NY with teens. Is 7 night too long?

[LavenderLxx]

I’ve inherited some money and I’d like to treat my family to a special holiday. We were thinking a week in New York. It would have to be in the summer holidays which I know can be hot but we can’t make it work at any other time of year.

We were thinking of 7 nights and being able to walk/visit sights in the morning and then have lazier afternoons. A few friends have suggested that a week is too long; but they are also friends without children so har probably been happier/more able to squeeze more into their days.

Our children are 13 and 16 - the 16 has Autism. She is fine with crowds/lots of walking but would feel better with a chance to build in a bit of downtime back at hotel in the afternoons.

We were also wondering about a day trip out to Long Island and another to Hudson Valley to escape the city for a bit.

I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts about a week being too long? Thank you

A week is perfect, especially if you want to factor in time for shopping and exploring some of the neighbourhoods like Brooklyn and Greenwich. We spent a whole lazy afternoon biking and boating in Central Park and another afternoon chilling in NY Botanic Garden.

I think this would be great. There’s so much to see, whatever you like doing, and the Hudson Valley looks lovely. I could spend a whole day in the Met and will happily walk around for hours just looking at the architecture.

One thing: NY hotel rooms are generally very small so with your windfall I’d fork for two rooms, so that if someone wants a bit of peace/chill time/early night they’ve got their own space.

Re nights, some places are strict on over 21s so be aware of that. Plus if you have a set idea of a restaurant booking ahead may be wise. Likewise Met and other popular museums.

It can be smokin’ hot and humid in the summer so what might be a pleasant two-mile walk in April will be an insufferable swollen legs stumble in July. Buses have a/c though and you can see a lot of life out of the window!

If there’s baseball on, a subway trip out to that is a good evening out that appeals to all (you don’t need to know the rules - just enjoy the atmosphere and hot dogs!).

We stayed in a serviced appt in Wall Street , sleeps 4 and great for family trip . Mint house at 70 Pine

That sounds perfect. We’re hoping to balance out our days like that.

Thank you. I think I’d far rather spend a week exploring slowly rather than rushing around in a few days

Thank you - that’s all really useful.
I’m wondering if an apartment might give us a bit more space than a hotel room.
Ooh I like the idea of a baseball game - adding that to the list!

A week is perfect and you may well find you don’t actually feel the need to get out of the city. So many people try and rush around seeing everything and end up missing so much (if that makes sense). I could happily spend a day just wandering round the West Village and Meatpacking area.

I go every July / August to visit friends and I never find the temperature too bad.

Thank you - I’ll have a look

I did 4 days in New York and it was not enough time by any means so I think 7 days would be great. If they still do them try and buy attractions passes before you go. They saved us a significant amount of money and cut down on the waiting in line

A little under week was fine for us (tween and younger teen, no additional needs) but the crowds, smells, heat etc were a LOT.

We found the hotel room small and claustrophobic, wouldn’t be good for relaxing. Central Park and the High Line walk were nice and calm.

it was difficult to eat fruit and veg! So much beige food 😆 Perhaps due to being on a budget.

Thank you - that’s reassuring about the temperature. And it would hopefully be more manageable if we’ve got the whole week so we’re not having to rush around

Thank you - I’ll have a look

Agree with PPs that an aparthotel would be much nicer, for that long, when you just want to chill out in the afternoons.

Some things I woudl recommend:

A tourist cruise around the island
A tourist ride around Central Park

These two give you a good idea of Manhattan.

Also MOMA, The Vessel, and the High Line.

And Grand Central Station!

I think finding a bigger hotel room/apartment might be where we end up spending the extra money so we’ve got space for a bit of downtime. The high line and Central Park are def on the list and I anticipate a week of pizzas and burgers!!

Yes I think an apartment would be the best bet.
Adding all of your suggestions to my list - thank you

I'd find a week in NY very long tbh but I realise not everyone would. I'd do 4 full days and then go to the Jersey Shore or Long Island to the beach.

Broadway.

Go to the cinema.

Long Island a great idea! Just all those really "American" things.

The taxi ride in from JFK was amazing. You see it all unfolding ahead of you.

Taxi rides from JFK to NYC are limited in price, as I recall.

We were hoping to add in a beach day in Long Island and a trip to the Hudson Valley

It’s long unless your pockets are very deep, incredibly expensive place. We did 5 nights and that probably was one day too many. I highly recommend booking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island trip (early boat to Statue of Liberty as Ellis island museum is so interesting and takes 4-5 hours) direct from national parks people, it was actually reasonable for a full day activity but otherwise do expensive. Intrepid air and space is good, again takes most the day if you add on Concorde. We are not short of money and travel a lot but New York is in a class of its own

Oh and we just used the subway and buses, taxis just get stuck in traffic, plus we walked and walked, 50k steps one day!

Having been at various times of the year, I’d take 3-4 nights at Christmas over a week in the summer if there’s any way that you can make that work for you.
We found the summer very warm / muggy and it was often foggy / misty so views from skyscrapers and the boat trips to Staten Island / Liberty etc were crap.
Christmas is magical. Freezing but much more tolerable than the muggy summer. I find 3-4 days is plenty to do all the ‘must do’ activities with some downtime without getting overwhelmed. New York is amazing but it is also dirty, smelly and there’s a lot of poverty (homeless, beggars etc). It gets a bit much after a few days.
On a short trip, you have the benefit of being awake early as your body clock doesn’t really adjust that quickly. We used it to our advantage - up at 5:30, in breakfast when it opened at 6:30. Out for the day so we were first up the Empire State, on the boat to Liberty etc. Early lunch, back to the hotel for a nap, out for dinner at first sitting (4:30-5) when it’s cheaper and less busy, then a couple of hours enjoying the lit up streets / shops / market / ice rink before an early night.

Would you be able to give me a rough idea of how much each day cost? As I say it’s going to be a once in a lifetime special holiday so we can spend a bit more than normal but obviously we still have a limit!

Unfortunately we can only visit in the summer. Hopefully we’ll be able to utilise the early starts too!