PLEASE!...Experts advice needed for first timer planning NY...

Am planning to take my hubby for a suprise trip to NY from UK, end of November and so far have the following criteria;

Have decided to buy Essential New York pass (48 hours) as it would great to hop off and on as we please and covers all the main attractions, so would like to know where is a good place to stay near our pass pick up point which is Gray Line Visitors Center, 777 8th Avenue, between 47th %26amp; 48th Street, New York.........any ideas anyone??

Would like to have a nice (easily accessible) romantic dinner and take in a good comedy show on night of hubbys birthday (30th November).......any recommendations, happy to pre-book if necessary

What sort of journeys would I be looking at from the main NY airports assuming we got the hotel location we wanted, what is the best way of getting their (taxi I assume?!)and what sort of dollarage are we looking at??!!

Thanks sooo much ..........really looking forward to hearing from y%26#39;all

PLEASE!...Experts advice needed for first timer planning NY...

Some hotels in the area:

Belvedere

Novotel

Travel Inn

Hotel 41

Doubletree

Portland Square

I would see what is available, this is a very popular time of year, hotels are getting booked. Also, do a search on this forum for additional suggestions.

Comedy Clubs in that area - Ha! or Carolines

www.gothamcomedyclub.com

www.hacomedynyc.com

Taxi - from JFK - $45.00 flat rate plus toll %26amp; tip - about $60.00

Or use private car service such as Carmel or Tel Aviv from either Newark or JFK.

www.carmellimo.com

www. teleavivlimo.com

Will leave others to suggest restaurants, not my forte.

PLEASE!...Experts advice needed for first timer planning NY...

Hi: I agree with the previous poster, all great suggestions. Another one would be the Comedy Celler - it%26#39;s located in the West Village / SoHo area, great restaurants there too - I%26#39;m a little biased, I feel that although you can get great food anywhere in the city the West Village offers more opportunity to go to the smaller, non-franchised places. I recommend going to newyorkmetro.com for a reliable restaurant review section, or picking up a Time Out NY. Have fun!

For romantic meals that are not too expensive, I would suggest:

Candela

Meli Melo

Le Zie

Search their names in www.menupages.com

also, search this forum for previous posts on travel from airports (nywhiz is the whiz on this topic.)

NY has gotten very expensive in general b/c of the high demand for hotel rooms and is especially pricey end of November which coincides with our Thanksgiving holiday. The holiday is Nov. 24 and there%26#39;s a parade that goes down Broadway (the next street over from 7th ave) making the hotels in that area even more pricey. This also marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Since there%26#39;s a good transit system, you%26#39;ll find much better hotel prices staying elsewhere. You only have to pick up the tickets once ;) After that you can get on the bus from any of their stops.

I would stay on the upper westside for best value. I see the Belleclaire available for $199/night Nov 27- Dec 2 (last night the price goes up). The Belvedere which is in the area you describe is $240 at that time (both on quikbook.com--you may find a better price elsewhere).

Best way to travel depends on where you stay. Express buses to major drop off points cost $15/person. Taxis from JFK cost about $65 ($45 plus tip plus toll). There%26#39;s train service too but doesn%26#39;t always make sense depending on where you%26#39;re staying and how much luggage you have.

There are comedy clubs in the theater district and also some uptown and downtown. Here%26#39;s a list

www.theinsider.com/nyc/fun/3comedyclubs.htm