New York

[pancakes222]

Hi, we are considering going for a child free break to New York but can only go for 2-3 nights due to childcare. We want to try and keep our jet lag as easy as possible so was going to try and keep to English time where we can but also don't what to miss out on opportunities. For example I would like to see the times squares lights but going in July means that won't get dark until very late... does anyone have any tips for going somewhere long haul for a short amount of time and being able to get back into family routine after? Should we just get early nights and not see night time stuff to make it easier for return? Don't get away often hence the hesitation!

Also, sorry follow up question - do you think 2 nights is enough or would you try and stretch to 3 if you could? (Even if it means putting the mil out a bit more! )

2 nights is only one full day. I guess you see the highlights if you had early flight out / late flights back and you are full on all the time.

We are going 5 nights (but with kids) and I am getting in everything we want to do. (Does include a day trip to Philly) so 4 nights effectively if you excluded that.

Hang on 6 nights not 5.

Honestly for that short a time I wouldn't go for NYC - is there somewhere closer you fancy? All you need is one delayed flight and you've only got half the time you originally had.

We normally do 6 nights 5 days and have been four times, there's still stuff we haven't done! Sticking to UK time when there wouldn't work for us but we try to pick daytime flights to go there and just stay awake longer, then a nighttime flight home to reset the time difference.

Sorry I'm getting my days and nights mixed up. So we would be flying out Thursday or Friday night and then flying back Monday so we would actually get 3 days

We had originally wanted to stay closer but with the air miles we have flights are more limited than we hoped and New York seems to be the only ones we can get using air points as everything else sold out (Business class too so hoping the flight will be part of the holiday!)

Three nights is fine but just go with the flow and buy some melatonin when you’re there, if necessary. Sleeping on the flight will help too.
You can pack a lot into 3 days and will do a lot of waking so you’ll sleep well at night anyway.

We aren't long back. Didn't get get much beyond about 8.30 at night. We were up every day by about 5.30. Just went out then and made use of areas being quieter.

Forget the jet lag and just enjoy it. It's only 5 hours different anyway I don't think it's too bad.

It can be great being on UK time in NYC because a lot of attractions are less busy in the morning. I think it’s a fine idea as long as you don’t care about nightlife.

You can do your sightseeing in the mornings, eat lunch in nice restaurants, have afternoon cocktails, see a Saturday matinee, and be in bed by 7pm if you want.

And if seeing Times Square in the dark is important, go at 4am.

I think it’s a fine idea.

I've done New York for 3 nights and essentially kept close to UK (ish) time. Up at 5:30am, first in for breakfast at 6:15, out before 8 so we'd done some walking around and were ready to do the attractions as soon as they opened. We ate dinner before 6pm which meant everywhere was nice and quiet and we were in bed by 8/9pm. Adjusting back to GMT was no hassle. I wouldn't go for 2 nights as it's a long way to go for such a short stay and there's so much to see.
However, we went in the winter so it was dark by early evening. Having also been to NY in the summer months, I wouldn't recommend it at all. It was unbearably hot and muggy, quite hazy / foggy too so views from skyscrapers and bridges were rubbish.
Any chance you could go in autumn / winter instead?

I would go for longer and go with the kids and have a child free trip elsewhere!

Thank you good food for thought. An option opened up for Switzerland now so maybe that will be better for a closer child free trip