Top Tips for New York please.....

[slinky101]

Hi, on xmas day we booked for New York For my 40th Birthday , going for 5 days 0n 8th Novemeber, we have booked the hop on and off sightseeing bus and helicoptor flight on the big 4 0 day!
I am in deep planning mode at the moment and cant wait!!!!!!!
I am a shopoholic and will be going with DH and DD's 11 and 9.

So my question is.....for those who have been before, what are your top tips and must do's? I realise that we cant so it all in five days but will have a good go! It will be planned with florida military precision

 

[chrismoo]

I'll be watching this thread with interest.

I'm off to New York in April

Half of me would have been just as happy with a trip to DLRP though

 

[slinky101]

I love DLRP but have been waiting to go to new york for soooooo long, a 40th birthday trip is the only way I can justify the expense really, as its costing more than 2 weeks in florida in may! there is so much that I want to do there and I know we cant possibly fit it all in, its a bit like planning florida for the first time and wanting to do everything!

 

[emily1982]

We went in October 02, for 6 days. We managed to do most of the sites using the buses which were really good. I would say wear layers as it can get cold on those buses.

When we went we managed to do a fair bit of shopping, although i hear their is an outlet you can visit and i know virgin do trips there, apparently its really good. Also ice skating at the rockofellar centre is kool, if your family is into that sort of thing.

I would say my fav part of the trip, part from going to see the lion king and shopping was probably going to Ellis Island. You reach it by ferry which also stops off at the statue of liberty, which we didnt get off to see as there isnt much to do. It makes for a nice day out.

We brought a guide book, it was something like the top 10 of everything in new york, and showed u top 10 of restaurants, shopping etc, really useful for reading before we went.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Going to the top of the Empire State Building is a must - you wont believe the view from there: New York is an amazing city and seeing it from that angle gives a unique perspective. It is also incredibly interesting to read, on the way up, about how the building was built - absolutely amazing feat of engineering...

Boo

 

[slinky101]

Hi, thanks for the tips so far, we plan to go to ellis island and up the empire state building, I was reading about a ride/ show thing up the empire state building sounds a bit like soarin? anyone been?

I have seen the trip to the outlet shopping with virgin, as much as i love outlets, i was going to give it a miss, as we are in florida in may, and will go to all the outlets, also I thought we couldnt really afford the time to go to the NY outlet, although if its fab, well i might have to rethink!
i can always find room in my plan for bargains!!!!!!!!

thanks for the tips so far, keep em coming

 

[ely3857]

I Would definately go and see a show. If you dont want to book in advance you can get cut-price tickets from TKTS on Times Square, start qeing about 14.00 (they open at 15.00) for shows that evening.



Jodie

 

[slinky101]

Hi Jodie, I looked into going to see Lion King but the tickets came up as £75 each I suppose its not that much but there are four of us and i thought my £300 would be better spent on something else. or am i just being tight

 

[ely3857]

Hi Jodie, I looked into going to see Lion King but the tickets came up as £75 each I suppose its not that much but there are four of us and i thought my £300 would be better spent on something else. or am i just being tight

Not tight at all, when there are four of you it does add up. The tickets from TKTS do save you money but not nessesarily loads, depends on which show etc and if you leave it to the last minute youmay not get the show you want. I havnt seen The Lion King but those who have would say it was worth it.



Jodie

 

[slinky101]

Thanks Jodie, might try TCKTS one day see what they have, otherwise I will keep looking!

 

[Hilary]

I had three nights in NY in October with DD (22) and the surprise highlight of my trip was the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

We went because it was on DD's 'must do' list (it wasn't somewhere I would have planned to go unless we had lots of spare time), and I was just blown away by how many well-known pieces were in there. I'm certainly no art expert but practically every corner we turned I'd spot something I recognised by an artist even I had heard of!

Of course, it may not fit the bill for your family but, if you're at all tempted, do it!

 

[KayleeUK]

What a lovely trip you have planned Claire

 

[slinky101]

Thanks Hilary, will look into the MOMA, i would like to do a museum but hadnt looked at which one, my DD 10 loves art so it might be a good pick.
A similar thing happened to me in paris, i dont know much about art etc but went to the musee d,orsay reluctantly and loved it, there was a picture I recognised around every corner.!

 

[Ware Bears]

Sounds fabulous Claire ~ DH and I would love to go to New York one day.

 

[suei]

We went to NY in 2000 when our boys were 10 & 7, and a visit to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab was a big hit - www.wondertechlab.com/.
A trip on the Circle Line ferry is good. One of their trips goes right round Manhattan but takes about 3 hours. Circle Line also do one just to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Our 2 loved going to the Statue of Liberty. The views from there and from the ferry are fantastic. We went when you could still climb up into her crown. It's an unbelievably small area inside there - we had to crouch down to see out the windows!
We all enjoyed going up the Empire State. We went up at night, and also during the day. Get there early in the morning to avoid the worst of the queues. The views both times were amazing.
Don't miss eating in a diner - the Cheyenne Diner is not far from the Empire State, and has recently been in the Tropicana juice TV adverts!
www.nycvisit.com/ & www.nyctourist.com/ have loads more information.
Hope this helps, but whatever you end up doing, you're bound to have a great time. I've been twice so far, but still want to go back again.

 

[juliebro]

We went in October for 6 days for our son's 18th birthday and had a fabulous time. We went up the Empire State building - but to be perfectly honest, we found the view from the 'Top of the Rock' at the Rockefeller centre was better. Just before dusk is a good time to go up there - it's great to see the city light up around you.

There's a TKTS booth at the south end of Manhattan that's a lot less busy than the one in Times Square - and the sightseeing bus stops nearby to it.

I highly recommend the Carnegie Deli - the sandwiches have to be seen to be believed - and there's a great burger place in Madison Square Park called the Shake Shack. And another great burger place is the Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridien hotel.

Plenty of layers is the way to dress - and hats are definitely needed on the open top tourbus.

Macy's was good for shopping - and you get 11% off as a tourist if you go to their guest services and get a coupon. Also there is no tax on clothing under $100!

We didn't go to Ellis Island or the Statue of Liberty - but sailed past them on the free Staten Island ferry. Saved us time and money that way.

Helicopter trip was great - we did it as a surprise for DS - and also arranged a stretch limo to take us back to JFK. Both memorable experiences.

Grand Central terminal is worth a visit - the interiors are spectacular. Also great to go in the Public Library. Both locations for many famous films.

We also took a ride on the subway - just for the experience. Fast, clean and cheap.

Have a wonderful time - we did. Would love to go back soon.

Julie

 

[slinky101]

Thanks a lot, Julie and Suei, fantastic tips, I had read about the rockerfellar view and its great to have first hand retaurant recommendations.

thanks again both

 

[crazygirlscotland]

I have been to New York twice now and my favourite thing to do was a trip to the UN it was fantastic. I also loved Century 21 if you love designer bargains but be prepared to search through loads of racks.

We took the Big Apple tours all over Manhattan it was fab.

Get your "bargain" Rolex's at China Town and have coffee in Little Italy

I want to go back

 

[Tink78]

When we went we had a pretty full schedule but still had so much fun.

We did Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, visited China Town, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Central Park (inc a horse and carriage ride), Central Park Zoo, FAO Swarts (which is now closed down), 5th Avenue shops inc Tiffanys of course, we visited the Wall St Bull, Ground Zero and the little chapel across the street which was like a mini museum shrine to 9/11, got the subway to Brooklyn and then walked back across the Brooklyn Bridge towards Manhattan (So many people do it the other way - but believe me, it's much better doing it this way as you get to look at Manhattan the whole way across rather than Brooklyn!).

We didn't do a Heli tour or bus tour, we mostly walked or got the subway.

We also went to Times Square for drinks one evening and also watched Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.

Phew. We did some other stuff but I really can't remember now.

If you need any tips, let me know, I did lots of reading up about it before we went.
Pls send me a PM if you need help.

Have fun with the planning.
x

 

[jns]

we done the World yatch Dinner Cruise great way to see sky line of Manhattan
we got the 3 day bus ticket but only used it on one day
used the subway after that so much quicker
if I were to do it again I would just get the one tour ticket on the main tour

went up the Empire State building at night and 'Top of the Rock' at the Rockefeller centre during the day loved them both

the outlets are the same as Florida so I would give them a miss
Take a trip in a Yellow cab

and most of all take good walking shoes
and enjoy yourself

There was a good trip report on the UK trip board a while back
and I have a small one done too there
Any Queestion just ask