Anything & Everything New York (PART 2) - [please search thread before posting]

PearlJam

Having discovered this thread a few days ago, I can tell you that there hasn't been a lot of work done while I've been making my way through all 147 pages!! Many tips and recommendations have been taken on board, maybe too many!

Anyway, about a month ago I booked a 5-night trip to New York City for myself and my mum. We've wanted to go for years and had always envisaged going November/December time to see the Xmas lights but I just had the urge to get it done sooner and I've arranged for us to go the last week of March 2010. We're flying with Continental, direct from Belfast to Newark, NJ and we're staying at Hotel Sofitel which is on 44th Street if memory serves.

I appreciate markymoo's comments that one shouldn't stick too stringently to an itinerary but with it being our first time (maybe our only time) I think there are too many things we should see/do that a plan is necessary. If we get to go again in the future then we can approach it differently, being a bit more leisurely and going to the less-frequented areas.

The only thing I've booked prior to departure is our trip to Liberty Island because I want to go up to the crown. As for other attractions, best to wait and see the weather conditions and see how hectic things get without worrying about being somewhere at a specific time. What I do need to do is to make a list of the places we want to visit or eat in and then plan things so we're not going back and forth between areas when we could be killing two birds with one stone.

So far we want to see/visit

Downtown Loop bus tour to get our bearings
Rockefeller Center + Top Of The Rock
Central Park
Flatiron Building
Times Square
Statue of Liberty
Walk across Brooklyn Bridge (maybe day and night)
NY Waterway 90-minute cruise
Ghostbusters firehouse (for me)
Apple store on 5th Avenue (that's for me too)

and eat at

Tribeca Grill (I think a treat is only right and proper)
Reade Street Pub & Kitchen
Heartland Brewery
Brunch at 230 Fifth
Cheesecake at Junior's

and do a wee bit of shopping too, I'd guess!

It all looks straightforward but we'll see how it pans out once we get there. I'll be keeping my eye on this thread until we go, see if anything else needs to be added to the list.

Thanks for "listening".

randomtask_2

@PearlJam (love that band btw)

from just looking at your list of things to do/places to eat, there are some obvious pairings to kill the proverbial 2 birds that come to mind...

* The Apple Store on 5th Ave is opposite the south eastern entrance to Central Park
* Flat Iron building is very near 230 5th Ave
* Times Sq and Rockafeller / Top of the Rock are close by
* I'd combine Brooklyn Bridge with the visit to the original Juniors on Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn (the walk can build up or work off the cheesecake)
* Ghostbusters firehouse is just down the road from the Tribeca Grill

wept

lowrig wrote: »

Hi all, I'm off to New York in 10 days - woo! Have planned an itinerary, and just wondered/hoped if y'all could share any thoughts:

Saturday
Arrive at Newark at 1.15pm J
Empire State building
Times Square
Sunday
9am Central Park
Pick up RCMH tickets
Rockefeller Centre, Top of the Rock
Shopping
7pm Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular
Monday
9am South Street Seaport – Broadway tickets & look around
Ferry to SoL and Ellis Island
Wall St & Ground Zero/Century 21
7pm Broadway
Tuesday
9am Check out
Shopping
Leave city at 3pm for 7.15 flight L

Hi Lowrig

We queued up at South St Seaport for tickets to Broadway show (Hairspray-fantastic) the booths opened at 10 but the queues were pretty long by then so getting there at 9 is a good plan.
Also just round the corner you have the A&F discount shop and can take it in turns to go and look at the most beautiful shop assistants you will ever see - stunning !

HGLTsuperstar

Welcome home Cas - my first trip to NYCX and staying at Hotel Beacon is just 30 days away!!!

HGLTsuperstar

lowrig wrote: »

Hi all, I'm off to New York in 10 days - woo! Have planned an itinerary, and just wondered/hoped if y'all could share any thoughts:

Saturday
Arrive at Newark at 1.15pm J
Empire State building
Times Square
Sunday
9am Central Park
Pick up RCMH tickets
Rockefeller Centre, Top of the Rock
Shopping
7pm Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular
Monday
9am South Street Seaport – Broadway tickets & look around
Ferry to SoL and Ellis Island
Wall St & Ground Zero/Century 21
7pm Broadway
Tuesday
9am Check out
Shopping
Leave city at 3pm for 7.15 flight L

Couple of points about Monday:
Many shows have Monday night off but if you do get tickets for something, then you are at risk of clock-watching all day to make sure you get back in time. Now that may be fine but the ferry queues can sometimes be horrendous and, I would imagine, it can be very easy to lose track of time in Century 21 (as I plan to).
We have tickets for the Crown on the Sunday of our trip, to be followed by Century 21 and Ground Zero, so are doing Broadway on the Friday and Saturday nights (have got tickets already through Broadwaybox - have a look there and save the time standing in the queues at TKTS)

HGLTsuperstar

Kenny_Powers wrote: »

Ive never been NYE but i have it on good authority that NYE in Vegas is the busiest time of the year - Everything will be open.

Vegas? Wrong thread perhaps?

PearlJam

Many thanks randomtask - that helps a lot.

randomtask wrote: »

@PearlJam (love that band btw)

And why wouldn't you?

randomtask wrote: »

I'd combine Brooklyn Bridge with the visit to the original Juniors on Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn (the walk can build up or work off the cheesecake)

I tried to look on Google Maps to see how to get to Junior's in Brooklyn but the connection in work is pooh. I'll give it a go when I get home. Have you been to it and if so is it easily reached?

Cheers

cas-kitt

HGLTsuperstar wrote: »

Welcome home Cas - my first trip to NYCX and staying at Hotel Beacon is just 30 days away!!!

Thanks HGLTsuperstar:D I am sure you will enjoy your trip just as much as we did, Hotel Beacon was perfect for us nice area uws (not to much hustle and bustle) like the Times sq area, but still within easy reach via the subway if wanted, shawn the young doorman was very helpful with directions etc and Ray the conciege(dont know if i spelt this right) was relly helpful to,

Have a great trip and let us know how it went

Cas

randomtask_2

PearlJam wrote: »

Many thanks randomtask - that helps a lot.



And why wouldn't you?



I tried to look on Google Maps to see how to get to Junior's in Brooklyn but the connection in work is pooh. I'll give it a go when I get home. Have you been to it and if so is it easily reached?

Cheers

Not been myself, but it's about 1km walk from the base of the bridge.

twinkler

Evening all,

Im off to NYC in just 6 weeks for the first time with my husband.

I believe ive organised as much as i can other than transfers to and from the airport over there.

Im looking at getting a quote from Carmel & Dial 7 however my question is this...

My flight leaves JFK to come back home at 8.55pm, how early do i need to be at the airport for? Im wanting to book the transfers soon and am not sure what time to arrange collection from the hotel? (we are staying at Hotel 373 on fifth avenue)

I dont think it will be as difficult when we arrive, we are due to land at JFK at 12.25pm and i was thinking of arranging the car to meet us at the airport at around 1.30pm??? is that wishful thinking (with regards to immegration and all)or quite realistic do you think?