First New York trip - tips, places to stay, things to see...
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kazza007
Bunned
I'm off to NYC for 5 days in a couple of weeks, it's my first time 
So I want to do a lot of the toursity stuff.
My questions are: would you recommend me doing/seeing other things in this short space of time, and if so, what, or just enjoy the usual toursity stuff?
Secondly, any tickets I should book in advance, for things like empire state, statue of liberty, etc, or turn up on the day? Or a few days before at certain ticket offices?
Any other tips and hints would be very appreciated
So I want to do a lot of the toursity stuff.
My questions are: would you recommend me doing/seeing other things in this short space of time, and if so, what, or just enjoy the usual toursity stuff?
Secondly, any tickets I should book in advance, for things like empire state, statue of liberty, etc, or turn up on the day? Or a few days before at certain ticket offices?
Any other tips and hints would be very appreciated
editor
hiraethified
For some ideas:
http://www.urban75.org/newyork/index.html
http://www.urban75.org/blog/tag/new-york/
Guides here: http://www.urban75.org/newyork/museums.html
I'd recommend going to the Rockefeller Centre instead of the Empire State as you get a better view (because the Empire State is in it!). Half an hour before dusk is a good time if the weather's good. You can buy tickets on the day.
I wouldn't bother with the Statue of Liberty - get the free Staten Island Ferry and see it from the river.
http://www.urban75.org/newyork/index.html
http://www.urban75.org/blog/tag/new-york/
Guides here: http://www.urban75.org/newyork/museums.html
I'd recommend going to the Rockefeller Centre instead of the Empire State as you get a better view (because the Empire State is in it!). Half an hour before dusk is a good time if the weather's good. You can buy tickets on the day.
I wouldn't bother with the Statue of Liberty - get the free Staten Island Ferry and see it from the river.
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
The statue of liberty is the most secure place I have ever been in my life. The security is unreal and takes ages to get in even once you are on the island, get ya pics from the ferry. What is worth seeing tho is Ellis Island.
If you are going to do the touristy things get a City Pass which saves you some money and allows you to queue hop at MoMa which is well worth the money.
editor
hiraethified
It gets you this close:
And you can enjoy this trip after too!
http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/staten-island-ferry.html
moonsi til
worked it out now!
I went for the first time for a week in Nov last year and I have to say I loved it. My friend and I were walking across a road in Hells Kitchen and one of those dry riser things let off some steam..we both yellped then kinda skipped the rest of the way across.
My suggestions would be buy something like the NYC City Pass which includes all the majot attractions. If you do buy this buy it at one of the quieter places and not as I did at The Empire State building. I could have bought it at The Met as my hotel was there. I couldnt fit everything in and chose to visit The Met over the Guggenheim which I regret but the MOMA more than made up for that. I also bought a subway card for $25 for 7 days which I think you can use on the buses too but I never had to due being able to do all my travelling on the subway.
On the day of theatre performances you can queue from about 3pm to but the best available for that evening...the queue look will look long but it will only take about 30 minutes. One side is for musicals and the other for theatre. The choice is amazing so much so that I ended up seeing 2 shows.
Also make sure you and anyone else whi is with you is wearing shoes that are comfortable to walk in all day. For 4 of my 7 days I was with a friend who only brought high heels with her as that is all she usually wears....she still stopmed around but wished she had brought at least a wedged heel! LOL.
I also fell in love with buying a 'regular slice'...best pizza I have ever had.
My suggestions would be buy something like the NYC City Pass which includes all the majot attractions. If you do buy this buy it at one of the quieter places and not as I did at The Empire State building. I could have bought it at The Met as my hotel was there. I couldnt fit everything in and chose to visit The Met over the Guggenheim which I regret but the MOMA more than made up for that. I also bought a subway card for $25 for 7 days which I think you can use on the buses too but I never had to due being able to do all my travelling on the subway.
On the day of theatre performances you can queue from about 3pm to but the best available for that evening...the queue look will look long but it will only take about 30 minutes. One side is for musicals and the other for theatre. The choice is amazing so much so that I ended up seeing 2 shows.
Also make sure you and anyone else whi is with you is wearing shoes that are comfortable to walk in all day. For 4 of my 7 days I was with a friend who only brought high heels with her as that is all she usually wears....she still stopmed around but wished she had brought at least a wedged heel! LOL.
I also fell in love with buying a 'regular slice'...best pizza I have ever had.
davesgcr
Reading books
Get a weekly or longer Metrocard for the subway and buses (works out way cheaper than single fares)
Walk up Broadway , north from 72nd and go food shopping at some of the best deli / supermarket places - not forgetting Zabars at 81st and Broadway.
Brooklyn Heighs and the Waterfront. Staten Island ferry , Coney Island. etc
Walk up Broadway , north from 72nd and go food shopping at some of the best deli / supermarket places - not forgetting Zabars at 81st and Broadway.
Brooklyn Heighs and the Waterfront. Staten Island ferry , Coney Island. etc
petee
no gods, no malarkey
repeating some of what was said above...
- yes, ride the (free) staten island ferry, the statue looks very nice from it
- ellis island is more interesting than the statue (i visited the statue once, when i was v. young. what i think i remember is that there was no guardrail around the perimeter. you could have walked right off the edge and fallen into the harbor. i'm assuming things have changed.)
- on the way back to manhattan, observe how the pollution follows the outline of the skyline
- dare i suggest ... while on staten island you can see minor league baseball a few minutes' walk from the ferry terminal (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t586). inexpensive and you can get close to the field, but hokey. NB this is the lowest level of pro ball. if you want to see major league ball, don't even try to see the yankees, whose tickets are obscenely expensive and will be sold out anyway. see the mets, whose tickets are much less expensive and much more available.
- if you ride the 1 train (we call subways "trains") from the south ferry station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_Park) you can see behind glass (http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/90508/brand-new-south-ferry-station-to-open-soon/) a recently-discovered section of the 17th century sea wall which was much closer to the original shoreline (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/nyregion/01wall.html)
- get a weekly metrocard, unlimited rides i believe (don't use it myself, but i think it's unlimited)
- most of manhattan is on a grid, it's made for walking, so plan a route and do alot of walking.
- yes, ride the (free) staten island ferry, the statue looks very nice from it
- ellis island is more interesting than the statue (i visited the statue once, when i was v. young. what i think i remember is that there was no guardrail around the perimeter. you could have walked right off the edge and fallen into the harbor. i'm assuming things have changed.)
- on the way back to manhattan, observe how the pollution follows the outline of the skyline
- dare i suggest ... while on staten island you can see minor league baseball a few minutes' walk from the ferry terminal (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t586). inexpensive and you can get close to the field, but hokey. NB this is the lowest level of pro ball. if you want to see major league ball, don't even try to see the yankees, whose tickets are obscenely expensive and will be sold out anyway. see the mets, whose tickets are much less expensive and much more available.
- if you ride the 1 train (we call subways "trains") from the south ferry station (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_Park) you can see behind glass (http://www.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/90508/brand-new-south-ferry-station-to-open-soon/) a recently-discovered section of the 17th century sea wall which was much closer to the original shoreline (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/nyregion/01wall.html)
- get a weekly metrocard, unlimited rides i believe (don't use it myself, but i think it's unlimited)
- most of manhattan is on a grid, it's made for walking, so plan a route and do alot of walking.
moonsi til
worked it out now!
also think about to signing up for www.groupon.com for any NYC deals.
Steel Icarus
ersatz maven
I went in 97. I WOULD recommend going up the Empire State building. Cos it's the Empire State building. Battery Park is lovely to walk around, that's at the southern tip of Manhattan. Little Italy is great, and Chinatown is in the same place, and the Flatiron building too iirc.
Tip: List the "attractions" you really want to see, & try not to pack too much into each day. It's knackering (but the most amazing city I've ever been, I think).
Tip: List the "attractions" you really want to see, & try not to pack too much into each day. It's knackering (but the most amazing city I've ever been, I think).
editor
hiraethified
The Empire State building is worth going up, but if you're only there for five days, Rockefella is a better choice, IMO - and you can walk about in the open air too.
http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/rockefeller-center.html
http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/rockefeller-center.html
Steel Icarus
ersatz maven
I stayed about 5 mins from there, on W 47th Street, but never thought to go up. Not sure if I even knew you could. The ESB is just so iconic, I guess. I wanted to go there King Kong had been. I dunno if you can walk around outside now, but you certainly could when I went. It was December, too, & I went up just after sunset - and when I got up there it was sunny again, & I watched the sun set a second time, glinting on the top of the Chrysler Building. Splendid.
To be honest either is good. (Big) apples or oranges.
To be honest either is good. (Big) apples or oranges.
moonsi til
worked it out now!
I went up both as they were both included in the NYC City Pass. I did ESB first thing in the morning & the on the same day Rockerfeller at sunset. The Rockerfeller is only a short stroll from the MoMA.
Steel Icarus
ersatz maven
For sure. I was there a week & was so knackered by day 5 I sacked off the plan and just wandered about. I kept walking round corners and seeing places I'd seen in one film or another.
petee
no gods, no malarkey
the place itself is marvellous too
editor
hiraethified
kazza007
Bunned
This sounds stupid, as I haven't been to the US since I was a child, but is there any logic behind 42nd street etc? 
No idea how they work
Should one tip street vending food operatives too?
I'm going with my girlfriend, we've both done our ESTA's online, from the official website, but a message came up saying we didn't need to print anything as proof - is this correct?
Thanks for the tips so far!
We are staying on 70 west 45th street.
No idea how they work Should one tip street vending food operatives too?
I'm going with my girlfriend, we've both done our ESTA's online, from the official website, but a message came up saying we didn't need to print anything as proof - is this correct?
Thanks for the tips so far!
We are staying on 70 west 45th street.
editor
hiraethified
Head south! All the best bits are on the Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, Battery Park, Meatpacking district etc - oh, and be sure to do the High Line that runs on the west side. It's worth a trip down to Williamsburg and Brooklyn too.
I printed my ESTA just in case and you *always* tip in cabs, cafes, bars and restaurants, but I'm not sure about street vendors.
you probably want to hit ground zero and pay respects
editor
hiraethified
There's not a lot there now. It's just a construction site.
no, there are memorials and lots of other stuff to see
editor
hiraethified
I wouldn't recommend it as a "must see" for someone spending just five days in New York, unless they lost friends or family there.
don't forget to eat their famous corn beef on rye sandwich
davesgcr
Reading books
Enjoy some of the tilework on some of the older subway lines stations - hand crafted by Italian migrants at the turn of the last century (specialised interest !) - Bleeker St , Brooklyn Bridge / Worth St etc.
Check out the Village Voice for free lectures at NY University , went to several on architecture - awesome.
Check out the Village Voice for free lectures at NY University , went to several on architecture - awesome.
Miss Caphat
I want it that way
no, they will not be expecting it. They may have a tip jar but it's optional, same as in cafes. Tip your taxi drivers, waitstaff (15-20%), bartenders ($1 per drink or thereabouts) hotel staff, and...I think that's about it.
petee
no gods, no malarkey
you could also head north, along central park west, which is a nice walk, to the Museum of Natural History/Hayden Planetarium, which is a trip
there's the irish famine memorial, which is an impressive piece of public art, and lovely views of the harbor, and it's in the general battery park area, but there's e.g. no shocking/fascinating hole in the ground anymore
indeed they won't and don't start it
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