Tell Me About NYP Station

[ThayerATM]

My wife and I have taken the Lake Shore Limited (Train 49) west, from ROC (Rochester, NY) to CHI several times, bound for places west and south, We're planning a couple of trips east and south now, but we've never been in the NYP station. We're going to take a quick trip east from ROC to NYP on the LSL (train 48), just to check out the station, and the Pennyslvania Hotel just across the street from the NYP station.

I was talking to one of my technicians today about the NYP station, and she told me about a hotdog vendor very near the 42nd St entrance to NYP, and said that that's a "must do."

Does anybody have a favorite place around the station? We'll only overnight at the Pennyslvana Hotel. That way (assuming both trains are traveling on time) we'll have some time upon arriving [6:25 PM] to look around, stay in the hotel overnight, then scope out the station, its surrounding area, visit that hotdog vendor around noon, and then get to the Acela lounge (yes, we're going in a bedroom) and then board the train [3:15 PM] back to ROC.

 

[AlanB]

Thayer,

You're going to need to reconfirm about that hog dog vendor, as 42nd Street is no where near Penn Station. Penn Station sits between 31st Street and 33rd Street and 7th & 8th Avenues. If indeed it's 42nd Street and near a train station, that would have to be Grand Central Terminal. But there definately isn't a 42nd Street entrance to NYP, as that would be an 11 block long tunnel.

As for Penn, there are really two levels to Penn above the actual tracks. The first level up is the Long Island RR level. You won't hear Amtrak announcements on this level, only LIRR. There is also many more stores and food vendors on this level. The next level up is the Amtrak/NJT level. Amtrak officially occupies the bulk of the 8th Avenue end, although there are a few NJT ticket windows and TVM's there. The main NJT waiting area and ticketing windows are at the 7th Avenue end. You'll walk past this area on your way to the hotel.

The Club Acela can be found behind the West Gate for tracks 7 & 8. There is a door bell on the wall just before you get to the doors that you'll need to ring to gain entrance. You'll hear a rather faint click when they hit the button to unlock the door.

If the weather is very bad, it is technically possible to reach the hotel without having to go outside very much. You'll still have to step out for a quick minute, maybe 30 to 40 feet. But know that there are no escalators or elevators if you take this route. What one does is to go down to the LIRR level and walk towards the #1, #2, & #3 trains. Don't actually go into the paid area, just walk by it and up the stairs to the mezz level. Then take the stairs to your right and slightly ahead up to the street level. Upon exiting, turn right and walk down 32nd Street a bit till you reach the revolving door to the hotel.

If the weather is nicer, or carrying luggage up the stairs is simply too much, then when on the Amtrak level walk towards the 7th Avenue side and head right up the escalators in front of you. The hotel will be directly across the street.

 

[rosemary]

My wife and I have taken the Lake Shore Limited (Train 49) west, from ROC (Rochester, NY) to CHI several times, bound for places west and south, We're planning a couple of trips east and south now, but we've never been in the NYP station. We're going to take a quick trip east from ROC to NYP on the LSL (train 48), just to check out the station, and the Pennyslvania Hotel just across the street from the NYP station.
I was talking to one of my technicians today about the NYP station, and she told me about a hotdog vendor very near the 42nd St entrance to NYP, and said that that's a "must do."

Does anybody have a favorite place around the station? We'll only overnight at the Pennyslvana Hotel. That way (assuming both trains are traveling on time) we'll have some time upon arriving [6:25 PM] to look around, stay in the hotel overnight, then scope out the station, its surrounding area, visit that hotdog vendor around noon, and then get to the Acela lounge (yes, we're going in a bedroom) and then board the train [3:15 PM] back to ROC.

fyou can check out the hotel on trip adviser, we stayed at the affinia manhattan which is also directley across the street, i don't think the Penn hotel has very good reviews and even if you are only staying one night, don't start your trip with a dissapointment, the affinia was fantastic, we were there a few months ago , all the online accom sites feature it, you should be able to get a good deal on it and it is consistantley good, enjoy!

 

[jphjaxfl]

I have stayed at the Hotel Pennsylvania many times through the years back to when it was the Statler Hilton. I have always found it to be a a good value for the price. While it is an older hotel, the rooms have always been clean and they are larger than many of the older or newer hotels in Manhattan. There is a good restaurant right in the lobby. Many foreign tourists stay there. Its the most convenient hotel to Penn Station. Its also convenient to shopping and just a short subway ride or walk on a nice day from Times Square.

 

[Tony]

... , and then get to the Acela lounge (yes, we're going in a bedroom) ...

 

I am sure that a lot of this is simply personal opinion, but I found the Acela lounge at NYP to the worse. It tends to be pretty packed (undersized). While other lounges I have been in maintain a good snack spread, NYP seems to ration out only a few items at a time, which are quickly snatched up.

 

And unlike other lounges, no one came to tell me that my train is available for boarding. Oh, and the NYP lounge doesn't have any direct access to the platform, to allow you to skip the long coach passenger lines.

 

[fizz]

I have stayed at the Hotel Pennsylvania many times through the years back to when it was the Statler Hilton. I have always found it to be a a good value for the price. While it is an older hotel, the rooms have always been clean and they are larger than many of the older or newer hotels in Manhattan. There is a good restaurant right in the lobby. Many foreign tourists stay there. Its the most convenient hotel to Penn Station. Its also convenient to shopping and just a short subway ride or walk on a nice day from Times Square.

go to trip advisor and look at up to date visitors photos, not looking too good to me, also read about the hotel on trip advisor new york travelers forum, would'nt stay here even if it were free

 

[transit54]

If you have time (and haven't done it before), I'd highly recommend heading a bit uptown and checking out NYC's other station, Grand Central Terminal. GCT is by far and away my favorite station in the country and is really something to see. Penn is unique for what it is and has, but GCT's architecture and beauty are just incredible and definitely worth a visit if you can swing it.

 

[amamba]

I have stayed at the Hotel Pennsylvania many times through the years back to when it was the Statler Hilton. I have always found it to be a a good value for the price. While it is an older hotel, the rooms have always been clean and they are larger than many of the older or newer hotels in Manhattan. There is a good restaurant right in the lobby. Many foreign tourists stay there. Its the most convenient hotel to Penn Station. Its also convenient to shopping and just a short subway ride or walk on a nice day from Times Square.

go to trip advisor and look at up to date visitors photos, not looking too good to me, also read about the hotel on trip advisor new york travelers forum, would'nt stay here even if it were free

I would second this, if you haven't already, PLEASE check out tripadvisor and view some photos and read some reviews so that you are prepared for the Hotel Pennsylvania and not surprised about the condition of the hotel.

 

[ThayerATM]

Thayer,
You're going to need to reconfirm about that hog dog vendor, as 42nd Street is no where near Penn Station. Penn Station sits between 31st Street and 33rd Street and 7th & 8th Avenues. If indeed it's 42nd Street and near a train station, that would have to be Grand Central Terminal. But there definately isn't a 42nd Street entrance to NYP, as that would be an 11 block long tunnel.

As for Penn, there are really two levels to Penn above the actual tracks. The first level up is the Long Island RR level. You won't hear Amtrak announcements on this level, only LIRR. There is also many more stores and food vendors on this level. The next level up is the Amtrak/NJT level. Amtrak officially occupies the bulk of the 8th Avenue end, although there are a few NJT ticket windows and TVM's there. The main NJT waiting area and ticketing windows are at the 7th Avenue end. You'll walk past this area on your way to the hotel.

The Club Acela can be found behind the West Gate for tracks 7 & 8. There is a door bell on the wall just before you get to the doors that you'll need to ring to gain entrance. You'll hear a rather faint click when they hit the button to unlock the door.

If the weather is very bad, it is technically possible to reach the hotel without having to go outside very much. You'll still have to step out for a quick minute, maybe 30 to 40 feet. But know that there are no escalators or elevators if you take this route. What one does is to go down to the LIRR level and walk towards the #1, #2, & #3 trains. Don't actually go into the paid area, just walk by it and up the stairs to the mezz level. Then take the stairs to your right and slightly ahead up to the street level. Upon exiting, turn right and walk down 32nd Street a bit till you reach the revolving door to the hotel.

If the weather is nicer, or carrying luggage up the stairs is simply too much, then when on the Amtrak level walk towards the 7th Avenue side and head right up the escalators in front of you. The hotel will be directly across the street.

I was born and raised in Flint MI, back in the day when the steam engine that had pulled the train to Flint appeared to be as big as the station itself. It's hard for this country boy to imagine any station having three levels below street level.

That having been said, thanks for the tips. We can still navigate stairs, one at a time, so I now know that there's a way to get to the hotel without being outside too much, if necessary. Our luggage will be minimal as it's only a two day trip. I think I'll avoid challenging the directions to the hot dog vendor. I don't know if the tech's error was in the street number, or if she was talking about another station, but I'll find out when we get to the station. I'll try that 7th Ave exit and see what we see when we get to the top of the escalator.

Is there some place I can google up a diagram of the NY Penn Station? I found an Internet place for Chicago's Union Station, but I've got "CUS" committed to memory now. Or at least I can get from point a to point b in there now without a map.

And finally, is that poster correct in that Club Acela does not offer early boarding for first class passengers? I was figuring that it operated much the same as the Metropolitan Lounge in CHI.

 

[AlanB]

... , and then get to the Acela lounge (yes, we're going in a bedroom) ...

 

I am sure that a lot of this is simply personal opinion, but I found the Acela lounge at NYP to the worse. It tends to be pretty packed (undersized). While other lounges I have been in maintain a good snack spread, NYP seems to ration out only a few items at a time, which are quickly snatched up.

 

And unlike other lounges, no one came to tell me that my train is available for boarding. Oh, and the NYP lounge doesn't have any direct access to the platform, to allow you to skip the long coach passenger lines.

 

About half the lounges have no PA's so they come to tell you your train is ready. In all other lounges they announce the trains via the PA and I've always had that happen in NY. I've had a few late announcements in NY, which means that you get out after the line has already started to form at the gate and you're not first, but I've never had them fail to announce a train.

 

As for direct access to the platforms, Boston doesn't have it, New Orleans doesn't have it, Miami doesn't, and I don't believe that St. Louis does either. The lounge in Minneapolis-St. Paul sort of looks like it doesn't either, although I understand that they bring the sleeping car pax out first before releasing the coach pax. And while Philly does have direct access to most platforms, it doesn't have direct access to all platforms. Additionally, while you avoid the line at the concourse level, since all passengers are sent down in advance of the train's arrival, if you stand in the wrong place you may still not have dibs on a good seat.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I'll add my 2 cents worth: 1)The Penn Hotel is convienent but over priced for what it is,true of most NYC Hotels!Have you tried Orbitz to check on deals? 2)Grand Central is definitely worth the walk, you can also visit Rockefeller Center if you haven't been 3)If the weather is OK how bout riding the subway down to the battery and catching the FREE Staten Island Ferry-they have pretty good lunch joints including great hot dogs right by the ferry terminal on the Island and the view is great 4)The CA here is not overly large and can be crowded but it beats the heck out of the coach bullpen or hanging out in the hall with the riff raff-the bathrooms alone are worth it! 5)Dont know if youve been but the Empire State Building is very close, weather allowing it's a great trip, similar to the Willis Tower (nee Sears Tower) in Chicago-

lines can be a problem!6) They do announce trains in the lounge but the crowds can be extreme, if youre in a sleeper no problem 7) There are plenty of dog carts and roach coaches all over Manhattan, you could also grab the subway out to Coney Island to Nathans if you havent been! Have a great trip! Give us a trip report! Happy new year! BTW-This months "Trains" has a pretty good story on NYP with a couple of diagrams that might be helpful!

 

[ThayerATM]

If you have time (and haven't done it before), I'd highly recommend heading a bit uptown and checking out NYC's other station, Grand Central Terminal. GCT is by far and away my favorite station in the country and is really something to see. Penn is unique for what it is and has, but GCT's architecture and beauty are just incredible and definitely worth a visit if you can swing it.

I think we're probably going to do that, if the weather's decent. Alan suggested that my tech might have been talking about the hot dog vendor outside GCT. I have no idea how downtown Manhattan works, so I'll have a lot to learn.

 

[AlanB]

Is there some place I can google up a diagram of the NY Penn Station? I found an Internet place for Chicago's Union Station, but I've got "CUS" committed to memory now. Or at least I can get from point a to point b in there now without a map.

Sadly there are no good maps around anymore of NYP. There used to be a excellant one several years ago, but that site revamped things and dropped the drawing in the process. About the best out there now is an LIRR map that at least gives you the lay of the land for the LIRR level. You can find that map here.

While looking at that map, you can see part of the route that I mentioned to reach the hotel by going by the subway. Note where it says "connecting concourse" with an arrow point to the #1, #2, #3 trains.

As for the Amtrak level, overlay what you see on the above map in your mind sliding it down to the red escalators by the lost & found. However, the Amtrak side/right side is actually wider than shown in that picture, as it actually covers most of the Central corridor and the Exit corridor. Put another way, cut out the left, front corner of what's shown making an upside down "L" and then slide the entire upper level down over the LIRR level. The Club Acela would be in the far right corner. The main Amtrak waiting area would be to the right and fills the entire area from about the Central corridor to 8th Avenue. The NJT area is to the left and back.

There is a largely central corridor on the upper level that runs from 7th Avenue past the NJT waiting area on the left as you're walking down the corridor. As it enters the Amtrak side of the upper level, it splits into a left and right corridor as the main Amtrak seating areas impede its further progress.

And finally, is that poster correct in that Club Acela does not offer early boarding for first class passengers? I was figuring that it operated much the same as the Metropolitan Lounge in CHI.

Yes, that's true. However, if you're ready to go when they announce the train in the lounge, you can usually still beat the crowd to the escalator. Especially since the LSL is generally on tracks 5, 6, or 7.

 

[AlanB]

1)The Penn Hotel is convienent but over priced for what it is,true of most NYC Hotels!Have you tried Orbitz to check on deals?

Many members have gotten good deals on the Hotel Penn, Bill Haithcoat in particular has done very well IMHO.

2)Grand Central is definitely worth the walk, you can also visit Rockefeller Center if you haven't been

Agreed!

3)If the weather is OK how bout riding the subway down to the battery and catching the FREE Staten Island Ferry-they have pretty good lunch joints including great hot dogs right by the ferry terminal on the Island and the view is great

Again an excellant choice and a great way to see both the Statue of Liberty for free, other than the cost of the subway fare, and the NYC skyline.

4)The CA here is not overly large and can be crowded but it beats the heck out of the coach bullpen or hanging out in the hall with the riff raff-the bathrooms alone are worth it!

Agreed!

5)Dont know if youve been but the Empire State Building is very close, weather allowing it's a great trip, similar to the Willis Tower (nee Sears Tower) in Chicago-lines can be a problem!

I one wants to go up, I highly recommend The Top of the Rock over the Empire State Building. While the ESB currently, and sadly once again, holds the record for tallest building in NYC; the TTR is a better choice IMHO. The ESB is slightly cheaper than the TTR for the basic admittance, but that comes with long lines and long waits. The ESB's basic is $18.45, it's an extra $15 if you want to all the way to the very top on the 102nd floor, otherwise you top out at the 86th floor. They do offer an express pass that gets you past the line, but it costs $41.52. Or you can go to the TTR and just pay $21.00 and pick the time you want to go to the top. It's only 70 stories up, but you probably won't notice the difference.

7) There are plenty of dog carts and roach coaches all over Manhattan, you could also grab the subway out to Coney Island to Nathans if you havent been! Have a great trip! Give us a trip report! Happy new year! BTW-This months "Trains" has a pretty good story on NYP with a couple of diagrams that might be helpful!

While I won't deny that visiting the original Nathans can be neat, if you attempt something like this make sure to allow plenty of time. It's easily a 3 hour round trip, perhaps slightly more.

 

[afigg]

Is there some place I can google up a diagram of the NY Penn Station? I found an Internet place for Chicago's Union Station, but I've got "CUS" committed to memory now. Or at least I can get from point a to point b in there now without a map.

It might still be available at your local bookstores and newsstands. The January 2010 issue of Trains magazine has a 8 page article on NYP with a map of the tracks & platforms under NYP and basic floor diagrams of the 2 levels above the tracks. The maps show where the streets are, so they can help you figure out the packed multi-level complex (maze? rabbit den?) that is NYP.

Late last year, I starting traveling to NYP after a gap of many years. In the past several months, I have since starting taking Amtrak from WAS to NYP and then LIRR out to Long Island every several weeks. It is still new enough experience that I find NYP to be this wild place full of vast streams of humanity pouring through there after getting off their train, waiting in large crowds for the track assignment for their train to be posted, or huddling in lines to get on their train. The floor maps in Trains magazine finally gave me a better grasp of the floor layout. The first times going through NYP, I just followed the signs to Amtrak, street exits, or LIRR concourse. There are many, many signs in NYP. So many that I had to stop and search to pick out the signs I was looking for. On a future WAS-NYP trip, if I am not carrying too much gear, I may book a later train back just so I can spend an hour or two exploring NYP, just so I can figure out where everything is.

 

[ThayerATM]

Is there some place I can google up a diagram of the NY Penn Station? I found an Internet place for Chicago's Union Station, but I've got "CUS" committed to memory now. Or at least I can get from point a to point b in there now without a map.

Sadly there are no good maps around anymore of NYP. There used to be a excellant one several years ago, but that site revamped things and dropped the drawing in the process. About the best out there now is an LIRR map that at least gives you the lay of the land for the LIRR level. You can find that map here.

While looking at that map, you can see part of the route that I mentioned to reach the hotel by going by the subway. Note where it says "connecting concourse" with an arrow point to the #1, #2, #3 trains.

As for the Amtrak level, overlay what you see on the above map in your mind sliding it down to the red escalators by the lost & found. However, the Amtrak side/right side is actually wider than shown in that picture, as it actually covers most of the Central corridor and the Exit corridor. Put another way, cut out the left, front corner of what's shown making an upside down "L" and then slide the entire upper level down over the LIRR level. The Club Acela would be in the far right corner. The main Amtrak waiting area would be to the right and fills the entire area from about the Central corridor to 8th Avenue. The NJT area is to the left and back.

There is a largely central corridor on the upper level that runs from 7th Avenue past the NJT waiting area on the left as you're walking down the corridor. As it enters the Amtrak side of the upper level, it splits into a left and right corridor as the main Amtrak seating areas impede its further progress.

And finally, is that poster correct in that Club Acela does not offer early boarding for first class passengers? I was figuring that it operated much the same as the Metropolitan Lounge in CHI.

Yes, that's true. However, if you're ready to go when they announce the train in the lounge, you can usually still beat the crowd to the escalator. Especially since the LSL is generally on tracks 5, 6, or 7.

Actually, that was a pretty helpful map, especially since it's 3 D upward. The parallax configuration is easy to figure out. Same thing the engineer sees looking down the tracks. Those tracks keep getting closer together the further away they are. I'll probably be using that map while "touristing" NY Penn Station.

As for lounges... Is CHI's Metropolitan lounge the best? I can't think of much more that I'd ask from a first class lounge than CHI offers, except maybe a bar.

Some years ago, because of a flight delay, our group of six was allowed into the airline's first class lounge in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I drank enough "Courage" beer to make the flight quite pleasant afterward. The only glitch was with paying for the first drink. I was emptying my pocket of all that loose change that accumulates, and the bartender refused to accept a Canadian penny that was in the mix.

 

[Pastor Dave]

I've stayed at the Hotel Pennsylvania a few times and found it nice and reasonably priced.

But, I rarely train out of NYP anymore. I live about equidistant between New York and Philadelphia and, while public transportation is better into New York, Philadelphia 30th Street just seems to be a nicer experience for a departure station. Granted, that means an NEC train to Washington to pick up the Capitol Limited or scheduling around the Cardinal to get to Chicago. But the environment is so much nicer.

 

[the_traveler]

Thayer,
You're going to need to reconfirm about that hog dog vendor, as 42nd Street is no where near Penn Station. Penn Station sits between 31st Street and 33rd Street and 7th & 8th Avenues. If indeed it's 42nd Street and near a train station, that would have to be Grand Central Terminal.

I think I'll avoid challenging the directions to the hot dog vendor. I don't know if the tech's error was in the street number, or if she was talking about another station, but I'll find out when we get to the station.

To give the tech credit, if she was indeed referring to GCT, prior to the early 1990's, ALL trains coming from ALB and upstate NY ONLY went to GCT! All other trains went ONLY to Penn Station! Now ALL Amtrak trains use Penn Station only!

 

[ThayerATM]

Thayer,
You're going to need to reconfirm about that hog dog vendor, as 42nd Street is no where near Penn Station. Penn Station sits between 31st Street and 33rd Street and 7th & 8th Avenues. If indeed it's 42nd Street and near a train station, that would have to be Grand Central Terminal.

I think I'll avoid challenging the directions to the hot dog vendor. I don't know if the tech's error was in the street number, or if she was talking about another station, but I'll find out when we get to the station.

To give the tech credit, if she was indeed referring to GCT, prior to the early 1990's, ALL trains coming from ALB and upstate NY ONLY went to GCT! All other trains went ONLY to Penn Station! Now ALL Amtrak trains use Penn Station only!

Let's give the tech a name. Let's call her Irma, and she's one of the best techs that I've ever worked with.

Irma has ridden the LSL from ROC to New York City and back several times in the last few months, having just moved to Rochester from New York City. Rochester is her original home, although her husband shuttles back and forth on the LSL 'cuz he's staying with, and caring for, his very ill father.

When I asked Irma to tell me about NYP, she immediately told me about the hot dog vender that was right outside the station on 42nd Street, and was a "must do." I really don't know of she was talking about GCT or NYP. I'll check that out when we get to New York City.

 

[Tony]

About half the lounges have no PA's so they come to tell you your train is ready. In all other lounges they announce the trains via the PA and I've always had that happen in NY. I've had a few late announcements in NY, which means that you get out after the line has already started to form at the gate and you're not first, but I've never had them fail to announce a train.

I have never had anyone tell me, nor has there ever been a PA announcement, for my train at NYP. However, the only time I'm using NYP is for the Vermonter, and possibly, that is unusual enough that the Lounge staff doesn't bother at all.

This is quite different, than the very friendly and attentive staff at the Philly lounge. Possibly, Philly's lounge just has spoiled me.

 

[Bob Dylan]

As Alan said it's a good walk to 42nd St. from NYP, it's where Times Square is and then GCT is past that ,so that particular vendor almost has to be ouside GCT. But that's NY, even the natives get confused and lost sometimes but you'll never have a dull moment nor fail to see amazing sights! There's a million places to eat in Manhattan, I'd say google up info on the City and make up your own plan based on your priorities and time frame. Good traveling, I'm envious! Perhaps I was too harsh on the Penn Hotel, it's been several years since I was there (2004 during the Coronation of King George), still worth checking out Orbitz and other sights for deals on hotels!

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

As Alan mentioned several posts back, I have had pretty good experience with the Hotel Pennsylvania. I would not worry aobut it. One good thing about it being so old, the windows can still be opened in case of air conditioning failure (not that you need air conditioning at this time of the year). I found that out when I was stranded there during the N.E. Power Outage of 2003.

A much earlier reference was made to a restaurant at the hotel. IF that was for Lindys, I like it, too, though there are many negatvie reviews. Most of the reviews showed it as "pricey", well it is, that is part of the fun of some things in a place like NYC, Lindys has a history of being a place where the rich and famous eat, especially from the theatre. Think: George Burns, Arthur Godfrey, Bob Hope, Milton Berle, etc So, in a way,you are paying for that........and......on vacation.....why not splurge a little here and there. (yeah I knew some of the younger members will not know those names).

The Hotel Penn has an illustrious history itself, with some from the big band era having played there.Its telephone number is even in an old song: "Pennsylania 6500".

It is safe to say that the hotel and Lindy's have seen better days, but they are far from ready to be put out to pasture. I say go ahead. Some airline crews still stay there.

In case you wonder why a hotel in New York would be named after another state. well it wasn't. It is named after the once great Pennsylvania Railroad. That part of the country was at one time dominated by the fiercely competitive Pennsyvnaia RR and New York Central RR (which used Grand Central). At one time, they merged into Penn Central. Today, they and others are merged into Conrail.

 

[the_traveler]

To give (Irma) credit, if she was indeed referring to GCT, prior to the early 1990's, ALL trains coming from ALB and upstate NY ONLY went to GCT! All other trains went ONLY to Penn Station! Now ALL Amtrak trains use Penn Station only!

When I asked Irma to tell me about NYP, she immediately told me about the hot dog vender that was right outside the station on 42nd Street

The station on 42nd Street is Grand Central - but that is NOT the station that Amtrak currently uses!

It's similar to saying that "The restaurant is next to Union Station in Albany" - but Union Station has not had train service in years! Amtrak serves Albany from the station in Rensselaer - about 3-4 driving miles away from Union Station!

 

[tp49]

As Alan said it's a good walk to 42nd St. from NYP, it's where Times Square is and then GCT is past that ,so that particular vendor almost has to be ouside GCT. But that's NY, even the natives get confused and lost sometimes but you'll never have a dull moment nor fail to see amazing sights! There's a million places to eat in Manhattan, I'd say google up info on the City and make up your own plan based on your priorities and time frame. Good traveling, I'm envious! Perhaps I was too harsh on the Penn Hotel, it's been several years since I was there (2004 during the Coronation of King George), still worth checking out Orbitz and other sights for deals on hotels!

It the tech is adamant about the location of the vendor being at Penn it's probably either on 34th Street or on 32d Street. When I was growing up the smell of NYC that is imprinted on my brain is that of the pretzel vendors who were outside the 7th Avenue entrance of Penn Station.

 

[ThayerATM]

As Alan said it's a good walk to 42nd St. from NYP, it's where Times Square is and then GCT is past that ,so that particular vendor almost has to be ouside GCT. But that's NY, even the natives get confused and lost sometimes but you'll never have a dull moment nor fail to see amazing sights! There's a million places to eat in Manhattan, I'd say google up info on the City and make up your own plan based on your priorities and time frame. Good traveling, I'm envious! Perhaps I was too harsh on the Penn Hotel, it's been several years since I was there (2004 during the Coronation of King George), still worth checking out Orbitz and other sights for deals on hotels!

You're making me think about making the stayover longer. Right in the middle of Manhattan sounds like a kewl place to be. Irma isn't a native of NY, nor is her husband. But after a year of communiting to Rochester on the LSL, I can see how she could confuse stations. She certainly must have been through GCT on one train or another.

I'm not necessarily looking for a deal for that hotel room overnight. Cheaper is always better, but it's really conveniet access that I'm looking for. Accross the street from NYP sounds really convenient, and I guess that I have a choice of a couple of hotels. Perhaps I'll choose the one that offers a Sudan Chair to pick us up at the station and carry us across the street. :lol:

As for King George --- isn't he about due to just roll off mention on Boards? He and his faithful companion, "Mr. VP Sweetness" have had their shot at fame. What they feel, say, or think doesn't make any difference any more. I'm tired of hearing about King George. Actually, I'd like to just forget about them and leave their legacy to the historians. <_< It's been over a year now, and we've got a lot of mopping up to do. It'll take years.