New York would I be mad to take a 6yr old and 3 year old?

[Rhiannon]

Me again, you can probably tell I don't have any holidays booked as I'm exploring all options as usual.

Since Continental are now flying to New York out of Stansted for a reasonable fair we're now thinking of going. Flying into Newark and having a wander about for a week or so just after Xmas.

Never been to NY before but love the USA all round, will we be able to entertain them without tearing our hair out?

Any hotels that offer babysitting or that are reasonably child friendly?

rhiannon, i'm not sure just after christmas is a good time to go - we lived in NY for 3 years and the weather can be seriously unpleasant midwinter...

Suew, I hope you're talking in Aus.dollars not £'s as we've been quoted £265 for flights. I don't think it's anything to do with Virgin as I don't think they fly out of Stansted.

I thought I might ask my Mum if she'll take the children for a few days while we go, but in case she says no or says yes and changes her mind (which she is prone to do) please keep posting the advice.

Janh, I know what you mean, we froze our ar*es off in Florida last Christmas and we met some people from Chicago who said it was under 3 feet of snow back home!

rhiannon, i think you were unlucky with florida - it's where new yorkers etc usually go in the winter if they can (snowbirds!) but they had an exceptionally bad winter last year - it happens occasionally - they have to burn heaters in the orange groves!
spring and autumn are the best times for NY - april/may and sept/oct. fares are higher than mid winter but still low-ish. if i had the choice - and the money! - i'd go may or late september.