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Original poster

6 days in New York - help me with an itinerary please

153 replies

BigSandyBalls2015 · 15/08/2017 14:25

We're going for Easter next year with two teenage DDs (mid-teens).

I haven't been for 25 years. Most of our holidays involve getting up late and chilling by a pool/the beach with a few watersports or a mooch round a village after lunch, so this is very different and I don't want to waste it, so I'm thinking an itinerary would be good.

Can you give me some ideas of 'must do's' re: sightsteeing etc and also where to eat. It's DH birthday whilst we're there so a plan for that would be good.

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ihatethecold · 10/04/2018 21:50

Brill.
We are going tomorrow.
We’ve had a horrendous day with our poorly dog so we are hoping for a miracle tomorrow so all 4 of us can still go.

LonghaulLaura · 10/04/2018 21:57

Good luck with your travel plans ihatethecoldand sorry about your poorly dog. Take plenty of layers and hats, scarves etc. The weather reports in the news were all ‘where is Spring?’ I think they were hoping for temperatures to rise by the middle of this week. Still had a fab time though. Really hope you all get to go!

Follyfoot · 10/04/2018 22:21

Top tip from DD who lived in NYC. Dont buy tickets to go to the top of the rock - go to the bar there instead - Bar 65 at Rainbow Rooms.

Follyfoot · 10/04/2018 22:23

Just seen that someone else has already posted about Bar 65!

bitofabelly · 14/04/2018 09:57

Following

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 14/04/2018 10:13

I'm guessing you cant take under 21's there though @Follyfoot ?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 14/04/2018 10:18

That bar only serves people who are 21 years and older. Their dress code is also "cocktail chic" so no trainers permitted. They also advise patrons to reserve a table in advance because occasionally the bar is closed for private events.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 14/04/2018 10:50

I think the DSC would combust if I tired to direct them into anything resembling 'proper' clothing!

Top of the rock it is then for us! Last time I went to NY I went up the Empire State Building (and the WTC!) is top of the rock better?

ihatethecold · 14/04/2018 11:33

I’m here now. It’s been so warm.
We have been getting our early so it’s not too busy. The 9/11 memorial museum was very good.
Really glad we went there.
Did the free Staten Island ferry
The food tour in Chelsea market was a real highlight. The tour guide is brilliant. Just make sure you don’t eat breakfast!

LonghaulLaura · 14/04/2018 15:16

Glad you got to go ihatethecold and that the weather has warmed up. Top of the Rock didn’t involve much in the way of a queue but was mobbed when we went at sunset. My favourite tall building was One World Observatory because it was more spacious and done so well. I loved Chelsea Market, went there twice as my DD loved the Pearl River shop and bought her friends some little presents in there. The second time we went there we took a stroll along the Highline - I loved the perspective it gave on the old and new architecture. Am really pining for the place now I’m home and am really envious 😄By the way my DD wore her Fitbit and there wasn’t a day where we did less than 20,000 steps!

saladfingers · 14/04/2018 15:28

If your teenage DD's or DP are into hip hop, rap culture, graffiti or breakdancing I can highly recommend Hush tours. We had a well known rapper as our tour guide and my DH enjoyed every minute. It was a lot of fun.

ihatethecold · 14/04/2018 20:16

We’ve just cycled round Central Park. That was fun but hit and knackering

I got a city Go card that saved us loads of money.
We got into 3 places that totalled £20 pp per entry.
We did the 911 museum, ESB and a days hire of bikes.
There is an app that you use and you jump all the queues.
Well worth buying online before you travel.

LonghaulLaura · 14/04/2018 22:53

ihatethecoldI highly recommend you visit Eataly near the FlatIron if you like foodie things - it was an amazing space with food outlets and places to eat and all kinds of fresh food for sale - I actually got lost in there and had to ask for a map to get back to my family who were in the cafe!

ihatethecold · 15/04/2018 02:09

I’m leaving tomorrow morning. 😭
We have eaten some great food though.
I’m staying right by an amazing food market called Dekalb in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn has been great to stay in. So much character going on around us.

LonghaulLaura · 15/04/2018 15:22

I think if/when we go back we’d probably go for an Air BnB in Brooklyn as we loved the glimpse we had of it on our last day. And now we are expert navigators of the subway we can see how accessible it is. Have a safe trip back!

Wigeon · 15/04/2018 16:33

Thanks for this thread (even though it was started in August last year!) - we’re thinking of taking the DC next year when they’ll be almost 8 and 10 (getting on for 11). How is the weather usually in the Easter holidays? Posters on this thread are saying both that it’s been snowy and warm...?!

Wigeon · 15/04/2018 16:36

Longhaul Laura most Airbnb is illegal in New York - eg see here and lots of other reports.

MozzchopsThirty · 15/04/2018 16:46

No it's not

Only if they're subletting an entire dwelling

We stayed in an Airbnb Olin Brooklyn last year, perfectly legal as only one room in someone's apartment

AttilaTheMeerkat · 15/04/2018 16:52

Laura

Finding an actual legal apartment rental in NYC and the five boroughs is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Many such apartments are actually sublet illegally by the tenant who is not able to do so as part of their lease terms. Also the veracity of such listings is never checked. Stay in a hotel instead, there are plenty to suit all budgets.

Did the tenant remain in the building with you though Mozzchops?. If not, the apartment was in all likelihood sublet to you illegally. Practically all such rentals in Manhattan and the five boroughs are illegal and the likes of Airbnb are being clamped down on.

MozzchopsThirty · 15/04/2018 17:03

Yes they did
So was legal letting

Barely saw them, we were on very different timelines

Amiable · 15/04/2018 17:16

Best kept secret is that you can dine in the Delegates Dining Room at the U.N.!

Went with my DM about 18 months ago! You need to make a reservation:
delegatesdiningroom-un.com/restaurant/
make sure you arrive at least 30 mins before your reservation time - security checks take ages, and for goodness sake make sure you dress smartly, we nearly didn't get in because of mum's walking shoes!

We did buy a New York Pass, I know other posters have said don't bother, but we got our money's worth.

Tour of the Rockefeller Centre was great, try and time it so you are in a small group- they leave on time regardless of how many people there are, so the group ahead of us had about 30 people, and ours had 3! The guide was brilliant, and the building is so interesting.

We also did an audio tour of Grand Central, which we both loved.

We loved Penney's for shopping, and had fab cocktails and food at The Smith, 1150 Broadway, which was v close to our hotel on West 32nd St - we went there 3 times in 5 days!

I loved New York and would go back in a heartbeat.

Amiable · 15/04/2018 17:27

Just a couple of additional notes, we stayed in the NYMA hotel on west 32nd and would highly recommend it. We got a deal including breakfast which is pretty rare in NY! There is a roof bar with fabulous views on the Empire State, only 2 blocks away.

Intrepid museum was great ( much more interesting than I'd expected!) and walking Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday morning was lovely.

We were actually there when Trump got elected president. NY is not a Trump City (to say the least!), so there were loads of demonstrations for the next few days, including on the Saturday, they closed 5th Ave to traffic and we walked up the centre of the road with all the protesters, a real family event and way more good natured than my experience of demos over here!

LonghaulLaura · 15/04/2018 22:14

Ah I thought it was just illegal in Manhattan? Will read the link about it in more detail. Anyway we wanted the hotel experience this time as it was our first time there with our kids and it felt part of the whole experience to stay in a fancy hotel. Didn’t look into it once we knew it definitely wasn’t a possibility on Manhattan. Would definitely be interested in having an apartment style hotel room next time as it was a bit of a squeeze only being able to lounge on beds or sit on the one small chair. The hotel was expensive enough being just two double beds in one room. Might do a bit more direct negotiation with hotels the next time to see if we can negotiate a better price on a a more ‘suite-like’ room. Either that or try and win the lottery 😄

LonghaulLaura · 15/04/2018 22:30

wigeon the weather was freezing most of the time and the first couple of days it actually snowed and settled for the day, then became sleety and rainy. We then had about 4 sunny, crisp days but I really regretted not bringing my heavy winter coat. However Easter was quite early and we arrived April 1st - I know it started to warm up from 8th onwards. Just be prepared for all weathers is my advice. Glasgow felt positively balmy when we got home 😄

ihatethecold · 15/04/2018 23:07

We got a bit of sunburn these past few days. It was 24 degrees yesterday.
We took too many warm clothes with us.

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