V-Flyer

Right, I am planning to go to Washington and NYC for a week at the end of the Aug/Sept. Went to NYC last summer and loved it so much that I am planning to go again this year. Will my love affair with NYC fizzled out second time around?

The plans are to fly VS LHR-IAD and return from JFK-LHR. How does the pricing work in this instance compare to LHR-IAD-LHR or LHR-JFK-LHR? Are there premiums to pay if you arrive and depart from different airports? I think VS did a sale in May/June last year so I might hold out until then as I made the mistake and booked early last year and paid an extra 80 for the tickets each.

Once in Washington what are there to do? I am planning to stay there for about 3 days and 4 days will be spent in NYC. Are 3 days long enough for Washington and are places easy to get to on foot or by public transport? What do I go to see in 3 days?

Furthermore travelling between Washington and New York, what are your suggestions? Planes, Trains or Automobiles? The trains take me to Penn Station but ofcourse flights gets me to the outskirts (possible DL miles earning).

Originally posted by sky0000547
Will my love affair with NYC fizzled out second time around?

Not a chance. We go every year and love it more each time. I would just say that if you do go August it will be VERY hot, we went June last year (which is meant to be cooler than August) and it was over 100 which made everything very hard work, apart from the shopping as it was just so nice to go into a nice shop with a/c!

As for paying a premium on your flights then I am pretty certain the answer is no you wont. We did LHR-BOS-JFK-LHR and there wasn't a specific premium for doing it. Just a word of warning about waiting, whilst you might get a good price because of a sale, you might also end up waiting too long and then having to pay more than the fare is now due to the cheaper fares all being sold!

Can't help with the others question I am afraid but I am sure some others will be along soon to help.

Neil

Thanks for the reply Neil.

I went to NYC last August bank holiday. It was hot but it was bearable. Just got to have the summer holiday feel to it. So planning to go at about the same time so to avoid the summer peak season. The only thing that was unbearable in the heat was in the subway stations where you feel like you are in an oven but inside the trains are nice and cool.

BOS also tempted me but decided to go Washington first then maybe next time I will go Boston. I have already done all the main attractions at NYC (ESB, Statute of Liberty, Times Sq, Broadway etc) so my expectations are already fulfilled so thought the second time around I know what to expect and the excitement wouldn't be there when I get there.

Originally posted by sky0000547
I have already done all the main attractions at NYC (ESB, Statute of Liberty, Times Sq, Broadway etc) so my expectations are already fulfilled so thought the second time around I know what to expect and the excitement wouldn't be there when I get there.

I know what you mean but for us, it gave us more time to enjoy New York itself rather than just the sites of New York. We did things like taking a boat out on the lake in central park, explore more of the areas like China Town/Little Italy/Greenwich Village etc which are all really nice but just place we didn't get time to do on our first trip.

Originally posted by Neil
I know what you mean but for us, it gave us more time to enjoy New York itself rather than just the sites of New York. We did things like taking a boat out on the lake in central park, explore more of the areas like China Town/Little Italy/Greenwich Village etc which are all really nice but just place we didn't get time to do on our first trip.

These are nice suggestions, last time I only managed central park and china town.

Washington: What sort of things are you into? All the museums (but a slight few) are free. Tons to do. Nightlife? History?

I've flown into one airport and out of the other no problem and I don't think there was a difference in the price as the east coast fares are much the same. You can check on the VS website by clicking on the More booking options link. This will allow you to enter different airports to enter and leave and also give you the fare price.

I've done NYC-DC on 3 occasions. The first couple of times I went by train which I enjoyed very much especially the views around Cheasapeake Bay. I've also flown LGA-DCA which gives stunning views of Washington as you come in to land.

I'm just back from a trip from New York with friends who have never been there before. We took a hop-on hop-off bus tour which also included Brooklyn which made a nice change

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
Washington: What sort of things are you into? All the museums (but a slight few) are free. Tons to do. Nightlife? History?

Bear in mind I only have 3 days so really the main sites such as White House, Capitol Hill and that is all I can think of.

Originally posted by honey lamb
I've done NYC-DC on 3 occasions. The first couple of times I went by train which I enjoyed very much especially the views around Cheasapeake Bay. I've also flown LGA-DCA which gives stunning views of Washington as you come in to land.

Would you say the train is easier than flying?

It takes about 2 hours by train and 30 minutes flying time. However for flying you still have to get out to the airport in NYC and La Guardia is as far out as JFK although DCA is better in Washington as it's on a Metro route. Travelling to the airport and getting there in time for check-in and security makes the time much of a muchness.

By train you leave from Penn Station in the heart of Manhattan and arrive in Union Station, again in the city