My husband and i have four nights in New York in January and its our first ever trip! I am really unsure of how to structure our time there even after reading guide books! There just seems so much to see...
We want to do all the main attractions including statue of liberty, staten is ferry, rockefeller, central park, shopping etc etc... We wont want to see museums as we are spending a week in Italy before coming here. My husband also wants to visit the giants ground (he is a keen gridiron punter) and possibly see Yankee stadium.
Can anyone recommend the best way to structure our free days? Are we better off getting on one of those hop on/hop off tours or should we do it ourselves? Any recommendations for yummy restaurants, ideas for lunches etc that aren%26#39;t expensive but have a great atmosphere? I am diabetic so will be trying to stick to the healther options although from past experience in the US and travelling in general its hard!
Day One
Arrive JFK airport on Sunday at 1.30pm. Aim to catch bus to Port Authority and then a cab to the Salisbury hotel... Check in, freshin up and then wonder down to Times Square area to check out the city! Head back for a cheapish and tasty dinner somewhere near the hotel??
Day Two
Free for exploring
Nice dinner out somewhere and then go out for drinks - where can you go on a Monday night???
Day Three
Free for exploring
Mary Poppins at 8pm
Day Four
Free for exploring
Knicks game at 7.30pm
Fly out the next morning
Intinerary Ideas - Four Days (First Visit)I just got back last week -
they have these passes that you can get to save alot of coin.
I found out after the fact.
But I%26#39;d recommend --
the 3 hr boat ride around manhattan
the combo deal of:
- NBC Studio Tour
- Rockefeller Tour (hope you get Sylvia)
- Top of the Rock
For dinner/drinks -
we did Esperanto on the east side, then just x2 doors down was an awesome wine/jazz bar -
here%26#39;s the profile for the restaurant -
if you call, the should know name of jazz/wine bar next door -
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7098631
enjoy
Intinerary Ideas - Four Days (First Visit)There are particular issues for a Jan. visit, like potential freezing cold! The hop on/off bus tours really require you sit upstairs in the open air. That could be pretty chilly. I think a 3 hr. boat cruise is also a bit much in Jan. (not sure they run then) I%26#39;d suggest you might consider doing one of the enclosed bus tours on your first full day. These 2 are considered good
nypartyshuttle.com
kingofnyc.com
For dinner near your hotel
Kennedy%26#39;s (an Irish pub/restaurant) on west 57 st.
Rue 57 (sushi and French bistro food)
Trattoria Dell %26#39;Arte (Italian known for their antipasto--)
Angelo%26#39;s pizzeria--(pizza and other things)
Go to menupages.com for reviews and more info.
Where to go on a Mon. night?
%26gt;The Carnegie Club is only a block from your hotel. They have jazz on Mon. nights at 9
http://hospitalityholdings.com/carnegie/
%26gt;Jim Caruso%26#39;s Cast Party-Mon. nights most theaters are ';dark'; (closed) and many of the performers come to sing here, at Birdland (near Times Square) at 9:30--
http://www.castpartynyc.com/
%26gt;Dizzy%26#39;s Coca Cola in the Time Warner building (a few blocks from your hotel) is a great jazz venue. On Mons. they have jazz students performing and cover charge (entry fee) is usually $15/person vs. $30 on other nights.
OR head downtown to the village and maybe have dinner down there and go to one of the many jazz places there.
La Lanterna for Italian/pizza and then the bar next door for jazz
lalanternacaffe.com/tab0/鈥?53Dnutr
The only reason to do the Staten Island ferry really is to see the STatue of Liberty IF you don%26#39;t want to actually go to visit the statue. So do one or the other. A visit to the Statue is quite time consuming though with security. I%26#39;m pretty sure the tours I mentioned up top include a trip on the SI ferry.
The Giants play in New Jersey which is a bus ride away (get bus at Port Authority bus terminal). But I don%26#39;t think there are tours. Here%26#39;s a link
www.meadowlands.com/giantsFacts.asp?navID=7
Yankee stadium is a subway ride away (north of Manhattan) and there are daily tours (at noon) although I%26#39;m not sure about Jan. The current calendar only goes to Dec.
鈥lb.com/NASApp/鈥ome
There%26#39;s a Whole Foods supermarket in the Time Warner building (near your hotel) that%26#39;s a good option for casual dining and food you can take back to the hotel.
Thanks mywhiz thats fantastic info!! Do you know if there is a site i can visit that shows when things might be closed in January? I am going to check out those tour sites now, cheers.
Downtown, will definitely do the combo tour sounds great!
Many people underestimate how much time it takes to get around and see things... even for us who live there. Recommend identifying a ';section'; of town and doing in-depth.. Midtown, downtown, around town. Don%26#39;t recommend hop on/off... expensive and it visiting just 1 thing (e.g., Empire State Blg) can easily take 3-4 hours of time to get tickets, to site and visit.
Boat rides around city from day to evening show the best of it - nice to see the transformation to sparkling lights. Look into Spirit of NY and Circle Line.
Big Onion Walking Tours always a lot of fun. Meet a guide on street corner, group usually between 15-40 and cost about $15-20. Great in-depth, historical, interesting tidbits about an area (e.g., Central Pk, Lower East Side, Brooklyn Bridge).
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