Everything & Anything New York City

ShAnE

Would people still recommend the air train if our flight doesn't get in until 9pm (if it's operating at that hour?)

At the moment we're thinking of getting a taxi as it sounds safer than travelling via public transport at that time of night.

For reference we're staying near Penn Station.

phatbear

its a personal preference.

taxi is gonna be door to door no hassle and, if esp if its your 1st trip, its great seeing the manhattan skyline as you drive in.

another consideration is a lot of subway stations do not have escalators or lifts so you will have to lug your bags up a few flights of stairs if you use the subway.

personally, cos i like saving a few quid and ive been there often enough, i would take the skytrain/subway route

callum9999

The Empire State Building doesn't have a Day and Night ticket, only the Rockefeller Building does.

And although I had a 4 year gap between doing the ESB and Top of the Rock, unless you're a particular enthusiast looking for specific views of specific buildings, the views aren't radically different. If you're doing both of them then do one in the day and one at night - there's no need to do it 3 times.

Or, if you're a cheapskate like me, go just before sunset so you can see it during the day and at night for the price of one ticket!

phatbear

ktb03 wrote: »

Day One - Thursday - Arrive 11am


Airtrain to Manhatten


Get the air train out of JFK to Sutphin Boulevard and then catch the E train to Manhattan,


Checkin to Yotel :-)

Walk to Grand Central Station - Have a look around

Walk to Rockafella Centre - go to top of the rock $29 each

Drinks in Bar @ The Rainbow Room

Dinner in Hells Kitchen/Yotel

pretty good start.

personally i would check out the sunset times and head up the top of the rock 30mins before hand and watch the sun go down over manhattan then stick around and watch the island light up, i still love this after many many trips

ktb03 wrote: »

Day Two - Friday


Subway to Ground Zero

Morning at Ground Zero

Lunch at Katz Deli

Early Afternoon Statue of Liberty

Centry 21

Subway back to 42nd Street

Evening in Times Square - Possibly show/Radio City Music Hall

Just as well mark isn't around as he has a real issue with people using the term ground zero, which is odd cos on a trip last nov i heard a NY news reporter refer to it thus......anyway

If you are doing the above in sequence there is a lot of upping and downing for example century 21 is opposite the world trade site.

whilst you are in the area go and check out wall street, south street sea port especially if you want to visit a&f as they have one there and its queue free unlike the one on 5th ave.

im not a massive fan of katz i find it expensive and mega busy but each to their own.

ktb03 wrote: »

Day Three - Saturday

Empire State Building when it opens - Look at day/night pass.

Possible Bus Tour

Possible Natural History Museum

Afternoon visit to Serendipity for Frozen Hot chocolate

this really wont take up a whole day, mind you the q's at serendipity can be HUUUUUUUUGE!

ktb03 wrote: »

Day Four - Sunday


Walk to Central Park - Morning in Central Park Including Ice Skating

Lunch at Shake Shack for Burgers :-)

Afternoon shopping on 5th Avenue, FAO Swartz, Tiffany's, Bloomingdales, Macy's and others

Early evening Drinks at Grand Central Station/ maybe carriage ride in Central Park

Oh god how i love shake shack, however im a tad miffed that they now have one in covent garden and its not the same dammit!

its only a small issue but macy's isn't on 5th. If you are going to macys and bloomies take some national i.d (passport/driving licence) and go to customer service and they will give you a 10% "out of towners"discount card.

Carriage rides in central park are mega expensive and there is a lot written about the welfare of the horses so I will leave that up to you.

Day 5.

Just play it by ear.

You are missing a lot out of your trip and if you have time I would encourage you to walk "the highline" check out chelsea esp their food court take some pics at the flat iron, you can even get your shake shack whilst there. take the staten island ferry to see the statue of liberty, check out battery park, shop in LES or SOHO/NOHO.

One absolute is try and get yourself a big apple greeter its free, has to be pre-booked though. I have been to NY 6 times and think i know its pretty well but i got a greeter on my last trip and it was fab

i always recommend people start their own google map. drop pins on the map of all the places you want to go and then you can formulate a plan to see as much as you can whilst in one area, i didnt do this on my first trip and spent a lot of time running up and down the island.

hope this helps a bit

michele-p

Phatbear, I've just looked up Big Apple Greeter after reading your post. It sounds great I'm goign to apply for a greeter for our trip in June next year. Which area did you visit with your greeter? I'm so stuck on what to ask for, what would be a good area?

phatbear

michele-p wrote: »

Phatbear, I've just looked up Big Apple Greeter after reading your post. It sounds great I'm goign to apply for a greeter for our trip in June next year. Which area did you visit with your greeter? I'm so stuck on what to ask for, what would be a good area?

i went for Lower East Side.

When I applied, if memory serves, they asked about interests, and im into my food and art/architecture so they fixed me up with a guy whos a professional caterer who is also an art fan so he was able to show me some interesting food shops and galleries which I would never have found. Whilst chatting to him on the walk i also mentioned i enjoy clothes shopping but for unique items and with that he took me to a couple of independant t-shirt stores and i bought some amazing shirts.

One other thing I forgot to mention is also walking the brooklyn bridge is a must, oddly my BAG was from Brooklyn and in hindsight, given i have only ever visited Brooklyn to get onto the bridge, i wish I had asked for that area instead, maybe next time?

ktb03

Wow thanks for all the great advice! Wasn't really expecting a reply but there are soon great tips! It does seem quite a bit we are missing out on so might have a bit of a rethink on some areas but those are the bits we definately wanted to do so got them booked in.


I think the free ferry thing might be better, I have been to Ellis island before (long long long time ago) and don't really remember there was that much there, I think the main thing is to see the statue.


I agree about Katz Deli but my DOH wants to see it after seeing man vrs food!


Also very sorry if I offended anyone by saying 'ground zero' it was the last name I knew it was - sorry if anyone was offended


Thanks All :-) x

John259

FWIW here's the section for Ellis Island on the US National Park Service web site:
http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

And here's a song about Ellis Island, with photographs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MRPDyMVHcg

N20Y1D

ktb03 wrote: »

Hi All


We are lucky enough to be going to NYC in 5 weeks!!! I am so excited!! I have planned the trip and just wondered what people thought of the plan - comments welcome!




K







Day One - Thursday - Arrive 11am


Airtrain to Manhatten


Get the air train out of JFK to Sutphin Boulevard and then catch the E train to Manhattan,


Checkin to Yotel :-)


Walk to Grand Central Station - Have a look around


Walk to Rockafella Centre - go to top of the rock $29 each


Drinks in Bar @ The Rainbow Room


Dinner in Hells Kitchen/Yotel








Day Two - Friday


Subway to Ground Zero


Morning at Ground Zero


Lunch at Katz Deli


Early Afternoon Statue of Liberty


Centry 21


Subway back to 42nd Street


Evening in Times Square - Possibly show/Radio City Music Hall








Day Three - Saturday


Empire State Building when it opens - Look at day/night pass.


Possible Bus Tour


Possible Natural History Museum


Afternoon visit to Serendipity for Frozen Hot chocolate











Day Four - Sunday


Walk to Central Park - Morning in Central Park Including Ice Skating


Lunch at Shake Shack for Burgers :-)


Afternoon shopping on 5th Avenue, FAO Swartz, Tiffany's, Bloomingdales, Macy's and others


Early evening Drinks at Grand Central Station/ maybe carriage ride in Central Park








Day Five - Monday


Check out of the hotel and leave Luggage with the Luggage Bot


Last Min Shopping/Any site seeing that was missed

I'd recommend doing the sun and stars at totr and just the one trip up esb. And going to five napkin instead of shake shack.

http://5napkinburger.com/locations/hells-kitchen/

Also theres a great bar just across the road from yotel called pony bar if you like your beers.

kizkiz

Ok, here is the current itinery.
It's fairly open to allow for anything to be added whilst there, especially with the greeter, who may well give us some ideas.
We're not bothered about any of the museums tbh, although may squeeze one in.
The trip is more about the food, shopping and feel than doing all the tourist traps


I would appreciate any thoughts. thanks


Day 1
Land, eat, drink. lol
Have a wander. Check out times square.
Nothing too strenuous


Day 2
Day with big apple greeter. Already got one assigned
Possibly a broadway show in evening, depending on what's available from TKTS


Day 3
Macys Thanksgiving day parade
Need to find something to do in aft/eve


Day 4
Black Friday shopping


Day 5
Central Park. Ice skating.


Day 6
Staten Island Ferry for look at old liberty
Brooklyn bridge
9/11 tour
Police museum
Chinatown


Day 7
Morning?
TOTR
Rockettes


Day 8
Flying home in eve
High line in morning
Free for anything we missed