New York City - trip advice please!

So.... I've read the guidebook, I've used the NYC app's, I've read sone trip reports but I'd love some good 'ol v flyer suggestions!

I'm in the big apple for 3 days, first proper sightseeing trip as an adult man so seeing it all again!

Do you have any top tips, advice, recommendations for must do's?

I've got the NY pass already..

Thanks,

Luke

Don't go up the Empire State - too many queues and very crowded on the observation deck. Go up to Top of the Rock instead - generally no queues and you also get to see the Empire State Building in all your photos!

Buy a Metro card and put a few dollars on it. They don't have all day travel cards like in London, so there's no unlimited rides. Get an app for the subway map on your phone/ipad etc.

Some of the best places to go see:

- Brooklyn Bridge
- Empire State Building (around $25 to get to the observation deck when I last went.
- Chrysler Building.
- Times Sq.
- Chinatown (Canal St. & Broadway) - great food and atmosphere.
- Little Italy - again for atmosphere and munch.
- Rockefeller Centre (amazing views, and quite romantic at night)
- Flatiron Building (if you're into architecture)
- Take the Staten Island ferry, which is free (get a map of attractions on S.I. - not many tourists do this.
- Ground Zero (very emotional and poignant)
- There's tonnes of museums too (MOMA, Natural history, MMA)

and don't forget... Statue of Liberty... although the Q to get tickets to see her up-close are sometimes insane.

There's the Intrepid where you can tour the carrier, Concorde, and a sub.

If you are you are going to a show at Lincoln Centre or find yourself on the Upper West Side, Cafe Luxembourg (200 W 70th St) is good for lunch/dinner (standard NYC prices)

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge!

Walk through the Highline Park. Never done it but apparently it is pretty cool and offers a good view.

Buy a Metro card and put a few dollars on it. They don't have all day travel cards like in London, so there's no unlimited rides. Get an app for the subway map on your phone/ipad etc.

You can buy a 7 day travel card for $29, but since you'll only be there for three days it probably won't be worth it as it is only $2.25 per ride anywhere in the city.

Don't go up the Empire State - too many queues and very crowded on the observation deck. Go up to Top of the Rock instead - generally no queues and you also get to see the Empire State Building in all your photos!

Agree, and go at sunset much better bet than the empire...
grand central station also worth a look
NH

The High Line is also worth a visit!

http://www.thehighline.org/

PS. I have been to NYC probably more times than anyone here put together so I have plenty of useless information. So keep the questions coming if you need to know anything.

I second all the above recs esp the Highline at sunset (see chelsea market nearby too). In general NYC is a great walking city. Do some recommended walks around the neighbourhoods, the LP has some good ones. Explore central park which has a lot of differently styled areas. I'd recommend the west riverside park as well, which if you do, follow up with a walk around Fort Tyron Park right up north which has great views of the Hudson.

Go out in the Village in the evening, its a really nice relaxed atomoshphere and there are bars and restaurant and cafes galore and its teaming with life. It depends what you like doing. If you like Jazz then I would just pick a set and go, more often than not there's someone famous playing, my fave is Smalls Jazz club.

If you walk across Brooklyn Bridge, wander around Dumbo to the view from underneath the bridges. There's a decent bar which sells Old Speckled Hen there as well, which for me was a godsend.

I would take in a show. Expensive and there's too much choice almost but I saw Daniel Radcliffe the other week and he was excellent!

I guess I would get off Manhattan at least once during your stay and I would recommend Brooklyn, prospect park and the quieter neighborhoods around there. Fort Greene is a lovely place. Or take the tram over to Roosevelt Island, its a cable car really and you get good views on the way.

Have a great time!

Just to add if you want to see a Broadway show, please do not waste your time spending hours in that TKTS queue in Times Square.

Go to http://www.broadwaybox.com/ where they publish online discounts (usually the same ones that are discounted at TKTS). You can either then book them online using the code or print out the page and take it to the theatre box office which I have done many times.

Another way to get cheaper Broadway tickets is to go in for the lotteries that each show hold, Standing tickets or Rush tickets.

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/a ... y-Policies

:X

PS. I have been to NYC probably more times than anyone here put together so I have plenty of useless information. So keep the questions coming if you need to know anything.

Flying to NY for the first time ever in 20 days! You got any advice or a first timer?

Luke,

The Subway is great for getting around NYC quickly its $2.50 for a single journey, you can get a MetroCard where you pay in advance and it deducts $2.50 every journey, or there is a 7 day Unlimited ride MetroCard for $29, so if you are going to make more than 12 journeys during your 3 days, it works out cheaper. MetroCards are also valid on busses – I normally use the Subway for going up & down Manhattan and the buses for across town.

A good way to see a lot of NYC is to do an open top bus tour. Grayline do a 48 hour pass for $49 where you can travel on their buses as much as you like and you can get on and off wherever you like. Also included is the “night tour” which I can recommend.

A trip up the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock is a must; I prefer Top of the Rock as it’s usually cheaper and less busy. The views from either are stunning; on a sunny day you get superb views either by day at sunset or by night.

Ground Zero and Statue of Liberty definitely worth a visit, unless you actually want to visit the Statue or Ellis Island take the Staten Island Ferry – it’s free, no long queues or security and you still get great views of the Statue of Liberty.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge, great views of lower Manhattan from Brooklyn Heights; you can always get the Subway back.

If you like sport, a Baseball game is a must; I went to see the Yankees a few years ago, now I’m addicted to Baseball and go and watch them several times a year.

If you have plenty of money, a helicopter tour is worth doing. It costs between $150 and $300 but the views are stunning. Security is strict – all they allow you to take with you on the helicopter is a camera.

The Apple Store on 5th Avenue is definitely worth a visit.

You’ll never go hungry or thirsty in NYC you can eat and drink 24-7. I never eat in the hotel, always find a Diner, they are usually cheaper and the food better. For something more substantial later in the day I normally visit a pub or bar in preference to a restaurant. I normally visit one of the Heartland Brewery pubs; the food is very good and reasonably priced. A pint of beer will cost you about $6 or $7, although you can quite often find bars have “happy hour” promotions.

If you have a laptop/Ipad/Iphone using internet (for OLCI or emails etc.) in NYC hotels is a rip off, free Wi-Fi is available at the Apple Store or a Coffee shops like Starbucks.

Whatever you decide to do, I’m sure you will have a great time.

Robin.

PS. I have been to NYC probably more times than anyone here put together so I have plenty of useless information. So keep the questions coming if you need to know anything.

Flying to NY for the first time ever in 20 days! You got any advice or a first timer?

Well keep an eye on this thread for all the little bits on information that are already on here.

As it is getting warm in NY now, take the Beast boat for some sightseeing - just be prepared to get splashed!

http://www.circleline42.com/new-york-cr ... &groupid=2

And if you like pizza then go to Johns Pizzeria on Bleecker St (near 6th Ave) for the best pizza in NYC!

Go and see the Knicks at Madison Square Garden - great atmosphere.

Avoid Bubba Gumps/Hard Rock Cafe/Planet Hollywood/Red Lobster and all the other big chain restaurants on Times Square.

Go to the Apple Store in the Meatpacking District and not the one by Central Park as it is much quieter and not overcrowded with tourists using the free internet.

Take the Roosevelt Island cable car for some great views of the NY Skyline.

If you like Friends then the apartment block that they used for all the exterior shots is on the corner of Grove and Bedford Streets in the West Village.

Along the same lines, if you liked Sex and the City then Carries apartment is situated on Perry Street between W4th Street and Bleecker. The Magnolia Bakery is also around the corner for amazing cupcakes.

Taxis can be addictive in Manhattan because they are so cheap and quick but do get to know the subway because otherwise you'll quickly rack up the taxi fares. You get free transfers from buses to the subway so more often than not if you can't get directly to where you're going on the subway there's a bus route which will cover the other part. All the crosstown routes have bus routes and those are the most useful.

Likewise, ask me anything and I'll be glad to help out. I moved here a year ago and have slowly got to know my way about. If you have plenty of spending money, this is the most fun city in the world, esp if you like to live spontaneously. Its harder to do things on the cheap than London though you can do so if you're selective and make the effort to look around for deals.

Wow - thank you so much for all the advice, I shall be reading this thread for the next few hours and printing lots of it off. I'm planning to gather all the information together then head down to a starbucks to spend a few hours planning things out.

Really like the look of the Highline Tinkerbelle - thank you for that recommendation.

Chinatown - had forgotten about that too.

I had seen the 7 day metrocard and expect I'll use the subway a lot so probably worth paying the $28 for this.

I want to see ESB - but planning to do this later at night. Will do Top of the Rock during the day as many have said it gives better views of the city.

The apple store is a must for me - although I want to wait for Sept for my ipad2!

Can anyone recommend the best subway station to get off at for Brooklyn Bridge? I'd like to walk across, ideally from Brooklyn into Manhattan.

I'm sure many other questions will arise, thank you to everyone so far!

Luke

I love spending time in Bryant Park. Close to the New York Public Library, around the corner from Times Square and not far from Central Station. Great people watching space, the reading room, and lots more. And, during the time you are there there is a Petanque tournament on the Saturday and Sunday.

Central Station has to be a must see, so iconic, and you could try the Oyster Barif it appeals.

Tube to Bowling Green, walk through Battery Park and pick up the Staten Island Ferry. Once back in Manhattan, carry on walking up to South Street Seaport (this is where the helicopters are too) and then back from there via Fulton Street to Ground Zero and maybe Wall Street?

I also like going out to eat around Chelsea/Gramercy in the evening.

I'd thoroughly recommend the 7 day card too, 4 or more tube rides in a day is highly likely.

Regards
R3dV

I love spending time in Bryant Park.
I also like going out to eat around Chelsea/Gramercy in the evening.

Thanks R3dv - I'm staying in the Chelsea area, are there any specific mid-range places you could recommend? Trying to keep this trip on a tight budget.

Thanks,

Luke

Can anyone recommend the best subway station to get off at for Brooklyn Bridge? I'd like to walk across, ideally from Brooklyn into Manhattan.

Have done this walk many, many times.

Borough Hall is pretty handy for the Brooklyn Bridge - and lots of trains stop at this station. From there it's a 2-3 minute walk to the Bridge (and you'll see the walkway for the pedestrian area of the bridge in the middle of Adams Street).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pengrin/184373067/

Once you're back in Manhattan, stop off at South Street Seaport and sit and have a drink in the sun.

Can anyone recommend the best subway station to get off at for Brooklyn Bridge? I'd like to walk across, ideally from Brooklyn into Manhattan.

Have done this walk many, many times.

Borough Hall is pretty handy for the Brooklyn Bridge - and lots of trains stop at this station. From there it's a 2-3 minute walk to the Bridge (and you'll see the walkway for the pedestrian area of the bridge in the middle of Adams Street).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pengrin/184373067/

Once you're back in Manhattan, stop off at South Street Seaport and sit and have a drink in the sun.

Thanks Tinks - all sounds very easy and the picture helps too.

Notes taken!!

Luke

New York Public Library usually has some good exhibitions on and its close to Grand Central Terminal too

JP Morgan Library

For the BB walk I think you need Brooklyn City Hall stop.

Heartland Brewery for their micro brews - there is a branch at the South Street Sea Port (but several in the city)

Top of the Rock over the ESB if you can only do one(but both on the explorer pass. ToR for day and ESB for Night!

The Met (but not on a weekend!) but pick a theme (greek / roman etc) and try stick to it - you can never do the whole thing in a day. Saying that the special exhibtions can be good. Be aware that the museum layout is quite complicated and the signage could be a lot better.

Cooper Hewitt design museum (close to the Gugg) there was a fantastic jewlery exhibtion when I was there in Feb.

Don't forget to get your discount card for Macys from the Visitor Centre on the mezannine.

The Highline will give a different perspectibe to the city and hopefully the extension will have opened

Which NY Pass have you got? the city or the explorer?

If you want the Statue of Liberty go early in the day before most tourists have even worken up (and avoid the weekend too)

Whilst your there the Museum of the American Indian in the old customs house on Bowling Green / Broadway is worth a diversion.

I'd get the map out and plan what you want to do so Met / Gugg etc as are close rather than randomly selecting. Remember most museums are closed one day a week but it varies which one!

Also for the subway ask for a copy of The Map and be prepared to switch from express to local lines. The 7 day pass might seasm expensive but not if you use it a lot and it would be worth it even for a three day trip.

Which NY Pass have you got? the city or the explorer? I have found the explorer pass to be well worth it and you can often go to the members desk to skip the queues.

If you want the exact directions then here's Google Street View to the rescue!

You'll have to read the directions back to front as I'm trying to alter the order of the pictures but not having much success. xx(

Top of the Rock over the ESB if you can only do one(but both on the explorer pass. ToR for day and ESB for Night!
If you want the Statue of Liberty go early in the day before most tourists have even worken up (and avoid the weekend too)

Which NY Pass have you got? the city or the explorer? I have found the explorer pass to be well worth it and you can often go to the members desk to skip the queues.

Thanks Tonty.

I'm thinking of walking to ESB from the hotel (four points chelsea) is this pretty reasonable? Not sure if you've done this as you've stayed there before.

I wasn't aware there were 2 types of NY pass, I've just got the 3 day standard - listed here http://www.newyorkpass.com/prices.aspx

Luke

If you are going to walk the BB then take an extra layer - jumper / sweat top etc.

It might be roasting in the city but once on the bridge and the wind starts blowing down the East River it can get quite chilly.

On the Manhatten side there are some steps down (quite steep) so keeo an eye out for them rather than walking down the roadway ramp,

I'm thinking of walking to ESB from the hotel (four points chelsea) is this pretty reasonable? Not sure if you've done this as you've stayed there before.

I've walked from Brooklyn to Times Square many times so the walk from Chelsea to the ESB will be a doddle.

Yes thats the one I use. V good value! Just remember to print the voucher before you go and collect it from Planet Holywood! Remember it starts from the day you 1st use it no matter what time. So I collect the night I arrive (but I think you get there very late) and start useing the next day.

Yes the walk from the 4 points to the ESB is very reasonable.

Far better gettign the subway to the Brooklyn side and walking back !

(edited to remove comemnt re long walk. got confused between Luke walking to the Brooklyn Bridge and not the ESB!)

Hi Luke

I've just had a look through a few credit card statements. Can't say these were cheap, but not silly money either. In Chelsea I liked TreDici Steak, 128 West 26th and the Tipsy Parson at 156 9th Ave. In Gramercy BLT Prime (111 E22nd) Tamarind (E22nd) and Maialino at the Gramercy Park Hotel. In the latter we had a great lunch and went back another night for dinner but the restaurant was full. We ended up with the same menu in the Bar and I think I preferred the ambiance in there.

We were recommended "Room Service" which is a Thai on 166 8th Ave and is supposed to be very good value, but we never made it.

Sorry, some of the other places I paid in cash and can't recall the names - one thing for sure is you wont be spoiled for choice.

Regards
R3dV