Quick NYC location advice please for those of you who are familiar with the city.

[bramblina]

Hi, DH and I are going to NYC first week in December, sans children, first time ever, for my big birthday.

We plan to visit;

The Highline
Staten Island ferry to see Statue of Liberty (not climb up)
9/11 memorial
Brooklyn Bridge
Times Square
TOTR
Possibly ESB
Grans Central Station
Central Park
Hopefully a show (will buy TKTS South Street Seaport, south east)
Macy's
Bloomingdales
Katz Deli

And I wonder where to stay? I found a lovely hotel but it's up along side Central Park (to the west) and wonder if this is just too far from everything we want to see? Will we end up finding the travelling a bit of a bind? So therefore I thought we'd be better near Times Square but think there are a lot of attractions we aim to see in the south west area- will it be best to stay in that area? How easy is it to travel around? Do you jump on the subway just like you would in London and not really consider it? Do we need to find a hotel near a station?

WWYD?

TIA

Oh nnnooooo!!!! It's great!!!!

You sound like it's all sorted but just to share a tip for shows, download the TKTS app. You then don't need to queue in person, just see the prices on the app and book. You can also enter lotteries for rock bottom price tickets. DP and I went to see Fun Home on cheap lottery tickets for about $30 and it was fantastic.

Thanks! I could do that now, couldn't I/ And then keep an eye on what they do?

Where do you do the lotteries?

CBH it is Bloomingdales that does the city themed baubles. I have them for every city I have lived (in the US) Apparently the freedom tower also has a viewing platform. A PP mentioned LIC, I want to big up Queens as the most up and coming area, it is like Brooklyn was 20 years ago, very very cool and interesting. I would also add the Guggenheim to your itinerary OP, and maybe a rooftop bar or two? The one at Eataly has good views of ESB and they are all heated and/or covered.

MsAmerica - That's so interesting re: Bloomingdales! Never thought about mark up rather than actual price. I don't go into either if I can help it - more of a T J Maxx girl myself! Morherfuckers ah okay, they must both do them then because I brave the aforementioned rude, dumb staff at Macy's every year to get one!

Transfer options:
A cab will be $90 pretty much right on the nose by the time you've paid tolls and tipped. It's a flat rate from JFK to Manhattan, and is the easiest option, but I can't bring myself to pay that unless I can expense it! Takes about 45 minutes in good traffic, more at peak times.

As you're staying right by the WTC, you could get the subway. From your terminal, you get the JFK airtrain to Jamaica ($5 each), then the E train straight from there to the end of the line (WTC). Takes just over an hour.

You can also get the LIRR (proper train, not subway), which takes about 20/30 minutes and costs about $7 per person, depending on time of day. The only issue with this is you still have to get the Airtrain to the station, and it drops you at Penn Station so you'd still have to get a cab/ the subway down to your hotel.

Personally, I'd get a cab if you can afford it and the E train if you can't! I've never got a shuttle bus so can't comment.

What's the difference/similarity between Bloomindales and Macy's? Is it a bit like Harrods and Harvey Nicholls? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I just assumed they were both huge department stores.

CharlesBaker, thank you so much again! I am going to write this down too! DOn't leave, I may have another question for you!!! Back tomorrow!

Both are pretty boring OP. Macy's is just a run-of-the-mill department store in every major town and Bloomingdales is very dated and also pretty dull.

Just reread your post CBH, I thought you were asking which store did city baubles. I am sure everywhere does them now!

I was in NY last week with kids. Was mega mega hot. Went 4 years ago sans and in winter. Two very different experiences. More homeless on streets in summer. The kids played in the water park features next to the Hudson River which was then taken over by homeless, obvious drug users showering. It didn't necessarily exactly feel unsafe though. Just edgy. If you live in s big city in uk it's no different. We saw no homeless in winter as apparently they are allowed to stay in the shelters during the day. I didn't know that at the time and was under the illusion that NY really had the answer to all of society's ills.

Anyway, first time went for blow the budget mandarin oriental next to Central Park. This time crowne plaza in Times Square. It was horrendous navigating TS but you really are in the centre. We used the citibikes. The bike tracks are brilliant and we covered up to 30k in a day. Along the Hudson River and around Central Park. On both trips we got a 48 hour bus tour which I LOVED. The tour guides are so informative and you can almost use them as public transport. Freezing in winter, oppressive in summer but still fab. You can see lots of NY on shanks's pony. It's ace but totally knackering !!

Whatever you do, don't book a shuttle service to and from the airport. We landed at JFK at 1.30pm, got through immigration at 4pm due to huge queues and several international flights landing at same time, and arrived at hotel at 8pm... we'd been up for 23 hours adding in the time we had to leave to get to Heathrow. We'd booked through BA and it was an added travel option which seemed sensible on booking, but really wasn't practical unless you're the 1st drop in Upper Manhattan. Cab is a great choice, just sit back and enjoy the ride!! And I wouldn't plan anything on the day you arrive just in case you are tired, the jetlag didn't bother my DH at all but I felt really ill from it.

Dingalong we are debating whether to buy coat etc here before we go or buy there too. I don't want to get there and be freezing without one, or waste a day or so looking for one. So I think I will buy before we go :)

We are just back from New York as stayed around 49th and Lexington.
Used the subway all the time with the kids and wandered around both alone with kids and with kids and dh.

Buses are also good if you can work them out as you get a bit of sightseeing on the way and a free transfer so you can basically get anywhere for 1 price.

You should be able to get a cab from the airport which are all pre priced or you could use a car company . We used Carmel Cars when our ore arranged transport didn't arrive . They have cars at the airport so take around 5 mins to arrive. You pay more for a bigger car , cabs only take 4 people . We paid $ 90 to get from Newark to mid town in a mini van for 5 people and 5 lots of luggage . There are lots of adverts and a little desk at Newark I autumn jfk would be the same .