Trip to New York

[KayleeUK]

We are adding on 3 day's to our WDW holiday and staying in New York

Really I am after ANY advice you can give at all, what are must see things as we won't have long in NY. Obviously I like shopping - but that is not primarily what this trip will be about

Also any recommendations on hotel's (not too expensive) ?

Help

 

[jockey]

Hi Kaylee

We are going ia New York for our next trip too!!! I good Hotel that's not too expensive is the thirty thirty - I have not stayed here myself but know lots of people who have!

What airport are you flying into? If you don't want to use trains I would recommend supper shuttle for airport transfers. If you are flying into JFK you can queue for up to an hour for a yellow cab to Manhatten!

Things not to miss:

Helicopter tour www.libertyhelicopters,com
Empire state building
A meal in little italy
Sandwiches at the Carnegie Deli
Ticket booth at times square for cheap show tickets
Take a trip on the staten island ferry for a look at the statue of liberty
The FANTASTIC shopping!!!

 

[jockey]

Here's a ling to the hotel I mentioned
http://www.thirtythirty-nyc.com/index.html

 

[mandymouse]

Ooh Kaylee & Annmarie

I'm sooo jealous, I'd love to visit New York, I've never been but want to say have a fun time planning your trip.

mandymouse

 

[Verity Chambers]

Hi Kaylee. I'm sure you will love NY, we did! We stayed at the Milford plaza which was quite cheap, but in a great location, just 2 mins from Times Square. www.milfordplaza.com . The cheaper hotels are all apparently of a similar standard (don't expect too much!).Must dos for us were the bus trip (with this we got off at lots of famous locations, including Ground zero and staten Island ferry, going past statue of liberty). Going up the empire state building was the highlight of our trip. We also loved spending time in central park and just generally wandering the streets of NY, taking everything in.

Let us know if you have any more questions!

Love vxxx

 

[KayleeUK]

Thank you Jockey and Verity I am going to start all of my research on this soon - you know how I like to have a plan I may be back with more questions

 

[Miffy2003]

No advice as I haven't been but how fantastic

 

[Madjock]

No I've never been either but did put it on my Xmas list so who knows Very excited for you, sounds like a great trip just got even better

Annmarie

 

[WDWfan uk]

That's exciting Kaylee !

We stayed at the Courtyard Manhattan Midtown East (866 Third Ave ) - good location and good size rooms!

I would also consider the hotel where Astrid stayed and recommended - the Grand Hyatt Hotel, next door to Grand Central Station! (You have to visit the station!)

There are loads of past threads on this CB, full of good tips on sightseeing but naturally the Empire State is a must - I just love this building. Visit early before the line gets very long and it's crowded at the top, and also visit in the evening.

To really see Manhattan properly I'd recommend a combination of open top buses and walking - we found sitting in a car (and mostly in traffic jams) very frustrating. You simply cannot look at skyscrapers etc properly from the inside of a car! The open top bus tour - you have a commentary so you know what you are looking at, and it will take you to and through all the 'must sees' - the various districts of Manhattan, and you can get on and off anywhere. They do not pass close to Ground Zero - although MANY tourists visit, it strikes the wrong chord for it to be considered a tourist attraction of course, and thus the bus does not go near. We walked there from Battery Park- this was in 2002 just a year after, and I personally found it profoundly upsetting but something I felt compelled to do.

The Staten Island Ferry is free and we were able to remain on the ferry when it arrived at Staten Island and bag a place on the railings so that we could film our approach to NY harbour, and the Statue Of Liberty as we passed by.

We had little time to shop and when we did we chose the wrong place - we went to Macey's and were very underwhelmed. Wish we'd gone to Bloomingdales instead!

Central Park - how can you not take a walk in Central Park? There are horsedrawn carriages just opposite the Plaza Hotel opp Central Park if you feel so inclined.

NY also has LOTS for culture buffs! The Metropolitan Museum of Art is fantastic.

I'd suggest looking at this site as it has a compact list of some of the places you can visit and some hotels too :-
http://www.hiltonfamilynewyork.com/things-to-do.php

 

[tennisfan]

Lucky you. I went to NY at Easter. We stayed in the Metropolitan on Lexington Ave, Bloomingdales is just down the street. Not bad hotel, private bathroom & fridge in room. If your looking for good deals on hotels try booking with www.octopustravel.co.uk Very cheap.

I would advise not staying in a hotel on Times Square as it is very busy & noisy late at night.

Cheapest way to get around is by taxi. You have to try the Water Taxis' whilst your there. If you go to the USS Intrepid museum they house a BA concorde. Strawberry Fields in Central park is nother place to go.

 

[MsPennieLane]

Congrats Kaylee We're going for a week in January as Virgin's sale prices were too good for us to refuse We've booked to stay at the Red Roof Inn, quite close to the Empire State building: Red Roof Inn

I'm so excited I've never been before either. Empire State Building and newly opened World of Disney store is a must though

Anz

 

[uktigger]

oh kaylee how lucky are you i am soo jealous

eve

 

[tiggerlady]

What season are you going if its before April then you can ice skate at the Rockerfella Plaza (it is so much fun ) we also went to Madison Square gardens for the ice hockey (bit different to seeing a show) also the best way of getting around is the Apple bus tours we did all three Uptown,Downtown and the best was the evening tour they take you across Brooklyn bridge and the view of NY skyline from Brooklyn is wonderful.
Also we enjoy shopping at a pier shopping mall, when you do the tour get off at the Brooklyn bridge stop here you can walk up to ground Zero do some shopping at the pier (it is like a small shopping mall) their is a food court and you can eat outside overlooking Brooklyn bridge. Also you can walk to battery park from here and then catch the Staten island ferry (FREE) this takes you past the Statue of Liberty and the view as you come back to Manhatten is awsome.

For hotels we stayed at The Salisbury it is I block from cental park near the Plaza hotel, a nice walk down to TImes Square and not far from Fao Schwartz (toy store featured in Tom Hanks "Big") it was nice and clean (not Luxury ) it had tea & coffee microwave and a fridge, so quite adequate foe a few days.

Also the best meal we had believe it or not was Planet Hollywood in Times Square.

 

[KayleeUK]

Shirley - Thanks for those great tips Carraige rides sounds gorgeous, definately want to go to central park.

tennisfan - thanks for that link, Oh yes I have read about the Strawberry fields in Central Park

Anz - Yeah you get to go before me! I want a full trip report with tons of piccies please - especially one with you and the Naked Cowboy

tiggerlady - Going April 21st so will miss the ice skating, thanks for your tips though!