New York planning help please

[flippyfloppy]

Hi there, we are looking to book 5 nights in New York with our two teenagers in November, very excited!, it's somewhere both DC have wanted to go to for a while. I'm looking at a BA package which is coming out pretty reasonably priced with the BA sale. Can anyone advise a good location to stay, I don't think we would fancy right on Times Square. Would 'midtown' be a good option?

Have a read of the NYC TripAdvisor forum. I found it very helpful when planning our trip several years ago.

Went earlier this year.

My advice? Don't bother. ☹️ I hated it! So noisy, even in the middle of the night, sirens, horns, you name it. And SO expensive!

Wouldn't go back if you paid me.

However my SIL loved it. 🤷‍♀️

Times Square is awful but you can stay in midtown east and not be too near.

Last time we went, we stayed in the NoMad area in a funky hotel. It was great.

Midtown is fine as an area. Look at google maps and see where the hotel is in relation to metro stations.

Packages work out ok I think. We’ve been a lot. We love it. Midtown is fine. Avoid Times Square. There’s a GB group called New York Tips For Brits. It’s helpful.

The Roger Smith hotel on Lexington Avenue was fab - close enough to walk places but a bit quieter. Plus breakfast from the lobby. I’d stay there again.

FB not GB. Facebook.

Thanks for all the tips everyone! Sorry you didn't like it @yepmeagain. Off to do more research.

New Yorker here. Most of midtown is fine. Lexington Ave. is mostly office buildings in midtown, so it will be quieter at night.

I am happy to answer questions and suggest things to do. How old are your DC?

Went last year, 6 nights, had best time ever. We stayed near Times Sq, it was fine. Walked on average 12 miles a day. We got a guide book and did it in areas , got the subway once and yellow taxi once, had to try it, lol
our 20 year old was with us, it was so great
have a lovely time

Any where around midtown is good to stay - especially if near to a subway stop. We've been a few times, in midtown we stayed a couple of times at the New Yorker at 34th and 8th, which was right on a subway stop, so easy to get around. We've also stayed at the Lexington Hotel, which was easy walking to many of the sights.

If you are happy to use the subway, and don't really want to be in the 'thick of it', then we've also stayed in the Wall Street/Financial area, and also a couple of times we've stayed in Jersey City. Both were cheaper and quieter than staying in Midtown, but still easy to get around on the subway, and PATH from Jersey. The financial area is walking distance to many sights too, such as the Staten Island Ferry, Wall Street, ferries to Liberty Island, 9/11 Memorial/Occulus/Freedom Tower, not that far over to South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge. We also really liked Jersey in the evening, as we had three teenagers with us, and it was much cheaper to eat out than it was in Manhattan.

Oh wow some great information thank you! Our children will be DD 17 and DS 13.

Might I suggest the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum?

https://intrepidmuseum.org/

You can tour inside an actual aircraft carrier and submarine.

And the Radio City Stage Door tour

https://www.rockettes.com/christmas/experiences/tour/

It's a fabulous, fully restored Art Deco theater from the 1930's. You get to see all of the backstage workings, costume rooms, and memorabilia, and you get to chat with a genuine Rockette. The location is midtown, by Rockefeller Center, and just south of Central Park, which is a lovely area with excellent shopping.

Finally, a plug for one of my favorite restaurants, also in midtown just by Union Square Park. It's lovely, and the food and service are fabulous. Book ahead on the website, as it tends to be booked weeks or months in advance. Lunch is a bit cheaper than dinner and just as good.

https://www.unionsquarecafe.com./

Finally, as a former bartender, please follow the local custom on tipping, even if it makes no sense to you. Servers in the US have to "tip out" to the non-tipped workers (bussers, food runners, kitchen staff, etc.) as a percentage of their sales and can lose money on your table if you don't tip appropriately.

We love our British tourists, and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions you think I might be able to help with.

Placemarking as I am also going in November. Been a couple of times before but not for many years.

If you are going over half term and there is anyway you can be there for 31st October trick or treating is amazing!

I went with my DD's this year and we did that ((16/12)

You can also book in a personalised individual walking tour with big Apple greeters. That was great.

I just wanted to add that the 9/11 Museum and Memorial are so worth a visit and beautifully done. We didn't take our kids until they were 15 and 16. It's really very moving and informative.

Plan on 3-4 hours to do it properly and buy your tickets in advance on the website to skip the queue, which can be very long.

https://www.911memorial.org/visit

Thanks so much for all the tips and links, I'll work my way through them and look at an itinerary. The children have two teacher training days 29th November and 1st December so looking at that weekend, 5 nights. I think that is thanksgiving weekend, would that cause us any problems do you think @MissConductUS

It should be fine. Most people will be away visiting family or home entertaining, so it is quite a good time, actually. Do get the hotel and flights booked ASAP, as so many Americans will be traveling that weekend.

Perfect thank you! The restaurant looks amazing btw!

Hotel prices will be higher for sure at Thanksgiving by a considerable $$$$$

We've been twice with teens - BA do some great packages. We stayed at the Riu last time which included breakfast (VERY unusual in NY) and so the kids ate loads then which save a fortune.
Get the subway to Brooklyn, the zoo over there is nice and then eat pizza in Dumbo and walk back over the bridge at sunset.
Also my boys loved Spyscape if it's still there - a very interactive spy museum. We also skated in Central park (book in advance), we walked the Highline and went to Chelsea market for food. They quite enjoyed the ISS museum. We also met family at a table tennis club called Bounce I think which was fun.

There's a thread on here in AMA called I Still Live In New York AMA which you might find useful!

Union Square Cafe was started by a bloke named Danny Meyer, one of the top restauranteurs in the US. He owns several restaurants in NYC and elsewhere, all absolutely top-notch. USC is the most casual and affordable of them, but still with his hallmark service, quality, and hospitality. You'll be cared for like an old friend!

https://www.ushg.com/danny-meyer

The OP is called @allfurcoatnoknickers I believe

I stayed in the Hampton Inn in brooklyn in 2022. It was great. We walked across brooklyn Bridge into the business district and the 9/11 memorial. They had breakfast included and 24/7 hot drinks. Lots of families got take out delivery and ate in lobby. There were great restaurants in DUMBO, best pizza ever. The original juniors is just down the road for the best NY cheesecake (they have another in times Square).

Would recommend the free staten island ferry to see statue of liberty 🗽

Highline plus the hoppers at the Whitney is fab. We ate in Hudson yards at little spain I think it's called. Like a food market but all Spanish food.

Time out market in brooklyn in a fab place to get a cocktail with a view to die for.

We went to central park and the met. MOMA is not to be missed but I've been twice so this time we did the met. It's huge!

For another free activity go to the collection at the new york city library. A) Ghostbusters B) the collection of treasures is amazing. C) the architecture is beautiful D) doesn't take long.

Also there's an amazing Italian sandwich place not too far from one world trade centre. Share. They're huge.