OT-New York City Trip March 2012

[rthutchens]

I just found out that I'm going to NYC in March over Spring Break for 6 nights. I have no idea where to begin my planning. I want to stay in a convenient location, any suggestions? What do you recommend for places to visit? I definitely want to see a Broadway show, any suggestions on which ones are best? Also, where can I get tickets at a discount. The trip will consist of myself (38), niece (14), mother (64) and father (67). Dad decided to go cause he doesn't think the city is safe for his girls. He suggested we stay in Albany and take the train to the city everyday. I think it sounds crazy.

Thanks for all input!

 

[cluvsdisney]

You're right, it would be crazy to stay in Albany and take the train to Manhattan every day. It is 2+ hours each way plus the cost. I think the more touristy/central areas of Manhattan are more or less safe. Check Club Quarters hotel for cheap rates in great locations. Some people do stay in Jersey City and take the PATH train into Manhattan - it's a quick ride each way.

For shows, I have heard great reviews of How to Succeed In Business and Wicked. I am not sure about getting discounts. There's a TKTS booth in Times Square that sells discounted tickets but you have to line up and I don't think all shows are available.

There are double decker bus tours which will take you to a lot of the main attractions in Manhattan. You can get on and off for 2-3 days depending on the type of ticket you purchase. http://www.graylinenewyork.com/

 

[rvchat]

you can also stay in queens or brooklyn.

still just a 2.25 ride away and very close!

bus or subway

You're right, it would be crazy to stay in Albany and take the train to Manhattan every day. It is 2+ hours each way plus the cost. I think the more touristy/central areas of Manhattan are more or less safe. Check Club Quarters hotel for cheap rates in great locations. Some people do stay in Jersey City and take the PATH train into Manhattan - it's a quick ride each way.

For shows, I have heard great reviews of How to Succeed In Business and Wicked. I am not sure about getting discounts. There's a TKTS booth in Times Square that sells discounted tickets but you have to line up and I don't think all shows are available.

There are double decker bus tours which will take you to a lot of the main attractions in Manhattan. You can get on and off for 2-3 days depending on the type of ticket you purchase. http://www.graylinenewyork.com/

 

[lady_hlh]

We live in Albany and go to NYC at least once or twice a year with our DD. Staying up here though would be silly, I'm not sure why people think that NYC is so dangerous unless they're thinking about what it was like in the 70s and 80s when I was young. If you can afford it staying in midtown near Rockefeller Center is a great location. We usually stay at the Hampton Inn North(?) which is very affordable in February. If the hotel rates are too high in March, we have also stayed at the Marriott Courtyard in Jersey City which is right next door to the Path train station plus it has an indoor pool for the kids. Our 10 year old DD loves staying right in the city but she also thought that Jersey City with the pool was cool. We got very reasonable tickets in the higher balcony area to see Mary Poppins and that was a fabulous show. Check out Broadwaybox.com for discounts during your time. My DD loves Ellen's Stardust Diner with the singing waiters in Times Square, the food is just OK but it is a cool experience.

 

[Keira1387]

Hi,
We just returned from NYC a couple of weeks ago, and I just wanted to recommend the distrikt hotel. We found them on trip advisor( they are #3) we paid about $250 per night and were 2 blocks from time square. Good luck!

 

[dancingurl210]

An awesome website for discounted Broadway tickets is broadwaybox.com. The most popular shows won't be discounted (ex. Wicked, How to Succeed, etc.) but there are plenty of amazing shows that you will be able to get discounted tix for. I use the site all the time, it basically gives you a discount code to use in ticketmaster.com or telecharge.com.

A fun place to go for dinner right in Times Square is called Ellen's Stardust Diner. The waitstaff are aspiring performers and perform intermittently during your meal. Very entertaining! You might want to check if they take ressies bc it can get very busy.

As for safety, NYC is no worse that any other big city. Just be aware of who is around you and where your belongings are and you will be fine.

Most importantly enjoy your time there. NY is one of the most amazing cities in the world!

 

[2luvmickey]

My DH has been working in Manhattan and living (part time) in Jersey City for the past 5 months. If budget is an issue, I would highly recommend staying in Jersey City, the PATH is a quick 10 minute ride over to Manhattan. Be aware, it can get crowded.

Try to get (free) tickets to the 9-11 Memorial. So moving, a must see, and it books quickly so go online to: http://www.911memorial.org/

Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (although she is undergoing renovation, you can still visit outside). http://www.statuecruises.com/

If you like museums, there are plenty to visit: http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html

Many years ago, we stayed in a lovely boutique hotel with our 3 DS. A few blocks away from the Empire State Building (another must see!), it was a nice hotel with two doubles and a sofa bed. http://www.avalonhotelnyc.com/

My DS 16 and I will probably spend Spring break with my DH at his apartment - which I like to call our vacation home!

Happy planning!

 

[JennaWest]

we went for our honeymoon a year and half ago stayed at the crowneplaza in timesquare concierge for 250 a night and that was in june high rates found the rates by looking on hotels dot com then called hotel and they matched it. We did the double decker bus tour which i would highly recommend and to do it the first day(s) there because then you get an idea of where things are and where to walk you can also get off at any stops and get back on in 15-30 min intervals. the bus makes a stop down by the old market where there is a tkts one block to the left that is where we went and got circ du soliel tickets to bananna shapeel *very good show* for 30 for both of us 2nd row seats we waited in like behind 2 people at tkts there as opposed to tkts in timesquare the wait was over 4 hours.

 

[debbiemomto4]

NYC is relatively safe. Very crowded and fast moving. People keep to themselves but we have a good heart and will step into help when needed.
Staying in Albany is downright silly. Its far - extremely far. By car its a 3 hr ride. Over 150 miles.
Midtown has many hotels - some pricey, some cheaper. Sorry can't suggest a hotel - live outside of NYC now never needed to stay in a hotel.
Museum of Metropolitan Art is lovely, Tkts booth can get you cheap tickets or plan ahead and get tickets to something you would love to see. I loved Wicked. 5th Avenue stores and Macy's are unbelievable. I personally love tripadvisor gives great reviews.

 

[sherreis]

For tickets, sign up for travelzoo newsletter. I often get discount offers on broadway shows.

Have a great trip! It's a great place to visit - so much to see and do.

 

[OHJulie]

Stay in NYC, it will be so much easier to take a break in the middle of the day so that you can enjoy the evening events.

I highly recommend Radio City Apartments. It is located in a very convenient location and you can get a one bedroom room that has a nice living area with a small kitchen. This will allow those who get up earlier to move to the other room, have coffee and relax.

Broadwaybox.com is great for discounts, but you won't find the really popular shows on it. My son and I are going to be in NYC next week and we got a great deal on tickets for Billy Elliott.

Not to miss sights:

Metropolitan Museum of Art
Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - go to Brooklyn on the subway and walk back to Manhattan.


Hope you have a great time!

 

[DizneyDogs]

I recommend getting the New York Pass, it saved us a bunch of money and was a much better deal than the City pass.

Here's the link:
http://www.newyorkpass.com/

That will also give you a list of the top things to see and do in NY.

We saw Mary Poppins it was great! You can get Disney Visa discounts that make the tickets about 1/2 price. I also recommend Wicked as well.

Have a great time NYC is such a fun place to visit!

 

[chabs]

I just found out that I'm going to NYC in March over Spring Break for 6 nights. I have no idea where to begin my planning. I want to stay in a convenient location, any suggestions? What do you recommend for places to visit? I definitely want to see a Broadway show, any suggestions on which ones are best? Also, where can I get tickets at a discount. The trip will consist of myself (38), niece (14), mother (64) and father (67). Dad decided to go cause he doesn't think the city is safe for his girls. He suggested we stay in Albany and take the train to the city everyday. I think it sounds crazy.

Thanks for all input!

That is crazy! I live outside of Albany and I can't imagine going back and forth for 2 hours each way every day-not to mention the fact that it would cost you a fortune. We always stay at the Doubletree in Times Square. There is a separate bedroom with 2 double/queen (can't remember which) beds and a separate sitting room with a pull out sofa bed. We paid about $400 night but it was Christmas time so I'm sure it's cheaper during the rest of the year. It is nice and clean (large for NYC standards) and did not have any bugs-which is my main concern-and best of all-convenient. You definitely get what you pay for in NYC. It was worth every penny.

Also-you should really make a plan because I can't imagine spending 6 nights in NYC. I would be museum and shopped out by then. Also, if you want to see the Statue of Liberty-you will need to go on their website and get tickets ASAP.

The city is just as safe as anywhere else if you are smart about it. I stay on the main streets and in the tourist areas and haven't had any problems. Stay off of the side streets, especially at night and out of the subway at night too. The train station is disgusting for the most part-I can't imagine going there twice a day just to avoid staying in NYC. Just wear a fanny pack or put your money some place safe and you should be all set.

PS-Albany by the train station is probably less safe than NYC! Plus any decent hotel that you would even want to stay in is at least 15-20 minutes away.

 

[rthutchens]

Thank you for the great replys. I told my parents Albany is out. They agreed once they thought about it. My dad was there in the 80s on business trips and has a bad image of it being unsafe of course he was doing work in the Bronx so maybe that plays into it. Keep the advice suggestions coming please.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I went there about 2 weeks ago with my 10 year old son--just the two of us on a mother son overnight trip. We took the train into Penn Station (we are from the Washington DC area) and were able to walk to our hotel from there. We stayed at the Residence Inn Times square. We paid $199/night for a room with a King size bed (when I booked it said a Qn size bed, so they must have upgraded us?) and a pull out sofa.

From that hotel we were able to walk to the things we wanted to do--Rockefeller center/radio city music hall, central park zoo, the Macy's in Herald Square as well as looking at the windows of other department stores, etc.


We went as a family (2 adults, 4 kids) to NYC back in April. We stayed at the Courtyard in Jersey city someone earlier in the thread mentioned and took the PATH in each day. It was very easy and not terribly expensive.

 

[clori]

I'll second the New York Pass - it is great when we do touristy trips (many of our trips are just to visit family). However even if you don't want a pass it is a good website to look at possible places of interest. I would check out travelzoo.com which can have good hotel deals.

 

[faith]

Thanks for posting this.
I passed info along to my son & family that will be going soon.

 

[mbf]

I just booked the Hampton Inn North (one block from Times Square and across from the Subway station) for $143 a night the first weekend in March. Plus I am a Hilton Honors member so it counts toward free nights. Someone I know who travels a ton on business told me that the Hilton Honors program has the best rewards.

Google MVP code for Hampton Inn and use it to book.

 

[djbleach]

Daughter and I just went the week before Christmas. We live in VA, so It's a good 6.5 hour drive. I've always had good luck with Priceline. If you don't mind what hotel you stay in, and Pick the lowest star rating you are comfortable with, then usually you can save a good amount of money.
Anyway, this time we ended up with the Courtyard by Marriot Jersey City that has been mentioned here for $85 a night. The hotel charges $16 a day to park a car, but it's unlimited access. The area is really safe! It's almost in walking distance to the CakeBoss store in Hoboken. (we didn't walk, we just placed an order online and picked it up at the store( Lobster tails and cannolli's)
Like stated before the Courtyard is right beside the Path train station. $2 each way to 34th street area.
Things that we have done are Free ferry ride to Stanton Island to "see" the Statue of Liberty. It gets you close enough that I really didn't feel like I missed out.
Top of the Rock to me is better, and faster than waiting for Empire long lines. Even the elevator ride to Top of the Rock is cool!
China Town, Little Italy. (we get our feet massaged in Chinatown and she gets her nails done. Little Italy had Ferraris sp? bakery that is as good or better IMHO than CakeBoss. My daughter watched the CakeBoss show, so we've been inside Carlos'.
She's only 8 and in the passed we have ridden the ferris wheel in Toys R Us.
We usually eat at the pizza shops and junk. Johns pizza near Times Square and the LaGuarida or something near the Brooklyn Bridge.
We walked (or at the time, she was still in the stroller) across the Brooklyn Bridge. Very nice skyline view of Manhatten...plus it was free
This last time we got tickets for the 9/11 Memorial..It was fine because we didn't have to wait for tickets and the line wasn't long. (we did have to wait about 30 minutes from when we got tickets to our actually time to stand in line)
We've done central park, but only on the outside. We haven't really walked much into the park.
We did the Museum of Natural History only to see the planitarium. I wouldn't suggest that. (wasted $40 bucks)
We spend alot of time at American Girl store, but I don't think that will be a store you'd visit.
Even though we've been around 6 times, we seem to always do alot of the same stuff, with a little new mixed in.
Saw Mary Poppins (tickets from Broadway box....good seats for $65
Wicked this last trip......$115 a ticket for not so great seats. Not bad, but not great. We got spoiled from Mary poppins, but it's not a hot show like wicked. My dd loved Wicked, I like MP, probably because of the price...lol
So I'm not sure where you are comming from. Driving or flying?.....
my suggestion would be If you are really concerned about where you stay, there's two hotels that I think you would be really ok with. The Courtyard in Jersey City (check there rates, but the week before christmas $170 a night, we did priceline for $85) plus parking.
Sheration in Weehobken (sp?, it's near Jersey City, Seacaucus) they charge $20 to park, but they have the water ferry right at the hotel. The area is safe, but nothing to do or eat nearby that was of mentioned. In Jersey City there's the mall right across the street, nice little breakfest cafe's......My vote is for Jersey City.....
Get a good map.
Good walking shoes. That's the thing. In New York you Walk! So If everybody is in pretty good health/shape it's no big deal. If nobody is used to walking alot, it becomes an issue.
I'd probably try to hang with your neice and let mom and dad do there thing.
Your dad is tripping on how unsafe NY is. I see more single women alone on the subway/trains etc than any other city I go to. Nobody really bothers anybody. Nobody really gives eye contact, don't speak etc. It's just a different way of life, but whenever we've had any questions, people have been the most helpful.
I get turned around alot in NY. I'll think I'm heading in the right direction, walk a block and realize the numbers are going opposite of what I thougth.
I know this is long, but I thought I'd share what has worked good for us.
Another thing is Money. Everything cost, so like any vacation, the more your bring the more your can spend...lol
We did 3 nights and I think for gas/food/tolls/show/room/parking/junk food etc. For an 8 yo and 41 yo...($350is room/park. $240show gas/tolls $130 plus I had $400 cash when I left and only around $20 when I got back, $70 at CakeBoss......It was easlily $1100-1300 for 3 nights.....But it was fun and had some good memories..
I've been before with another family and although I had fun, it had some times of being miserable!
It's easier to please a couple people than awhole group.
So, If your dad is just going because he wants to protect his girls, he might want to sit this one out and let the girls be girls in NY! (just get his checkbook....lol.....
have fun.....

 

[cornflake]

New York City is not as safe as other cities, it is the safest large city in the nation, and has been for most of a decade now.

Try the Library Hotel, or the On The Ave, or the SoHo Grand - I wouldn't stay in Times Square, it's a zoo, and far too expensive for crap chain hotels.

See the MET
the Tenement Museum
the Planetarium
the Staten Island Ferry
Ellis Island
the Empire State Building
spend a day in Central Park
go to Columbia University (attend an astronomy lecture if it's a good Friday and use their observatory)
see something at Lincoln Center (the ballet, an opera, a play)
see what's at BAM, go to the Museum of Television and Radio
go to the main branch of the NY Public Library and see the Reading Room
see the New York Historical Society
go to Riverside Park...

That should get you started.