Everything & Anything New York City

KarenG

janajay wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I wonder if anyone would be so kind as to cast their eyes over my itinerary for a visit from Saturday 27th October to Friday 3rd November?

I feel like I've gone slightly cross-eyed with all the research and planning I've been doing. Reason is, I'm taking my two sons on my own to NY for the first time (for any of us). I'd really appreciate any more hints and tips as I regularly read through this forum and have found it invaluable. Boys are 9 and 11. Bookish, into science, history, Pokemon (!) Star Wars, Lego. We are all fit and able to walk miles.

Saturday
Land JFK 15.30.
Depending how tired we are, will either:
Air train and LIRR to Penn Station, walk three blocks to hotel
OR
Cab from outside JFK to hotel
(Thinking of this last one, for best first view of Manhattan as we drive in).

Other days (depending on weather)
Day 1

You've had some great advice already, so I'll just Add a couple if things. My daughter is Pokemon, Star Wars, Lego, science mad too so hopefully this will be helpful from that perspective.

She loved: Natural History Museum - we were in there for six hours and didn't see everything, lots of geeky space stuff to look at.

Toys R Us, Fao Schwartz, and the Nintendo Store (used to be Pokemon World and there are still a few Pokemon references remaining). She would have spent hours in here :eek:

Other favourites included a wander round Greenwich Village (we did our own food tour if sorts, having done a real one the year before we thought we'd just make up our own!); Staten Island Ferry; a few other touristy shops like Hershey World and M and M World (not keen myself but it's their holiday too, right?). She liked the lights at Time Square and found the Naked Cowboy unpleasant. Enjoyed Top of the Rock.

Happy to help if you want to ask anything specific :j

bleepandbooster

greenface wrote: »

More on this planet than any other .. NYC has its fair few . green SoL statues all over Battery Park. I took a photo of one and they put their hand out for a tip . I said "chase me" haha in a old duncan norvell tone .

No chance Greenie ............ I know where you have been :eek::eek::eek:

Cofion
David

madeinleeds

Hi all

Where would be the best sugestions for a self caterting appartment near Central Park? Was initially looking on Crashpadder - but there is little under 100 per night that has good reviews. Was hoping to find something around 80 per night.

Also - any flight sales due ? Noticed a 10% offer on BA Chase deal, but then realised it was US residents only :-(

Plan to visit 1st April to 11th April next year - 2 adults and 1 x 11 year old

All help welcome

M4RKM

madeinleeds wrote: »

Hi all

Where would be the best sugestions for a self caterting appartment near Central Park? Was initially looking on Crashpadder - but there is little under 100 per night that has good reviews. Was hoping to find something around 80 per night.

Also - any flight sales due ? Noticed a 10% offer on BA Chase deal, but then realised it was US residents only :-(

Plan to visit 1st April to 11th April next year - 2 adults and 1 x 11 year old

All help welcome

Unfortunately, Apartment Rentals in NYC are illegal if for less than 30 days.

You can look at a Apartment Hotel, but your budget is totally unrealistic, and you're not going to find accommodation for three for $80 or £80 a night (you haven't stated what currency you're searching in).

Beacon Hotel is on the UES near Central Park, A One-Bedroom Suite 1 King bed features one King bed in the bedroom, a separate living room with a pull-out sofa bed, a luxurious marble bathroom, and fully-equipped kitchenette, and this is $415 per night before taxes. (Taxes are around 15%)

A cheaper alternative is to get rid of the kitchen requirement, and also, staying near Central Park. The often recommended Country Inn & Suites in Long Island City, just over the river in Queens. This is currently showing at $155 per night for a 2 Queen Bed Room with Fridge and Microwave.

I honestly think that you need to be realistic with your budget and get somewhere legal and safe to stay.

M

malkie76

bb69 wrote: »

Nice
We tend to leave at 1500 for a 1940 flight. Usually arrive just before 1600 or even quicker! Enjoy the delights of the lounge...!!
When are you going?

Second weekend in November. Thanks for your help on taxi timings
We've never been to the Concorde Room in T7 at JFK, so we are really looking forward to it.

If anyone else has comments on immigration (see my post #4999 on the last page), I'd appreciate it!

goneshopping

Annie021063 wrote: »

''''drum roll''''
we have finally booked our NY trip
7 nights from 25th December
virgin from LHR to JFK
Intercontinental Barclay 1 bd suite with sofa bed in living area
flight upgrade to premium
£5810
x2 adults x2 teens
very happy, now need to plan our trip and pack!!!!!
Any tips from this point onwards???

Hi Annie, I stayed here a few years ago and it's lovely!! Enjoy your trip. I love December in New York!!

My only tip is to plan a list of what you want to do and have a good idea before you go where things are.

I went for a week last December with my mum - although we knew before we went roughly what we would like to do we didn't have an itinery planned out other than for the 1st day.

Each night we ticked off what we had done that day and picked what we wanted to do the next day.

Also don't try and cram too much in each day - as you travel around you will see places you want to spend time in.

Savvy_Sue

malkie76 wrote: »

If anyone else has comments on immigration (see my post #4999 on the last page), I'd appreciate it!

You were asking 'how long'? I'm pretty sure the answer is 'it depends'. If you arrive just after 3 jumbo jets from the middle east / Africa / anywhere else really, you'll be at the end of the line. If you arrive just before 3 jumbo jets, you'll whizz straight through. Given that planes can be delayed at any time, I don't really think it's predictable.

But if you're booking a car and worrying about that, don't. They'll give you a phone number, or tell you which of the special phones to use, you'll phone and say "we're here, made a booking", and they'll turn up.

gem3641 wrote: »

My only tip is to plan a list of what you want to do and have a good idea before you go where things are.

I went for a week last December with my mum - although we knew before we went roughly what we would like to do we didn't have an itinery planned out other than for the 1st day.

Each night we ticked off what we had done that day and picked what we wanted to do the next day.

Also don't try and cram too much in each day - as you travel around you will see places you want to spend time in.

I think that's very good advice. I could, quite frankly, have done without a morning in a guitar shop, and a couple of hours in an electronics shop, but it kept the boys happy. I can still complain I wasn't allowed to go to Tiffany's or Macy's or anywhere good like that, which would have kept me happy, but maybe one day DH will take me back again WITHOUT boys who want to buy guitars (don't get me started on how to bring a guitar home!) and look at electronics.

joe_canada

Hi,

Anyone been to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn? Looks v. Easy to get to from TS, just thought I'd check regarding the surrounding area, safe for us tourists at night (I'm sure it will be but I post here with hope of reassurance to alleviate the OHs worries)

Thanks in advance

M4RKM

Any arena with 1000's of people going to an event is going to be safe, but like any big city, or any big crowds just be aware of what you're up to.

malkie76

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

You were asking 'how long'? I'm pretty sure the answer is 'it depends'. If you arrive just after 3 jumbo jets from the middle east / Africa / anywhere else really, you'll be at the end of the line. If you arrive just before 3 jumbo jets, you'll whizz straight through. Given that planes can be delayed at any time, I don't really think it's predictable.

I've been to the US hundreds of times, and lived there for a considerable period of time too. I'm fully aware of the variability of US immigration. I was however asking if anyone has had any recent experience in arriving in T7 at 7pm, and were first off the plane. Thanks for your help though - I appreciate your response!