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Original poster

Would you go to New York on your own?

86 replies

OriginalM · 20/03/2022 20:02

Has anyone been to New York on their own?
I've wanted to go to New York for a very long time and after some difficult years I've decided to treat myself. The problem is due to various reasons my partner can't come so I'm looking at going on my own.
Will I enjoy it as much on my own? Or is part of the experience eating out together, seeing the sights together etc?
I know I will be able to do exactly what I want to do and see without my partner moaning about walking or getting up late but I'm worried I will not enjoy it as much as if he was able to come.
Anyone been on their own? Is it a solo traveller destination?

OP posts:
Doorbellssleighbellsschnitzel · 21/03/2022 09:14

Do it! It will be fabulous! If it were me, I'd be going to a show or two, going to museums, wandering through Central Park, sitting at the counter in delis and diners. As previous posters have said, do a bit of research in to where to book a hotel, and don't skimp on it, and position yourself where you're not reliant on the subway where possible.

Original poster
OriginalM · 21/03/2022 09:49

Thank you for all the replies I'm going to go! Is the safest place to stay near Central Park then?

OP posts:
JessicaPeach · 21/03/2022 10:03

Just choose a 'nice' hotel. Hotels in Times Square are all a bit tired and overpriced. My favourite area is midtown and soho. I've stayed at this one a few times, it's handy for the subway and lots of nice little cafes around

www.royaltonparkavenue.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs8DwrvnW9gIVXIFQBh3pBgTYEAAYASAAEgI78fD_BwE

JessicaPeach · 21/03/2022 10:04

There's a fb group called nyc the place to be which is good for tourist information. I avoid any hotel where the people in that group say 'oh it was fine, it's just somewhere to rest your head and sleep isn't it' tells you everything you need to know!

Ofcourse91 · 21/03/2022 10:07

Yes! I lived there for 5 years. More than happy to wander around by myself and to take the subway.

lauramarano · 21/03/2022 10:16

I've never travelled alone to New York before, only went there with my family but I do think it'll be fun place for a solo trip.

Honeyroar · 21/03/2022 10:16

We stayed in several hotels on Lexington avenue as crew. It’s a nice area, in between Grand Central Station and Central Park. Have a look at the Lexington hotel, The Fitzpatrick, and The Concorde hotels. There are Marriotts etc on that road too. We stayed near Times sq for a while and it was rougher and noisier.

QuizzicalEyebrows · 21/03/2022 10:47

I'd happily go in my own stay in the fanciest hotel I could afford so I could sit at the bar and eat in their restaurant sometimes if I felt awkward eating / drinking alone elsewhere at times

Hairbrush123 · 21/03/2022 22:05

Yes I definitely would. Research first thougu

Cheeseandlobster · 21/03/2022 22:16

I went in 2011. I wasn't alone but I spent a couple of days alone as my friends wanted to do different things to me. I had a ball. The people were so friendly ( though those I spoke to were also from out of town ranging from Texans to Canadians, I felt safe on the subway and the general vibe was fantastic

Botanica · 22/03/2022 04:27

I've been to NY on my own. It was amazing!

You'll have a fantastic time I am sure. Having the freedom to do things your way is liberating!

Letsshop · 22/03/2022 05:06

MrsSkylerWhite

No. Horrible place with or without company. Rudest people on earth.

Absolutely agree with this, dirty overpriced, rude staff all over, from the hotel shops, transport, to the staff at US Open which I went to see. Dont get me started on JFK The whole place was underwhelming for me, really sad as I have wanted to visit for so many years.

I have travelled a lot and not many places I would not go back to New York is No 1 on my list

Supersee · 22/03/2022 08:26

I've been twice alone, it's great! Would've been three times if it weren't for Corona.

Staying in the best hotel you can afford would be my advice if you wanted to sit and have a drink/meal in the bar/restaurant. That's a downside of solo travel, sitting in restaurants alone isn't my fav thing to do.

rainwilder · 22/03/2022 09:39

If you don't like the idea of eating alone, I'd recommend doing a couple of group food tours during your stay. I did an amazing one in Chelsea Market that lasted a whole morning - a guide took us around telling us about its history etc and we stopped at about 6 places to sample food (standouts were a fried oreo with fresh cream, a huge slice of pizza and some great noodles - go with an empty stomach!). There were about 10 of us in the group from all over the world and I really enjoyed mixing with them while we sampled the food.

There's also a huge Starbucks Reserve Roastery next door which is interesting and a nice place to chill out and people watch.

HundredMilesAnHour · 22/03/2022 12:25

@rainwilder

If you don't like the idea of eating alone, I'd recommend doing a couple of group food tours during your stay. I did an amazing one in Chelsea Market that lasted a whole morning - a guide took us around telling us about its history etc and we stopped at about 6 places to sample food (standouts were a fried oreo with fresh cream, a huge slice of pizza and some great noodles - go with an empty stomach!). There were about 10 of us in the group from all over the world and I really enjoyed mixing with them while we sampled the food.

There's also a huge Starbucks Reserve Roastery next door which is interesting and a nice place to chill out and people watch.

I'm doing the same tour of Chelsea Market this Sun Smile

I was in San Francisco alone last month and did a small group wine tour to Sonoma and it was a great way of meeting people and having some fun, whilst having the advantage of being independent and free to do what I wanted still. It was extra nice then bumping into some of the people I'd met in SF the next morning. Made me feel like I lived there (or could at least pretend to myself I did lol).

skgnome · 22/03/2022 12:35

Sort of did it (about 15 years ago) - I spent 2 days by myself before DH joined me - it was absolutely fine - we had been before so I sort of knew the area I was staying and just did a ton of research beforehand so I had a big plan on things to do and see by myself
Breakfast and lunch was fine by myself, no one even cared, for dinner I just did takeaway in my hotel room
I never felt unsafe - but again, 15 years ago and I knew what areas to avoid, and I skipped obvious tourist attractions, guess I fitted in somehow, since people approached me to get directions…

WoolyMammoth55 · 23/03/2022 11:36

Hi OP, I lived in Brooklyn for a few months in 2019 and at that point was very happy to explore Manhattan on the rare moments I could get to myself. If you're going in Spring then you'll want to walk as much as you can, but the subway - while obviously grubby and rickety - is used daily by millions of people, so in central areas should be no problem at all.

Unmissable must-dos: the Met, the Guggenheim, the Frick, MOMA, a theatre show, the Central Park cherry blossom, having dim sum for brunch in Chinatown, eating a cruller from Daily Provisions and buying 12 to take out! If you have time to roam further afield then Statue of Liberty is nice and going up the Empire State is fine... but I had lots of fun just wandering into a random cinema screening because it rained, and following my nose to fun vibey bars of an evening.

It's such a vibrant fun city that you'll always have fun being there, and I always feel like it's much easier to have fun alone in a city with tons to do. Enjoy!

pixie5121 · 23/03/2022 18:42

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request.

reluctantbrit · 26/03/2022 20:07

I went, for work but due to the timing I had 3 weekends off and for 2 weeks I was on my own in the evenings.

I liked it. I was able to go and see what I wanted, I did get tips from my work connections but otherwise I went by what I found via the travelbooks. I went to shows on my own and ate out.

Saying that, I would definitely look for a safe area to stay in, that may be more expensive but worth it.

Porridgeislife · 26/03/2022 20:15

Ordinarily, yes, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

But, not at the minute. We were there last month and it’s still a sad shadow of its former self. Manhattan is primarily offices (with a lot of residential) but hardly anyone is back in & the city has suffered. Barely any restaurants in some areas were open at lunch and shops were empty with sales staff milking around. We were one of a handful of people at some tourist destinations which were running cut down offerings.

I’ve never been worried about safety on their subway but having a (likely) homeless man openly masturbate opposite us then follow us (two women) onto our next train at 11am was a new low.

London is comparatively buzzy now so it was surprising and sad to see that Manhattan was still very subdued. We stayed in Brooklyn’s Park Slope near friends which was much busier as it’s more residential, but again the downtown was pretty grim.

Porridgeislife · 26/03/2022 20:18

For context I regularly travelled to NYC for work pre Covid and visited friends most years so have good memories of Manhattan pre Covid Sad

DinaofCloud9 · 27/03/2022 16:59

I found New Yorkers a mixed bag. (Same as anywhere else i suppose) Our hotel staff were very rude but I was looking at my map for the Friends building and a couple of locals came to help me and couldn't have been nicer.

So yes I would go on my own. Grin

CornishGem1975 · 27/03/2022 17:04

I would have as I love NYC and have been a couple of times...but not after the past few years. Crime (including violent crime/murder) has risen massively in the past couple of years and that would be enough to put me off. It's not the same place as it was - which is also true of other cities in the US as well.

Barrawarra · 27/03/2022 17:07

Yes I went with DH but had several days myself, was great fun wandering about exploring. People were so friendly too. I have to say I was never attracted to going to America at all and I learned a lot about my prejudices when I went there.

Soffit · 27/03/2022 17:11

Yep, I did this all the time for work but I love my own company. I would most certainly prefer to go with my DC nowadays. They love it. We are just waiting for the covid insanity to die down so that we can roam unrestricted.

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