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Original poster

anyone been in to New York with a toddler?

25 replies

allycotownofbethlehem · 14/12/2005 11:26

I have really really always always wanted to go to New York, like really, always.

Am pg now due in April and so know won't be able to go for a good while after that.

DD is nearly sixteen months old and was wondering if it is a good idea to think about going whilst there is still time (ie before it's too late for me to fly)

anyone done it?

TIA

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swedishmum · 14/12/2005 13:59

I went with dd at 6 weeks along with 3 other kids, and one time took dd at 5. I'd go - I'd always wanted to go and it was just as fantastic as I imagined. I love love love it. We've been twice in winter - was fab walking in the snow in Central Park. Wrap your toddler up warm. Restaurants were absolutely great although you'll obviously do different stuff from without the kids. I've been three times now and would never miss out on an opportunity to go again - am trying to work out logistics of going in Jan (sales!) when dh goes for work, and I'll take my nearly 2 year old. One thing, subway wasn't as easy to get buggy round as I'd thought.

Original poster
allycotownofbethlehem · 14/12/2005 14:06

thanks swedishmum - meant to pop into travel agents this lunchtime for some brochures but forgot so will go in tomorrow.

How long is the flight??

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swedishmum · 14/12/2005 15:56

About 7 hours. We've gone at 5 or 6 pm from London which meant arriving at our hotel about 10pm ish which gave us a chance for a drink etc before bed, then a decent night's sleep. We've travelled back in the evening too, making sure we get as much sleep as possible so we arrive back early morning and not too shattered (in theory).

coribells · 14/12/2005 16:04

Hi
Dont have any advice, but I am going at the end of January with a 4 year old. I am also pregnant and am due in May. I have also really really always wanted to go, so we are taking this last oppurtunity. There are some really cheap flights around for January. We got return flights with virgin from Heathrow for around £230.00- I am so excited, cant wait. We have decided not buy each other chrissie presents this year, and save all the cash to go shopping NEW YORK.

gemmamay · 14/12/2005 21:13

Hi - Yes we went in July with a 2 year old. Stayed out in Long Island for most of the trip but ventured into the city one day.

Went to FAO Shrawtz (spellong!!) which has storytelling etc which she loved and air conditioning which was a good send!

We parked miles away and walked loads but generally was OK.

Like all holidays, don't pack too much in, factor in eating etc etc and all will be OK.

Be prepared for the most intense and concentrated parenting on the plane - my DD stayed awake the all the way out - i have never spent 7 hours solid looking/entertaining her!

swedishmum · 14/12/2005 23:11

Sales on till end of Jan. Even in Feb I bought loads of Ralph Lauren stuff for baby dd at Tesco prices in the sale. I love it and really hope you do too.

Original poster
allycotownofbethlehem · 15/12/2005 14:25

aarggh - forgot brochures again!!!

Must admit the thought of 7 hours on a plane with my 15-month-old DD sounds like Hell on Earth.

Are you all SURE it is worth it

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jellyjelly · 15/12/2005 14:51

I dont have any advice but i am so jealous as i really really want togo.

BluStocking · 15/12/2005 14:57

Forget brochures, get a TimeOut guide to NY, and book your flights / hotel on the 'net.

Original poster
allycotownofbethlehem · 15/12/2005 16:35

blu I am so pathetic I would rather pick something from a book with eerything sorted for me than do any real legwork meself.

Someone recommended Virgin as very good for both flights and accommodation.

I am getting more and more determined to go...

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merglemergle · 15/12/2005 17:02

Have you seenthis ?

A friend gave me her book before ds was born + its very funny.

Heathcliffscathy · 15/12/2005 17:20

YES!!!! we went with ds when he was 17 month old last march and we all loved it...it was a roaring success.

if you possibly can, get him his own seat....but whatever you do, do go....it was fabulous, he really loved the airport (so much stuff to see) and the flight was ok (he cried for about 15 mins at one point but then went to sleep, and i totally forgot, but you can't really hear the crying if you're even 2 seats away as the cabin pressure thingy i actually really noisy in an airconditioner unit way).

on pier 17 (i think i'ts 17) there is a toddler playgym, we took the staten island ferry, he loved seeing the taxis, and the hustle and bustle of it all.

i love New York but was scared to go with ds and dh and mumsnetters convinced me to and it was one of the best holidays we've ever had!

hth

merglemergle · 15/12/2005 17:24

I really want to go now!

I have dd 5 mo and ds 2 yo and suspect it is inadvisable with 2 of them though. so go now!

Heathcliffscathy · 15/12/2005 17:27

we flew virgin (excellent apart from breaking my buggy on the way back, be warned) and stayed at The Alex (thanks to princesspeaheads' recommendation!) and it was superb. don't know what your budget is but if you can stretch to one of their 2 bed suites you get a kitchenette and 2 bathrooms!!!! it was superb. the service isn't fantastic, but the location and the view and room really are.

newkid · 15/12/2005 17:30

how much was the alex? Just been on their site and it looks great.

Heathcliffscathy · 15/12/2005 17:33

i honestly can't remember....it wasn't cheap, but dh was on business so some of the cost was covered by that, and it compared very favourably with the big name hotels in nyc.

Roobietherednosedreindeer · 15/12/2005 17:37

We went to NY for a long weekend when dd was 18mo and it was great - we stayed at the Lexington (I think) which was OKish if a little cramped with her cot in as well. We mainly just chilled out, strolled around (Soho, Greenwich Village, Central Park, Midtown etc) stopping for yummy food in diners etc. We also did Empire State. Tbh dd was knackered most of the time due to jet lag so was quite happy to sit in her pushchair and let us do what we wanted.
We were really surprised at how friendly and well-disposed to children everyone was - for such an apparently 'hard-nosed' place we felt really at ease all the time.
In the evening we just chilled out with takeaways in our hotel room drinking beer and watching movies - as I said, dd zonked out pretty quickly so wasn't kept awake by our nattering.

Original poster
allycotownofbethlehem · 16/12/2005 09:41

REALLY WANT TO GO.

Am deffo going to travel agents this lunchtime.

But need to be quick about booking as I'm 23 wks pg now....

Still, it's not the sort of place you go for the weather is it.

Although am worried about jet lag (mainly for the DDs), and the flight (deffo because of the littlest DD)

AND thanks sophable, will look into the Alex as I'd rather have something with separate bedrooms..I've never understood this idea of one room for four adults sort of thing (that's a different holiday completely ).

Have you their website details??

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coribells · 16/12/2005 15:12

Have at look at Ebookers hotels for short let apartments in NY. Some are quite reasonable.

dizzy34 · 16/12/2005 15:17

How about the double tree suites in times square. They have a bedroom with two queensize beds and a living room with a double bedsettee, plus other amenities which are useful(plus when you check in you get a big, warm choc chip cookie). i think it is
www.doubletree.com you then just choose the date and the area from the drop down boxes. The newyork helmsley on 42nd street also have suites, if you contact them directly they will give you a price. i am going on the 12th january with my kids aged 15yr,11yrs,11yrs. i am leaving the two year old with my mum.

Original poster
allycotownofbethlehem · 16/12/2005 16:46

dizzy what does 2yr old think about being "left out" (for want of better phrase)?

Not that I would be able to get anyone to take any of mine of my hands while I went anywhere

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lexiemum · 16/12/2005 21:46

just wanted to add - flew virgin in jan to the carribean and it was fantastic service and great care taken of children , except for the 2yr old behind me who vomited right through the descent. MAde my mind up there and then that I wouldn't travel with DD1 later in the year because I knew I wouldn't be able to cope with it. I know that it might not happen to mine but would fret too much that it would. Was also pregnant with dd2 at time and had to deal with horrendous sickness and vomiting on rtn flight - the worst of the whole pregnancy. We were very lucky that dd1 went to grannies for the duration.

dizzy34 · 16/12/2005 23:23

Hi allycotownofbethlehem,

2 yr old is blind, quadriplegic, fed through a tube into his tummy, stops breathing and needs suction to clear his airways and sometimes oxygen and has up to 150 seizures per day. my mum is his full time carer so he is used to being with her. However, i have to say that this is not the sole reason that we are not taking him. since he was born we have taken him to florida twice, portugal, valencia, majorca and drove all the way through france, into switzerland and germany. He is part of the family and goes everywhere with us but personally (and this is just a personal opinion and i wouldnt discourage anyone else from doing it) wouldnt take any 2 year to new york. we are going to shop, sight see and visit mueseums and he would be stuck in a buggy for hours. we went last year, just me and dh, and i wore a pedometer, some days i was walking 17,000 steps. The other reason is that the other kids need some attention. we spend alot of time with the litle one, and the older ones are fab and have learnt to give him his meds, look after him during a seizure and can even clear his airways is i am not in the room. They always make time for playing with him and the 15yr old takes him in his room with his mates, so i want to show them how special they are.

fefifofum · 17/12/2005 18:11

Definitely - I've been to NY alot and can't wait to take my toddler.
Central Park alone is great, even if they can't take part in things the toddlers will love it : ice scating, playground (they can climb on the famous alice in wonderland sculpture), the Bronx zoo (not been myself but sounds good).

Staten island ferry will take you past the statue of Liberty and only about about a $, better than paying a fortune for going to it on a special cruise, and the little one would like being on a boat.

FAO Schwartz, the ultimate toy shop, empire state building.

The Planetarium, they might enjoy the trip thro the universe (360 degree film thing) tho I think it may be expensive - you could go at nap time so baby falls asleep in the dark while you watch the show!

Horse and buggy ride thro Central park might be nice.

The Natural History museum has some great bits, lots of animals to point out in the dioramas and stuff.

There are lots of little parks here and there to let her loose. Most things are within walking distance or you can go on the underground.

Hope that helps

Original poster
allycotownofbethlehem · 19/12/2005 11:12

wow dizzy...

must admit that is a bit offputting for me too - the thought of DD being stuck in her buggy for a lot of the time...

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