Everything & Anything New York City

Here goes. These are honest opinions, my own, but are here to make your holiday better. Hopefully..

bob_mushroom wrote: »

to those helpful people here.... after reading all the posts I would like a little advice as to whether the following itinerary is do-able, realistic and includes all for a first time visitor..

Staying at the Westin Times Square for 4 nights

Day 1
Arrive airport approx 1400
Taxi to Hotel and unpack
Taxi down to Brooklyn Bridge to step on (not walk right across)
Walk from Brooklyn Bridge to Ground Zero then to Century 21
Subway back to Times Square - Do the Square at night and grab something to eat - anyone some great places to eat in Times Square or just off.

I'm hoping you're factoring that in after your flight lands at midday. You have to leave around 1 hour to clear immigration, and an hour to get through to your hotel. Fingers crossed.

I would actually walk across the BB, it is something that is easy to do, but why are you getting a taxi? Just hop on the subway, and you will be there quicker. It only takes about 30 - 40 minutes walking the bridge, so I really would head into Brooklyn, and have a walk across. Jet Lag will be catching up with you, so this at least gives you something to do

Locals don't call it Ground Zero, I really wish guide books would stop calling it that too. It's the World Trade Center site, and it really is just a building site. You can't see anything thanks to the really high hoardings all the way around, however, what a lot of people recommend is that you visit St Pauls Chapel, which is where the heroes who were rescuing the injured under all that rubble rested. That is much more poignant and meaningful than a building site.

Come September 12th 2011 however, the Trade Center Memorial Garden will be open, and people can pay their respects their too.

These really are not tourist attractions IMO, but somewhere to just remember what happened.

Subway back to Times Square from here is easy, but if you're wanting food, then you're in a much better area. If you knew what kinda food you wanted, I could easily direct you. It'll be cheaper and better than what a lot of places are like in Times Square. However, if you insist, get over onto 9th Ave, then you'll have a better choice there. The only good place that anyone reccomends on here is Virgils BBQ, It comes in a close second to the best BBQ in the city (that prize goes to Fette Sau in Brooklyn), but it does top the best place IN Times Square to eat.

bob_mushroom wrote: »

Day 2
Walk to Museum of modern Art
Walk to Trump Tower via Tiffanys
FAO Schwartz
tram to Boathouse Loeb for lunch
Walk to Strawberry Field and Dakota
Carriage to Guggenheim
Top of the Rock
Evening Meal recommendations for this evening?

I think things are a bit mixed up here. Walk to MoMA is fine, but it is easier to do Tiffanys, FAO, then Trump Tower, as that's the opposite side of Central Park.

I'm unsure what this Tram is so I'd double check that.

Are you sure you want to do a carriage ride? The horses are not treated well, and also, you'll have to walk all the way back down from Strawberry Field, to FAO where you've been and to go up to the Guggenheim on a horse and carriage, will take a considerable amount of time, and at $50 for 20 minutes, it will cost a small fortune. I'd just walk across CP from where you are, and you'll be near enough at the Guggenheim.

It might be a bit overloaded this day. factor in 3 hours for MoMA, and 3 hours for Guggenheim, you might actually struggle to get everything in. However, TOTR is a good call, as you can get joint MoMA and TOTR tickets saving a few dollars.

What food do you want for your evening meal, and how far do you want to travel. Montes in Greenwich Village is a great italian place I've recommended in the past, and had a lot of thanks for doing so, as it isn't touristy, and it is great food. Put that in your bucket list.

bob_mushroom wrote: »

Day 3
ESB at 8am
Subway to Staten Island Ferry - view Statue of Liberty then back again
Wall Street
NY Stock Exchange
Trinity Church
Find Ghostbusters Firehouse
Intrepid and Sea Air Museum
Circle Line Night Cruise
Need another great restaurant

Good day overall, can't fault it really, Just add on the charging bull near wall street, (I dislike the overpriced cruises, so really consider if you need to do it), and I'd bump up Greenwich Village and SoHo into this day, as what you really have on your list fills you up only to about 2pm. So from where you are, you could walk up Chinatown/LES to Greenwich Village. There is loads of great places to wander, and to leave it to your last day means you'll be clock watching, and hoping you get back to your hotel on time. I'd do last minute shopping on the last day.

Oh, Food? Budget? Impossible to recommend really without them - How about Johns of Bleecker Street for traditional NYC Pizza/

bob_mushroom wrote: »

Day 4
Shopping Day.....
Macy's
Bloomingdales
Saks
Grand Central Station
Chrysler Byilding
possible helicopter Tour
Broadway Show/TV Show

Have you got your tickets booked for a Broadway Show or a TV Show recording? get on that now if not.

Enjoy the Shopping, rearranging in a logical order, Macy's, Grand Central, Chrysler, Saks 5th Ave, then Bloomingdales, means you're not doubling back on yourself.

helicopter? Meh! an expensive luxury, but if you've saved a few hundred by not doing the carriage ride, then go for it. They are very short, and you can get some great views, by heading to East River State Park in Brooklyn, if you want a better photo opportunity IMO.

bob_mushroom wrote: »

Day 5
Grenwich Village
China Town
Little Italy
Soho
Depart for the airport at 3

Need to fit in for food -
katz Deli
Carnegie Deli

Anything missing???

I am a planner and need to understand if this is a realistic plan or if there are any other suggestions. I would really appreciate those in the know to share their wisdom.

Thanks in advance

Bob

I'm in a bit of a rush now, heading to work, but All in all you've not got a bad Itin, reasonably logical, adding in the delis when you're in those areas is the best option, However, you're solely doing a holiday in Manhattan. New York City has loads to offer in areas of Brooklyn, and Queens, and with a bit of shuffling things around, you could easily spend an afternoon in Park Slope and Prospect Park, of ditch that expensive Helicopter flight, and get some photos from Williamsburg, and see the hipsters just crawling out of bed. Fette Sau or one of many other restaurants are there too..

Something to consider.


M

waxxy wrote: »

thanks phatbear just ordered the spiderman tickets i kow some havent gave it goo reviews but i dont believe in reviews anyway..ive seen shows which had rave reviews and i was bored stiff for 3 hours !! im a massive spiderman fan and the whole reason i want to goto new york is ive been a spiderman fan for over 35 years !! so i wanna see were spiderman twatted green goblin lol many thanks you saved me a fortune and we got good seats too in the orchestra seats i love those seats better than balcony seats i got two tickets for $179 threww that site you gave me but when i checked on another site it was almost $400 for the same seats !!

This show is still in previews, and they're still changing things around. Just last week they changed the ending and spiderman was left dangling in mid air for 10 minutes. Fact doesn't not make a review, it just means it's damn awful.

Also, for this theatre, it is said that the balcony seats are the best, as the aerial stunts and f ups that seem to happen daily, are easier to see, as they're in front of you, rather than above you.

Fingers crossed they iron everything out though.