New York City - Long term planning for surprise NYC trip; thoughts and advice invited.

Hi FT'ers.

Would appreciate some advice on a potential surprise "significant" birthday trip for my wife from the UK to NYC. As she knows my usual username, I'm here masquerading under an alias but the FT community has always been helpful in the past and I'm hoping that my ponderings will be well within the capacity of the NYC forum.......

So, as stated, I'm hoping to pull off a surprise trip in about 18 months but am starting to plan ahead now to see if this really is realistic. Budgets are a little limited but as a sporadic business traveller I'm hoping to have enough BA miles to do 2x part-miles flights from the UK or, ideally, pick up a pair of half-miles reward flights. Hotel wise, I anticipate I'll be at Marriott Silver by the time of the trip so am looking at Marriotts for accommodation but this is not fixed.

So; having never been to NYC I have no real idea where to stay and what to do above and beyond the "usual" tourist sites. I'd anticipate a 3 night stay and overnight flight back, so should have 3-3.5 days in the city. Would anticipate that we'll do Ellis/Liberty Island, the top of the Rock and the Empire State and the Staten Island Ferry. Likely also take in the 9/11 memorial. I also want to take my wife to a show on Broadway.

Based on this, I'd really appreciate suggestions on several aspects:

- Where to stay? Most places recommend around Times Square; is this the best bet? Also, any particular hotels (Marriott or otherwise) to look out for or avoid? Looking around, $300 a night seems average. Is this realistic, or can I do better?

- Eateries: where can we experience the "real" NYC, without breaking the bank? Anywhere for a special meal one night? Best place for a bagel breakfast? Realistic prices?

- Sights: beyond the usual suspects above, what should we not miss? We're pretty flexible and happy with walking around parks, architecture, museums, culture etc, rather than being focussed upon a specific theme. (Though I might ask if I'm allowed to go to USS Intrepid!)

- Hidden gems; what do most tourists miss, because they don't know it's there, that we should go hunt out?

- Broadway: what's the best way to get tickets? Like London, are there a handful of particular same-day ticket booths we should hunt out? Not fussy about seeing a specific show, more the experience.

-Anything else to make this a unique trip?

I appreciate this is a lot of questions but this is likely to be a one-off chance to do this, and I'm hoping to make it as special as possible. Not knowing the city above and beyond the usual spiel in the guidebooks I've browsed, I though the more local knowledge amassed here would be a great first port of call, and all advice would be warmly welcomed.

Grateful thanks in advance.

[snip]

- Where to stay? Most places recommend around Times Square; is this the best bet? Also, any particular hotels (Marriott or otherwise) to look out for or avoid? Looking around, $300 a night seems average. Is this realistic, or can I do better?If you're going to go with Marriott, stick with the Marquis in Times Square. The others are really not super convenient.

- Eateries: where can we experience the "real" NYC, without breaking the bank? Anywhere for a special meal one night? Best place for a bagel breakfast? Realistic prices?

- Sights: beyond the usual suspects above, what should we not miss? We're pretty flexible and happy with walking around parks, architecture, museums, culture etc, rather than being focussed upon a specific theme. (Though I might ask if I'm allowed to go to USS Intrepid!)

[snip]Since the weather should be pretty nice, I'd suggest eating your bagel breakfast at Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side, and walking through Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim or the Whitney. That's a good morning.

- Where to stay? Most places recommend around Times Square; is this the best bet? Also, any particular hotels (Marriott or otherwise) to look out for or avoid? Looking around, $300 a night seems average. Is this realistic, or can I do better?Times Square is geographically and transit-wise the most convenient but it's also the most hectic, worse than Piccadilly Circus. And very touristy. That may or may not be desirable based on your preferences. I think most of the big hotel chains have opened up new versions of their mid-scale brands (e.g., Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield/Residence Inn, Four Points by Sheraton, Holiday Inn Express) in the 20s and 30s on the West Side, those areas will still be relatively convenient but a little more neighborhood-y. Or you might look for something on the Upper West Side for more of a taste of authentic New York. Like the Empire Hotel near Lincoln Center, or On The Ave or the Beacon Hotel. It's pretty easy to get to most places from the UWS by subway (tube). Lastly, consider Priceline, you can probably get a pretty good hotel in the $200 range. Lots more info on that on the Better Bidding or Bidding For Travel websites.

- Eateries: where can we experience the "real" NYC, without breaking the bank? Anywhere for a special meal one night? Best place for a bagel breakfast? Realistic prices?Oh, geeze, the choices are too numerous. I think the Zagat guide has a list of "best value" where they divide the ratings by the average price, that might be a place to start. For a special meal, you might try something like Union Square Cafe. Not cheap, but not outrageous, with excellent food and unbeatable service, a long-time NY favorite. I agree that Barney Greengrass would be a good spot for a "bagel breakfast." You should also consider lunch at a New York/Jewish style deli, Stage or Carnegie Deli are a bit touristy but not bad bets. Also Katz's (where the famous scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed) down in the Lower East Side.

- Sights: beyond the usual suspects above, what should we not miss? We're pretty flexible and happy with walking around parks, architecture, museums, culture etc, rather than being focussed upon a specific theme. Just some rambling thoughts: The Highline park, Chelsea Market, Meatpacking District, Central Park, 5th Avenue shopping (~48th to 59th Streets), maybe a walk across (or halfway across) the Brooklyn Bridge, Roosevelt Island tramway, Dim Sum or Peking Duck in Chinatown, 6th Ave in the 50's for high rise architecture. Lincoln Center - maybe catch an opera or symphony.

- Broadway: what's the best way to get tickets? Like London, are there a handful of particular same-day ticket booths we should hunt out? Not fussy about seeing a specific show, more the experience.There are the TKTS booths (google/search for much more detailed info on them) which offer same-day or next-day discounted tickets, usually 50% off but sometimes less. I prefer broadwaybox.com where you print out a coupon and go to the theatre box office (you can order this way online but the service fees are ridiculous). The price may be slightly more than TKTS but no long lines and you'll get a better seat, and some say in where your seat is. If you go an hour or two before curtain you can often get a prime orchestra (stalls) seat at a great price. The top shows won't be available this way whereas they may be available at TKTS from time to time.

If you're going to go with Marriott, stick with the Marquis in Times Square. The others are really not super convenient.The Renaissance in Times Square would be just as "convenient" and I believe it was fully renovated within the last few years. They have a great lobby bar overlooking Times Square that's not particularly well known. For that matter, the Dream Hotel (55th St.) has a great rooftop bar worth checking out.
And as I mentioned there are Courtyards and such that are in decent areas. I know there's a Residence Inn at about 39th & 6th Ave which is pretty convenient but you won't have to fight the throngs of tourists smack in the middle of Times Square.

Good luck.

[snip]

The Renaissance in Times Square would be just as "convenient" and I believe it was fully renovated within the last few years. They have a great lobby bar overlooking Times Square that's not particularly well known. For that matter, the Dream Hotel (55th St.) has a great rooftop bar worth checking out.
And as I mentioned there are Courtyards and such that are in decent areas. I know there's a Residence Inn at about 39th & 6th Ave which is pretty convenient but you won't have to fight the throngs of tourists smack in the middle of Times Square.

Good luck.Not being a Marriott guy, I had no idea Renaissance was Marriott. That *is* a good location. I dunno about Herald Square/North Chelsea for a celebratory birthday trip, though. There are better options, like the UWS, as you mention above.

If you're going to go with Marriott, stick with the Marquis in Times Square. The others are really not super convenient.

Since the weather should be pretty nice, I'd suggest eating your bagel breakfast at Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side, and walking through Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim or the Whitney. That's a good morning.

I'm going to disagree and recommend the Marriott on Lex. Ave., unless you really want to experience (endure?) the hustle/bustle/hassle of Times Square. It's personal preference, but if I was visiting the city with my wife, I'd want a little more peace and quiet. But that's just me.

Marriott East Side is within walking distance to Grand Central, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. Obviously Time Square has a lot going for it, too, with regards to location, but the OP needs to think about the atmosphere (for better or worse).

The main question here would be has she been to NY before? and what does she expect? For example, some people really *need* to do the Sex in the City tour while others *need* to go to Serendipity or the Plaza because of other NY movies. Are there any favourite NY movies or books that she loves? What are her interests?

For starters, if you're planning on visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art during good weather, there is a rooftop terrace with Rodin sculptures that serves drinks ($$$) and you get a nice view of Central Park.

To make any NY trip really special, I highly recommend the helicopter tours. They seat 6 passengers per flight and seating is assigned according to weight.

If you're going to do Times Square/Times Square Marriott (The Marriott Marquis), I would recommend their revolving bar which I think is on the 5th floor. The drinks are overpriced, but you get a really nice view of Times Square. As the bar revolves very slowly and the window is not that big, take your time and enjoy the view you're paying for :)

If you're doing Rockefeller Center and you're into wine, I would recommend Morrell & Co for their wines by the glass and small bites. It's a cafe run by the wine merchant & auctioneer next door and they have over 200 wines by the glass, many of them very affordable.

I also recommend Michael Jordan's steakhouse in Grand Central for the view (of inside Grand Central). There is no wait for bar seating, plus it has better people watching. The best place for a photo of the south exterior face of Grand Central (the one with the winged statue) is actually around 38th st on Park Ave in the middle of the planted median.

If you're planning on visiting the United Nations building, you'll need to call and check that it's 1) open for visitors, 2) bring your passport 3)bring a pen to write a postcard to your mum/kids from the post office in the basement. It's postmarked United Nations New York :D There's also lunch buffet in the dining room on the 2nd floor but the selection varies depending on which country's cuisine is being showcased. The regular selection is high quality and fresh but nothing exciting or to go out of your way for.

There is so much to do & see, so it mostly boils down to where you will be and where you want to be next :p We can list all the awesome places, but at the end of the day, you probably don't want to be wasting time and money on cab rides that crisscross the city.

Often what NY-ers like to do is to find a getaway in the city (The Cloisters etc) and is not what a tourist has in mind when visiting NY. So feel free to PM with more details if you're afraid your wife will find out ;)

The main question here would be has she been to NY before? and what does she expect? For example, some people really *need* to do the Sex in the City tour while others *need* to go to Serendipity or the Plaza because of other NY movies. Are there any favourite NY movies or books that she loves? What are her interests? Certainly a good starting point, and many of us here can provide more specific recommendations when we have more information.

If you're going to do Times Square/Times Square Marriott (The Marriott Marquis), I would recommend their revolving bar which I think is on the 5th floor. The drinks are overpriced, but you get a really nice view of Times Square. As the bar revolves very slowly and the window is not that big, take your time and enjoy the view you're paying for :) The lobby-level revolving bar (8th floor) was renovated several years ago and no longer revolves. There's still the rooftop revolving bar/restaurant called The View, but I wouldn't really recommend it. I think you're better off at the Renaissance or Dream (and probably others) as I've mentioned above.

I'm going to disagree and recommend the Marriott on Lex. Ave., unless you really want to experience (endure?) the hustle/bustle/hassle of Times Square. It's personal preference, but if I was visiting the city with my wife, I'd want a little more peace and quiet. But that's just me.

[snip]Also personal preference on my part, but that neighborhood is dead on the weekends, and super-corporate during the week. Definitely quieter on the weekend, but maybe too quiet and business-y for a birthday trip. Not an expert - JMO.

Certainly a good starting point, and many of us here can provide more specific recommendations when we have more information.

The lobby-level revolving bar (8th floor) was renovated several years ago and no longer revolves. There's still the rooftop revolving bar/restaurant called The View, but I wouldn't really recommend it. I think you're better off at the Renaissance or Dream (and probably others) as I've mentioned above.

If you're in the vicinity, it's worth a look and one drink. That's about all the time/effort I'd give it, but it's worth a cursory look.

Also personal preference on my part, but that neighborhood is dead on the weekends, and super-corporate during the week. Definitely quieter on the weekend, but maybe too quiet and business-y for a birthday trip. Not an expert - JMO.

It could be. I don't know what the OP's spouse is looking for in a hotel. Quiet might appeal to some, not so much to others. Depends on the age bracket and personal interests, I think. If the rest of the weekend is going to be full of hustle & bustle, a quieter hotel neighborhood might be good.

It could be. I don't know what the OP's spouse is looking for in a hotel. Quiet might appeal to some, not so much to others. Depends on the age bracket and personal interests, I think. If the rest of the weekend is going to be full of hustle & bustle, a quieter hotel neighborhood might be good.I like this suggestion too because they'll be within walking distance of Rockefeller Center, Bloomingdales and Central Park. They can also easily walk back to this hotel from Broadway productions. That it's corporate may make the hotel less of a zoo filled with tourists.

If you're in the vicinity, it's worth a look and one drink. That's about all the time/effort I'd give it, but it's worth a cursory look.At some point there might have been a 2-drink minimum, but I honestly have no idea what the current entry policy is. My primary advice against it is that the view isn't all that great -- half the time you're looking at close-ups of high-rise office buildings. Better views (of Times Square) from my other recommendations. And I'll add one more rooftop bar rec - 230 Fifth in Flatiron. Big space and great view of the Empire State building.

But in any event, go for a ride in the glass elevators in the Marquis! Just not after you eat. :)

Thanks, all, for the great advice so far.

I thought I'd try to answer some ofthe questions posed so far, to help with the fantastic planning suggestions.

So; for a bit more background, we've often sat here in the UK, watching the rain, and joked about going for breakfast in Central Park, or watching the TV and joking that there was nothing on and going to catch a Broadway show. So they'll be high on the list to do. Budgets will be limited; I'm guessing a fairly economical trip from the UK for 2 ppl for 3 mights is running to $3000 all in as a minimum, so not a cheap trip! Going all the way to NY on what will likely be a one-off, I also need to ensure that I have enough spending money to do what we want to do, and not come back regretting not having done something particular. The helpful comments on getting show tickets was particularly welcome.

I wil certainly look into the all the hotel suggestions. I assume Priceline is primarily for near-term bookings and the best rates are not to be had by booking in advance? In terms of hotel ambience, atmosphere and bustle downstairs is fine, but relatively quiet for sleeping after a long day enjoying the sights rates very highly in my book.

As for location; having a few days away with no children will be peace and quiet, and the idea of being local to the action is appealing, though the suggestions of hotles near, but not in, Times Square seems a good compromise, though the Marquis does look rather nice.

To answer tcl's questions; we've never been to NY before and have no real idea of itineraries; my wife is certainly not a Sex in the City girl, or an avid fan of any key NY TV shows or movies to draw upon for the planning. Hadn't realised tha the UN building was potentially accessible and the idea of sending the kids a UN postcard is a nice touch; thank you for that idea! You're right that we won't want to spend all day in cabs and will mostly walk or use the subway, but I think that at least one ride in the iconic NY yellow cab will be in order!


Am very much appreciating the input here......

I'd suggest Big Apple greeter, a free tour service.

http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/

Governor's Island -free
Staten Island Ferry- free

I assume Priceline is primarily for near-term bookings and the best rates are not to be had by booking in advance?

Priceline isn't limited to near-term bookings. I've gotten great same-day deals on Priceline as well as great deals several months in advance. Grab a cancel-able reservation through some other source, check out biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com to get an idea of what hotels are going for on Priceline around your dates, and try some bids. If you don't get anything, wait a couple weeks and try again.

Other good discount hotel sites include quikbook.com and travelzoo.com. Quikbook in particular often has more boutiquey hotels that I find more interesting, although it's not as cheap as Priceline. On Priceline you mostly get very big generic tourist hotels like Marriott, Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt, etc. But we've scored some interesting stays through Priceline for visitors too, including the Tribeca Grand (which has great soundproofing in the rooms).

I like the Fitzpatrick hotels in NYC, there are 2 locations. The Grand Central property is literally footsteps from Grand Central, where you can catch the subway to any location you wish. The Affinia chain is also good value, they run specials frequently on TravelZoo.com. The Affinia Shelburne is just a few blocks from Grand Central. Another nice budget hotel is the Park South, which is 1/2 block from a subway stop.

If this is a surprise trip, buy a couple of compact guidebooks and take them in your carry-on. Your wife can plan what she wants to see while on the airplane. Most guidebooks include suggestions for a 1- or 2- or 3-day itinerary.

Don't wait in line at TKTS for Broadway plays. Try broadwaybox.com for advance sales at a significant discount. Be aware that not all plays can be purchased at a discount.

WOW - There's SOO many places to see and so such to do!

I'll only give a few eatery suggestions - The ones I'm giving to you are in the same area... and could probably be a whole day or a half depending on how much you take in. :)
If you work it into the night, there are a lot of SpeakEasys in the area also... I'm sure you could use an app to find a couple good ones :)

I'd personally start in China Town - walk up and down, check out all the cool random food vendors up and down the streets.

Then, if you want a really good authentic Italian deli in Little Italy, be sure to walk up a block and check out:
Di Palo's
200 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
Cross Streets: Between Mott St and Mulberry St

When you go in, ask for Lou - he's the owner. You can ask him to refer you to his favorite Italian restaurants in the area.

Then, literally across the street is Ferrara Bakery & Café for French/Italian desserts
95 Grand Street New York, NY 10013

A couple blocks downs is a joint that makes 20 kinds of rice pudding!
Rice to Riches
37 Spring St
(between Mott St & Mulberry St)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Nolita


Good luck! So much to do and see in this burrow alone! :cool:

Ok, a couple of thoughts:

As a native New Yorker, I LOATHE Times Square. It's a place to see - perhaps once during the day and once at night - but I wouldn't stay in a hotel there if my life depended on it.

If you want to experience life as a New Yorker would, I would definitely choose a more residential neighborhood: The Empire on the Upper West Side, The Mark or perhaps The Regency on the Upper East Side (though pretty pricey). There are two W Hotels in Murray Hill (W-The Court and W-The Tuscany), which are convenient to Midtown without being in the middle of everything. On a weekend, you might get good rates at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, which is way downtown and has great views of NY Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. This is convenient to the 9/11 Memorial and Wall Street (you can gawk at the Zuccotti Park protestors) but not much else.

Things to do, in no particular order:

--9/11 Memorial: You can book (free) tickets online.
--Staten Island Ferry: Avoid the lines at the Statue of Liberty and just take the ferry to Staten Island and back. You'll get a terrific view of the Statue and Lower Manhattan, and be able to hang with regular commuters in the process.
--Brooklyn Bridge: On a nice day, it's a great bridge to walk across.
--Top of the Rock: This is the observation deck at the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the home of NBC. It's better than the Empire State Building, IMO, because you can actually see the Empire State Building as part of the view. Also it's less crowded and gives you a chance to work in the Rockefeller Center xmas tree if you're going during the holidays. Whatever you do, DON'T do both Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. Waste of time and money, IMO.
--Central Park before 9am: Living on the Upper East Side, the park is my back yard. And if you like dogs, the perfect time to go is early in the morning before leash laws take effect. People of all stripes roll out of bed and descend on the park with their pooches, which run around and play. It's a great time.
--Chelsea Market: Great collection of food stalls and markets. Perfect foodie destination. Grab a sandwich to go and walk onto the...
--High Line: Old elevated freight train track now restored into an elevated park, with views of Hudson River. Very cool, and a great place to stroll on a warm day.
--The Theatre: The hottest show right now is The Book of Mormon, which is hysterically funny - but you need to have the right sense of humor. You can also check out Lincoln Center Theatre, which is currently featuring an amazing play called War Horse. The Metropolitan Opera is also at Lincoln Center.
--Jazz at Lincoln Center: If you like jazz, you can take in a show here. Great fun. It isn't actually AT Lincoln Center, rather a few blocks away in Time Warner Center, at the foot of Central Park.
--"Bagel Breakfast" No actual New Yorker I know goes out for a "bagel breakfast." If I had to make a suggestion, I'd second the suggestion to hit up Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side. But the better bet would be to grab bagels from a decent place (my favorite is a chain called Pick-a-Bagel) and take them to Central Park the morning you go to check it out. (Of course, you haven't said what time of year you plan to be doing this. I wouldn't recommend this in the dead of winter!)
--Museums: Depending on what you like, there's a museum for every conceivable taste. My favorites are the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (check out the rooftop sculpture garden with its awesome view of Central Park), the American Museum of Natural History (dinosaurs!) and the International Center of Photography (which can be hit or miss, depending on the current exhibits).
--North Fork Wine Trail: If you're here for a few days and you're into wine, rent a car and get yourself to the North Fork of Long Island. It's about a two hour drive. You'll be surprised at the diversity and quality of wines in the region. There are a bunch of decent bed and breakfasts where you could stay for a night, and some fantastic restaurants as well. PM me for more into.

As for food... here are some favorites from the standpoint of an "actual" New Yorker (in no particular order). None of these are the trendiest places right now, but they are consistenly good spots.

--Gramercy Tavern: My favorite special occasion place. No longer the trendiest, but possibly the most consistent high-end restaurant in the city. Owned by Danny Meyer, who also owns Union Square Cafe and a bunch of others.
--Flex Mussels: Really fun, reasonably-priced mussel joint with two locations, one on the Upper East Side and one in Greenwich Village. 23 different preparations of mussels daily. They have other food as well, if you're not actually into mussels.
--The Modern Bar Room: Located in MoMA. This is a fun "small plates" restaurant. The Modern is a big-ticket, much more rarified experience past the bar.
--Untitled at the Whitney: Located in the basement of the Whitney Museum on the Upper East Side. Farm-to-table diner food with breakfast all day. On the weekends they have an interesting 3-course dinner for $46/person. That's a great deal in this town.
--Mandarin Oriental Hotel: It's fantastically expensive, but you can have a drink in the "lobby lounge," in front of windows perched right above the SW corner of Central Park. This is a nice thing to do before seeing Jazz at Lincoln Center. (Ok, you won't find many locals here but it's a great spot.)
--Nick and Toni's: Reasonably-priced restaurant with seasonal food in a wood-burning oven. Convenient to Lincoln Center for a pre or post theater meal.
--Blue Hill at Stone Barns: If you're here for more than a couple of days - and you're a real foodie - you might get a car and driver to take you here for lunch one day. It's a working sustainable farm on Rockefeller-owned land in Tarrytown. The restaurant is spectacular and cooks almost entirely from ingredients that are foraged (or killed) literally that day on the farm. I recommend lunch because it's less expensive and you can take in the scenery in the daylight. (If you're looking to save a few bucks, you can take the Metro-North commuter railroad to Tarrytown and take a local cab to the farm. I imagine they could call a cab for you after your meal.)

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. My user name might be "orlandodlplat" but I'm a born-and-bred New Yorker.

There are two W Hotels in Murray Hill (W-The Court and W-The Tuscany)Those haven't been W hotels for over a year. Your other suggestions are all reasonable. ;)

Those haven't been W hotels for over a year. Your other suggestions are all reasonable. ;)

Aha! I stand corrected.

Dear all,

As always, I'm overwhelmed by the helpfulness of the postings on Flyertalk and this is really helping, whilst adding to my list of things to research further!

Some more info to answer some questions that have cropped up:

- Likely time of the visit is mid-August. Am aware it'll be somewhat warm but it fits with both birthdays, availability of grandparents to mind the Al-aska Jnrs and times we can get off work.

- Can understand the sentiment regarding the Top of the Rock and the ESB. However, thought it would be good to go up and see the skyline both daytime and nighttime so planned one (potentially Top of the Rock) the evening of arrival (to get some photos of the ESB all lit up) and the ESB during the daytime. Seems a shame not to go up the ESB, but also a shame not to get some skyline shots with the ESB in them. However, will listen to counter-arguments! I've known a number of Brits visit NY and regret on their return they had no skyline shots featuring the ESB, as they'd only done the ESB itself....

- Buying a little guidebook for the plane; had also thought of this, but a great suggestion. My plan, if I can pull it off, is not to disclose where we're headed until we get to the gate at the airport. Might be complex!

Once again, thanks for all this help. I know it's a while 'til we hopefully arrive, but the advance info is really useful for budget planning etc. I guess a difficult one to answer, as it's variable, but how much should we budget for food per day per couple? I was guestimating around $100-$150 a day, but is this reasonable or too little for breakfast, lunch and dinner?? (Excluding attractions, transport etc, just food).

Dear all,

As always, I'm overwhelmed by the helpfulness of the postings on Flyertalk and this is really helping, whilst adding to my list of things to research further!

Some more info to answer some questions that have cropped up:

- Likely time of the visit is mid-August. Am aware it'll be somewhat warm but it fits with both birthdays, availability of grandparents to mind the Al-aska Jnrs and times we can get off work.

- Can understand the sentiment regarding the Top of the Rock and the ESB. However, thought it would be good to go up and see the skyline both daytime and nighttime so planned one (potentially Top of the Rock) the evening of arrival (to get some photos of the ESB all lit up) and the ESB during the daytime. Seems a shame not to go up the ESB, but also a shame not to get some skyline shots with the ESB in them. However, will listen to counter-arguments! I've known a number of Brits visit NY and regret on their return they had no skyline shots featuring the ESB, as they'd only done the ESB itself....

- Buying a little guidebook for the plane; had also thought of this, but a great suggestion. My plan, if I can pull it off, is not to disclose where we're headed until we get to the gate at the airport. Might be complex!

Once again, thanks for all this help. I know it's a while 'til we hopefully arrive, but the advance info is really useful for budget planning etc. I guess a difficult one to answer, as it's variable, but how much should we budget for food per day per couple? I was guestimating around $100-$150 a day, but is this reasonable or too little for breakfast, lunch and dinner?? (Excluding attractions, transport etc, just food).

A couple can definitely eat in NYC for $100-$150/day. Your expectations and restaurant preferences will determine whether that budget is reasonable. If you dine at some of the steakhouses in NYC, for example, and you have a bottle of wine or a couple of drinks with your meal, that could easily eat up all of your budget. I think your dinner plans will make or break your budget. B'fast and lunch in the city, while potentially more expensive than in some other cities, can be had for very reasonable prices. So can dinner, but it's easier for that bill to creep upwards quickly.

Honestly there's no way to answer the meal budget question. You can eat decently in NYC for probably $40-50/pppd on the low end and the sky's the limit on the high end. If you have breakfast at Starbucks or a deli ($2.50 egg and cheese on a roll + juice/coffee) and lunch at a deli or fast casual place (i.e. no waiter service - no 15-20% tip) you can do both meals for <$20pp.

Dinner can be all over the place. I'd say most casual-to-upscale neighborhood sit-down restaurants will charge $18-25 for a typical main course. Starters usually $8-15 and deserts around $8-10. Do the math. :)

Alcohol may be a big variable too. Sometimes it's half the bill when I go out with friends. :D

Frankly, just budget how you would if you were visiting central London and then change the £ sign to a $ sign. ;)

As for food costs a typical night out for me and my wife - at so-called "moderate" restaurants in our neighborhood - can run to about $150 just for dinner, including two glasses of wine each and the tip.

Having said that, you can grab a couple of bagels and coffee for two for under $10... Starbucks has very fresh and decent prepared sandwiches for $5.75... the various Whole Foods stores around the city have fantastic salad bars; you can get away with lunch for under $10. To the extent that you want to enjoy some high-end restaurants, I'd suggest you make lunch your main meal. The set price is much lower for the same quality experience.

As for the ESB question, it's entirely up to you. If you feel like you need to go up there just to say you did, then that has value to you. Otherwise you're shelling out over 20 bucks per person to stand in line, shoehorn yourself into crowded elevators and spend a few minutes looking at a view which, while amazing, does not include the ESB! That's over $40 you could be spending on food... don't forget. :)

If you want to experience life as a New Yorker would, I would definitely choose a more residential neighborhood. . .


My user name might be "orlandodlplat" but I'm a born-and-bred New Yorker.

Then you should understand that 85% of the population does not live in Manhattan. Moreover, probably 95% of the population does not live in the areas you suggested. The Regency? At 61st and Park? Are you kidding?

Very few visitors will ever "experience life as a New Yorker" since they are unlikely to spend their time doing things we do, you know, like take out the recycling. :)

- Hidden gems; what do most tourists miss, because they don't know it's there, that we should go hunt out?Not sure if these are hidden but these are what I suggest that aren't on the Gray Line tour bus route:

1. The Museum of the City of New York

2. Walk around northern end of Central Park which is a few steps from the above museum. It is absolutely beautiful.

3. Eat breakfast at a coffee shop (aka a "diner"). Don't even THINK of eating at the hotel unless you want to eat with other tourists.

4. Grab a hot dog at any stand that has the word "Papaya" in it. Papaya Dog, Papaya King....Outside of going to Coney Island for a Nathan's Hot Dog (the orginal on the corner of Stillwell and Surf), Papaya is the best. And totally cheap.

5. Go to an off-Broadway play.

6. Visit the Brooklyn Museum.

7. Walk....just walk.

8. Bring your tennis racquets and reserve an outside court at the National Tennis Center in Flushing. If you're here in the late spring, it will be a fabulous treat for the both of you. Tourists don't think to do this. If you don't want to bring your racquets, you can rent them from Paragon Sports on Broadway and 18th. They offer that service so people can try the newest racquets. Tourists don't know that "hidden gem" either. ;)

Then you should understand that 85% of the population does not live in Manhattan. Moreover, probably 95% of the population does not live in the areas you suggested. The Regency? At 61st and Park? Are you kidding?

Very few visitors will ever "experience life as a New Yorker" since they are unlikely to spend their time doing things we do, you know, like take out the recycling. :)

First of all, as of the 2010 census it was more like 80%. But while your overall point is well taken, I'd submit that the OP has limited time and has never been to NYC, and if he wants to see the "highlights" without killing himself then he shouldn't do the outer boroughs in this trip. It's just too much.

And if you want to question my knowledge of the city, I would gladly recommend a trip to see the Babushkas in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, the Worlds Fairground/USTA in Queens, the Cloisters in Upper Manhattan or Wave Hill in the Bronx. (I already recommended the SI Ferry, so that rounds out my tour of the boroughs.)

As for the Regency, I already said it can be "pretty pricey" but it's also true that even the high end business-oriented hotels can have great weekend deals during the summer. My basic point, which you seem to have missed, was to stay away from Times Square and gravitate to specific residential neighborhoods, even if some of them can be quite expensive.

First of all, as of the 2010 census it was more like 80%. But while your overall point is well taken, I'd submit that the OP has limited time and has never been to NYC, and if he wants to see the "highlights" without killing himself then he shouldn't do the outer boroughs in this trip. It's just too much.

And if you want to question my knowledge of the city, I would gladly recommend a trip to see the Babushkas in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, the Worlds Fairground/USTA in Queens, the Cloisters in Upper Manhattan or Wave Hill in the Bronx. (I already recommended the SI Ferry, so that rounds out my tour of the boroughs.)

As for the Regency, I already said it can be "pretty pricey" but it's also true that even the high end business-oriented hotels can have great weekend deals during the summer. My basic point, which you seem to have missed, was to stay away from Times Square and gravitate to specific residential neighborhoods, even if some of them can be quite expensive.

I got your point. Mine is simply that it would be highly unusual for any tourist to ever experience life as a New Yorker. When tourists start having to deal with half the crap we deal with (e.g. sanitation, taxes, elected officials, etc.) then we can talk.

The people who live on 61st and Park are not the 1% but more like the .1%. :D