New York, New York: any top tips on airlines, places to stay and places to see with a 5 yo and 2 yo?

[dinkystinky]

Off to New York at end of May for family wedding - planning on spending 2 days in Manhattan, 2 days at wedding venue in Arlington and 3 days with SIL and her little baby in Queens. The plan is to be mostly out and about during the day, so any top tips on things to do from wise MNetters would be much appreciated! Have been to NY several times before (once when DS1 was 2) so have done central park, ferry to staten island, top of the tower etc. already.

Our flight choices seem to be coming down to a choice between BA, United and Virgin. Any recent experiences and/or recommendations?

Finally, any good places to stay in Manhattan that you'd recommend for the first couple of days?

So excited - sorry for bombarding with questions!

Come on, some wise MNetters must have some tips for us...

Not United. Just no!.

Do price compare both BA and Virgin; it can vary a bit between the two airlines. Virgin's seats particularly in economy class can be rock hard and if you're tall you're going to be squashed.

BA's website is far easier than VA's to use.

If you are British citizens you will need to complete the ESTA (electronic travel authorisation) online for all passengers at least 3 days prior to travel. The US now charge for this; its $14 per application made.

Would consider flying into Newark rather than JFK (the staff at JFK tend to shout at the incoming pax, its just a horrid airport all round). It tends to be less hectic at Newark as well.

Thanks Attila - yes, I remember JFK being a horrid shouty place! Great top tip. And will avoid United like the plague then. Also didnt know about the ESTA - good to know.

marking

JFK needs to be bulldozed and started over again in my view hence the suggestion to use Newark instead. Staff there tend to be a bit more humane.

The API (advance passenger information) will also need to be completed for all passengers but that is free and can be done via the airline's website when making the booking. Do not forget either the API or ESTA particularly the ESTA as no ESTA completed = no travel to the US!.

We did the SS Intrepid a few years back and they loved it (so your 5 year old might). If they have seen Night at the Museum do the Natural History museum. Central park is always good, and mine liked the little Zoo there (quite small child sized).
Do make sure you take a buggy you can fold easily etc.

Ooh, SS intrepid sounds great. Did you stay anywhere you'd recommend mummytime?

Depending on where you live (ie if you have to have a connection through London) you should check prices with aer lingus through Dublin as you can quite often get good deals.

Thanks guys - bumping for the Friday crowd. Any recommendations for things to do in NY (kids liking the sound of the intrepid and natural history museum)?

Central park I would imagine must have things for children to do?

The waterfront at Seaport is a good outing - lots of shops and restaurants overlooking the water. Regular street performers e.g. magicians and a big old sailing ship.

There are several children's museums in NY (in the US a children's museum is not a museum - it has vaguely educational play activities for children).

There's a small zoo in Central Park and the park is huge.

The National History Museum is also huge. Dd particularly liked stoking the meteorite. There's also an The National Museum of the American Indian - not that big. It's at the end of Manhattan where you get the boat to Statten Island or the Statue of Liberty. My advice - don't fight your way onto a Statue trip - take the free ferry (big boats) to Statten Island and back and you will get a good vue of the Statue of Liberty.

We were last in NY and Arlington last summer - are you planning to get into Washington at all - it's right next to you. You could always get one of those bus passes that stops at all the major sights. Which reminds me - there are also open bus tours of Manhattan - only your neck starts to get stuck looking up all the time.

You can get last minute broadway show tickets for the big kids shows - but they're not cheap.

stroking, even

Sorry didn't read carefully enough - but I imagine the kds would love the ferry even if you've done it already? At least you are going at a sensible time of year - we really roasted last July.

Brilliiant - thanks Acinonyx. I think the boys would love the ferry to Statten Island - its just DH thats not so keen on repeating it again. Have done Washington a couple of times already (SIL lived there for a bit) and loved it but think we're going to keep it as a NY focused break this time.

Ps whereabouts did you stay in NY Acinonyx? Would you recommend it?

Mine loved all the things above plus Times Square at night, also the Museum of Modern Art, which we thought was a gamble but it was full of such weird and wonderful things they were very intrigued, also they do lovely cookies and milk in their cafe!! They were a bit worried about the Empire State building because there had just seen a Doctor Who episode where the daleks take it over!!

We also went to the cinema which was fun, also to old style diners for breakfast, travelling on the subway and in yellow cabs.

We did take them to Ground Zero on our way to the Staten Island ferry, which when we went was just a hole, but there is a church very nearby which is a memorial now. But ours were 10 and 8. DS was passionate about fire engines, so we took him to the fire engine museum/shop place.

I was doing a bit of fantasy holiday planning the other day and happened upon this list of the 50 best things to do with your kids in NYC - in fact the whole Time Out New York kids is full of useful info and inspiration!

Lucky you, it sounds like a fab trip - I haven't been to NY since having my dcs and would so love to take them one day soon. I remember going to the Metropolitan Museum and to FAO Schwartz as a child and loving them both.

Oh us FAO Shwartz was fun and I think it's next to the gorgeous Apple glass cube store.

Check out the Affinia Sherbourne hotel in New York. It's near to everything and has big rooms, or suites with seperate bedrooms and a little kitchen area with a fridge and microwave. I booked through lastminute.com and got a bargain (much less than expedia for the same hotel).

We mainly stay with friends and or with dh on business - and he never seems to chose very family friendly places .

Went to NewYork last May with DC who were 6 and 3. can highly recommend the Embassy suites down near Battery Park. Fabulous kids park across the road along by the river. Great hotel!

We sayed at the DoubleTree hotel on Lexington Avenue. Was really central, close to the underground, etc.

We have been twice with DD - at 7 and 8 years old. The first time there were three children - ged 7y, 6y and almost 4y. They loved it.

The bus tours were good.

The girls loved Toys R U, FOA Schwarz, Build a Bear and Disney Store - all much bigger than toy shops here.

There favourite museums were the Manhattan Children's Museum - has a whole floor for Dora and Diego :) - and the Natural History Museum - we spent a whole day there and still didn't see it all!

They really liked the Duck Tour.

What else did they love? TBH all of it! They loved just walking round, looking up at everything so high!

Two of them loved going up the Top of the Rock (other scared of heights) and they all enjoyed going ont he boat and seeing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

DD and the other two girls with us are all really good walkers and love being busy busy, out and about.

Both times I have been we flew with Virgin. I always chose Vurgin over BA these days - just don't feel I can trust BA to actully fly us anywhere what with their fondness of striking in the last couple of years. e like Virgin, even economy. The leg room has always been fine (Dh is over 6 foot and finds it no worse than any other long haul flight) ad the seats are comfortable imo. Virgin from heathrow is fab, as you get the upgraded planes with the greater chosice of moies, TV programmes and games.

Brilliant - thanks for all these recommendations guys. Great tip about the hotels too - hadnt thought of lastminute.com but will take a look nearer the time. Cant wait for our trip now!

FAO Schwarz is fab, fun staff and it's like a wonderland, you get completely lost in it! Have a Muppets and Bear building factories, Wonka sweetie centre etc.

MOMA is fascinating and they have headsets for audio tours, even a special childrens one which your 5 yo might like, plus kiddie packs and colouring kits etc.

Super expensive but going to the theatre...Lion King?

Is your 5 yo a boy? - I was going to say American Girl store on 5th Ave is a fave (must book in advance) but guessing not so appropriate for a boy!

Good photo opportunities for the album...

Have a pretzel/hotdog etc from one of the street stalls (not something we do every day in the UK!)

New York mounted Police Officers in Times Square are very sweet and will let your kids stroke the horse and have a photo taken with them (not so much the Officers with the Police dogs!)

Instead of staying in a hotel more and more people I know are renting apartments, so you have a kitchen etc and especially with kids your not having to 'eat out' for 3 meals a day.

BA or Virgin are both fine, I'd be swayed by price unless you've got a loyalty card with one or the other. The worse flight EVER was Continental - like going back in time, awful.

Thanks HollyBollyBooBoo - wondered if the kids might like MOMA (as I would) so good to hear it would be a hit (DS2 loves colouring too so would love it). Yes my 5 yo is a boy so sadly American Girl store would be wasted on him.

Good point about renting apartments - will look into that. Had heard about avoiding Continental like the plague