New York In December
Discussion
Hi All,
Flights all booked for my wife, I and two of our close friends to fly out to New York on the 10th December for four nights.
We're staying at the InterContiental in Times Square so nice and central.
Our friends have very kindly given up their air miles/hotel points to make this a special trip for all of us so i'd like to go someway in repaying this by taking them out to dinner one night - any recommendations on somewhere special for say £50-100 p/head?
Also - any recommended food places off the tourist trail?
Finally - any must sees for New York and anything that is over-rated tourist nonsense that should be avoided (all subjective I know).
Cheers,
Phill
Flights all booked for my wife, I and two of our close friends to fly out to New York on the 10th December for four nights.
We're staying at the InterContiental in Times Square so nice and central.
Our friends have very kindly given up their air miles/hotel points to make this a special trip for all of us so i'd like to go someway in repaying this by taking them out to dinner one night - any recommendations on somewhere special for say £50-100 p/head?
Also - any recommended food places off the tourist trail?
Finally - any must sees for New York and anything that is over-rated tourist nonsense that should be avoided (all subjective I know).
Cheers,
Phill
I did a week in New York last September and can recommend the following:
- High Line (although, the flowers were still in bloom when I was there)
- 9/11 Memorial (as said, it's very moving and you need a good few hours to take it all in)
- Central Park (lovely walk through, and you can have a go at ice skating)
- Grand Central Station (check out the food market)
- Chelsea Market (some lovely little eateries in here, including a cracking Italian place)
- Meatpacking District (lots of nice shops, bars and restaurants - it's where the locals go to get away from NY)
- One World Trade Centre (the lift ride up is supposed to be special, but it wasn't open when I was there)
- Top of the Rock / Empire State (both offer different views. Empire is very evocative, but The Rock has the best views, and you can buy a Sun/Stars ticket which allows two visits to catch the sun rise/fall. NYC at night time on top of the The Rock is fab to look at if you can stand the cold!)
- Brooklyn Bridge (a lovely walk across into Brooklyn, which is very nice, where you can wander down the park by the river and look at a different perspective of NY)
- Xmas Markets at Bryant Park (they were just setting this up when I was there, and it looked rather nice, with it's own ice skating rink)
Oh, and walk, walk, walk. You'll see NY better this way and catch all the little parks dotted about the place. The area around Washington Square Park is nice. Have a look at my flickr account, as it has albums of my shooting in NY to give you an idea of what's there...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28703702@N08/sets
- High Line (although, the flowers were still in bloom when I was there)
- 9/11 Memorial (as said, it's very moving and you need a good few hours to take it all in)
- Central Park (lovely walk through, and you can have a go at ice skating)
- Grand Central Station (check out the food market)
- Chelsea Market (some lovely little eateries in here, including a cracking Italian place)
- Meatpacking District (lots of nice shops, bars and restaurants - it's where the locals go to get away from NY)
- One World Trade Centre (the lift ride up is supposed to be special, but it wasn't open when I was there)
- Top of the Rock / Empire State (both offer different views. Empire is very evocative, but The Rock has the best views, and you can buy a Sun/Stars ticket which allows two visits to catch the sun rise/fall. NYC at night time on top of the The Rock is fab to look at if you can stand the cold!)
- Brooklyn Bridge (a lovely walk across into Brooklyn, which is very nice, where you can wander down the park by the river and look at a different perspective of NY)
- Xmas Markets at Bryant Park (they were just setting this up when I was there, and it looked rather nice, with it's own ice skating rink)
Oh, and walk, walk, walk. You'll see NY better this way and catch all the little parks dotted about the place. The area around Washington Square Park is nice. Have a look at my flickr account, as it has albums of my shooting in NY to give you an idea of what's there...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28703702@N08/sets
If you can get tickets, go to see the Rockettes at Radio City. A fantastic show, a great show hall, well worth it. Even more so if you like exceptionally well choreographed dance numbers. The wooden soldier dance is impressive.
Otherwise go, enjoy the tourist bits, they're really not that bad. There's 8 of us going for Christmas, we were there 2 summers ago and it was great. I've done thanksgiving there too, one thing we found was the place is COLD. Take a very good coat. The wind howls through the city and you really feel it.
Have a great time!
Otherwise go, enjoy the tourist bits, they're really not that bad. There's 8 of us going for Christmas, we were there 2 summers ago and it was great. I've done thanksgiving there too, one thing we found was the place is COLD. Take a very good coat. The wind howls through the city and you really feel it.
Have a great time!
Do a search near to the time of going to see if the Big Apple Chorus are doing any open air performances of their Chorus Tree for a bit of pre-Christmas cheer. The Boathouse restaurant in Central Park is in a lovely setting with good food (or at least it was when we went a few years ago).
Brennan and Carr in Brooklyn, it's a bit out of the way but after a couple of days in the city it's nice to get out where real people are.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ml1_RFo-Ug
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ml1_RFo-Ug
Brennan and Carr in Brooklyn, it's a bit out of the way but after a couple of days in the city it's nice to get out where real people are.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ml1_RFo-Ug
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ml1_RFo-Ug
djsmith74 said:
I did a week in New York last September and can recommend the following:
- High Line (although, the flowers were still in bloom when I was there)
- 9/11 Memorial (as said, it's very moving and you need a good few hours to take it all in)
- Central Park (lovely walk through, and you can have a go at ice skating)
- Grand Central Station (check out the food market)
- Chelsea Market (some lovely little eateries in here, including a cracking Italian place)
- Meatpacking District (lots of nice shops, bars and restaurants - it's where the locals go to get away from NY)
- One World Trade Centre (the lift ride up is supposed to be special, but it wasn't open when I was there)
- Top of the Rock / Empire State (both offer different views. Empire is very evocative, but The Rock has the best views, and you can buy a Sun/Stars ticket which allows two visits to catch the sun rise/fall. NYC at night time on top of the The Rock is fab to look at if you can stand the cold!)
- Brooklyn Bridge (a lovely walk across into Brooklyn, which is very nice, where you can wander down the park by the river and look at a different perspective of NY)
- Xmas Markets at Bryant Park (they were just setting this up when I was there, and it looked rather nice, with it's own ice skating rink)
Oh, and walk, walk, walk. You'll see NY better this way and catch all the little parks dotted about the place. The area around Washington Square Park is nice. Have a look at my flickr account, as it has albums of my shooting in NY to give you an idea of what's there...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28703702@N08/sets
Good list, did a bunch of those. - High Line (although, the flowers were still in bloom when I was there)
- 9/11 Memorial (as said, it's very moving and you need a good few hours to take it all in)
- Central Park (lovely walk through, and you can have a go at ice skating)
- Grand Central Station (check out the food market)
- Chelsea Market (some lovely little eateries in here, including a cracking Italian place)
- Meatpacking District (lots of nice shops, bars and restaurants - it's where the locals go to get away from NY)
- One World Trade Centre (the lift ride up is supposed to be special, but it wasn't open when I was there)
- Top of the Rock / Empire State (both offer different views. Empire is very evocative, but The Rock has the best views, and you can buy a Sun/Stars ticket which allows two visits to catch the sun rise/fall. NYC at night time on top of the The Rock is fab to look at if you can stand the cold!)
- Brooklyn Bridge (a lovely walk across into Brooklyn, which is very nice, where you can wander down the park by the river and look at a different perspective of NY)
- Xmas Markets at Bryant Park (they were just setting this up when I was there, and it looked rather nice, with it's own ice skating rink)
Oh, and walk, walk, walk. You'll see NY better this way and catch all the little parks dotted about the place. The area around Washington Square Park is nice. Have a look at my flickr account, as it has albums of my shooting in NY to give you an idea of what's there...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/28703702@N08/sets
I'd add
Natural history museum
Museum of modern art
Staton Island ferry. It's free. Just get the round trip to go past Statue of Liberty
Wall St and museum of finance (no really it's interesting and only takes an hour or two to wiz round)
Aircraft carrier moored in Hudson (forget name) it's got a space shuttle on the deck too!
If you fancy a day out I went to westpoint military academy. Fascinating place! Need to get a train and a cab though, not well served transport wise. Or hire a car for the day
It's great to walk, December may be a bit cold, but walking will warm you up
Have fun, I would go again anytime.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Same as this, except now it's too cold, rather than too hot.
Same as this, except now it's too cold, rather than too hot.
We stayed at the IC Times Square last month. It's well located. Smiths Bar which is right opposite is decent for a beer or two (I used to go whilst my three female family members were getting ready!). 5 Napkin Burger is a block away and great food/value. Keens steakhouse isn't cheap but was superb.
Others have hit the main highlights but if you can do the helicopter ride. I wasn't going to but did it via a Travelzoo deal and saved $$$$$. It was the highlight for the kids
Ask for a high floor at the hotel, with a view down 8th if you can.
Enjoy!
Others have hit the main highlights but if you can do the helicopter ride. I wasn't going to but did it via a Travelzoo deal and saved $$$$$. It was the highlight for the kids
Ask for a high floor at the hotel, with a view down 8th if you can.
Enjoy!
We stayed at the Intercontinental Times Square as well last December from 26th to 2nd Jan. The subway is on the corner right next to the hotel so easy to get around. You can walk to a lot of places from there as well (we walked up into Harlem for example).
Highline
Air and Space museum
Walk the Brooklyn bridge
Ground Zero - although the amount of insensitive prats with selfie sticks annoyed me
We went to see Steel Panther at the gramercy which was good so if you like music see if any bands you like are playing
We did a tour of Brooklyn which was a pizza tour which I thought was excellent. The tour was full of interesting facts around Brookland including mob hits and film locations which they tied up with snippets on the TV. The Brooklyn mansions are pretty cool. The Russian area is cool too. As well as Coney island and the board walk.
I wish we had thought of seeing some sport so maybe try that
Radio City was an unexpected highlight
We ice skated in central park which my Mrs loved but I hated (due to my inability to ice skate)
If you want to do normal touristy stuff go to the empire state and rockefeller center early! We went up the empire state at 8am and we started walking through the building 20 minutes prior to that.
Get pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and buy street food.
I thought Toys r Us on Times Square was manic but impressive.
If you like watches Tiffanys has a Patek Phillipe floor.
The Statue of Liberty is not as impressive as you might imagine and in December the boat ride is fecking freezing. Ellis island was excellent though.
I'd quickly visit Times Square but it will be manic and don't get suckered in to buying tickets off street sellers just tell them no.
Also all the stores should have Xmas displays out and lots of good trees so that's nice.
Grand Central station and the public library and the Chrylser building are good looking places.
Almost everywhere has been a film location.
Catch a yellow cab just for the hell of it too , we used them to get to the gig and back and I personally thought the price was reasonable.
It took me about a day to get used to NYC, I thought it was a bit over rated and full of slow walking stupid people. However by the end of the trip it was one of the best trips I've been on.
Highline
Air and Space museum
Walk the Brooklyn bridge
Ground Zero - although the amount of insensitive prats with selfie sticks annoyed me
We went to see Steel Panther at the gramercy which was good so if you like music see if any bands you like are playing
We did a tour of Brooklyn which was a pizza tour which I thought was excellent. The tour was full of interesting facts around Brookland including mob hits and film locations which they tied up with snippets on the TV. The Brooklyn mansions are pretty cool. The Russian area is cool too. As well as Coney island and the board walk.
I wish we had thought of seeing some sport so maybe try that
Radio City was an unexpected highlight
We ice skated in central park which my Mrs loved but I hated (due to my inability to ice skate)
If you want to do normal touristy stuff go to the empire state and rockefeller center early! We went up the empire state at 8am and we started walking through the building 20 minutes prior to that.
Get pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and buy street food.
I thought Toys r Us on Times Square was manic but impressive.
If you like watches Tiffanys has a Patek Phillipe floor.
The Statue of Liberty is not as impressive as you might imagine and in December the boat ride is fecking freezing. Ellis island was excellent though.
I'd quickly visit Times Square but it will be manic and don't get suckered in to buying tickets off street sellers just tell them no.
Also all the stores should have Xmas displays out and lots of good trees so that's nice.
Grand Central station and the public library and the Chrylser building are good looking places.
Almost everywhere has been a film location.
Catch a yellow cab just for the hell of it too , we used them to get to the gig and back and I personally thought the price was reasonable.
It took me about a day to get used to NYC, I thought it was a bit over rated and full of slow walking stupid people. However by the end of the trip it was one of the best trips I've been on.
Ok, now we're back I thought i'd update this thread...
Flight out - BA Business Class on Thursday lunchtime (excellent) / First class home was even better (again BA)
New York Airport to Hotel transfer ($60) as a fixed price in a town car
Intercontinental Hotel Time Square - Views from our room on the 33rd floor were great but felt that the room was basic (no real storage) and breakfast was very expensive
Time Square itself - impressive to see but wouldn't want to stay around there again (getting around on Sat was horrendous)
Rockefeller - Loved it (we got a day/night ticket) so went up in the day and later on again in the evening which we much preferred.
WTC - Very humbling experience
Highline (http://www.thehighline.org/) - Loved this, one of my favourite parts of the trip - would love to see it in the summer.
Helicopter ride - 19 mins exploring the city (from the river) - loved this, great way to see the whole city (circa £105 each)
Grand Central Station - Was great but not sure about the Apple Store in there!
Bryant Park - Small Christmas market there which was nice to wander around
Food:
Katz Diner - Ok but I wouldn't hurry back
Evergreen Diner - Great pancakes
Pershing Square (http://www.pershingsquare.com/) - Diner at Grand Central Station - very nice!
John's Pizzeria (http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/) - The best pizza i've had in a long time
Spotted Pig (http://www.thespottedpig.com/) - Highly recommended (you can't book but around a 90min wait for food)
Pearl Oyster Bar (http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/pearl-oyster-bar/) - Again highly recommended, you can't book but we got a table on fri night straight away
Views from the Press Lounge @ Print were excellent - http://www.printrestaurant.com/the-press-lounge/
We walked about 12 miles a day, it's nice and easy to get around (and surprisingly warm last week). As there were four of us yellow cabs were pretty cheap
In general we found New York expensive but we were expecting that so no issues. We can't wait to go back
Flight out - BA Business Class on Thursday lunchtime (excellent) / First class home was even better (again BA)
New York Airport to Hotel transfer ($60) as a fixed price in a town car
Intercontinental Hotel Time Square - Views from our room on the 33rd floor were great but felt that the room was basic (no real storage) and breakfast was very expensive
Time Square itself - impressive to see but wouldn't want to stay around there again (getting around on Sat was horrendous)
Rockefeller - Loved it (we got a day/night ticket) so went up in the day and later on again in the evening which we much preferred.
WTC - Very humbling experience
Highline (http://www.thehighline.org/) - Loved this, one of my favourite parts of the trip - would love to see it in the summer.
Helicopter ride - 19 mins exploring the city (from the river) - loved this, great way to see the whole city (circa £105 each)
Grand Central Station - Was great but not sure about the Apple Store in there!
Bryant Park - Small Christmas market there which was nice to wander around
Food:
Katz Diner - Ok but I wouldn't hurry back
Evergreen Diner - Great pancakes
Pershing Square (http://www.pershingsquare.com/) - Diner at Grand Central Station - very nice!
John's Pizzeria (http://www.johnspizzerianyc.com/) - The best pizza i've had in a long time
Spotted Pig (http://www.thespottedpig.com/) - Highly recommended (you can't book but around a 90min wait for food)
Pearl Oyster Bar (http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/pearl-oyster-bar/) - Again highly recommended, you can't book but we got a table on fri night straight away
Views from the Press Lounge @ Print were excellent - http://www.printrestaurant.com/the-press-lounge/
We walked about 12 miles a day, it's nice and easy to get around (and surprisingly warm last week). As there were four of us yellow cabs were pretty cheap
In general we found New York expensive but we were expecting that so no issues. We can't wait to go back
Edited by pmanson on Wednesday 16th December 21:15
Edited by pmanson on Friday 18th December 08:51
Sorry for the thread hi-jack but I didn't see the need to have yet another NYC thread like we do with Las Vegas. I see you're all recommending the ICTS hotel, looks nice but I don't really need anything that fancy as I have a fair amount planned for my trip and really just need somewhere half decent to sleep. I'm currently looking at The Wellington as they have a few discounts at the moment, any other recommended hotels or does everyone on PH stay at the ICTS? 
sounds like you really enjoyed it Pmanson 
It was only 6 weeks ago that I was off to New York for my first time, loved it!
I had the pancakes at Evergreen diner too. They weren't bad. Didn't seem very clean in there? I was surprised that it got amazin reviews.
Z06George, what dates are you going?
It was only 6 weeks ago that I was off to New York for my first time, loved it!
I had the pancakes at Evergreen diner too. They weren't bad. Didn't seem very clean in there? I was surprised that it got amazin reviews.
Z06George, what dates are you going?
Z06George said:
Sorry for the thread hi-jack but I didn't see the need to have yet another NYC thread like we do with Las Vegas. I see you're all recommending the ICTS hotel, looks nice but I don't really need anything that fancy as I have a fair amount planned for my trip and really just need somewhere half decent to sleep. I'm currently looking at The Wellington as they have a few discounts at the moment, any other recommended hotels or does everyone on PH stay at the ICTS?
I've stayed at the Wellington and it was perfectly fine. Dunno if I got lucky but went as a family of 4 and got a suite with living area/bed, attached kitchen and a seperate bedroom which was handy for the kids.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff