Help me plan a mother/daughter trip to NYC!

[njzieglers]

There are plenty of carriages to take you through Central Park. I believe most of them leave right from 59th st.

 

[rascalmom]

I saw on Expedia that there is some type of "City Pass" card that covers entrance to Empire State, some of the museums, etc. Is this a good thing to get?

 

[mcnuss]

Hi there --

I travel to NYC every couple of weeks on business and DD11 and I have done 2 girls trips to the Big Apple so I think I have a sense of what you're looking for.

Hotels: I happen to LOVE the Westin at TS, the rooms are large and immaculate. Very modern. Having said that, though, you'd all have to share the double beds and I am not sure how cozy you want to be. There is an Embassy Suites downtown near the WTC site that is absolutely marvelous -- and it has a pool which is a rarity in Manhattan. You'll get 2 dbl beds and a pullout couch, as well as fridge and microwave with this hotel. You also get a full breakfast every morning. I'd highly recommend it. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...tel_New_York_City-New_York_City_New_York.html Skip the Hilton on 6th Ave (Ave of the Americas). It's a convention hotel and gets so crowded that it can take 20+ minutes to get an elevator.

Restaurants: We have a "routine" in NYC - we always eat one night at Becco on Restaurant Row. It's a great Italian bistro and they have a great pasta deal -- http://www.becconyc.com/. We also always go down to Chelsea Market and nibble our way through. http://www.chelseamarket.com/ I like for DD to see how New Yorkers actually live so we always go to one of the residential neighborhoods to eat. We like Sarabeth's on the upper West Side alot. http://www.sarabeth.com/ You should definitely have New York pizza at least once as well as hit Chinatown if you can.

Shows: We saw the Lion King and it was terrific. But I got the tickets 3 months in advance to get good seats. It sells out all the time. I'd highly recommend Hairspray for you & your group. You may be able to get cheaper tickets to this. I've also heard that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is great as is Fiddler on the Roof. You probably cannot go wrong. I'd also put the chances of your getting good seats to Spamalot at slim to none since it won so many Tonys.

Shopping: If you stay downtown, you have to check out Century 21 (not the real estate outfit!). They have the best deals! http://www.ny.com/cgibin/frame.cgi?...y21deptstores.com/&frame=/frame/shopping.html Macy's is awful, imho, over-run with people and badly managed. DD and I like to browse at Saks and maybe shop for real at Bloomies. I love Lord & Taylor but DD thinks it's blah. The DO NOT MISS, HAVE TO GO place in NYC with your girls is Dylans Candy Bar. http://www.dylanscandybar.com/products/shop.htm I am not kidding, it is too much fun! The other place, if you don't have them where you live, is sephora. DD loves to play with the makeup.

Airport: Just choose the one with the best deals from your city. And since there are 4 of you and you are splurging, go for a car service to get you into the city. I use Elite Limo. I cannot find the number right now but when I do I will send it. It generally costs about $10-$15 more than a cab but is oh so worth it to come off the plane and see your driver waiting!

Hope this helps.

Have fun!

 

[mcnuss]

I saw on Expedia that there is some type of "City Pass" card that covers entrance to Empire State, some of the museums, etc. Is this a good thing to get?

Yes. Go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60763-New_York_City_New_York-Vacations.html. I think it will help you.

 

[rascalmom]

mcnuss - thanks so much! Looks like you have done just the type of trip that I am planning. Your tips will help a lot. Good to hear there is a good Embassy Suites - can someone give me an idea of distances? The Westin looks like a great location, but the extra space & breakfast at E.S. are tempting me.

As far as tickets go, do I just do a search for the individual box offices for each show I am interested in, do Ticketmaster, or what? I'm not sure we'll do the TKTS booth - I want to be SURE I have tickets. Hairspray is on the list too!

 

[drgnfly30]

As far as tickets go, do I just do a search for the individual box offices for each show I am interested in, do Ticketmaster, or what? I'm not sure we'll do the TKTS booth - I want to be SURE I have tickets. Hairspray is on the list too!

I booked my Spamalot tickets right through Ticketmaster (got a great deal to $36.75 per ticket - nosebleed seats) Everyplace else I checked was asking $100+ (& I mean +++) per ticket - and this was BEFORE it won all the Tonys.

Christine

 

[swanmom]

Try www.broadwaybox.com for discounts on tickets. We've done well at this site and it's safe to register with them. (Won't result in lots of junk or unwanted emails.)

 

[ctinct]

My strategy with the Times square TKTS booth is a little different. We don't go early....we go later. I think the lines are shorter because lots of people go early.They have always still had lots of shows to choose from. Last time was in April, and some that I remember they had that day were Phantom, Beauty & the Beast, & Hairspray. You can check their website to see what shows were available the prior week.
As for the subway, if I can do it, anyone can! (I have been living in my town for over 30 years, and I still get lost. I am directionally challenged.) Get a good subway map. Note that on some routes there are express trains that do not stop at every station along with local trains that do. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
If the Met is in your plans, go to their website and plan which things you'd like to see. I went with a friend last week, and while we were there for five hours, we did not even get to the second floor. Have a great visit!

 

[Microcell]

Roxies deli in Times square is also very good. Ya think I like New York delis? Nah.

Be careful, that deli is VERY overpriced. DH paid $25.00 for a Reubin. He said he had better here in Kansas City! I want to go to the Hello Deli from Letterman fame.

 

[legs22]

Be careful, that deli is VERY overpriced. DH paid $25.00 for a Reubin. He said he had better here in Kansas City! I want to go to the Hello Deli from Letterman fame.

Wow! And I thought the Carnegie Deli was a ripoff!

Ben's Deli at 38th & 7th is good.

I would not go late to TKTS. The lines are not shorter. I was just there this past week. At 6:45 I saw Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang on their board but I never would have made it through the long, long lines before the show started. Instead I had a discount code from either Theatermania.com or broadwaybox.com and used that at the Hilton Theater box office.
I bought Lion King tickets months in advance. DD7 loved both shows.

I finally got the hang of the subway on this trip (my 5th time to NYC). You must have a map. Just make sure the number or letter of the subway train where you get on matches with the letter/number where you want to get off. Also notice if the train is going uptown or downtown. The concierge explained that to me this trip and suddenly I got it

Dylan's Candy Bar was fun. DD loved it!

I've heard that Century 21 is a good store and Becco's is a good place to eat.

H&M is a store your dd's might like.

Transportation to and from the airport (JFK).....we took cabs. I didn't want to waste any time if the car service didn't show for some reason, or I couldn't find them. Cabs are always available.

Tip- It's great having a fridge in your room for leftovers!

 

[tinkerbelle22]

One little thing about a Broadway show: Whoever posted about Rent was right, it's really an amazing show with an outstanding message, and the kids are old enough, but when I went with my mom, she wasn't crazy about the little bit of racey stuff in it. But besides that, wow, it's a great show.

For mother/daughter quality time, I must recommend one and only one show. And I'm not just saying it because it's my fave, but the memory of seeing it with my mother will last forever. Wicked. It's a story of friendship, love, and girl power! Yay! So, if I were you, I'd check this out.

Have fun in NYC! I live near it, so it's like a second home to me. Sorry I could only give advice on the shows, that's really one of the only things I do when I go there! Anyhoo, have fun!

 

[rascalmom]

Thanks! Seeing Wicked is one of the main goals of our trip. My oldest dd has been a HUGE Wizard of OZ fan since she was a very little girl. She has read & collected all of the original Frank Baum books, has all of his grandson's books & a collection of memoribilia. She read Wicked & loved it - I wasn't so crazy about the book, but I have heard the play is outstanding. A teacher that they have has performed with Christin Chenowith, who went to Oklahoma City University here. (we know she's not in it now)

That show is a must for us!

 

[mcnuss]

If you want to be sure to have tickets, then start with broadwaybox. It's a great site.

The ride from the ES up to mid-town will take about 20-30 minutes on the subway. It's very easy. On weekends there is less traffic so cabs are an alternative. I forgot to mention that you should buy a metrocard for public transportation. I think you can get them at newstands anywhere in the city. There are special ones just for tourists. http://www.ny.com/cgibin/frame.cgi?...ct/subway/index.html&frame=/frame/travel.html

As much as I love that Westin, I think you will be uncomfortable. The rooms are large but they only offer 2 full sized beds. DD, my mom & I felt a little on top of each other after 4 days. There is a "chain" of suites hotels in Manhattan. Our corporate travel agent books into them all the time so they are probably very nice. My colleague has stayed at the Benjamin and the Affinia 50 which she loved. http://affinia.com/Site-Map-NYC-Hotel/Hotel_Locator_Map.cfm#

Let me know if you have any other q's.