Aibu to ask for your new York tips?

[MrsLaurac]

So im off to New York later in the year and am wanting to be organised as much as possible by making itineraries and budgets.
Thanks :-)
But there is just so much online! So wondering what recommendations and possibly tips people would have in regards to must dos and must avoids?
Also and I know this really is impossible for people to answer how much did you spend on food?
Also hubby is telling me shopping isnt that great out there what experience did you have?
Were stopping in the empire state area :-)

Why my thanks went up screen not at the bottom I don't know!

That each restaurant has too display it's food hygiene reading, a is the best, don't ever eat in a c rated restaurant!

The open top bus tours are a Fab way to see the city and get about, buying a few days pass makes sense.

It was years ago that we went and I was newly pregnant and feeling awful so that's all that I'm really able to recommend!

i just got back from nyc and have been a few times in the past. what kind of things are you into? i can give ideas for veggie food, markets/vintage, unusual things to do, art and transport tips but no clue about sport or attractions a first time tourist might want to see!

Take a good pair or shoes for walking in! It is a great city to explore on foot! MOMA is a favourite destination for me. I love the shopping there and take very little with me, but come back laden down with new clothes that no one else has here!

Go for a burger at The Spotted Pig. You will not be disappointed! Food is expensive but portions are generally huge. Go somewhere for breakfast and grab a snack for lunch, if you’re even hungry.

Didn’t do much shopping although I did visit knitting mecca (Purl Soho) and spent a fortune there!

I went to NY alone a couple years back and had a fab time, is this just you or is it a family trip?
If it's just you, don't be overly concerned about safety (I was given some right horror stories when I started to tell people I was going alone.) Stick to the main touristy areas and be sensible and you'll be absolutely fine. I got around using the Big Bus company as they drop you off right outside all the major interest places and was worth the money IMO to be able to avoid the subway. But all depends how confident you are and who you're going with.

Definitely recommend taking a boat trip out on the river to see the Statue of Liberty. Also, you can go inside the One World Trade Centre and go right up the top, views of the city are just incredible, highly recommend you do that too.

I'm not a big shopper to be honest but there are tons of gift shops and some fun places to go in especially if you're with children, there's the Disney Store and the M&M store in Times Square, both worth a look.

Do avoid the costumed characters outside the Disney store though, they are known for trying to get people to take a photo with them and will then demand money, best to just ignore them. I don't believe they're actually officially with the Disney store either, just random people in suits.

Oh, Central Park is wonderful, it's a really beautiful spot right in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Also recommend the Natural History Museum which is right alongside, if you're in to that kind of thing!

Have a nice trip!

stopdropandroll I’m going in just over a week and interested in ALL that have said so please tip away! Sorry for the hijack OP!

I've been to NYC twice and didn't find anything much cheaper than here, although we didn't really go for shopping so didn't look too hard. A 7 day metro card is fantastic value $32 and we found the subway system really easy to use. Food in restaurants is fairly expensive especially when you add 15-20% tip. We had one restaurant meal and one fast food type meal each day to keep costs down. A pizza big enough to feed 4 only costs about $20 from the takeaway places or sold by the (massive) slice for about $2-4 each. We really enjoyed the relaxed feel of Brooklyn and the views back toward Manhattan bare brilliant, food is also a bit cheaper over there.

Don't go near the pedicabs.
Food is expensive especially by the time you add on the suggested tip. Tipping is expected.
As a pp said don't go near the characters. You can get half proce Broadway tickets at the booths stations. Queue takes a little while but moves quick enough.
Look at the reviews on trip advisor for food as they are generally good. We ate lunch near 5th Ave in a big chain place it was beyond dire. Looked at the reviews after. Too late for us. Some hotels offer free brekkie load up.

I really liked the lower east side, I walked from there all the way to Central Park, through Greenwich Village, and it was my favourite thing.

The Tenement Museum is AMAZING!

Pizza at Arturio's, a real New York local place, was fab.

Mongolia Bakery is not overrated. The banana pudding... The chocolate cup cakes...

Get tickets for the UN building tour. You'll probably have to book before you go if you want a certain day/time.

The Ellis Island Museum was great, if you go to the Statue of liberty you can do that too.

If it's nice weather, walk across the Brooklyn bridge. There's some cool stuff to go do over there as well.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is awesome.

If you're into sports, go see something at Madison Square Garden, basketball or ice hockey.

Long time since we went but we loved the Frick gallery and second the pp re taking a boat trip and a visit to Ellis Island. Grand Central Station also worth a visit. We walked pretty much everywhere. Had lunch in Little Italy one day. It was like being in a film set as it looks so familiar even though we'd never been before.

That should be Magnolia Bakery, not sodding Mongolia!!!

I have to admit to have been watching earth cam (oh im so sad!) And have seen the disney characters in times square they do look a little i cant think of the word in your face i suppose! They remind me of laa ramblas in Barcelona where street acts distract you so they have an idea of who is an easy target... sorry im a little judgemental at times!!

I do love an open top bus tour, my feet are a little arthritic so we tend to do these to explore without it being too much for me, would you recommend the big bus company to be the best one?

Im not too sure to be fair what our priorities would be. I really want to do a little shopping or at least window shopping and want to tick Bloomingdales etc off. Possibly just the usual attractions ground zero is a deffinate one. Were not really museum people or art galaries people possibly if there was a free one (doubtful!)

Im going with my husband, doubt id have the opportunity to do it now but i would love to do it alone I love a good people watch!

Thanks for all the ideas so far - hubby will love the burger one!

Big Bus is the one I used. Most of these companies have mixed reviews online but I couldn't fault them to be honest. Really safe and convenient way to see the city and the tour guide pointed out a lot of stuff I would otherwise have missed.

Arriettyborrower not at all please come back and tell me all about it when you get home!

One of the best things we did was a walking tour with Foods of New York

Were going to be there for Macy's day parade, alas were not stopping in an hotel on route but going to get there really early im considering because i have loads of luggage allowence taking a light camping chair because to stand for hours would do me in (plus fingers crossed ill be standing for two!!) Anybody have any idea of whether itd be allowed in?

Get a New York Pass. I think it was about £120 for 3 days but gets you into the majority of the tourist attractions for free, inc the bus tour and the Empire State Building. Totally worth it.

If you want to go to the top of the Statue of Liberty, book your tickets as soon as possible. They limit the number of people who go up every day.
Book fast track tickets for the Empire State Building or go very early in the morning.

What time of year are you going? It can get extremely hot in summer and very cold mid winter.

The hop on hop off tours are great in summer (bloody freezing in winter!).

The high line is lovely for a spring, summer or Autumn walk.

The helicopter tours are expensive, but probably the best thing I've ever done in New York.

Central Park is wonderful at any time of year. Skating there in winter is fun and beautiful.

Grand Central Station and The New York Library (and Bryant park next to it) are two of my favourite buildings to wander around. Try and find the whispering subway under Grand Central - a walkway with four pillars - if you stand in the corner of a pillar and talk quietly you can talk to someone in the opposite corner. You'll know you're there as there will be people standing facing the corners of e pillars!

The Empire State Building is worth a visit. Macy's store is good for a wander, especially at Xmas when they've done the festive windows.

Oh and get the subway from the airport to your hotel. It’s really not difficult to navigate. You st the “skytrain” from the airport to “Jamaica” station then chances are you will be able to get a direct train to within a couple of blocks if your hotel. It costs a couple of bucks each.

Cabs are expensive, and so so slow in the stop / start Manhattan traffic. I think it took 80 mins and cost $90 inc tolls and tip. I was tearing my hair out by the time we got to our hotel.

If you email your hotel then will advise you on what train to get from the airport.

Sorry, just seen when you're going!

Another vote for getting to the Empire State first thing (8am) or late at night, otherwise you will be queuing for hours.

For best views go to Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Centre) - I recall they do a multiple entry ticket so you can see the views by day and night.
Other recommendations (mainly food related!)
Look out for diners where possible - if around Manhattan this takes some searching but I can recommend Westway Diner on 9th Ave.

Also best pizza can be found at NY Pizza Suprema opposite Penn Station and Madison Sq Gardens.

Chinatown also worth a visit! Juniors is a Brooklyn institution and famous for cheesecake - there is a branch in Times Square if you aren't heading to Brooklyn.