Travel : United States

[KSP]

You can take a 2-3 days tour from NYC to Niagara Falls on Canada side.


If u are watching broadway shows u can get some discounts from TKTS Discount Booths at Broadway 47th Street.

You can also visit the Statue of Liberty if u haven’t been there.

[verykiasu2010]

MMM


I am not familiar with the hotels you mentioned, so no advice / comment. If you are happy with the hotel & price and is convenient, eg, short walk to metro station, then go with it

Of all the hotels I stayed before in Manhattan, I like the Crowne Plaza Time Square the best. Partly because I have the highest tier of their loyalty program, I usually book the cheapest room but ALWAYS upgraded to the best room, with free internet, complimentary breakfast, drinks on the house whole day....etc and that hotel is super covenient to everything in Time Square & metro station just round the corner

try this if you have not done before : http://www.sparkssteakhouse.com/ - not bad for a summer evening, reasonable price

Sorry I have no idea on outlets ...

[hsm]

Hi


What’s the best way to move around? From
Lax to LV to SFO besides self drive? We have a group of 16 pax. Can charter a coach to drive around? Any recommendations?

Thanks

[Dnls_mum]

hsm:

Hi


What's the best way to move around? From
Lax to LV to SFO besides self drive? We have a group of 16 pax. Can charter a coach to drive around? Any recommendations?

Thanks

16 people is practically one tour group! I think even SG travel agents can arrange something specifically for your group.

[MMM]

Planning for our US trip in end May.


Does any one know if it is easy to find a local tour in NY to other parts eg. Philadelphia, washington D.C., Niagara fall, etc…? I tried to search on line and Gray line only do those 1 day trip to Niagara by air.

Any consideration is if we only get a local tour in NY… the hotel reservation is going to be a pain and accomodation is not cheap in NY.

Online, we can’t seem to find any decent local tour operator. Saw some that looks interesting but read very bad review on tripadvisor.

Right now, we are contemplating if we should take the land tour from Singapore tour agents…

Any suggestions?

[verykiasu2010]

MMM:

Planning for our US trip in end May.


Does any one know if it is easy to find a local tour in NY to other parts eg. Philadelphia, washington D.C., Niagara fall, etc...? I tried to search on line and Gray line only do those 1 day trip to Niagara by air.

Any consideration is if we only get a local tour in NY.... the hotel reservation is going to be a pain and accomodation is not cheap in NY.

Online, we can't seem to find any decent local tour operator. Saw some that looks interesting but read very bad review on tripadvisor.

Right now, we are contemplating if we should take the land tour from Singapore tour agents...

Any suggestions?

hardly any local tours operating from NYC to Niagara, Washington DC etc

seem some flyers before in the NYC hotels but not much choice

you can try this one : http://www.nyc.com

best option is organise your flights and hotel and then join local tours upon arriving at the destination hotels - lots of options locally

if you plan to cover Niagara and Washington DC and NYC, that is quite a bit of flying and cheap fare always require a stop over

[thebusybee]

MMM:

Planning for our US trip in end May.


Does any one know if it is easy to find a local tour in NY to other parts eg. Philadelphia, washington D.C., Niagara fall, etc...? I tried to search on line and Gray line only do those 1 day trip to Niagara by air.

Any consideration is if we only get a local tour in NY.... the hotel reservation is going to be a pain and accomodation is not cheap in NY.

Online, we can't seem to find any decent local tour operator. Saw some that looks interesting but read very bad review on tripadvisor.

Right now, we are contemplating if we should take the land tour from Singapore tour agents...

Any suggestions?

I'm also going NY end of May.

Did some research and found this tour operator.

http://www.taketours.com/new-york-ny/4-day-tour-to-canada-montreal-ottawa-toronto-niagara-falls-472-408.html

Reviews from the customers not so bad. I believe it's operated by Chinese. If you have more days you should join the longer tours which I think it won't be so rush. At first I wanted to book 4 days 3 nights to Niagara Falls but changed plans as we decided to drive.

I checked with SG tour agency before, they charge much higher and they too engage the tour operators in NYC.

For accommodation, I booked from airbnb.com. Mid town Manhatten apartment with 3 bed rooms and 2 bath rooms (we have 6 adults) costs us$ 2500 for 5 nights. This is my first time booking from this website so no comments till I return from this trip. Even hostel private rooms in good locations like Times Square cost around the same price as accommodation in NYC is very expensive.

The above serve as reference for you. Hope it helps with your planning.

Cheers!

[MMM]

thebusybee:

I'm also going NY end of May.


Did some research and found this tour operator.

http://www.taketours.com/new-york-ny/4-day-tour-to-canada-montreal-ottawa-toronto-niagara-falls-472-408.html

Reviews from the customers not so bad. I believe it's operated by Chinese. If you have more days you should join the longer tours which I think it won't be so rush. At first I wanted to book 4 days 3 nights to Niagara Falls but changed plans as we decided to drive.

I checked with SG tour agency before, they charge much higher and they too engage the tour operators in NYC.

For accommodation, I booked from airbnb.com. Mid town Manhatten apartment with 3 bed rooms and 2 bath rooms (we have 6 adults) costs us$ 2500 for 5 nights. This is my first time booking from this website so no comments till I return from this trip. Even hostel private rooms in good locations like Times Square cost around the same price as accommodation in NYC is very expensive.

The above serve as reference for you. Hope it helps with your planning.

Cheers!

Hi,

Great to know someone going around the same period :grphug:

Thanks for sharing. We saw this company and another tours4fun or something like that. But the review on tripadvisor was quite bad. So I was alittle hesitant. I am actually asking my ex-US boss who is now based on NYC if there are any reputable operators.

We were also looking around for local tour operators eg. SA tours, Chan bros, Asa, hong thai and their land tour is around $2288 - $2988 pp. It includes washington D.C, boston, niagara falls, parts of canada and NYC. I compared that against Cosmos, insights, globus and tralfagar and the Singapore operator price is quite reasonable and it captures the area that Singaporeans like to go. So might go for that provided we find something which fits well with the timing. Frankly... the thought of lugging the luggage around doesn't gel well with me.... I am combining my biz trip with a extended holiday so I still have to carry my laptop around....

For accomodation, i actually booked Radisson Martinique which seems to be in a good location (near/ next to the biggest Macy store in NYC). GG at US$250 per nite before tax. It was corp rate and seems reasonable for the price and location. We intend to stay in NYC for a couple of days after the land tour.

The flight thing was a headache too..... Fortunately finally managed to confirm my dh's redemption flight. So I think we are all set to go :rahrah:

Can you share your driving plans? We hasn't really explore this option yet. But I read that Niagara fall is like a 8 hour drive from NY. But if you break it to various stops like the tour operator. That should be do-able. My hubby wanted to get the most out of the 14 days there.

[serenasgreenhouse]

Hi, just to share one DIY travel tip. If you have a Singapore Science Centre membership, do remember to take the membership card along with you when you go on your vacation. Admission to participating Science Centres is free My sister who is in the US for half a year has visited a number of Science Centres there with her kids. The kids love the trips!

[thebusybee]

MMM:

Hi,

Great to know someone going around the same period :grphug:

Thanks for sharing. We saw this company and another tours4fun or something like that. But the review on tripadvisor was quite bad. So I was alittle hesitant. I am actually asking my ex-US boss who is now based on NYC if there are any reputable operators.

*my friend and family will be joining the tours4fun package this May/June, 8 Days tour from NYC to Philedelphia-D.C.- Niagara- Toronto-thousand Island-Montreal-Quebec-Boston-NYC. Hotels are Sheraton, Marriott, Renaissance or similar. Her family normally self-drive (kids are grown ups). This time round they are joining package tour because it is cheap.*

We were also looking around for local tour operators eg. SA tours, Chan bros, Asa, hong thai and their land tour is around $2288 - $2988 pp. It includes washington D.C, boston, niagara falls, parts of canada and NYC. I compared that against Cosmos, insights, globus and tralfagar and the Singapore operator price is quite reasonable and it captures the area that Singaporeans like to go. So might go for that provided we find something which fits well with the timing. Frankly... the thought of lugging the luggage around doesn't gel well with me.... I am combining my biz trip with a extended holiday so I still have to carry my laptop around....

*well, I think the local agent will engage the same group of people (Tour4fun or taketours) handling the package tour. During the March travel fair, SA Tours quoted me s$800/pax for twin sharing for the 8 days land tour.*

For accomodation, i actually booked Radisson Martinique which seems to be in a good location (near/ next to the biggest Macy store in NYC). GG at US$250 per nite before tax. It was corp rate and seems reasonable for the price and location. We intend to stay in NYC for a couple of days after the land tour.

*yes! Shopping is one of the main agenda for us! Will definitely visit Macy's*

The flight thing was a headache too..... Fortunately finally managed to confirm my dh's redemption flight. So I think we are all set to go :rahrah:

Can you share your driving plans? We hasn't really explore this option yet. But I read that Niagara fall is like a 8 hour drive from NY. But if you break it to various stops like the tour operator. That should be do-able. My hubby wanted to get the most out of the 14 days there.

* if you like self-drive trip and hate to wake up early in the morning, maybe it is better off to rent a car. The package tour itinerary is a very good guide to follow. For us, our main focus is on attending brother's commencement and visit NYC, see itinerary of our trip-

D1 -SG-JFK - pick up car and drive to Ithacca (around 4 hrs)

D2 - another 2 members joining us at Ithacca, pick up another car from JFk.

D3 - attend bro's commencement, explore Ithacca and finger lakes area

D4 - drive to Niagara Falls, stop by Buffalo for lunch.

D5 - Niagara Falls half day, then drive 6 hrs to Central Valley

D6 -Woodbury Premium outlet shopping day, drive to NYC (1.5 hrs), check in apartment before 7pm.

D7 - return cars in the morning, visit Statue of Libery and nearby attractions.

D8 - explore NYC

D9 - NYC

D10 - NYC - 1 pax fly back to Michigan

D11 - pick up another car in the morning, check out apartment. Do some last minute shopping, late afternoon drive 2 pax to Airport, remaining 3 pax drive to New Jersey or further for accommodation.

D12 - drive to D.C. (approx. 4hrs). Half day D.C. tour.

D13 - explore D.C - capital hill & the Mall, museums etc.

D14 - drive back to NY, JFK airport, return car around 6pm and catch our flights home.

I know this is not the ideal plan but we are short of time as 3 members are leaving early, hence the itinerary needs to suit all.

You have 14 days, depends on where you want to focus on, nature or shopping, or cover as many places as possible with 'touch and go' style.

Car rental - we reserved 2x mid-size SUV at us$325(weekly rate) for the 5 and 6 days rental. I'm now looking for cheaper car from Manhattan to JFK for my 2nd leg.

Few more weeks to go, so looking forward to see NYC! *