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Original poster

New York for a week - i am crazy to even consider it?

43 replies

stardazzle · 23/12/2008 15:34

we have 2 dd's 6 and 3.5 and our friends have one dd also 6. we are looking for a holiday for june half term. just for fun i looked at flights to New york as this is somewhere i have always wanted to go expecting them to be so expensive but they are coming out as the same price as going to Portugal.

So i new york a valid destination for a week with 3 young children, is it easy to find somewhere to stay? will hotels/apartments be expensive?

thanks

OP posts:
SatsumaMoon · 23/12/2008 15:37

Hotels are expensive, yes, but a week is an ideal length of time to visit and it shouldn't yet be too hot in June

MrsSeanBean · 23/12/2008 15:39

...

PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 15:44

New york is fab! I am here right now! Hotels are expensive, and it is very very busy, although it is also very friendly (for the most part), there are things to do with children, zoo in central park, Coney Island for fun park and aquarium, for example but it is adult oriented geared towards shops, bars, theatre etc (in my experience). There are things to do slightly out of NY but you need a car ideally.

I love NY, but relaxing, it is not. IMO anyway.

MrsSeanBean · 23/12/2008 15:47

Even more at Pavlov

zoggs · 23/12/2008 15:52

Yes, hotels are very expensive especially in Manhattan. I went in June 08 and got a good deal - about £650 for a suite for 4 nights - huge bed in bedroom and bed settee in living room, 2 bathrooms plus kitchen. Check tripadvisor. Think I booked on Expedia. You may find it cheaper to stay in the financial district at the weekend when there are few business travellers or just across the Hudson in New Jersey (but with excellent views of the Manhattan skyline).

I found it surprisingly easy to navigate round Manhattan - MUCH easier than central London. Lots to do for children but it is very noisy so a decent hotel is a must because your head will be buzzing. Unlike the rest of the States space is at a premium in Manhattan so room sizes can be small.

PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 15:52

Mrsbean - we are here visiting family, so not doing that much sightseeing. This afternoon, we are going to Costco and Target - oh how exciting! (not!) . Although I attempted to do shopping spree on 5th Avenue yesterday, gave up as I was soooo tired!! (and, if it makes you feel better, its freeeeeeeezing here -4)

Another thing to think about with coming with youngsters for a week. Jet lag can screw you and the children a bit. DD did not sleep at all yesterday, and got up this morning at 5am, which is likely to stay for the duration. I have heard with others too that jetlag can take around 3 days to get under control. I would agree, and say that it does not necessary go away, just becomes manageable. (without DD, we would spend one day up all evening, then drink alcohol next evening, go to bed and get up at lunch time!!! With DD, we are on her time, so our coping goes out the window!!!

Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 15:53

thanks, have found flights for less than £300/each.

Would queens be an ok place to be have found a very lovely looking townhouse for £840.

Is the 8 hour flight ok? esp with young children and if it only a week? its the out flight i'm more concerned about this is a day flight so we leave the uk at 4pm and arrived at 6.30pm, would they sleep on the plane? home its a 9.30pm departure landing at 9am ish so we'd all sleep hopefully.

Mine will happily be in the car for 5 hours!

OP posts:
PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 15:54

I am in Queens right now. It is on a main route straight into time square 30 mins max.

Did you know there are more dead people than alive people in Queens...?

Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 15:56

crossed post pavlov

hmmm very tempted, will have to see what hulababy thinks!

OP posts:
MrsSeanBean · 23/12/2008 15:57

I've always wanted to visit New York. I hate flying so don't go over the pond very often. Last time I was in Rhode Island but couldn't work out the trains. I refuse to drive on the otherside of the road after an unfortunate incident in Calais many years ago (MBS cruises on the right/wrong side of the road.)

Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 15:58

pavlov have you got any idea where about this would be then queens townhouse it looks really nice and the price seems good.

OP posts:
PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 15:58

Apologies about the Dead people in queens thing - its an in-family joke, which is said everytime Queens is mentioned, and I was dared to say it when I asked for opinions about staying in Queens!!! {fgrin].

For DD, the flight was fine, she was great in fact, slept for 3 hours but was very excited so was in a great mood. I think your flight might be a bit better than ours. We arrived at 11:30pm, she slept, but then would not sleep when we arrived. You would be more able to keep your little ones awake longer at the time you arrive so they will stand a bettter chance of sleeping at the other end.

We flew Virgin this time and they provided seat for DD so we did not have to worry about bringing car seat. Who would you be flying with?

MrsSeanBean · 23/12/2008 16:00

Is that from natural causes Pavlov? I thought there had been a major crime crackdown in NY?

Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 16:01

pavlov BA and virgin have both have flights for the same price but we would probably go with virgin as the flight times were better.

OP posts:
PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 16:04

Stardazzle - Virgin were fine. I prefer BA, but only because the offer more wine!

That townhouse looks perfect. Its far enough away from City for some quiet at night, stuff for the children to do, if you don't want town, 45 mins from manhattan. I just asked BIL and he was rather non-comittal about it, but he generally does not go anywhere other than to work and IKEA

MrsBean - I don't really know if it is true, its something my BIl said once, and now we always say it...I won the bet though, might get to sit in the front seat of the car as a prize!

zoggs · 23/12/2008 16:06

I think jet lag to the States is worse on the return journey back to UK. If you leave at 4pm I would try and keep the DCs up until you get to the hotel then straight to bed if at all possible - it will be at least 8.30pm (local time) before you get there.

Check that the flights are direct rather than stopping at Chicago or Philadelphia or something. We got direct flights from Bristol to Newark for £245 each including taxes. We got a train to Manhattan which took about 30 minutes. A cab would have taken longer.

Not sure about Queens. Suggest you research that really carefully as there are some very dodgy parts of NYC just as in any big city in any part of the world.

PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 16:09

Some parts of Queens are a no-no, I would say. That townhouse location looks good to me but I do agree with Zoggs though, research it well - google Queens and see what comes up...

PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 16:10

BIL has said before that NY is divided into 4 districts, and he ordered them as such in terms of desirability.

  1. Manhattan
  2. Brooklyn
  3. Queens
  4. The Bronx. You definitely do not want to stay in the Bronx.
zoggs · 23/12/2008 16:11

Don't forget to check the US airline companies for flight prices - Continental, Delta, American Airlines etc. We flew with Continental and they were fine.

Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 19:02

thanks!

this is all really useful.

Will have a bit more of search, just think its crazy that for the same money as going to the algarve for a week we can go to new york.

pavlov may come back and pick your brains some more.

OP posts:
Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 19:02

thanks!

this is all really useful.

Will have a bit more of search, just think its crazy that for the same money as going to the algarve for a week we can go to new york.

pavlov may come back and pick your brains some more.

OP posts:
PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2008 20:06

stardazzle - feel free. I can ask my BIL any questions about Queens in particular and see what he thinks. I will ask again about the house you saw for rental. It was morning when I first asked him, he is not a good morning person!

Original poster
stardazzle · 23/12/2008 20:52

thanks, it looks like a good deal but if the area is dodgy then i guess its a no goer, esp as we will have 3 children with us.

I'm quite excited about the possibity of going,

I'm leaving today, i want to be a part of it New York, New York!'

OP posts:
Original poster
stardazzle · 24/12/2008 10:50

would we do better to hire a house/apt or stay in a hotel?

OP posts:
PavlovtheRedNosedReindeer · 24/12/2008 10:59

Morning! Been up since 3:30am! (jetlagged dd now watching Mary Poppins!)

I personally think a house/apt would give you more freedom with the children to eat when you want to, keep costs down for food and general living - getting up early and moving around the house with more space and will itself be cheaper than a hotel for a week. I find hotels restrictive with DD, and that is only one child. Often the cost does not include parking, so that can add up too. We stayed in a couple of Marriott Hotels from time to time, and that is generally around $25-40 per day to park.

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