New York hotel, for me and two kids
Discussion
We spent a week in Manhattan earlier this year and saw a fraction of the sights, New York is HUGE, I think it's impossible to see everything in 3 days unless you are simply choosing the top 15 'attractions' in Manhattan on tripadvisor and rushing around ticking them off without stopping to take anything in!
My few recommendations:
- Don't just see the Brooklyn Bridge, walk across it, go and wander around DUMBO on the other side and have some great food, walk along the promenade for great photos of Manhattan, and walk into Brooklyn proper, grab lunch and a beer in a tree-lined street where real New Yorkers live, then jump on the underground a few stops and see a Basketball game at night. This was a full day very well spent.
- Walk the full length of the High Line North to South, stop and take in the hundreds of different views, then at the South end wander around the meatpacking district and Chelsea market for a ton of great food options and photo opportunities.
- Take the night boat tour around the southern tip of Manhattan and under the bridges, again see things from a completely different angle, the guide on our boat had amazing stories and facts to share, same applies to the bus tours up into Harlem and beyond, well worth the time.
- Completely avoid the whole area of Times Square, I've no idea what the attraction is - billboards, chain restaurants, terrible impersonators on the street, I don't get it!
My few recommendations:
- Don't just see the Brooklyn Bridge, walk across it, go and wander around DUMBO on the other side and have some great food, walk along the promenade for great photos of Manhattan, and walk into Brooklyn proper, grab lunch and a beer in a tree-lined street where real New Yorkers live, then jump on the underground a few stops and see a Basketball game at night. This was a full day very well spent.
- Walk the full length of the High Line North to South, stop and take in the hundreds of different views, then at the South end wander around the meatpacking district and Chelsea market for a ton of great food options and photo opportunities.
- Take the night boat tour around the southern tip of Manhattan and under the bridges, again see things from a completely different angle, the guide on our boat had amazing stories and facts to share, same applies to the bus tours up into Harlem and beyond, well worth the time.
- Completely avoid the whole area of Times Square, I've no idea what the attraction is - billboards, chain restaurants, terrible impersonators on the street, I don't get it!
This is the kind of New York I'm after seeing, aswell as the standard sights...hopefully 5 nights will be ok for a first visit
Hotel is near Central Park and cost us £200 a night, so right on my budget.
How safe would you feel walking in the evenings with two kids? Or should we stick to cabs at night?
Hotel is near Central Park and cost us £200 a night, so right on my budget.
How safe would you feel walking in the evenings with two kids? Or should we stick to cabs at night?
yellowbentines said:
We spent a week in Manhattan earlier this year and saw a fraction of the sights, New York is HUGE, I think it's impossible to see everything in 3 days unless you are simply choosing the top 15 'attractions' in Manhattan on tripadvisor and rushing around ticking them off without stopping to take anything in!
My few recommendations:
- Don't just see the Brooklyn Bridge, walk across it, go and wander around DUMBO on the other side and have some great food, walk along the promenade for great photos of Manhattan, and walk into Brooklyn proper, grab lunch and a beer in a tree-lined street where real New Yorkers live, then jump on the underground a few stops and see a Basketball game at night. This was a full day very well spent.
- Walk the full length of the High Line North to South, stop and take in the hundreds of different views, then at the South end wander around the meatpacking district and Chelsea market for a ton of great food options and photo opportunities.
- Take the night boat tour around the southern tip of Manhattan and under the bridges, again see things from a completely different angle, the guide on our boat had amazing stories and facts to share, same applies to the bus tours up into Harlem and beyond, well worth the time.
- Completely avoid the whole area of Times Square, I've no idea what the attraction is - billboards, chain restaurants, terrible impersonators on the street, I don't get it!
My few recommendations:
- Don't just see the Brooklyn Bridge, walk across it, go and wander around DUMBO on the other side and have some great food, walk along the promenade for great photos of Manhattan, and walk into Brooklyn proper, grab lunch and a beer in a tree-lined street where real New Yorkers live, then jump on the underground a few stops and see a Basketball game at night. This was a full day very well spent.
- Walk the full length of the High Line North to South, stop and take in the hundreds of different views, then at the South end wander around the meatpacking district and Chelsea market for a ton of great food options and photo opportunities.
- Take the night boat tour around the southern tip of Manhattan and under the bridges, again see things from a completely different angle, the guide on our boat had amazing stories and facts to share, same applies to the bus tours up into Harlem and beyond, well worth the time.
- Completely avoid the whole area of Times Square, I've no idea what the attraction is - billboards, chain restaurants, terrible impersonators on the street, I don't get it!
My wife is currently in NY with the kids staying opposite central park.
One thing she is doing (and recommends) is the Big Bus tour. An open top bus tour round the sites where you can just hop on / hop off, runs early until late. A great way to see the city, cheap and flexible. Ticket also comes with a free boat ride.
One thing she is doing (and recommends) is the Big Bus tour. An open top bus tour round the sites where you can just hop on / hop off, runs early until late. A great way to see the city, cheap and flexible. Ticket also comes with a free boat ride.
We were there as a mixed group of 5 with no kids, and honestly didn't feel unsafe anywhere and we walked most neighbourhoods in Manhattan South/West/East of Central Park, we saw North on the bus. I'd just use the same logic as I do in any big City, stay on the main streets, preferably where there's a lot of other people around which is easy in NY, and it feels perfectly safe. Quite a visible police presence too which helps.
We didn't use cabs as I'm told they are slow due to the heavy traffic, used the underground a lot and there were a lot of people coming on begging and walking the carriages with their story, but you either have some pocket change ready to give them or ignore them and they move on. The underground was always busy though so I didn't feel unsafe.
I am from Glasgow however so nothing felt any worse than back home
We didn't use cabs as I'm told they are slow due to the heavy traffic, used the underground a lot and there were a lot of people coming on begging and walking the carriages with their story, but you either have some pocket change ready to give them or ignore them and they move on. The underground was always busy though so I didn't feel unsafe.
I am from Glasgow however so nothing felt any worse than back home
yellowbentines said:
We were there as a mixed group of 5 with no kids, and honestly didn't feel unsafe anywhere and we walked most neighbourhoods in Manhattan South/West/East of Central Park, we saw North on the bus. I'd just use the same logic as I do in any big City, stay on the main streets, preferably where there's a lot of other people around which is easy in NY, and it feels perfectly safe. Quite a visible police presence too which helps.
We didn't use cabs as I'm told they are slow due to the heavy traffic, used the underground a lot and there were a lot of people coming on begging and walking the carriages with their story, but you either have some pocket change ready to give them or ignore them and they move on. The underground was always busy though so I didn't feel unsafe.
I am from Glasgow however so nothing felt any worse than back home
hahah good reply!! We didn't use cabs as I'm told they are slow due to the heavy traffic, used the underground a lot and there were a lot of people coming on begging and walking the carriages with their story, but you either have some pocket change ready to give them or ignore them and they move on. The underground was always busy though so I didn't feel unsafe.
I am from Glasgow however so nothing felt any worse than back home
Fyi, we stayed at the Salisbury on 57th street, one block from Central Park. Was behind the Plaza from the home alone movie.
Very good location, subways across the street, ten mins walk from times square, less than five mins to the park,
It was a bit old, but was originally apartments so the rooms were very big and the staff were good. Recommended for a first time.
Thanks to all who replied with advice.
Ended up not doing bus tour but lots of walking and subway use instead. Subway was very quick, seemed safe and was not that hard to figure out.
Very good location, subways across the street, ten mins walk from times square, less than five mins to the park,
It was a bit old, but was originally apartments so the rooms were very big and the staff were good. Recommended for a first time.
Thanks to all who replied with advice.
Ended up not doing bus tour but lots of walking and subway use instead. Subway was very quick, seemed safe and was not that hard to figure out.
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