In April, I’ll be visiting New York City for the first time. It’s long overdue, and I fully intend to make the most of my four days in the city. That’s where you come in.
First of all, two specific questions:
Which airport is the best to fly into?
Where should we stay? We were looking at a couple of hotels in the Village, but since I’ve never been there and my wife was last there in the 5th grade, I’m totally open for suggestions. Specific hotel recommendations are welcome.
Our motto is “high culture by day, low culture by night.” We want to do a couple of touristy things, such as see the Empire State Building, but mostly we want to avoid the beaten path unless the beaten path leads to something really cool. Basically, I don’t want to stand in line and pay a lot of money for anything that sucks. We want to see some good live theater, either on Broadway or off or off-off. We want to see some live music we can’t see anywhere else. We want to eat at some cool restaurants, both fine dining and low-rent. We want to shop: my wife is looking for some boots and vintage dresses, I want music and book stores. And we’re up for adventure and experiencing the essence of New York.
This doesn’t specifically address your questions but several years ago I needed to take some guests on a tourist’s view of NYC. I bought a map book I think was called Manhattan Block by Block.
Anyway it’s about 3 1/2" x 8" (note the size) and has just a few blocks on each page with bus and subway lines overlaid and details down to interesting buildings.
Both airports suck. Coming in is minor suckage compared to leaving, though. I tend to prefer JFK, but let your choice of airline and cost decide. As I have said in other threads, mass transit with luggage, even during non-peak hours (I think that is between 3am - 6am weekends) is not worth the hassle. I take the subway everywhere, but won’t do it if I’m lugging more than a laptop bag.
As a native, I don’t know good hotels. As an old fogey, outer borough family man, I’m about 15 years removed from the NYC nightlife, bar/club scene, and interesting things to to on the cheap scene. Instead, I’m on the go-out-whenever-I-can-expense-it scene. I don’t get out much other than to Yankee Stadium.
All three airports suck. Newark, LaGaurdia and JFK.
Technically JFK has the ‘best’ public transport to the city followed by Newark.
You will want to visit The Strand book store.
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. If you do it from Brooklyn going to Manhattan you wind up at City Hall. Go south to the South St. Seaport and Wall Street or go north and you’re in China town.
I know some people who stayed here http://www.offsoho.com/ and they liked it.
How about meeting some dopers?
Rififi has burlesque shows every Sunday night. The cover is cheap and the girls always put on a good show. This is definitely more about theatre than it is about strippers.
And D_Odds is absolutely right about the airports: They all suck. Go for the cheap flight.
I’m in my 20s and fairly hip (by my opinion, at least). PM me if you want a lot more suggestions.
Last year, my Wife and I flew into NYC for a long weekend. We found Newark to have the cheapest fares, and the train brings you directly into Penn Station in Midtown.
If you’re looking for a good, cheap (by NYC standards) dinner, look for Café Napoli in Little Italy. We both got fan-fucking-tastic entrees and split a bottle of wine. Our total bill was about $50. Oh, and I finally found out why my wife denigrates the bread down here.
Assuming the weather cooperates and brings along a warmish spring, you should hop on the Staten Island ferry.
IIRC, the cost will be covered by your subway fare, and you’ll get a nice tour of the harbour complete with a view of the famous skyline and a pass-by of the statue of Liberty. Once you get to the end, just turn around and hop back on the ferry going in the opposite direction.
While I haven’t stayed there, friends have had nothing but good things to say about the Washington Square Hotel. Cheap (for NYC) and smack dab in the middle of the Village.
A couple of overlooked spaces on my “Do not miss” list.
Plan part of a day in Central Park - preferably a Saturday or Sunday - there will be more entertainment walking around than you’ll see in a year in some cities.
Most overlloked museum - the Cloisters - middle ages at its finest.
Spend a little time on 125th street - soooooo much history in Harlem.
My #1 tip about hotels is to make sure they are close to a subway line.
There are deals on hotels on 10/11 ave as well as 1/2nd ave but they are a good 15 minute walk to subway. Be aware the avenues are spread quite wide - the walk from 10th to 8th ave is about 10 minutes.
You’ll find yourself walking and taking subway to everything. Make sure your legs and feet are in good shape.
I was just there in January and stayed at the Murray Hill East Suite Hotel. Not outstanding, but a decent place, with lots of closet space and a kitchen in the room. I booked through Priceline and only paid $90.00 a night, much better than the normal rate.
Only a few blocks from Grand Central, and right around the corner from several good restaurants on Lexington, including the Bombay Grill, which had excellent vindaloo and garlic naan bread. The Thai place across the street was also good, but I didn’t get to try the Japanese place, it was closed the one time I tried.
I second the Staten Island ferry. Very nice view of the the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
I used the 7 day unlimited Metrocard while I was there, well worth the money.
Don’t forget the Blue Man Group show, it was lots of fun.