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      03-05-2012, 01:28 AM   #1
Notion-Za
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Visiting the US of A

Hey guys,

planning a trip to America for the end of the year and just wondering about any places/things are a must do. Asking so early because the GF wants to start planning now(flights booked, scored free tickets )

Ok, I've changed the trip around a bit

7/8 days in New york
7/8 days in DisneyWorld in the polynesian hotel. It will consist of a 5 day pass and 2/3 days to do our own thing. I will be renting a car in florida
1 day in Washington (flight exchange but planning on arriving early in the am and leaving on a late night flight)

We plan on staying in a cheap hotel room in NY because there's no point wasting money when we are going to be on the move all the time.

Any recommendations for a central budget hotel in NY?

what are the must do's in NY, Florida and Washington?

We might have our own transport in Florida for 3 days or so. I want to rent a car and drive up to the Kennedy space centre etc.

Thanks in advance.
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      03-05-2012, 11:31 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Notion-Za View Post
Hey guys,

planning a trip to America for the end of the year and just wondering about any places/things are a must do. Asking so early because the GF wants to start planning now(flights booked, scored free tickets )

Out trip will include:

5 days in New york
10 days in DisneyWorld in the polynesian hotel.
1 day in Washington (flight exchange but planning on arriving early in the am and leaving on a late night flight)

We plan on staying in a cheap hotel room in NY because there's no point wasting money when we are going to be on the move all the time.

Any recommendations for a central budget hotel in NY?

what are the must do's in NY, Florida and Washington?

We might have our own transport in Florida for 3 days or so. I want to rent a car and drive up to the Kennedy space centre etc.

Thanks in advance.
I don't know Orlando well, so I'll address your questions about New York.

I assume you mean you will be coming around Christmas of this year? In any case, while I don't know your budget, you will have a tough time finding a reasonably inexpensive hotel. Expect to pay at least $200/night for 2-3 star hotels, and $300-400 for 4 star or above. That being said, you can stay pretty much anywhere, as long as it's in Manhattan. I'd suggest finding something between 80th street (to the north) and Canal st (to the south). Beyond that, and you'll be traveling a LOT.

As for what to do...well...what CAN'T you do? Check out the regular tourist sites (battery park/WTC, empire state building, central park, wall street, rockefeller center, columbus circle), museums (Guggenheim, MoMA, the Met), parks, etc. If you're there in the winter, walk around Rockefeller center and take a look at all the lights; if you're there in the summer, there's tons of outdoor concerts and events that you can check out all over the city. Eat whatever you'd like (use yelp.com), and if you guys are into the whole night scene, go out a few times at night for drinks. I can go on and on about the last two, but the best way is to just look at one of the many review lists online.
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      03-05-2012, 12:17 PM   #3
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OP, are you locked in to 10 days at Disneyworld? You might be really sick of DW by the time you reach the 10th day. If you could rearrange the time spent, it might open up some more options.
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      03-05-2012, 12:26 PM   #4
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OP, are you locked in to 10 days at Disneyworld? You might be really sick of DW by the time you reach the 10th day. If you could rearrange the time spent, it might open up some more options.
10 days at disneyworld wtf?
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      03-05-2012, 12:28 PM   #5
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besides disney there are like a million other parks there. Universal studios is 100% better than disney in my opinion. Sea world is also there. NYC, depending on what you like to you can do it in NYC. Nothing is really 'cheap' in manhattan though, the same can be said for disney and the other theme parks as well.
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      03-05-2012, 01:17 PM   #6
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NYC - Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
FL - Epcot is my favorite park. 10 days is too much. Def go to Kennedy and maybe drive to Miami (4 hours)?
DC - Smithsonian, monuments
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      03-05-2012, 01:18 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselDiner View Post
OP, are you locked in to 10 days at Disneyworld? You might be really sick of DW by the time you reach the 10th day. If you could rearrange the time spent, it might open up some more options.
Agreed, 10 days in disney world will get old. I would say 5 days there MAX and then if you are into amusement parks go to universal studios which is a much better park rides wise. Spend a day or two there then head to tampa bay and go to busch gardens which is better than both disney and universal.
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      03-05-2012, 01:24 PM   #8
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Agreed, 10 days in disney world will get old. I would say 5 days there MAX and then if you are into amusement parks go to universal studios which is a much better park rides wise. Spend a day or two there then head to tampa bay and go to busch gardens which is better than both disney and universal.
this guy knows whats up.
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      03-05-2012, 02:15 PM   #9
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What are you into? There is a TON of random things to do in FL
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      03-05-2012, 05:44 PM   #10
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Trade 5 days in Disney for 3 in Vegas
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      03-05-2012, 05:49 PM   #11
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Trade 5 days in Disney for 3 in Vegas
where do the other 2 days go?
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      03-05-2012, 05:52 PM   #12
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Thanks for the info guys,

We were able to secure 2 staff tickets on Qatar airways but they become null and void after the 15th of December, so we are looking at 23Nov - 11Dec(including flight time which is +- 18 hours each way + a small stop in Dubai and 1 day in Washington.

Ill check into the hotels between 80th and Canal. the GF is obviously keen on doing some shopping and im keen to check out the night life. We are also very keen on going to a concert in NY but I'm not sure anything great will be on at the time. My thoughts are travel by rail during the day and taxi at night??

The whole reason for 10 days in Florida and Disney World(5 Day resort pass and the rest is do what we wanna do) is because of my pops who recently passed away and he took me there when I was a lighty. So more of an attached memory. We are Definitely keen on JFK and Universal.So not 10 days in the actual theme park Our tradition was to always go on the Golf Ball at epcot first. Love that thing. Sea world is also definitely a +.

although i'm considering changing the time frame to 7/8 days in NY and 7/8(5 day Disney pass and 2/3 days free roam) in Florida. Need to think with my head not my emotions.

Vegas is definitely a huge attraction to me but i'm saving that for a trip with my brother.

Would love to hit up a drag strip and see all the American muscle cars doing what they do. Also any odd museums and obviously a big ass shopping centre where i can take the gf and let her off her leash

Look in terms of 'cheap' I mean I don't need to be surrounded in a lap of luxury. We will have more than enough $$ to wander and splurge but give me a bed, some crappy ass breakfast buffet and a tv and im happy with the NY hotel.

I remember from last time, you guys can seriously eat The meals and portions at places like Wendy's and Ihop(I was about 6 so cant remember all the places) are madness!

So any more advice is greatly appreciated and thanks again.
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      03-05-2012, 07:46 PM   #13
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Sorry but I slit my wrists after 2 days of Disney world. After I was released from the hospital visited the space center, now that was sweet.
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      03-05-2012, 10:09 PM   #14
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Things to do in DC during the day:
Smithsonian museums
Spy museum
If its nice out, Georgetown + waterfront

Since you said you were planning on staying only one day, I would recommend either skipping or limiting the monumenting time. Honestly, seeing the pencil from a mile away is the same as 10 feet away..
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      03-05-2012, 10:43 PM   #15
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Check out the malenia mall in orlando, like 20min from disney. awesome mall(tho the gf might spend$$$)

Disney will get old real quick, its all kids and families there.

are you renting a car in florida?
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      03-06-2012, 01:43 AM   #16
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Ok guys, trip has been changed. So dont stress about the Disney time
I think we went to Malenia mall when I was younger, thanks for the heads up

We will be renting a car in Florida

Smithsonian & The Spy museum appeal to me in DC. We both want to visit the monument but i'll make sure we don't spend too much time there

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Originally Posted by justinnum1 View Post
Check out the malenia mall in orlando, like 20min from disney. awesome mall(tho the gf might spend$$$)

Disney will get old real quick, its all kids and families there.

are you renting a car in florida?
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      03-06-2012, 09:20 AM   #17
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Florida:

Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World...

If the weather is nice (wet n' wild)- best waterpark open all year round.

Shopping: Mall of Millenia, Florida Mall, also I would highly recommend visiting Winter Park (NE of Orlando, very close) your girlfriend will love it downtown in Winter Park, lots of shops with a very nice park, you will like it for the cars, Ferrari's, Bentleys, Etc... parked all along the street.

Also there is a drag strip just east of Orlando in Bithlo if you want to see some races.

Tampa is about an hour away on the West Coast (Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay Bucs NFL Football, Tampa Bay Lightning NHL, Ybor City, St. Petersburg)

East Coast: Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach
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      03-06-2012, 06:00 PM   #18
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Oh and prepare yourself for a ton of arrogant bastards
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