New York

[Newgolddream70]

Hi all. I'd like to take DS10 to New York in October half term. We've never been before and it'll just be us two.

I keep browsing the internet for ideas but it's quite overwhelming. I'm looking for suggestions as to where to stay, places to see. Sports games to attend? Ultimately, I want to feel safe so a good location and decent hotel. Flying out of London. Staying 4 nights. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

There are hundreds of threads about this on the travel topic. I don't say that to be grumpy at all but because you've lots of resources there to harvest! Including one I started two years ago asking the same thing

FWIW do not stay at Times Square, it's become a real dump and does not feel safe after dark.

I went with a friend and stayed in Hilton midtown which was perfect for first timers. Near the park and easy to get everywhere, felt safe. Since then it's where the health ceo shooting happened but...:.

If I went back I'd stay somewhere cooler in soho or Chelsea though.

I would recommend getting the New York pass as it gives you entry to so many attractions and the open top bus. We went to things we wouldn’t have necessarily done otherwise and didn’t feel like we had to stay hours just to get our money’s worth. We stayed near the Intrepid and it was fairly easy to get around from there. Also worth looking at Newark as well as JFK as it was quite a bit cheaper to fly there and easy enough to get a taxi into the city.

God I could drone on about New York all day, good and bad, but will point out that BA have a sale on at the moment and we’ve always found their flight and hotel deals good value.

Sights to see
Empire State Building
Rockefeller Centre
One World Trade Center
9/11 memorial
High Line Park
5th Avenue from Rockefeller to Central Park
Central Park.
Statue of Liberty.
Grand Central.

We’ve stayed over by the UN building on East 42nd, the hotel is now called Westgate New York Grand Central. There’s a great family run pizzeria called Patsy’s across the road on 2nd Avenue.

We would also use Whole Food Stores to eat both lunch and evening meals.
They have loads of choice and a hot buffet style foods where you load up and pay by weight. No service charges, no tipping.

I’ll stop here!

Thanks all, keep em coming!

How does one get about? Taxis or subway?

We are doing the exact same, 3 nights but flying home on the red eye so essentially 4 nights - I've been twice so know where I want to take him, staying in Jersey City to keep costs down and will just subway around as I did last time.

Also would use Whole Foods and bagel shops mainly for food, tipping gets quite expensive and we are good at eating on the hop to get the best value for money.

I agree about Hilton Midtown. It's a safe option and very near lots of places. There is a great 'proper' diner on the same road going toards Central Park, and a real burger/ steak restaurant ( very New York)just opposite that. There is a Magnolia Bakery too.

I walked most places and you see so much more doing it that way. I used the subway a few times and it's fine, very straightforward.
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There is a pizza restaurant called Arturio's which is fantastic, not at all touristy.

We did a lot of taxis. I think the subway is safer now but DS2 has mobility issues so cabs were easier.

Consider staying in Long Island City (Queens). I did that when I took DS for his 16th birthday on the advice of a fabulous MNer and we loved it. It was close enough to all the sights, but it was also really nice to retreat from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.
We stayed in the Aloft Manhattan View which was a great hotel. Fairly basic but had all we needed. There were some nice coffee shops and restaurants nearby as well as a proper classic diner.

Can you give a sense of your budget, what kind of food you like and your and your DS's interests?

I took my then 11yo DS to NY last October and can't wait to go back. We stayed at the Innside by Melia in Nomad which was lovely. Nice hotel, quiet area and near the subway.
We got around mostly on foot or subway, cabs just seemed to sit in traffic!
We ate at a combination of casual restaurants, street food trucks, diners and bagel shops. Don't rule out the dollar pizza stores they are delicious.
On our first morning we woke very early and took the ferry to Dumbo, had breakfast there then walked over Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. If you go early enough it isn't too manic.
Definitely get the city pass - we went to the Edge, Natural history museum, The ride, Rise NY, the HoHo and a few other things. We went to Ellis Island which was so interesting, and also had a few food wish list items we ticked off (Levai bakery, Magnolia Bakery, corn dogs etc)
We aren't really shoppers so the only shops we really went in were the Lego shop and the Nintendo shop. We had 5 nights and will go back next year to do the things we ran out of time for.
The best advice I can give is don't try to do everything, there's simply too much.

Just to reiterate what a pp said, we really didn't like Times Square. Go to see if, sit on the red steps and take photos then get out of there! We enjoyed the high line down to Greenwich village as we were there over Halloween and it was so fun there, lots of people dressed up, houses decorated etc and DS was caught by the greatest jump scare I've ever seen! Really nice place to just mooch around.

Definitely dont stay at Times Square - the stench of cannibis is overwhelming. We stayed at The Wallace in Upper West just before Christmas. I can highly recommend it. Super clean, family area, safe and a 4 min walk to subway.

I’m tempted to do this as well! We recently went to Toronto for a week and it was very cool! But the smell of cannabis was too much in the end.

New York sounds fun! Is a week enough? Last time I suggested it people grumbled and said it wasn’t long enough!

We went in October half term with DS11, it was fab.
We stayed at the Kimberly in Midtown East which was great except for the soundproofing- ear plugs a must! Great location though.
We used the subway and walked, we didn’t get in a yellow cab or uber at all.
Subway very easy and as safe as the London Underground IMO, but wouldn’t get it past about 9pm. Uptown is North and Downtown is South.
We did Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise, Dumbo, Time Out Market, East River ferry, Macy’s, Korean BBQ and the Empire State on day 1.
Recommend Summit One Vanderbilt for sunset.
Intrepid Museum a must for that age. We then walked the High Line to Chelsea Market.
Natural History and the Met both have free hour long “highlights” tours which are great.
Will try think of more tips!