Trip to NY

[Guest guest]

Madonna,

I can't really tell you a good place to stay, (Unless it is Katy's

house!) Anyhow, you can look up NY presby hospital on a map and see

exactly where it is (Downtown NY!) Not too far from shopping!

We actually DROVE in NY city! (Won't do that again!) Taxi's are a

much safer bet! At least they are used to the traffic!

Carmen

[Guest guest]

Madonna,

I work in NYC. If you tell me where the hotel is, I can tell you how

close it is to the hospital. The hospital is on the east side of NYC

in the mid-town area (York Ave and 68th Street is the hospital). I

wish we had the space to put you up, but we don't. There is plenty

of shopping near the hospital (or at least within a short cab ride).

Good luck,

Judith, Steve, (RSS) and (non RSS) 3 1/2 year old twins

[Guest guest]

Madonna,

Christmastime in NYC can be very hectic and the chances of you

getting a good rate at a good hotel are small. Even the Excelsior

will not give you a discounted rate at that time of year.

Is there a chance you could wait until January? Rates drop after

Christmas. Yes, the Helmsley Towers are right across the street and

footsteps from Dr. H., but you pay the price. $175 plus tax and

other fees and you are up to $200. BUT that place is safe, in a good

location and easily accessible. I don't know the availability for

that time of year, though.

PLEASE be careful with the hotel you choose. A good deal is not

really a good one if the location is inconvenient or in a

questionable spot. You are very safe in NYC if you are in a good

neighborhood, though.

If you don't want to change the date to see Dr. H., then make

reservations ASAP and get a confirmation number. Lock in at a good

rate now, but don't be surprised if you see the rates are higher than

usual.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Madonna,

Pattie had some great advice about hotels. She is correct about

making it a fun trip.

Today I was in NYC, before the huge blackout, thank goodness, and I

saw a family whose son just had surgery (the triple procedure). The

dad is staying at a hotel called Linden Gardens. I'm not sure of the

spelling, but it is a few blocks from the hospital and he is really

happy there. He has a kitchenette in his room, so that is a big

help. I don't know the price, however. His wife's company is paying

for the hotel until his wife has to go back to VA on Sunday night to

go back to work. I can't imagine it would be hugely expensive,

though. And the address sounds like it is near Bloomingdale's!!!!

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Jodi,

I am so glad you both made it out before the blackout!

Pattie

> Madonna,

>

> Pattie had some great advice about hotels. She is correct about

> making it a fun trip.

>

> Today I was in NYC, before the huge blackout, thank goodness, and I

> saw a family whose son just had surgery (the triple procedure).

The

> dad is staying at a hotel called Linden Gardens. I'm not sure of

the

> spelling, but it is a few blocks from the hospital and he is really

> happy there. He has a kitchenette in his room, so that is a big

> help. I don't know the price, however. His wife's company is

paying

> for the hotel until his wife has to go back to VA on Sunday night

to

> go back to work. I can't imagine it would be hugely expensive,

> though. And the address sounds like it is near Bloomingdale's!!!!

>

> Jodi

[Guest guest]

Dayna,

One thing I can tell you is that you will NOT be seen at 9am. I

don't even think Dr. H. is at the hospital at that time. BUT you

have to be there on time or they may give away your appointment. So

you are stuck. (Don't even get me started on the FOUR HOUR wait we

had yesterday!!!) The space in there is crowded, so if you cannot

get a seat, wait in the hall outside where it is less clostrophobic

and a bit more comfortable. Dr. H. will know to look there when your

time comes.

Bring snacks with you and some drinks, too. Bring toys or anything

to help pass the time. And don't be surprised if Dr. H. is double-

booked for that time.

Once you get in to see her, the appointment could take an hour or

more. She enters everything on the computer, so you may find that

you are talking to her back more than her face. It's kind of funny.

You will have her attention, though, so make use of the time. Write

down your questions and concerns. She will go over everything with

you.

As for the hotels, I think that both hotels are okay. I know the

Milford Plaza is in the theater district, the rooms are small, but

the area is safe. The other hotel I have heard of, but I cannot

place it in my mind right now. My husband says you should try for

the Milford Plaza. He knows people who have stayed there and been

fine and happy there.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Jodi,

Thanks for the advice. I had hoped since we had an early appt. we might not

have to wait so long. (I've read about those 4 hour waits!) I understand she

only takes new patients on Thursdays, so I had also hoped we would be her 1st

appt. for the day. You can bet we will be there early in case she is double

booked (also obnoxious) so maybe we will get to go first.

When you say the rooms are small at the Milford. . . how small?? Is there

another hotel next door to the Milford or on the same block. . .??

Thanks!!!

I appreciate all responses!!

Dayna

Re: Trip to NY

Dayna,

One thing I can tell you is that you will NOT be seen at 9am. I

don't even think Dr. H. is at the hospital at that time. BUT you

have to be there on time or they may give away your appointment. So

you are stuck. (Don't even get me started on the FOUR HOUR wait we

had yesterday!!!) The space in there is crowded, so if you cannot

get a seat, wait in the hall outside where it is less clostrophobic

and a bit more comfortable. Dr. H. will know to look there when your

time comes.

Bring snacks with you and some drinks, too. Bring toys or anything

to help pass the time. And don't be surprised if Dr. H. is double-

booked for that time.

Once you get in to see her, the appointment could take an hour or

more. She enters everything on the computer, so you may find that

you are talking to her back more than her face. It's kind of funny.

You will have her attention, though, so make use of the time. Write

down your questions and concerns. She will go over everything with

you.

As for the hotels, I think that both hotels are okay. I know the

Milford Plaza is in the theater district, the rooms are small, but

the area is safe. The other hotel I have heard of, but I cannot

place it in my mind right now. My husband says you should try for

the Milford Plaza. He knows people who have stayed there and been

fine and happy there.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Jodi,

Thanks for the advice. I had hoped since we had an early appt. we might not

have to wait so long. (I've read about those 4 hour waits!) I understand she

only takes new patients on Thursdays, so I had also hoped we would be her 1st

appt. for the day. You can bet we will be there early in case she is double

booked (also obnoxious) so maybe we will get to go first.

When you say the rooms are small at the Milford. . . how small?? Is there

another hotel next door to the Milford or on the same block. . .??

Thanks!!!

I appreciate all responses!!

Dayna

Re: Trip to NY

Dayna,

One thing I can tell you is that you will NOT be seen at 9am. I

don't even think Dr. H. is at the hospital at that time. BUT you

have to be there on time or they may give away your appointment. So

you are stuck. (Don't even get me started on the FOUR HOUR wait we

had yesterday!!!) The space in there is crowded, so if you cannot

get a seat, wait in the hall outside where it is less clostrophobic

and a bit more comfortable. Dr. H. will know to look there when your

time comes.

Bring snacks with you and some drinks, too. Bring toys or anything

to help pass the time. And don't be surprised if Dr. H. is double-

booked for that time.

Once you get in to see her, the appointment could take an hour or

more. She enters everything on the computer, so you may find that

you are talking to her back more than her face. It's kind of funny.

You will have her attention, though, so make use of the time. Write

down your questions and concerns. She will go over everything with

you.

As for the hotels, I think that both hotels are okay. I know the

Milford Plaza is in the theater district, the rooms are small, but

the area is safe. The other hotel I have heard of, but I cannot

place it in my mind right now. My husband says you should try for

the Milford Plaza. He knows people who have stayed there and been

fine and happy there.

Jodi

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm catching up on all the messages, so this is a reply to something

you wrote a month ago (sorry for the delay!). The Excelsior Hotel

DOES have refrigerators. We asked at reception, and they gave us a

little one for an extra $10 per night. We had a room rate of $169

for a huge room with two double beds, but I saw it on the internet

for $159 per night.

It's a great hotel - really glad you recommended it!!! There's a

playground at 81st & Central Park West a half a block away, there

are lots of restaurants nearby, it's not nearly as crowded as

midtown (very hard to push a stroller through parts of midtown), and

it's quite nice with all the trees surrounding the museum and in the

park. There's also supposed to be an adventure playground at 85th

or 86th and Central Park West, but we didn't go there. And it's 4

stars, so it was very nice.

We had a great time in NY. I'll write more about what Dr. H said to

us in another post (she's AMAZING!!! - definitely worth the

trip!!!) - I'm trying to catch up on all the other messages first.

(Tyler's mom)

> Madonna -

>

> I don't know of any Radisson hotel that is only $80 a night for

> Christmas week in Manhattan itself..... I hate to be the bearer

of

> bad news....

>

> Hotels in New York are very expensive, and the " cheaper " ones can

be

> quite bad. The Helmsley Towers that Amy refers to below are $175

per

> night. More expensive, but large and have a kitchen (and NY has a

> market on every block). You can cook any/all meals right there in

> your hotel room, which does save quite a bit on food bills. Then

you

> can literally walk next door to the hospital. The hospital is on

the

> far east side of NYC (picture Central Park running down the middle

of

> NYC). But the subway system and bus system is awesome, and you

can

> get anywhere in town, with a little time, for $2 or less. Even a

> taxi can be taken in worse cases, cost you a bit more though.

>

> Remember that NYC has " numbered streets " that run east/west, with

the

> lowest numbered streets (First Street) being furthest south and

> gradually getting higher as you move north. So the hospital is at

> 68th Street. Then the streets are divided into East and West.

> Picture the city divided down the middle by Central Park. East is

on

> the east side of the Park, and west on the west side. THis will

help

> you when you are looking at addresses of hotels. The " Avenues "

run

> north and south. First Avenue is furthest EAST (next to the

> hospital) and the Avenues get larger as you move west.

>

> Otherwise, the Excelsior Hotel is on the west side, great location

> directly opposite the Natural History Museum and Planetarium.

They

> are a 4 star relatively small hotel (and have a wonderful

concierage

> who can tell you anything you need to know). They have reasonable

> rates -- a room was I think $139/night. No refrigerators though.

I

> just bought milk at the market and stuck it in the ice bucket and

> piled ice on top of it each day.... The taxi ride to the hospital

> was about $6 (not rush hour), and its prime location meant easy

> subway rides and bus rides to all the other fun places.

>

> Good luck.

[Guest guest]

Hi all. I do have an appointment to see Dr. H, but not for a

while. I was just wondering about where do you all stay? I need

some place where I can be able to sterilize his things, and store his

formula. Any information or advice would be appreciated. How much

do rooms usually cost there? Do you all normally fly? Do you have

to pay for a ticket if he is under one year? Of course, I haven't

been on an airplane in years, so all this will be new to me, all the

security etc. )

Thanks in advance,

Jodi R.

[Guest guest]

Jodi,

If you read these messages on the website you can go to the search

box and type in hotels. This will give you a listing of all the

messages over the years that people have written about staying in NY

and finding a hotel. It might be a good way to see the information

people have already given and then others can give more recent

updates.

Pattie

> Hi all. I do have an appointment to see Dr. H, but not for a

> while. I was just wondering about where do you all stay? I need

> some place where I can be able to sterilize his things, and store

his

> formula. Any information or advice would be appreciated. How

much

> do rooms usually cost there? Do you all normally fly? Do you

have

> to pay for a ticket if he is under one year? Of course, I haven't

> been on an airplane in years, so all this will be new to me, all

the

> security etc. )

>

>

> Thanks in advance,

> Jodi R.