Possible visit for Havana Dreams meet, now sorted

[Mel39]

OK you New Yorkers, I've never been and am toying with spending 4 days with you from December 28th to January 1st in order to meet up at HD on the 29th.

I would be flying from London into JFK.

I have no idea of the NY areas but understand HD is in Queens. So, I looked at this hotel:

QUEENS/MIDTOWN TUNNEL

Holiday Inn Express

3805 HUNTERS POINT AVENUE

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101

Is this near HD and also within easy reach of JFK?

Does anyone have other suggestions bearing in mind I am a senior who needs his spare cash to supplement C-C :-)

I'd be flying with Zoom Airlines with whom I travelled to Canada previously.

TIA,

Mel39

[aavkk]

Hi Mel. I live in the city and dont know queens very well I would think your have a couple of options. The first of which would be to stay in the city and take the train to Havana Dreams which is only a 2-3 minute walk from the "V" train in queens. This is a good option if your looking to have more than a few and dont want to drive. Go to Hopstop.com and input addresses for hotels and havana dreams and it will give you complete subway commute details, its a great site. the other option would be to stay in queens and rent a car. Personally, I would stay in the city. Email me if you want more details.

[Mel39]

Thanks Aces, I'll check that site.

Mel39

[tigger]

Mel,

One of the great things about New York City is that with its mass transit system, everything's pretty easily accessible from everything else.

I would consider staying in Manhattan if you can find reasonably priced lodging, as you could spend more than four days there and still have much left to see and do.

Hope to see you on the 29th! :-)

Edited to add:

You're probably aware of this, but I wouldn't go overboard on bringing Cuban cigars into the US - don't bring more than you can afford to lose as they could be seized in our unbending effort to promote democracy.

[El Presidente]

Mel catch a train or cab to where Lise is staying, have lunch or Brunch and then share a cab ride in to HD. I can't recall where Lise is staying but shoot her an e-mail.

Easy :-)

[Jimmy2]

Hi Mel will talk to Alan who is a member here he might be able to set you up in the Waldorf Astoria.LMK

Jimmy

Phone#1(718)685-0078

Havana Dreams

63-10

Woodhaven Boulevard

Rego Park

New York

11374

[Mel39]

Thanks guys, I knew I could rely on y'all.

Just need to arrange cover with my staff and get booking.

Will keep you informed.

Mel39

[Mel39]

» Hi Mel will talk to Alan who is a member here he might be able to set you

» up in the Waldorf Astoria.LMK

Thanks James,

might be a bit pricey for me unless there's a special deal available.

They quote around 2 grand in USD for 4 nights, I was looking at half that.

Thanks anyway,

Mel39

[Alan]

Mel,

I am the Director of Catering at The Waldorf=Astoria Hotel. I would love to assist you with the reservation. As is true of most Manhattan hotels, the minimum stay period ( # of nights ) is increased for the period around New Years Eve and the rate is also elevated do to demand. I frankly dont believe I will be able to discount the rate as it is determined by revenue management for the holidays but I should be able to put you in a fantastic and upgraded room. Believe me, i will do all i can for the terrific members of FOH. It is a wonderful community that Rob and Lisa operate here. Please let me know if i may be able to help at all...

Best,

Alan

» » Hi Mel will talk to Alan who is a member here he might be able to set

» you

» » up in the Waldorf Astoria.LMK

»

» Thanks James,

» might be a bit pricey for me unless there's a special deal available.

» They quote around 2 grand in USD for 4 nights, I was looking at half

» that.

»

» Thanks anyway,

»

» Mel39

[Alan]

And Mel, I live in New York City as well and go to Havana Dreams once a week. If you would like I will meet you in the city and we can head over together... This way traffic, tunnels, smelly cab drivers etc. become a non issue.

Best,

Alan

[Mel39]

» And Mel, I live in New York City as well and go to Havana Dreams once a

» week. If you would like I will meet you in the city and we can head over

» together... This way traffic, tunnels, smelly cab drivers etc. become a

» non issue.

»

» Best,

» Alan

That's truly great to know Alan and I really appreciate your kindness.

I'll have to take a rain check on the hotel offer and look around a bit first but your offer is very tempting.

I should have a better idea tomorrow when my son gets back from Dallas Tx and I can make arrangements with him to cover work for me.

Thanks again and kind regards,

Mel39

[Ken Gargett]

alan, mere mention of the waldorf always makes me smile, not that i've stayed there. years ago when living in DC, i went down to NY to meet some friends over from Oz who were there. a mate of a mate who came along (and would probably be known some brizzy members of the forum. nice chap but not einstein) and we caught up and then headed out through that wonderful heavy old revolving door (is that still there?)

my mate went out first, followed by einstein (or not), then me. well einstein got in the revolving door and for some reasoin assumed it was automatic. of course, if you didn't push, it didn't move. he stood there calling for help, claiming it was broken. crowds gathered both sides in uproar we were all laughing so hard. the doorman was bent double with tears. this bloke was mouthing 'its broken' to all and sundry. eventually, someone in a hurry gave it a shove and our mate got spat out on to the footpath. probably the funniest thing i've ever seen.

and we never remind him of it.

[First Lady]

Mel

I shot you an e-mail with the information on the hotel I am staying at in Greenwich village...

I would have loved to stay at the Waldorf Alan but I am so looking forward to Dinner with you and Jimmy there...

Getting closer

Lisa

[tigger]

» I shot you an e-mail with the information on the hotel I am staying at in

» Greenwich village...

Huh. Had you pegged more as the "staying at the Chelsea and tearing it up Sid and Nancy style" kinda lady. :-D

[Mel39]

» Mel

»

» I shot you an e-mail with the information on the hotel I am staying at in

» Greenwich village...

» Lisa

OK SORTED,

thanks to everyone.

I WILL be there!

Thanks Lisa but your hotel was fully booked, said something like "one of Rob's mates was quite enough":-D

Won't be a million miles away though; settled on:

Holiday Inn

Manhattan Downtown,

138 Lafayette Street,

NY

A bit more expensive at just over $300 per night but choice was limited as I had left it quite late.

I get in on the Friday 28th Dec afternoon and have to leave on New Year's Day unfortunately, to get back for work. So just 4 nights.

Really looking forward to seeing everybody and my first sight of the big apple.

Mel39

[Mel39]

» You're probably aware of this, but I wouldn't go overboard on bringing

» Cuban cigars into the US - don't bring more than you can afford to lose as

» they could be seized in our unbending effort to promote democracy.

»

Note taken Tigger and your suggestion of Manhattan worked out just fine.

Mel39

[Mel39]

» Mel catch a train or cab to where Lise is staying, have lunch or Brunch and

» then share a cab ride in to HD. I can't recall where Lise is staying but

» shoot her an e-mail.

»

» Easy :-)

Thanks Rob,

will be staying quite near Lisa, so that sounds good.

[aavkk]

Mel let me know if you have any questions in terms of great food and sights to see. Ive been the tour guide for friends coming into the city for the last few years and I would be glad to help.

[Alan]

Ken, greatest story ever told! That is funny stuff... Please let me know when your heading back. I would be happy to assist and catch a drink.

Best,

Alan

» alan, mere mention of the waldorf always makes me smile, not that i've

» stayed there. years ago when living in DC, i went down to NY to meet some

» friends over from Oz who were there. a mate of a mate who came along (and

» would probably be known some brizzy members of the forum. nice chap but

» not einstein) and we caught up and then headed out through that wonderful

» heavy old revolving door (is that still there?)

» my mate went out first, followed by einstein (or not), then me. well

» einstein got in the revolving door and for some reasoin assumed it was

» automatic. of course, if you didn't push, it didn't move. he stood there

» calling for help, claiming it was broken. crowds gathered both sides in

» uproar we were all laughing so hard. the doorman was bent double with

» tears. this bloke was mouthing 'its broken' to all and sundry. eventually,

» someone in a hurry gave it a shove and our mate got spat out on to the

» footpath. probably the funniest thing i've ever seen.

» and we never remind him of it.

[Alan]

Likewise Lise... No worries. Next time! Besides I am sleeping on your couch when i get back to OZ!

Alan

[Mel39]

» Mel let me know if you have any questions in terms of great food and sights

» to see. Ive been the tour guide for friends coming into the city for the

» last few years and I would be glad to help.

Cheers mate.

Won't have much time for sightseeing though.

Arriving late Friday afternoon. Plane scheduled to get in Friday 13.45pm.

I have to leave on New Year's day.

So Sunday and Monday are my only two free days.

My son has already collared me for his Birthday and Xmas present combined. He hits me for this every year although he's now 26.

When he was over, he noticed the Apple Mac was half the price of UK and there's some kind of deal where you can get the new I-Pod cheap if you buy them both. So I will have to suss that one out.

Anyway, look forward to meeting you at HD on the Saturday.

Regards and thanks again,

Mel39