STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

joy0302 · Kate Spade

New York City

blubirde · Chanel

I've been to NYC several times and although I can't answer all your questions, I can answer some.

1. I'd pick a hotel close to a major subway line if you plan on traveling a lot. The best place, location-wise, I'd ever stayed is the Waldorf. It's majorly expensive and really not worth the cost, but the location was very convenient for everything we wanted to see in the city. I stayed with a friend once near Union Circle and that was very convenient as well.

2. No clue about the bball game but I'd never rent a car in NYC. The parking alone would cost more than cabs the entire trip. I'm from Houston and the traffic does not compare, I assure you. Cabs are pretty cheap. I don't remember spending more than $10-15 at any point in time (and split with more people it's even cheaper). If you're hopping around a bunch the subway is the way to go.

3. Go to the Met on Thursday (or is it Friday?) afternoon/evening. I forget which day but one of those days the museum is open late and you can go on the rooftop, have drinks, and see such an amazing view. And it's all free with the cost of the museum admission. Tip: If you just want to spend an hour in a museum, don't pay the full suggested price. It's suggested. I usually pay the full price but I spend hours and hours in the museums, so it's worth it to me. I've ran in just to see one room or painting or something and didn't feel bad paying a smaller fee since it's a donation and all.

4. Totally safer than Houston. I can't cite you stats or anything, but I've never once feared for my purse in NYC. (or expected road rage, random stabbings, and all the other lovely things Houston has to offer

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pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

My husband and I rely heavily on TripAdvisor.com for hotel reviews. I think you can search by attraction and see what hotels are within a certain radius.

The reviews really help, and my husband is especially picky when it comes to accommodations.

Tip: Don't rely on the "Average Rate" that appears on the right side of the screen. Actually do a search on TripAdvisor to see what the rates are. They'll quote travelocity, orbitz, hotels.com and one or two other popular sites.

You can also get good rebates from ebates.com on your purchase.

cc · Marc Jacobs

1. If I wanted to do alot of the museums, see a play and see Times Square does anyone have any hotels that would work?
What is your budget? I work in Times Square and really hate it so I can't recommend staying in that area but you can get there really easily from pretty much anywhere else in Manhattan. The Upper East side is beautiful and that is where most of the museums are located.
2. We want to go see the Yankees so what would be the best way to get there, cab or subway?
Subway is definitely the best bet. A cab would be expensive and I'm not sure how easily you'd be able to find one in that area after the game. The subway stops right at the stadium.

3. What other things would you suggest to see in the city?
Not sure what what museums you want to see but I highly recommend the Frick. It is really small and beautiful and you get to see how rich New Yorkers used to live. Grand Central is pretty spectacular. I haven't done it in years but taking the tram out to Roosevelt Island and back is kind of neat.

4. Is it reasonably safe now?
I've lived here my whole life and I feel really safe these days. Obviously you should always try to stay alert and it's best to follow standard safety measures like making sure your bag is zipped on crowded subways, although honestly I never zip my bag and regularly take my wallet out for extended periods in the subways, and have my head in the clouds most of the time and I've never been mugged or pickpocketed. Yankee Stadium isn't in the best area but since the subway stops right there and there are millions of people there before and after games you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

-- Edited by cc at 22:24, 2008-01-29

lynnie · Chanel

1) anywhere in manhattan basically would work, but since museum row is upper east side, midtown or something overlooking central park would probably be closest. Times square (midtown) is super easy to get to- don't pick something based on that. I'm a downtown girl though, so I'm biased. I personally would stay in Soho or the village or around Union Square if I had the option.

2) Subway or cab. Depends on how close you are staying- I think people usually take the subway. The stadium is in the Bronx I believe which could be a pricey cab ride. I remember them joking on Gossip Girl that a cab to Williamsburg in Brooklyn from the Upper East Side was $60. That is probably impossible, but all the way downtown to the Bronx could cost a pretty penny. But don't rent a car.

3) What do you like doing? How long are you staying? My roommate really likes the Cloisters (http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_Of_Art/department.asp?dep=7), which are uptown and run by the Met. If you are moving at a more leisurely pace, I'd suggest wandering around the West Village and going into galleries in Chelsea (there are hundreds perhaps.) For shopping (or window shopping!), I"d recommend the uptown Barneys (60th and Madison I think, lots of other shopping the area) or Soho. For food and bars, there is a lot going on in the East Village or lower east side, though can be a loud obnoxious scene on a weekend night.

4) yes, safest large city per capita. Cleaned up to the point where some people miss the grit of New York 20 years ago. But I know people that have gotten purses stolen. Because they left it unattended. So yea, be careful regardless. And I try not to walk alone late at night in desolate areas. I would take similar precautions anywhere.

Hermes

I can't add much beyond what the others have posted, but I just wanted to ditto the subway. I would focus on staying near a subway stop vs. near your destinations. The subway will get you anywhere you want to go and won't cost you an arm and a leg. The west side has some reasonable hotels (I've stayed west of Central Park -- not sure if that's the upper west side?)

Anyway, I found the city to be no more dangerous than any other large city, and definitely do not rent a car!

halah · Kenneth Cole

Another vote for the subway for Yankee games. It is crowded but it's all Yankee fans so that's kind of fun. I beleive it's the 6 that you take up there...also most of the art museums are easy to get to from that same subway line (green on 4,5,6) so if you stay on the east side close to that line it should make it convient for everything, and a short cab or walk to a show in Times square.

It's always safe to stick with the big chains. My co-workers that fly in every week for work stay at the W, Westin, or Marriott located around mid-town. If you see better deals on smaller hotels def. check tripadvisor for reviews and real pictures of the rooms!

I love the whitney museum it's small but always has a very interesting collection. You have to walk around SoHo, I've made some of my best jewelry purchases on the streets there!

Have fun planning!