Everything & Anything New York City

Philippa36

People like to go to NYC for Thanksgiving - great sales and the great Macy's Day parade but very cold, New Year - to see the ball drop (not my idea of fun to be crushed and spend the night freezing and not able to see anything & its very expensive!). Summer - because its warm. Any other time, because the flights were cheap? We're going just after Easter because its my birthday.

We got our flights yesterday - 4 weeks before we go! Not exactly recommended but we got a great deal. I always buy the flights and accomodation separately then I get flight times that are suitable and my choice of hotel in the area I want to stay.

Get a really good guide book or check out Trip Advisor or read this thread to see all the things that you personally want to do when you're there (although the Empire State/TOTR/Statue of Liberty/Times Square/Central Park is a good start). My choice would be go see a show, check out one of the many museums or galleries, a little shopping and a lot of wandering round! Oh and you can't beat a proper New York bar, away from the main tourist areas and a nice cold beer!

melli_2

Craig2108 wrote: »

Had a little search on what I'd like to find out but nothing too specific.
I'd like to go to New York. Is there a favourite season/time of the year that people like to visit New York?
I'd like to go to see what it has to offer. Empire state, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, and other places..
Would it be best booking flights seperate or going with a operator?
I've been on Virgin, having trips range from £600 to £1100 in either August or next January per person.
Hope to see some helpful replies as their seems to be a lot of experienced people on here

I've been in September 04; the tail end of hurricane Francis (I think) meant it rained...a lot over a couple of days but I remember it being quite warm, t-shirt and cardie weather.
August x2 my friend is a teacher so he can only go in the holidays, I wouldn't recommend it if you can't handle the heat (I can due to Maltese blood in my veins!) but it's heaven coming in off the street into air-con. If you do go in August make sure you drink lots and lots of fluids! I remember it raining once on my second August trip and the rain drops were huge!
April 09 was baking hot, but nowhere near as hot as August. I think it was some short of freak weather period but it was cool enough to be walking around yet still warm enough in the evenings to not need a cardie
Next trip is in June so I'm thinking it will be heading towards being rather warm again..I hope...

kaz0705

Craig2108 wrote: »

Had a little search on what I'd like to find out but nothing too specific.
I'd like to go to New York. Is there a favourite season/time of the year that people like to visit New York?

I've been three times: once in December, once in Feb (just returned) and once in July. Somehow, I manage to go in the extreme seasons! Both times in winter I've had snow so its been cooold. Although, with the winter we've had here, I was well prepared! July was extremely hot and very very muggy- no air, lots of humidity and trapped heat. I seem to remember sweating a lot! :eek:

For that reason, I'm planning on my next trip being in March/April/May. I've heard (on here, i think) that the most popular month is October- guess its the start of Christmas shopping whilst the weather's still fair.

I've always gone separately as I'm convinced they 'all in one' option is more expensive- i could be wrong though

There's loads of sightseeing advice on here but I found virtual tourist useful and the village voice.

Good luck!

Kaz

Lady_S

melli wrote: »

April 09 was baking hot, but nowhere near as hot as August. I think it was some short of freak weather period but it was cool enough to be walking around yet still warm enough in the evenings to not need a cardie

We were there in March 09 and it was quite nice. I did spend one day without a coat, although I did regret it when we were in the shade at points.Evenings were bitter though, and we needed coats/scarves/gloves.

Also been in April 08 and it was nice then, didn't need a coat other than the first day when it was very dank ( wet, but not raining, and really warm).

We are going for Thanksgiving this year, so hopefully it will be cold and we can wrap up like no ones business.

greenface

thanksgiving for us this year too
Mainly sightseeing and photo ops but weather was -7 in Feb 07 And that was not inc windchill (the cold hurt )you get extreams of weather from hhhhot too FFFFucfkreeeezzzzinnn

Anytime is a good time to visit NYC -IMO -HTH -FWIW
The money is my only reason stopping me going more

thatsfabulous

I'd love to go one thanksgiving. Have u been before over thanksgiving Lady S or Greenface? We left day before thanksgiving last year. I heared about 3 million people went to watch parade. Amazing! My friend was in NYC but missed it, dont ask Lol.

I think we'll be going early/mid November this year, would have liked to have gone later in November to see decorations again however cant because of work commitments, oh well. Just hope the Radio City Spectacular starts the same time as last year- 14th if not earlier so we get to see it.
Last year we went 19th and weather was lovely everyday, I even burnt my face whilst walking over brooklyn bridge one day the sun was so strong.

Philippa36

We got there the day before Thanksgiving and went to queue up at 8am - there was already a couple of lines in front of us waiting for the parade to start at 10.30!

It was amazing and definitely worth seeing - the clean-up afterwards was just as impressive - an hour after the parade finished the streets had been swept clean and you couldn't tell anything had happened that morning.

The sales the day after were insane though, there were lines round the block for the main stores. We went sightseeing that day, instead of shopping. It was absolutely freezing.

Lady_S

Never been for thanksgiving before, just getting close to making a decision on the hotel. Park Central had good deals the other day and they are mean't to have a parade view ( therefore no waiting in the cold) but, the hotel got iffy reviews so we didn't go for it.

PAUL7331

Im flying with CONTINENTAL from Birmingham on April fools day. Does anybody know how this flight is IFE wise?

PAUL7331

Does anybody know any any good companies, who run cheapish priced tours of the main attractions, like empire state, statue of liberty, ground zero etc, which we could do all in one hit? Like a day tour covering all of the biggest attractions?