New York accomodation. I'm so overwhelmed

[HEPolicy]

My best friend and I have made a rash last minute decision to head to NY in mid September and I just don't know where to begin.

I've wanted to go for decades but because we're going so soon, have no time to plan and lots of the hotels are booked.

Advice on here is avoid Times Square, and Mid Town. So that leaves Soho/downtown I guess?

We could do a package with BA or Virgin; anyone recommend a good package company for New York?

I'm treating her to the accommodation and can essentially spend as needed but don't want to waste money . Only real requirement is we need a room with two beds, or a suite.

Help! Please!

Yes it is illegal and you could get there and it not exist etc. when we did it it worked out fine but we would have been fine to find and book a hotel somewhere else in an area we'd be fine with etc having already been a lot. Absolutely wouldn't risk it first time.

I’ve been recently and apart from Times Square not being as I imagined it didn’t feel unsafe.

I would avoid air bnb as they’re pretty much all illegal as above

That should say Times Square not being as I remembered not as I imagined ^

I’ve been a few times in the last 10 years and Times Square was always a must see but it was a dump this time.

but yes as I said it otherwise felt as safe as it had in past trips, although we did use taxis quite a bit over subway (did take the subway a few times)

Just got back - I work over there occasionally - and I agree that Times Square has changed a lot. The main issue for me was since cannabis was legalised, it seems like everyone and his dog was smoking it. The thick smell of it in the city summer heat was nauseating. You smelt it everywhere you went but Times Square was particularly bad.

HOWEVER, that area is a great central location for getting about. Walking distance to so many places of interest if you don’t feel like getting the subway. It’s also where all the hop on / hop off buses start their routes. An expensive way to get around but very good for first time tourists.

If you can find somewhere in the area of W44th to 50th Streets so close to Times Square but away from the crazy then you’ll be very well located. We stayed at the Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square - two double beds and a sofa bed. Very clean, new hotel, nothing fancy.

My favourite part of NYC is the Upper West Side. Totally different vibe - feels more villagey, and better places to eat. We stay at the Mandarin Oriental which is £££ but lovely.

I've seated Midtown/Murray Hill and liked it, don't know why anyone would say to avoid. It's a great central location, and enough away from all the mayhem at the end of the day when you want to chill!

Thanks all, we've ended up at a Hilton in midtown. Really cheap which was not a criteria but lots of the naice hotels were booked.

We were eyeing up Arlo soho but their only double rooms were towns, for a grand more than the Hilton upgraded rooms with two doubles.

I did find though that lord of the hotels we looked at - Sheraton, Andaz, Belvedere etc all had a slew of awful reviews in the last 6-12 months. Seems like the industry is really struggling to bounce back. Very few seemed to be linked to stuff shortages though.

So now I get to do the fun planning! We've got 5 days/nights and so starting a list:

Highline
Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty
Central Park obvs
Maybe the comedy store
Empire State Building

Anyone have good restaurants/bars? Especially any with a skyline view?

There were a lot of typos in my post:
*twins not towns
*lots not lord
*staff not stuff

Airbnb was more or less regulated out of existence in NYC:

www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/overview-airbnb-law-new-york-city.html

OP, I'm a New Yorker. Midtown is lovely, and central. No reason not to stay there. See if you can book a meal at Union Square Cafe:

www.unionsquarecafe.com./

It's a gem - beautiful, relaxed, outstanding food and service. And it's in midtown. 😀

@MissConductUS very jealous!

Is midtown a really big area or have I been missold a bit? We're up on w53rd/6th which seems really far from that restaurant?

We stayed at the Hilton on 5th avenue. Only a short walk to Central Park, Times Square and Rockefeller centre. There were 2 doubles in the room.

Another time I stayed in the Salisbury hotel which was good for a larger group (5 of us). Similar location to the Hilton above.

We went to New York a few years ago for the second time. So glad we asked for recommendations on MN second time round. We stayed in Brooklyn. That way, you can look out to the famous NYC skyline and have more space. Lots of quirky restaurants and shops and it’s easy to travel into the city centre.

A bit of both. Your location at 53rd and 6th is fine, by the way. That's a nice area. Do check out Radio City and Rockafeller Center. You'll be right there. You'll be at the northern edge of midtown, and Union Square Cafe is at the southern edge. It's just a few stops on the subway (the 4, 5 or 6 train) or a very manageable cab ride down 5th Avenue. If you want a meal there, book today on the website.

Metropolitan Museum
Dinner at a jazz club like Birdland
Walk towards nyc over the Brooklyn Bridge
Take in the museum at Elllis Island as part of the trip to the Statue of Liberty.

TimeOut NY is indispensable.

www.timeout.com/newyork

Depending on your interests, I'd try to get to the Intrepid Museum and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

I'll try to answer any questions if you like.

We always stay in Brooklyn in an Airbnb. The transport is excellent and you get so much more space for your money. Plus Brooklyn is very cool!

This is so helpful @MissConductUS thank you!

I feel like it'll be years before I can get back so just want to soak it all up and see everything!

I did this with 2 teenagers, to save money, and wished I hadn't! The trips to and fro were a pain, waiting for buses, traipsing thorough the stations, dealiing with angry locals...and it means that you can't go back to your room during the day if you fancy some down time, or want to drop shopping off. It also limits you if you want to do stuff in the evenings.

We were there a couple of weeks ago and stayed in midtown
Walked a lot and just grabbed yellow cabs when too tired
Look at NewYorkPass to cover lots of attractions for a set price - we saved loads over our 5 days

Did the following in case the itinerary helps We didn’t buy subway passes, walked a lot (ave 18k steps a day)
It covered everything with a * below - definitely had our money’s worth - worked out we had $584 worth for $232 cost of 5 day pass!

Day 1
Flew Virgin from Heathrow, no issues at all
Landed JFK 12.15, through security and in Prems Luxury SUV transfer by 1.15 and at Stewart Hotel by 2pm where our room was ready - brilliant view from terrace and spacious (will post a separate review with pics)
Times Square
Empire State Building*

Day 2
Hop on hop off bus*
China town
Walked the Brooklyn Bridge
Pebble beach
DUMBO for lunch then Lyft to pier 17
Clipper ship harbour cruise*
Wall St & Trinity Church
Back on the bus which dropped us near hotel

Day 3
Rockerfella Plaza
St Patrick’s Cathedral
Central Park
The Ride*
Madame Tussaud’s*
Top of the Rock*

Day 4
9/11 memorial & museum*
Oculus
One world observatory*
The Edge*
Hudson Yards/Vessel
Harbour lights cruise*

Day 5
Had a lie in!
Intrepid*
Rise NY*
Little Island
The High Line
Packed ready for train to Washington DC

We had a very good stay once at the Bentley Hotel which is sort of (I think) Upper East Side, towards the Roosevelt Island cable car. From memory it was one of those bookings where you pick the price and category but not the hotel itself (like Lastminute do). I’d highly recommend it, easy enough to walk to Central Park (a few blocks) but quite quiet. though would be worth checking recent reviews obviously.

We went in April over Easter and stayed at the Arlo Midtown (I know you have already booked a hotel) and I would definitely be aware of the very high numbers of homeless around and with serious mental health concerns, so I would be prepared for that...

That said we enjoyed our stay very much, having visited before a few times and we loved One Vanderbilt building, also walked the high line again. Booked a Broadway show and looked up Michelin guide restaurants for fine dining and booked (we had to set an alarm for some in the early hours to book the date we wanted). Don't do The Edge, waste of money, for views and experience Vanderbilt at sunset was better.

We did a tour /history of the subway, very interesting and a day at the Jersey Mall Garden one(via bus Port Authority) shopping and it was very good value. You can also go to Philadelphia for the day via the train and go round a prison😁) If you like craft beer, some really nice places to visit as well.

So much to do.. really, we are thinking of going back next Easter as there is still stuff we want to experience.....

I'd look at Hell's Kitchen, we really liked it

Please. It's called "Clinton" now. 😀

Have a look at “Manhatta” restaurant… incredible views and food!

Agreed.

Midtown was great for us. Hilton garden inn was good too. In midtown.