Everything & Anything New York City

M4RKM

hornetsmad wrote: »

Where would I go about booking the ToTR and MoMA linked ticket? Is it worth doing both ToTR and ESB? Thanks again for all your help.

ToTR / MoMA linked ticket you get from the TOTR box office. Is it worth doing both? It's up to yourself really, below I've planned for both, but weather permitting really.

Anyway, because I can't sleep at all tonight, I've finally got around to working out this itinerary. It is difficult when you don't know and trying to gauge where things are, and how long they will take also add to difficulty when planning a good itinerary.

I personally don't like planning a shopping day. Shopping can be naturally added in when you're doing things in the area, otherwise you'll end up going somewhere specifically for shopping and then back again to see something.

Anyway, Arrive JFK at 1pm - Should be at the hotel by around 3pm. Earliest I ever plan anything for the first day is 4pm, so you've got a bit of time in the Hotel too.

Head into Times Square, get a feel for the area, and watch the bright lights. Head to Hells Kitchen and find something to eat for an evening meal. I don't think you really should plan on anything else. By 8pm you'll be feeling the effects of a long day, and ready to relax. (Get your Times Square shopping fix if you want!)

Friday - AM. Weather Dependent, I'd head straight to ToTR and go up and see NYC from up high, get some photos, and then head over to MoMA for a relaxing start to your Friday. From there, head up 5th Ave, and do FAO Schwartz and into Central Park. Lunch on the go.
PM Hop on Subway down to Grand Central Terminal, Walk around see Chrysler Building, UN Building, and then double back and shopping at Macy's.

Saturday - Downtown day. Get your 9/11 passes booked for this day, and head down in the morning. I've done this, and you get a sense of scale, you never can by watching it on TV.
Walk from 9/11 memorial down to Battery City Park, and onto the Staten Island Ferry. Head back into Manhattan straight away (I'm assuming that the Statue is still closed!).
Lunch - If you like beer and chicken wings, head up to Mudville 9 - that's my recommendation.
After, get subway across to Brooklyn and see DUMBO, the Brooklyn Bridge Park, and then walk back into Manhattan. Walk up and see the court steps (tv shows, think Law & Order), and then that's a constructive day complete.

Sunday - Metropolitan Museum of Art. This could take all day, depending how much you want to see. Personally, my brain gets museum numbness after around 3 hours, but lets meet in the middle, and say your morning is taken up by this activity. I'm not going to plan anything else for this day. Maybe a bit more walking around Central Park, maybe another visit through to Times Square. We've still got loads of days left, and we've done quite a bit. Relax, it is Sunday after all

Monday - AM - Empire State Building. If you don't want to pay the extra to have the queue jumping tickets, it's easy to go when there is no queue, which is first thing in the morning. Fresh Air, lovely morning views.. Head back to Lower Manhattan after this, and do your Federal Reserve Bank tour (shame it isn't open on Saturday!). Once you've done this, head up through Chinatown (i'm assuming you're walking this bit), and then into SoHo, Spend the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon shopping to your hearts content, and walking the cobble streets. I love this part of town, and spend much more time down here, than I do in Midtown these days. Back to the hotel, and drop off your bags, and maybe head over to Williamsburg for an evening meal, and some drinks, there are plenty of places here and you get to see a different side to NYC (Get the L train to Bedford Ave).

Tuesday - This, you have not planned, but I'm going to split your day in two, and hopefully, you'll see some things you wouldn't have thought of.

Firstly, head down to the HighLine in Chelsea, walk up above NYC, and soak up the atmosphere, Head all the way down, and walk through to Greenwich Village. Washington Square Park, and NYU are all around here, Walk around Bleecker Street. Maybe hit up Johns Pizzeria for lunch - it's good to catch it just as it is opening.
Once you're finished here, I'm going to suggest you head to Queens, and in particular, the Queens Museum of Art. This is an inexpensive museum, but you get to see 2 amazing things. Firstly The Panorama - http://www.queensmuseum.org/exhibitions/visitpanorama a scale model of the whole of New York City. Try and spot buildings you've seen and looked at, if you have, take binoculars too! If you had walked from the Subway, the second thing I would see here, (it's behind the museum so you should have already seen it), is the World Fair Unisphere.

Wednesday - Things like the NY Public Library, Flatiron Building, Union Square… all good things that you can still do, it's coming to the end of your holiday, so maybe revisit somewhere that you enjoyed.

Thursday - Last minute shopping… That's what I do, I rarely plan anything on the last day, and just do a bit of shopping, and as little as possible. The annoyance of not having a hotel room / shower before flying home is the main problem I find, so I normally do a bit of shopping, back to hotel, pack, shower, and then just prop up a bar and have lunch and a few beers. Head to the airport around 4:30pm if you're going by taxi, or 5pm if you're using the Subway.

Obviously, I've given you plenty of ideas, and sensible ways to link things together, but I've not told you which subway train to get, I thought I'd leave you some fun of planning your holiday. It is easy with the subway map - mta.info - plan it, and ask me, I'm more than willing to help on that side too.

So, what do you think?

Katykat

Flipping eck M4rkm, you been drinking Red Bull?

hab92

M4RKM,

I remember you recommending a tourist pass for attractions, can you just point me in the direction of which one it was?

Also, I've been looking at the Metrocards and think I'm going to opt for the 7-day unlimited, but what happens if I want to use the subway after midnight? Do I have to pay extra for a standard ticket?

Another thing I'm not really getting is the declaring of goods at customs. Do you only have to declare items above a certain value, and do they have to be certain types, such as electronic goods?

On a final note, would it be wise to take all my spending money in cash, or take about half, and then use ATMs when I'm there?

hornetsmad

M4RKM, thank you ever so much for your post. You have really helped me get a feel of how to bunch things together. I had planned an inventory on plnnr.com which was fairly useful but unfortunately not that intelligent at placing attractions together in a logical order.

With your plan coming from somebody who has been to New Yok on many occasions and is something of an expert (and an actual human!, I fully trust your inventory and particuarly look forward to seeing some of the not typical things that I didn't think of on Tuesday.

I have read the guide to the Subway and seem to be a little clearer about how it works, and as you said, finding it out will be the fun part.

I believe that the only thing I need to pre-book is the 9/11 Memorial? I'll book it for late morning assuming that we'll inevitably be late due to getting lost on the way!

Thank you ever so much for all of your help, I must admit I got a little sad feeling reading about Thursday and thinking about returning home. I've been thinking about this trip for almost an entire year now and can't believe it's nearly going to actually happen!

Thanks again for all of your help, you must have helped so many people on MSE make NYC a very enjoyable holiday. I'm sure I'll have many questions to ask you over the coming weeks as I frantically try to get everything sorted. For example, I think I need to get a credit card as a deposit for the hotel, never having previously had one. Best do that soon! Thanks again.

daviduk1976

Morning all!

I am so excited as we're off to NYC on a freebie....yes a FREEBIE!!

We have been given a budget of £1500 to spend...i have soucred flights with BA 16th April - 21st April for £960 from LHR to JFK.

Found 3 hotels...Stay/Out in NYC or HIE 5th Ave.

May break budget but will pay the extra.....

We're a 'happy couple' 30's/40's who have never visited NYC. (well not properly unless you class a smoke break btw london and miami)

Where do you start on what to see/do?

Welike a few drinkies.....so a few 'happy bars' at the end of trolling around shopping and visiting is a must.

Its the sightseeing which is mind boggling.....what where who why etc lol.

The rock, statue, theatre show and times square, cruise and central park a must me thinks....

Please guide us nicely! Also just seen that the subway runs 24 hours...are we best staying elsewhere to keep within the £1500 allocated?

I'm so excited but scared..is there places we should avoid at night especially looking for happy haunts for drinkies?

Also....BA over AA or virgin?

Never flown virgin....but we have chosen BA as they have an early morningish flight back to the UK....(weird but I dont like flying at night so chose the 8am jfk to LHR)

I am reading through all 274 pages.....but just wanted a little push in the right direction. The other half said blow the budget.....but is it worth spending shed loads on a hotel that we'll hardly ever see?

Many Thanks

David!

M4RKM

Katykat wrote: »

Flipping eck M4rkm, you been drinking Red Bull?

Nope, wasn't even having any beers. I went to bed at 10:30pm, and woke up at around 11:30pm, and got to sleep after 4am. I just had one of them nights where I couldn't sleep. Last night however, was totally different!!

hab92 wrote: »

M4RKM,

I remember you recommending a tourist pass for attractions, can you just point me in the direction of which one it was?

Also, I've been looking at the Metrocards and think I'm going to opt for the 7-day unlimited, but what happens if I want to use the subway after midnight? Do I have to pay extra for a standard ticket?

Another thing I'm not really getting is the declaring of goods at customs. Do you only have to declare items above a certain value, and do they have to be certain types, such as electronic goods?

On a final note, would it be wise to take all my spending money in cash, or take about half, and then use ATMs when I'm there?

Go Select Pass is the only one I can recommend, as you can't be a slave to the pass. You choose only the attractions you want to go to, and gain a discount.

Metrocards are valid for 7 days from first swipe, until MIDNIGHT on the LAST day of validity. The Subway runs 24/7, so if you buy your weekly pass, you can use it whenever during the day.

Customs - You are allowed to bring back £390 worth of goods back from the US. After that you must declare, and you'll pay VAT (20%) and depending on the product, Duty (variably%) on what you've brought back, not just over the value.

Money - ATM - depends what card you have got. Very few are fully fee free, and if you have one of the cards from hell, you'll end up paying much more using an ATM linked to this card, than taking cash, or a prepaid card. Unless you live in London, I'd go prepaid card. If you live in / near London or Reading, head to MetroBank and get a current account with them. 0 fees on any foreign transaction.

M

Sambucus_Nigra

daviduk1976 wrote: »

Morning all!

I am so excited as we're off to NYC on a freebie....yes a FREEBIE!!

We have been given a budget of £1500 to spend...i have soucred flights with BA 16th April - 21st April for £960 from LHR to JFK.

Found 3 hotels...Stay/Out in NYC or HIE 5th Ave.

May break budget but will pay the extra.....

We're a 'happy couple' 30's/40's who have never visited NYC. (well not properly unless you class a smoke break btw london and miami)

Where do you start on what to see/do?

Welike a few drinkies.....so a few 'happy bars' at the end of trolling around shopping and visiting is a must.

Its the sightseeing which is mind boggling.....what where who why etc lol.

The rock, statue, theatre show and times square, cruise and central park a must me thinks....

Please guide us nicely! Also just seen that the subway runs 24 hours...are we best staying elsewhere to keep within the £1500 allocated?

I'm so excited but scared..is there places we should avoid at night especially looking for happy haunts for drinkies?

Also....BA over AA or virgin?

Never flown virgin....but we have chosen BA as they have an early morningish flight back to the UK....(weird but I dont like flying at night so chose the 8am jfk to LHR)

I am reading through all 274 pages.....but just wanted a little push in the right direction. The other half said blow the budget.....but is it worth spending shed loads on a hotel that we'll hardly ever see?

Many Thanks

David!

Post 5464 says it all really.

The only thing I would say would be to ditch the Metropolitan Museum of Art and go for the Whitney instead. Although the Met has art in bucket loads the Whitney is alot more funky.

M4RKM

daviduk1976 wrote: »

Morning all!

We have been given a budget of £1500 to spend...i have soucred flights with BA 16th April - 21st April for £960 from LHR to JFK.

Found 3 hotels...Stay/Out in NYC or HIE 5th Ave.

I see 2 options there. Never heard of Stay/Out, and I'm assuming the HIE, is a Holiday Inn Express. Can I ask why you've chosen these hotels? is there a specific reason.

daviduk1976 wrote: »

Its the sightseeing which is mind boggling.....what where who why etc lol.

The rock, statue, theatre show and times square, cruise and central park a must me thinks....

Please guide us nicely! Also just seen that the subway runs 24 hours...are we best staying elsewhere to keep within the £1500 allocated?

I'm so excited but scared..is there places we should avoid at night especially looking for happy haunts for drinkies?

Also....BA over AA or virgin?

Never flown virgin....but we have chosen BA as they have an early morningish flight back to the UK....(weird but I dont like flying at night so chose the 8am jfk to LHR)

Any places that Tourist go are safe, you can go anywhere in Manhattan for drinks, places in Brooklyn, Queens etc. If you want more budget accommodation, look at Long Island City in Queens.

BA vs AA or Virgin - Neither. I like Delta, however, they don't have the day flight. The reason I like a night flight is otherwise you lose a whole day in NYC. you've just paid for a nights accommodation, and you're leaving at 4am to get to the airport for an 8am flight!

jaffacat_2

Walk up and see the court steps (tv shows, think Law & Order), and then that's a constructive day complete.

Would like to see the court steps, is there a landmark/location/street I should head for to see these please?

ALso, what is the L train & is it covered by the Metrocard?

scoobyju1

jaffacat wrote: »

Walk up and see the court steps (tv shows, think Law & Order), and then that's a constructive day complete.

Would like to see the court steps, is there a landmark/location/street I should head for to see these please?

ALso, what is the L train & is it covered by the Metrocard?

The court steps are close to the Brooklyn Bridge so probably best to do them both at the same time. If you're coming off the bridge after a visit to Brooklyn, simply turn right & it's just up there.