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From Phoenix to NY Madison Square Garden...Affordable?

Hard2IMAGINE2007VICHard2IMAGINE2007VIC Posts: 638
edited March 2008 in The Porch
Since this huge tour announcement I have been dreaming PJ every night not sure what the hell I should do about the east coast tour. I am in Phoenix AZ and I have never been to New York City in my life nor do I know anyone who lives in NYC. I am wondering if I am being completely naive in thinking there is a possibility to make a Phoenix to NYC 3 days trip affordable? I figure use air miles to book the flight, 300-320 for a pair for each night at MSG, where I am lost is find a room to stay at. It is possible to find a cheap hotel or motel near the MSG? I imagine that NYC has all these big hotels in big buildings or something. From those who have traveled to NY, if I am conservative about making the shows my primary reason for being there, how much more would you recommend would be adequate travel funds to have for 3 days in NYC? Any thoughts or advice is appreciated as I await the MSG pre-sale soon.
Thanks!
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • mrchibblesmrchibbles Posts: 133
    you should do a search online and if you can get someone to go in with you, but there are apartments right near times square you can rent for a couple days for even less than a hotel. My Aunt did it back in 2003 and I went to both nights MSG there. It was amazing. I even got front row seats to night one the day of the show and you can get a visual of me on the MSG DVD. I am the guy in the Coke and a Smile shirt taking the first swig of Ed's bottle during Crazy Mary. Anyway...point of the story I am from Tucson so I hope this helps.
  • kj1nyrkj1nyr Posts: 837
    My husband and I are both born and raised in NYC but we now live in Phoenix and if I get lucky tomorrow we're going to MSG. No doubt about it, NYC is expensive, though airfares are generally decent. When I checked dates around the shows yesterday Jet Blue had RT airfares non stop PHX to JFK for about $298 per person if you fly weekdays. US Air was about $350 for a RT non stop. Some other airlines with 1 stop were not much cheaper so I recommend the non stops. This is a little high so you might do better if you wait a while, but it might get worse. Hard to tell. I've flown RT for less than $200 now and then, but that was before fuel prices skyrocketed.

    To get from the airport into the city take the Carey bus from JFK to the Port Authority mid town on the west side. Haven't done that in a few years but it's always WAY cheaper than a cab. I think it's less than $20 but not certain.

    Because our familys are in Greenpoint (Brooklyn) and Astoria (Queens) we tend to stay in Long Island City Queens because it's often cheaper than Manhattan and there's free parking (yes, we rent a car cause we have family in every borough and on Long Island and my husband is spoiled). Check out the LIC Holiday Inn Select and/or the Best Western City View. These hotels are near a couple of train lines that are 1-2 stops from mid town Manhattan so it's convenient.

    However for someone that didn't grow up in NYC I recommend getting a hotel in Manhattan (aka "in the city" for us natives). I test travel websites for a living and though it's not a client I recommend you take a look at http://www.kayak.com for hotels. Then use http://www.tripadvisor.com to see reviews from people who have stayed at those hotels and you should have a good idea of what you're in for.

    NYC is a great place to visit. Throw in some killer PJ shows and you'll probably have the time of your life. Go for it and enjoy.

    Peace,
    KJ
    http://www.expressobeans.com/public/member.php?id=8556
    10c # = 70xxx
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    NYC is one of my favorite cities (along with Seattle), however there is nothing cheap about it. 2 Star hotels will run you about $250/night MIDWEEK.
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • schmoffschmoff Posts: 428
    priceline.com

    you name the price and area, it finds the hotel
    50+ shows and lost count somewhere along the way
  • AmentsChickAmentsChick Posts: 6,969
    schmoff wrote:
    priceline.com

    you name the price and area, it finds the hotel

    I've found priceline to be the cheapest of ALL the multitude of sites I've looked at. Also another great one for reviews is Trip Advisor. :D

    (Did I mention I LOVE to travel??)
    This is the greatest band in the world -- Ben Harper

  • Dylan StoneDylan Stone Posts: 1,145
    Priceline is the way to go. IMO.

    :)
  • WashMyLoveWashMyLove Posts: 804
    Fly to la guardia airport(Queens,NY) stay in a hotel in queens (probably cheeper) and take public transportation (http://www.mta.info/) to Manhattan($2.00 train or bus or a day or Weekly pass (Price on Website))...I think if you stay in Manhattan it will be very Expensive.

    Good Luck!
  • Hard2IMAGINE2007VICHard2IMAGINE2007VIC Posts: 638
    Wow...I just got home from work and I really appreciate all the great advice from everyone....Seems the real estate market is warming up again as I was out showing homes today around Queen Creek Arizona all day. Good feeling to be in the market again since if I can sell a house or two maybe I can splurge a little in NYC. If I score tickets tomorrow that is. I am concerned since I saw that Camden and DC sold out! I have 3 alarms set for tomorrow at 9am PST. so I don't miss the pre-sale. My 10C# is 145XXX so maybe I will have decent seats, closest I have been so far is 2 second row in Phoenix and these will be 35th and 36th PJ since 1992 if I get tickets. I am also lucky enough to be from the Bay area, so I am going to see my family for in April to be in the Santa Cruz/Berkeley area for the Eddie Solo shows, so I have found two awesome fan club member to share the second 10 club seat since they were going solo. That is what I love best about PJ fans, they treat each other so well it is great! A great example is you of you who responded taking the time out of your day to sit and share your knowledge and experience about NYC to help me have a clue about what journey I am embarking on. I backpacked Europe for 32 days in 2002 and I really like the idea of quickly learning the ways of the local transportation to save travel time and money to make my trip more efficient. I feel like this trip to MSG and PJ is sort of like grasping for redemption because I still hate to admit it but I know I am to only 10 club member who was lucky enough to score Vic tickets and then drive 2000 miles from Mesa, AZ to Chicago.......only to show up a day late for the Vic show. I still have no idea how I messed up the date, but I tell you it was a very long drive back to Arizona. First time I have shed tears over PJ, but I was a mess for week afterwards after reading the reviews and listening to the bootleg. I guess thanks to you tube it was nice to see some of the show via camera phone. At the Vic During Wishlist when Ed sang "Just 1000 hands raised up" I screamed out " NO EDDIE YOU TOTALLY MISCOUNTED DUDE THERE ARE ONLY 998! CUZ MY DUMB ASS IS STILL DRIVING TO CHICAGO! I don't know if I will ever truly get over messing that up. In any case, sorry for the rant about the vic and travels and other PJ stuff. Again, thanks so much for all the travel tips for NYC! Much love and good good getting your tickets tomorrow!
  • SpinMyWorldToBlackSpinMyWorldToBlack Posts: 73
    Hard2IMAGINE2007VIC wrote:
    Since this huge tour announcement I have been dreaming PJ every night not sure what the hell I should do about the east coast tour. I am in Phoenix AZ and I have never been to New York City in my life nor do I know anyone who lives in NYC. I am wondering if I am being completely naive in thinking there is a possibility to make a Phoenix to NYC 3 days trip affordable? I figure use air miles to book the flight, 300-320 for a pair for each night at MSG, where I am lost is find a room to stay at. It is possible to find a cheap hotel or motel near the MSG? I imagine that NYC has all these big hotels in big buildings or something. From those who have traveled to NY, if I am conservative about making the shows my primary reason for being there, how much more would you recommend would be adequate travel funds to have for 3 days in NYC? Any thoughts or advice is appreciated as I await the MSG pre-sale soon.
    Thanks!


    It's not affordable. It's expensive as hell. The economy is in shambles, remember? President Bush is a moron, right? You can't afford it. Just stay home (or go to the south, plenty of room and the cost of living is cheaper down there)
    4.28.03 --- 7.9.03 --- 7.12.03 --- 10.1.04 --- 9.28.05 --- 10.3.05 --- 5.27.06 --- 5.28.06 --- 6.3.06 --- 6.19.08 --- 6.20.08 --- 6.24.08 --- 6.25.08

    Wishlist of Unheard Live Songs
    1. All Those Yesterdays
    2. God's Dice
    3. I Got ID

    PLAY THE SPECTRUM IN PHILADELPHIA!!!
  • mca47mca47 Posts: 13,291
    I'm in AZ too. I wish I could go. Work is going to kill me this summer! :(
  • Hard2IMAGINE2007VICHard2IMAGINE2007VIC Posts: 638
    SpinMyWorldToBlack wrote:
    It's not affordable. It's expensive as hell. The economy is in shambles, remember? President Bush is a moron, right? You can't afford it. Just stay home (or go to the south, plenty of room and the cost of living is cheaper down there)

    Sounds like someone does not want another fan on the server tomorrow competing for th MSG tickets. Where is the Love?
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