and other upscale restaurants.

p.s. might be better to just go somewhere hot instead.

I can only point you to the information - I cannot give an opinion - whatever you do have a good time.

rockerfeller better than empire buy a mile.

Statue of Liberty

Empire Diner (made famous by Manhattan (Woody Allen movie)

Canal St for knock off watches!

Do nor bother with MoMa (i love modern art but its too expensive and pretentious)

Anselm

quote:

Originally posted by Derek Wright:
That is what it looks like to me on the Visa Waiver page - it says

"Important: Some travelers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law), certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the VWP. Such travelers must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they may be refused entry into the United States.
"

I suggest that you read the page I gave the address for and then follow the link to
Visa Waiver Program in the section called "Who needs a visa"


Be aware I am only an interested observer in US regulations as I like to visit the country so I try to keep up to date with the web site.

wow, i couldn't get in under that restriction! i may be associating w/ the wrong crowd, but i'll bet half my friends have been arrested for something or other, generally for youthful episodes.

apparently the gov't believes we don't need tourists to keep the wheels turning ... and i've noticed myself on returning to the states from europe how fekkin' rude the u.s. customs people are, it seems each and every one of them. they must get special training. our tax dollars at work.

i can utterly understand a strong stance on security after 9/11 BUT for christs sake im just trying to visit one of the greatest certainly most famous cities in the world at a magical time of year. we will only be there 5 days thats including travel out and return.
i or my wife and daughter have never been in serious trouble with the law (except my silly pitch incursion stunt)
it just seems to me to be yet another example of the nanny state and bloody do gooders of this bauracratic world gone mad.
seems to me that i have 2 choices now.
just go and hope for the best OR go somewhere else. oh yes theres 1 more STAY AT F*****G HOME!!