new york

[gillys]

hi. can i have your top tips for first time visitors to new york please.

I assume you have booked a hotel? Where are you based?

We enjoyed the usual sights: Empire State Building, Staten Island Ferry to get a view of the Stautue of Liberty, Ellis Island Central Park, MoMa, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 5th Avenue, SoHo and Grenwich Village for old charm, Brooklyn Bridge (not so keen on the Twin Towers memorial site), the High Line (first class), Chelsea Market, Times Square (not that wonderful), The Chyrsler Building, Penn Station etc. Get a Lonely Plant Guide. We find they are the best.

Sorry - meant Grand Central Station - not Penn station!

thanks bo, we are booked near hell's kitchen on tenth ave. was planning to see the main sites, wondered if there was any top tips. we have bought a city pass. also wondering about good places to eat that arent too expensive ?

also what is the high line please ?

We did Top of the Rock rather than Empire State. That way, you get a view of the empire state, and you can also see a beautiful overview of Central Park, which you don't get from Empire State.
things change all the time - when are you going?
if you google - good places or cheap eats new york, you'll get some fab places.
Usual rules apply though, we didn't eat in the main squares, we went off the beaten track into side streets and found somewhere less touristy.

We swear by Lonely Planet for recommendations - also try Time Out. Cheap Eats good too.

There are a few things about NY and the USA in general. Tax and Tipping! You pay about an 8% tax on everything you buy but is added at the till. It is not on the price tag or menu. Tipping is expected in all restaurants. At bars. The bellhop and the guy who flags down the taxi! The rate is double the tax in a restaurant and $1-2 at the bar etc. New Yorkers will give 20% for good service in a restaurant. Factor these costs in. Hotel breakfasts can be very expensive. Often a local diner will be cheaper. Try and do a Trip Advisor search for your area. Usually value places come up. Or look at Eater, New York Magazine, Serious Eats and Grub Street.

Check if you are near a subway line. It is cheap but grim! Taxis are better and not too expensive. Tip again! The £/$ exchange is horrible so don't buy too much: no bargains any more.

Draw up an itinerary that is manageable and cuts down on transport costs. E.g. Central Park is near the Metropolitan Museum for example. You can do the Brooklyn Bridge and Ground Zero. Hells Kitchen is west mid town and not much there by way of the big sights. However East of there is Times Square, Top of the Rock, the Radio City Music Hall (an Art Deco gem), MoMa and Broadway. You can also get to the Chrysler Building, the Rockefeller Centre, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue (Tiffanys) and St Patrick's Cathedral. The cruise ship
Piers are to your west and the High Line starts at W30th St. Great views over the Hudson River from there. The northern extension should be complete now. Stop off at Chelsea Market for a quick browse and a coffee. Lie on the DVF loungers.

Have a great time.

thats brilliant bo, thanks so much x