NYC Trip

[Sleeping Beauty fan]

We are taking a short vacation to NYC next month and would like some tips from locals, experts, and anyone! We are staying at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers near Times Square. I think we will be within walking distance of most things except for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We are going to Phantom of the Opera the night we get there and plan on shopping on Times Square on our arrival day. We plan on going to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Trinity Church, shopping on 5th Ave and Madison Ave, NY Public Library. I don't think we are going to any museums though. Other thoughts or ideas? I don't think we are doing Canal Street or Chinatown.

What about clothes? We will be there in June. Will shorts and t-shirts or sleeveless shirts be okay (obviously not to Phantom)? What about money? I'm torn on what to carry. Part of me wants to use cash so I don't have to give out my credit card in NY. The other part of me is afraid to have much cash. Is there much danger in the areas we will be? Anything else? We are really excited about this trip! It can't get here soon enough!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

What bank do you use? We have a LOT of ATMs you could get cash from so you don't have to carry a ton of cash.

The clothes sound fine; check the weather as you get closer to your trip. We have been having a fairly cool spring overall but right now it's in the mid-80s. Last weekend was in the 60s.

All the areas you mentioned are in Manhattan are overall quite safe. Just use common sense and you should be fine.

 

[Bren's Mom]

We live an hour by train and we the city!

My first suggestion is that when you arrive go into just about any touristy/corner store/bodega and get a laminated foldup map of Manhattan. This will help you tremendously in getting around and choosing the best tour plan for your trip.

Second, I'd suggest a backpack or sling pack, or even a small purse that goes across your chest and lays on your hip. Partly because that's more comfortable for carrying around, and party for security reasons. I have been to NYC many, many times alone, even at night, and I have never encountered a problem. Common sense should be used ANYWHERE you travel, including NYC. I prefer a backpack or sling pack because I get very cold in air conditioning. So I might swelter in the June heat but need a sweater inside a restaurant at lunch...so I carry a thin packable one (or a thin sweatshirt) with me. I pack my map in that. My ID, etc. goes in the very bottom. And I keep cash in a front hip pocket.

If the Empire State Building is an absolute must I'd buy tickets online ahead of time and be there when it opens (8am) to avoid the lines as much as possible. Remember that security there is very tight so don't bring pocket knives or glass bottles or anything else objectionable in your bag. Lots of good visitor info on their website. If the ESB isn't an absolute must you might consider 'Top of the Rock' in Rockefeller Plaza. Same idea, tall building, you can see for miles but you can get in and out quicker generally AND get an awesome view of the ESB. So just a thought.

Make a list of things you'd like to see and their locations. Remember that addresses are hard to locate on a map, it's good to know the cross streets. So something at 497 5th Ave might not mean much to you looking at a mpa but knowing that it's between 49th and 50th streets is very helpful...most places have that info listed on their website...write it down! Find the big things you want to see on the map and cluster them together each day (or each morning/afternoon if they're not long things). That way you're not trekking all over creating and then back tracking to get to something in completely the other direction.

For dinners if you have no specific ideas in mind your hotel's concierge should be very helpful. Use their knowledge!

 

[Sleeping Beauty fan]

What bank do you use? We have a LOT of ATMs you could get cash from so you don't have to carry a ton of cash.

The clothes sound fine; check the weather as you get closer to your trip. We have been having a fairly cool spring overall but right now it's in the mid-80s. Last weekend was in the 60s.

All the areas you mentioned are in Manhattan are overall quite safe. Just use common sense and you should be fine.

Thanks! We are really looking forward to this trip!

 

[Sleeping Beauty fan]

We live an hour by train and we the city!

My first suggestion is that when you arrive go into just about any touristy/corner store/bodega and get a laminated foldup map of Manhattan. This will help you tremendously in getting around and choosing the best tour plan for your trip.

Second, I'd suggest a backpack or sling pack, or even a small purse that goes across your chest and lays on your hip. Partly because that's more comfortable for carrying around, and party for security reasons. I have been to NYC many, many times alone, even at night, and I have never encountered a problem. Common sense should be used ANYWHERE you travel, including NYC. I prefer a backpack or sling pack because I get very cold in air conditioning. So I might swelter in the June heat but need a sweater inside a restaurant at lunch...so I carry a thin packable one (or a thin sweatshirt) with me. I pack my map in that. My ID, etc. goes in the very bottom. And I keep cash in a front hip pocket.

If the Empire State Building is an absolute must I'd buy tickets online ahead of time and be there when it opens (8am) to avoid the lines as much as possible. Remember that security there is very tight so don't bring pocket knives or glass bottles or anything else objectionable in your bag. Lots of good visitor info on their website. If the ESB isn't an absolute must you might consider 'Top of the Rock' in Rockefeller Plaza. Same idea, tall building, you can see for miles but you can get in and out quicker generally AND get an awesome view of the ESB. So just a thought.

Make a list of things you'd like to see and their locations. Remember that addresses are hard to locate on a map, it's good to know the cross streets. So something at 497 5th Ave might not mean much to you looking at a mpa but knowing that it's between 49th and 50th streets is very helpful...most places have that info listed on their website...write it down! Find the big things you want to see on the map and cluster them together each day (or each morning/afternoon if they're not long things). That way you're not trekking all over creating and then back tracking to get to something in completely the other direction.

For dinners if you have no specific ideas in mind your hotel's concierge should be very helpful. Use their knowledge!

Great advice! We bought two different maps last weekend at Barnes and Noble. It has been really fun looking over them and planning. I think we have the address stuff figured out.

I have a Vera Bradley sling purse I was going to bring. I also have a small backpack that I bought at WDW that I thought about, but I read that you can't bring backpacks to the Statue of Liberty. Do you think they mean traditional backpacks, or will they consider my WDW bag a backpack?

Good advice about Top of the Rock. I love 30 Rock, so we may need to do that instead. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Hi. I wouldn't worry about using a credit card. If you carry cash I would leave most in the hotel room safe, and just carry around what you expect to use that day. I do that everywhere I travel. Or, do what the previous poster said, take out what you need from the ATM here and there.

Your plans sound like fun, I'm sure you will have a good time. I would be careful with the backpack, as you are going to mostly tourist areas, and pickpockets like to target those areas and they also like backpacks.

I loved Phantom!

 

[LisaNJ25]

If you want to go up into the pedestal get your tickets now. They sell out early an you have to get them ahead of time.

 

[Aisling]

Just wanted to say the Sheraton is a REALLY nice hotel.

 

[Sleeping Beauty fan]

Just wanted to say the Sheraton is a REALLY nice hotel.

Oh, great! The pictures look wonderful! We are super excited about this. We don't take many non-Disney vacations, so we are really looking forward to it! Thanks to the PP who mentioned getting the Statue tickets early. We have looked into that and I think we will go ahead and order them in advance! Thanks again for the tips and advice! Oh, Chloe, we are really looking forward to Phantom!

 

[pezheadmeg]

If you do the backpack, carry all the valuables in a sling on the front. It's how I do it as someone that treks into the city for school 2 days a week. Pack sweaters, depending on where you go the AC might be on full blast.
And if you're going to be near Times Square hit Ripley's and Madame Tussad's--they're both awesome. For restuarants I adore Charlie O's on Broadway and 49th and the Tick-Tock diner at 35th and 8th.


Google Plum benefits, it's what we all use for the codes for discounted tickets.

 

[Caradana]

Welcome in advance I hope you love it here as much as I do.

A few tips to make your trip very authentic:
- Don't miss a walk down Bleecker Street. Ask the cabbie to take you to Bleecker (pronounced Bleaker) and Hudson, and walk south (with your back to Hudson). You'll pass all kinds of wonderful spots you will probably recognize from TV, and you'll see a pretty cool cross section of Greenwich Village and West Village life, plus, the stores are tiny and interesting (some quite glamorous). Five or six blocks into the walk, you'll come to the intersection of Bleecker and Bedford - turn right onto Bedford and walk one block. Look at the buildings. If you were a Friends fan ... you'll recognize something Go back toward Bleecker, turn right onto Bleecker, and in a few blocks you'll be in the center of NYU - fun!

- The pizza that the natives like is at Pomodoro - ask the cabbie to take you to Spring and Mulberry and look for the green restaurant. Order a vodka sauce brick oven pizza. Don't worry, it's kid-safe. When you're done, go back out onto the corner, cross Mulberry St (stay on Spring) and in about a block you'll recognize a very creative dessert place on your left if you were a fan of the Will Smith movie "Switch".

- Don't miss Park Ave! The flowers are gorgeous right now! It's silly to like office building flowers, I suppose, but they really do dazzle.

As the song goes, hot times, summer in the city!

Have fun -- D

 

[Sleeping Beauty fan]

Welcome in advance I hope you love it here as much as I do.

A few tips to make your trip very authentic:
- Don't miss a walk down Bleecker Street. Ask the cabbie to take you to Bleecker (pronounced Bleaker) and Hudson, and walk south (with your back to Hudson). You'll pass all kinds of wonderful spots you will probably recognize from TV, and you'll see a pretty cool cross section of Greenwich Village and West Village life, plus, the stores are tiny and interesting (some quite glamorous). Five or six blocks into the walk, you'll come to the intersection of Bleecker and Bedford - turn right onto Bedford and walk one block. Look at the buildings. If you were a Friends fan ... you'll recognize something Go back toward Bleecker, turn right onto Bleecker, and in a few blocks you'll be in the center of NYU - fun!

- The pizza that the natives like is at Pomodoro - ask the cabbie to take you to Spring and Mulberry and look for the green restaurant. Order a vodka sauce brick oven pizza. Don't worry, it's kid-safe. When you're done, go back out onto the corner, cross Mulberry St (stay on Spring) and in about a block you'll recognize a very creative dessert place on your left if you were a fan of the Will Smith movie "Switch".

- Don't miss Park Ave! The flowers are gorgeous right now! It's silly to like office building flowers, I suppose, but they really do dazzle.

As the song goes, hot times, summer in the city!

Have fun -- D

WOW! Thank you soooo much! I am taking note of all this!!!!!

 

[Poohbear123]

WOW! Thank you soooo much! I am taking note of all this!!!!!

Me too, I am pre-planning a trip for June of Next year! Thanks for the tips!

 

[krcit]

I just stayed at The Sheraton with my girls in April. It's a great location. A little tip though-there are no vending machines inside the hotel. There's delis and stuff all around but you have to go outside to get sodas/water. My saughter wasn't feeling well and I wanted water for her and had to go outside-luckily she's old enough to be left alone. I suggest stopping at a Duane Reade9they are everywhere and stock up on sodas/snacks for the room)

We had dinner at Ellen's Stardust one night. Basic diner food but the waiters and waitresses sing while you eat and they are fabulous-I didn't want to leave, lol. I don't remember the exact address but it's very close to the hotel. Another suggestion is to look into Accomplice NY-it's a show/scavenger hunt. A really fun experience. I also recommend Rock of Ages if you're looking into another show. It is so much fun and full of great 80's music. Have a great time!

 

[minkydog]

We had dinner at Ellen's Stardust one night. Basic diner food but the waiters and waitresses sing while you eat and they are fabulous-I didn't want to leave, lol.

OMG,is that not the most fun you ever had? Those kids are so talented and the food is good too.

We took a couples-trip last summer and stayed at Times Square also. We walked all over the place and felt totally safe. We never even heard a New Yorker say a bad word, though we did hear some bad words from a drunk tourist. Still, we walked the streets late at night and never felt uncomfortable. New Yorkers really seem to want people to enjoy their city.

We took one of the Gray Line double decker Hop on-Hop off bus tours. they have 3-4 loops around Manhattan and into Brooklyn. We bought the 2 day tour which was really great. We went uptown one day hopping on and off, then downtown the next day. The buses go by or very near to all the sites we wanted to see. One word of advice: either get advance reservations for the Statue of Liberty or get in line VERY early so you don't end up in a mile long wait to get on the ferry.

I have to say, the highlight of the trip for us was Ellis Island. Both of us have family who came over in the early 1900s so it was really poignant. Rent the headphones for the self-tour. You'll get much more out of the tour.

And of course, you have to go to Rockefeller Center. Get yourself on Good Morning America

 

[marlynnp]

I highly recommend taking one of the living tours at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.

 

[MoniqueU]

My favorite part of NYC is Mulberry street, little italy. Love Cafe Napoli there. Everyone always says eat at carmines but this is far better IMHO.

 

[Disney Doll]

I like the Circle Line tour. If anyone is a Navy buff, the USS Intrepid is down near there too.
Also the Disney Store is at the corner of 5th and 55th.
Carriage ride through Central Park.