To go to New York on my own?

[ShutUpMeg]

I've always wanted to go to New York but have been brought up in the mindset that a woman simply cannot go anywhere without a man as she will naturally be beaten, raped and killed. I don't have this mindset but admittedly have been wary of going abroad on my own because of it!

Anyway, I'm a single parent, I do have a DP but we don't live together and I don't think it will last anyway. I have just done a quote for me and the kids for one week in New York - I can afford it.

So - AIBU to bugger off to New York with my 13 and 15 year old lads for a week? would you do it alone?

Can recommend Wolcott Hotel - not too expensive and great location...

I'm puzzled as to why you say you're going alone. And will you be surrounded by couples?

You're not going alone. You're going with your kids!

I have taken my two on holiday abroad all round Europe without a partner with me since they were 5 and 8 so I'm sure you'll be fine

Actually if there's 3 of you you might be better to get a cab all the way. Cab will be about $60, but check on trip advisor, and the bus is about $15 each. Although the bus will go to grand central, which is pretty close to times sq, you'll be so tirad by then you don't want to be dealing with your bags etc.
Get plenty of $1 bills ready for tips ;)

Good lord, of course you can - nothing to be nervous about at all!
Sounds perfect.

The Planetarium in the NHM is fantastic, we saw a brilliant inspiring history of the universe show there, which linked the beginning of time to the atoms around us.

Have a look at the Sony Interactive Lab- I haven't been but I think it's free and I have heard people rave about it.

Take them to a proper diner for piles of pancakes etc, ask each member of the family to choose a landmark or iconic movie scene as a place to visit, a trip up the Empire State Building is fun, too.

I travelled all over Manhattan, from Harlem to Battery Park and everyone was helpful and freindly.

And don't forget to visit a traditional American diner. Have breakfast there and you won't need to eat all day!

Have lunch at Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop on 5th Avenue.
And Lucky Strike in SoHo is a great neighbourhood place for dinner.

Also wanted to recommend the Moondance and Jones Diners, but apparently they've both gone - am slightly shocked, think I'd better go and have a lie down.

Take a boat trip around Manhattan - it's a fantastic way to see the area and a good way to rest after you've walked your legs off.

Also go to the Carnegie Deli for brunch - get your son to watch Broadway Danny Rose as part of it is filmed there.

New York....sigh.....go go go! Stay in Harlem, I can recommend an excellent brownstone. It's so amazing there.

Oh and if you eat meat you MUST go to fette sau in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Such an experience. I could recommend so so much though...

Katz's deli on the lower east side. It's where they filmed the fake orgasm scene in when harry met sally but it also has amazing, authentic Jewish food and an original ticket system. Definitely an experience....

I go in all the time on my own and with my kids!

The spending money question is a bit how long's a piece of string. Take as much as you can afford, because there are soooo many ways to spend money. If you're here for a week and want to do some shopping, consider taking the bus out of town to Woodbury Commons.

Walk, walk, walk and walk some more. Everyone who has ever been will have recommendations of where The best deli/diner/steak can be found, but I think half the fun is getting out and finding them for yourself. Don't be put off. With kids your sons' age, check out The Ride, a bus tour with a difference.

Finally, re safety, personally I don't think it is quite as safe as it was 5 years ago, but it's still a relatively safe city to visit. Enjoy!!

I felt safer in NYC than London. I am .

Don't bother with liberty island or empire state as you queue for ages.get the Staten island ferry to see the statue and go to the 'top of the rock' to do the skyline.

Get a newyork pass for attractions to save money.

Red bus night tour is really good.

Go! Just back after my second visit and agree with others that I feel safer there than London. Very easy to walk around, we used the subway to head to Battery Park then back to our hotel at night (stayed Upper West Side to save money!)

New York Pass is good if you are going to use it enough, otherwise pre book tickets to Empire State, Rockefeller, Liberty Cruises etc as often you get an online discount and shorter queues (For Liberty Cruises it saved us an hour - 90 mins of queuing!)

If you would like to visit the 9/11 Memorial you need to book tickets online, it's free but is controlled entry at the moment while the four towers are being built.

You will have a great time!

gogogo :) You'll love it, and it's no more scary than going to London for a week.

This website is quite handy - here

I will come and keep you safe But if you go you know how to keep yourself safe you manage at home as a single parent ,every day , go your holiday have fun use taxis and as i said id be happy to come along for company

I went recently and with paying the toll it was around $90 by cab from Newark. It's a fixed rate of $45 from JFK.
Have a great time , I feel very safe there a lot safer than here in fact.

Have a great time!

On getting from the airport cheapest is by shuttle - (like a share taxi - a minivan that goes to the main hotel zones from the airport). e.g.: www.supershuttle.com

You can book in advance and there are uniformed dispatchers to help you find your shuttle when you get - i think it is about $20 per passenger so still works out a bit cheaper than a cab.

its 7 years since i went there but you can get a train from newark airport to penn street station. Was cheap and very easy. Penn street is in midtown and when you come out of the station your first view is of the empire state building, fantastic welcome to the city! I loved new york, went for 10 days and would go back in a heartbeat, felt totally safe there. Its one of the best places to visit in the world and wont disapoint at all. Have a wonderful time :-)

Dear Lord, OP - this is New York, not Homs! Go, and have a wonderful time. If you want a wonderful diner, go to Bubby's on Hudson St in Tribeca - it's particularly great for brunch, but is 24 hour, and has wonderful food.

Homs?

God, yes! NYC is completely safe. But I felt the same way on my first visit alone (work). In fact, I pretended to taxi driver that I was regular visitor so he wouldn't rape/kill me. So I do understand your fear. He then asked "bridge or tunnel?" as way of getting in from the airport and I was completely foxed, not having a clue what he was talking about. After two days I was acting like I owned the place.

OOOh OP I have been umming and aaring for 6 months about whether to take my DC same age as yours to NY and until this thread had shelved the idea.

I jst worried being on my own with them I wouldnt be up to dealing with things iyswim ?

Am now thinking could I ...in the meantime you should do the trip

If you can find your way round any major Uk city ie Brum, London, Glasgow, Sheffield you will have no problem whatsoever with NYC.

Go! It's a great city.

If you want to see the statue of Liberty, you can get great views, for free, from the Staten Island ferrry.

Ellis Island is also worth a visit (immigration museum).

The Empire State Building does get long queues but I still think it is worth it.