Tell me about New york....updated post 42

[natalielongstaff]

Im going to new york for christmas ...well early december

im a complate novice ! what do i need to know

 

[orlandothebeagle]

You lucky devil. I had wanted to go ince I was 12, I eventually saved enough when I was 30 to go! I loved it, I mean loved it. It is amazing. We walked everywhere, just walked around stunned by it.Lynne

 

[Girlsontour]

My friend, who lives in Ibiza, has just been and had a volunteer guide to show her and her family around the city. It was a lady who had been a school teacher, who showed them round, and there was no charge for this - my friend took some souveniers from Ibiza for her as payment. I will try and get the website for you.

It is years since i went to New York and all i seem to remember is the amount of traffic and noise!!!

I will PM the website for you after i speak to my friend.

 

[Girlsontour]

http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/

You have to fill in an application form and are matched with someone suitable to show you round - my friend highly recommends it!

 

[natalielongstaff]

thanks

It will be me, my mum and the 2 kids (10 and 7 yrs )

 

[Snowy-girls]

How lovely-you lucky thing.No-one in my famly has been,but my Grandad had a sister who lived there+she would always send footage+pictures and it looked amazing.x.

 

[epcot1stfave]

Its brill, we were there in Oct 2001, its great for walking around. The harbour cruise is a must, Central Park, Grand Central is much more than a station - shops cafes etc. Times Sq, Empire State, I could go on but its just too much to fit in. Get a good guide as pp has said and enjoy yourself

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Wow that will be fantastic your so lucky!

Going to New York for Christmas is on my wish list of things to do. I want to go ice skating in the park and see the huge Christmas tree in Times Square and shop!! DH has promised to take me one year - probably when we are old and grey because at the minute all our holiday money goes on WDW

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

Ohh you lucky so and so.
I'd love to go,cant wait to hear how you all went on

 

[amandajim36]

I absolutley love new york ive beem 3 times. the red sightseeing buses r good we did this on our first day and it let us get our bearings. theres ice skating in central park or at the rockefeller center. Loads of broadway shows ive never managed to get to see a show but i will next time. times square is great especially at night the kids will love the toysrus in it its enormous and even has a ferris wheel. theres also the famous fao scwhartz toy shop. empire state building as well its right across the road from Macys. which is huge it would take u aday to go round there.
If ur wanting to shop i would deffo go to woodbury common u can get a bus there from port authority bus terminal and it has about 200 outlet stores it is amazing and the bargains r unbelievable.

as u can see i mostly shoppped lol. well i did the sightseing first time and shopped till i dropped al 3 times

 

[Pinklepurr361]

I've been fortunate enough to visit NYC 3 times - the most recent was in November 07. It is an amazing place to visit and I LOVE it!

Be prepared to walk your socks off for a start! Either that or master the Subway (quite straightforward really if you research it). You can buy a Metro card at the Subway entrance and swipe it at the machine at the turnstile. It can be a little intimidating the first time but it will save you energy and it's really cheap.

The sights are too numerous to mention all of them. If you have only a few days you have got to do the "must do" sights of Statue of Liberty and Empire State. Queues for the Statue of Liberty ferry are long so try and get there by 9am to get on the first ferry. Security is very tight, it is like airport style security to be prepared to remove almost everything from your person! Pre book tix on line for this and Empire State to beat some of the queues. Empire State Building is fab at sunset. Go up just as the light fades and watch the city light up - FAB!

5th Avenue is good for posh shops and Tiffany etc. Central Park is a lovely oasis of calm too. Try ice-skating on the ice rink there or at the Rockerfeller Center. Take a helicopter flight or bus tour of Manhattan.

On my most recent visit I went to the site of the World Trade Centre (still a very large hole). It was a very humbling and moving experience. There is an exhibition set up in a building overlooking the site which recounts the story of its building and the tragic events of 2001. Not one person left without shedding some tears, it was probably one of the most moving experiences I have ever had and I am glad I went.

In December it will be freezing so take well worn boots, scarves and gloves and hats. Don't forget to shop til you drop! Enjoy!

 

[natalielongstaff]

I absolutley love new york ive beem 3 times. the red sightseeing buses r good we did this on our first day and it let us get our bearings. theres ice skating in central park or at the rockefeller center. Loads of broadway shows ive never managed to get to see a show but i will next time. times square is great especially at night the kids will love the toysrus in it its enormous and even has a ferris wheel. theres also the famous fao scwhartz toy shop. empire state building as well its right across the road from Macys. which is huge it would take u aday to go round there.
If ur wanting to shop i would deffo go to woodbury common u can get a bus there from port authority bus terminal and it has about 200 outlet stores it is amazing and the bargains r unbelievable.

as u can see i mostly shoppped lol. well i did the sightseing first time and shopped till i dropped al 3 times

great ideas thank you x

 

[amandajim36]

also trip advisor forum is very good for new york info

 

[PoppyAnna]

I just typed a whole huge post and it disappeared - grrrrr.......

 

[PoppyAnna]

Empire state building – go up it twice. One day, one night. The view of the Chrysler building during the day is worth it.
Times Square – again, do day and night – no doubt the drain cover from “Enchanted” is now a tourist attraction. There is a huge Toy-R-US on Times sq too.
Central Park – The Bethedsa Fountain area is pretty (as seen in Enchanted)as is the Alice in Wonderland status playground – although popular with Toddlers! You will also be able to ice skate at the time you are going too.
Rockafella centre – for the ice skating too.
Statue of Liberty. You can also take the Ferry to Ellis Island – entry point for all immigrants in times gone by – really fascinating.
Brooklyn Bridge and South Street Seaport – S.S.Seaport is a glorified Mall with shops, bars and street entertainment. When I last visited is was the only location of Abercrombie and Fitch in NYC .
U.S.S Intrepid. I thought of Matt for this one. Although under refurbishment at the mo this Aircraft carrier should be back in place on the Hudson for your visit – this thing is massive and has tons of aircraft on it, you can climb in the cockpits and all sorts – a little boys dream (my DH loved it back in 2002 ).
Grand Central Station (fab Oyster bar too) – Why would I want to visit a train station I hear you say? Just stand there, stare and take it all in. A beautiful building.
Don't forget to take a ride in a yellow cab.

We visited ground zero in Feb 2002 and it was still very raw with family members still flocking there putting pictures on the railings. It's a personal choice to visit or not.

Shopping
Barneys New York
Macys (great for gifts)
Saks 5th Avenue (great for gifts too)
NEVER liked Bloomingdales
Tiffany
Niketown (great for sporty kids)
FAO Shwartz
Toys R Us

You are aware that Disney's production of The Little Mermaid is on Broadway at the mo? On ticketmaster the tickets only go up to the end of October but that doesn't mean it will end then - just keep an eye on it - I would love to take DD's for christmas.

Museums
Guggenheim
Metropolitan Museum of Art (my fave)

I was looking at my photos writing this - I want to go back...

 

[londondude]

Newyork newyork, what a place the best way to see new york is to walk and use the subway, But one bit of advice , the only place to shop is woodberry common WOW what a place bargins bargins every label you can think of and all at very cheap prices, http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/directions.asp?id=7

https://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/booking.asp?action=ProductDetail&productId=1062

The bus takes about a hour from newyork and its well worth it

same outlet mall as orlando but on a much larger scale

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Have a great time...im very jealous lol!

 

[Chilly]

Be prepared to walk a lot!

 

[UKDEB]

A bit late, I know, but as this isn't a WDW/Florida trip, I'm going to pop you over to UK Community, Nat.

 

[tennisfan]

Don't do what we did, got out of the hotel and started walking, it was only about 12 blocks later we realised we were going in the wrong direction

Taxi are quite cheap & an easy way to get round. I don't know if it the same in other states but the taxi driver need 2 streets given when you want to got somewhere, for example our hotel was Lexington Ave, East 51st street. I think its due to most roads being one way.

I would recommend going to the Rockafella Centre to see the Christmas Tree. Definately take a water taxi as that is an experience. Also if you need transport to/from the airport arrange this through your hotel as we did going back to the airport & it was cheaper and more comfy

The USS Intrepid is a great museum too, my BIL wanted to do this & I thought it was going to be boring but I was wrong. Its amazing the size of their aircraft carriers. I'm not sure if its still there but in 2004 Concorde was house along side the Intrepid.

I need to go back soon as I still have loads to see.

Century 21 is a great shop which sells designer goods at discount prices