Hi all. I have been reading most of the posts here (went through 400+ pages so far) but just wondering if anyone can give me any help. Booked few days in new york for boyfriends birthday and first holiday together. His first time in NY, i%26#39;ve been for two weeks before in %26#39;03.
Ages 28/32. Flying to Newark from Shannon Ireland on Friday 24th April. Arrive in Newark at 11.15am. Have decided not to take public transport just for this one. Am thinkinking after reading posts here to book Dial7. What time should i book them for?
Hotel: Staying in the Grand Hyatt. Didn%26#39;t find many reviews on this forum regarding this hotel but have read other reviews and thought it would be a handy location.
Now will be returning on a 5pm flight from newark on the Monday so don%26#39;t have too long a break to see things. I was thinking of these places and then asking for your help omiting or adding different things. I used the subway all the time when i over there before, mostly the 7 train in and out of the city every day. I am leaning towards getting the 3 day card, got the 7 day twice while there before and it was mighty handy.
I have decided not to go to a show. He is not too into them.
Central park. Whats the best place to start, the top or the bottom and whats best to see in there. I know could spend a whole day in there. Last time i was there i went four times and just wandered around by myself and didn%26#39;t see too much of it, didn%26#39;t seem to venture in right direction at all. Zoo.
Crystler, near the hotel so be easy to just pass that.
Empire state: Thinking of going up that at night (been there in the day) and doing TOTR during the day.
St. Patricks cathedral a must.
I never walked brooklyn bridge so i want to do that.
Carniege hall worth a visit?
Time Square ( i love the place, just wandering about). He will want to go into madam tusseu... i imagine altough trying to convince against that as seen it and didnt care much for it.
Intreped. World Trade. Financial Centre. Madison Sq garden.
Dunno what museums to go see, dunno what would interest him to be honest. Farmer with only interest in Machinery lol.
Leaning towards getting the pass. I have read the reviews and know a lot recommend against it but least then if had it would know thats budgeted in before going.
Any recommend any irish bars near where we are staying and also bars that would have good music, like 80%26#39;s, rock etc.
Shopping isnt a priority so dont want to be spending a day in Woodbury Common or anything like that.
Sorry this is all over the place, Know what i;m trying to say but can%26#39;t seem to get it all out.
Eating out.
Eating is a big thing with him. He loves grub. Steak, chicken. Nothing like chinese or indian, he not adventures although loves Kebabs lol.
Will probably be spending one evening in woodside with my brother and doing the irish bars there so taking a bit out of time also.
Forgot to mention stature of liberty and ellis island. Won%26#39;t be getting off at stature but he would like to get off at ellis island.
Can all this be done over 3 days would you reckon.
Help 3 day trip to NYC
There%26#39;s a lot happening here, so just a couple of quick things:
Central Park itinerary:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k818493-鈥?/a>
Directions for walking over the Brooklyn Bridge:
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k866178-鈥?/a>
One of my favorite kebab places is Afghan Kebab House:
www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails鈥?/a>
Worry about the other restaurants after you%26#39;ve made an itinerary--if you%26#39;re not foodies, there%26#39;s no reason to organize your trip around specific places.
If you%26#39;re not going to a show at Carnegie Hall and neither of you are particularly interested in music, then skip it.
The Met is usually the museum people recommend for visitors who don%26#39;t really like museums. They have extensive Egyptian, Greek/Roman, and arms and armor collections that appeal to non-arts folks:
http://www.metmuseum.org/
Help 3 day trip to NYC
dial7.com is fine. They%26#39;ll ask you to phone them when you%26#39;ve got your luggage and will tell you where to meet the driver. You could also easily take the Express Airport Bus for $15/person and get out at Grand Central since your hotel is right there. I usually recommend a car service but in this case, I honestly think it%26#39;s a waste of money. The Express bus will be less than half the price.
www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp
All the reviews for the Hyatt are here
tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93450-R鈥?/a>
There is no longer a 3 day metrocard. It%26#39;s either pay as you go which you can both use or 7 day card for $25 and you%26#39;d each need one. I%26#39;d buy a pay as you go which gives you a bit of discount.
Using the machine with a debit or credit card, pay the following amount:
$8.70 worth $10 or 5 rides
$17.40 worth $20 or 10 rides
$26.10 worth $30 0r 15 rides
2 of the most time consuming places to visit are ESB and SOL/Ellis Island. If you plan to do one or both, definitely buy tickets in advance online so you avoid the ticket buyers line or buy a pass that includes them (although I think it%26#39;s a waste of money).
The only museums that might make sense are the Tenement Museum (which also requires prebooking) or the Fire Museum
http://www.nycfiremuseum.org/index.php
The Intrepid is a great idea. If you want to see Madison Square Garden, you%26#39;ll have to take the tour. I don%26#39;t know that you can do all of this is 3 days. ;)
There%26#39;s an Irish pub inside the Fitzpatrick Grand Central hotel which is across from the Hyatt on the Lexington Ave. side. There are also loads of Irish pubs along 2nd %26amp; 34rd ave. Here%26#39;s a list with specific names and reviews. Some are quite good for a meal.
menupages.com/restaurants/鈥?/a>
I think travel is about broadening horizons and while I wouldn%26#39;t suggest forcing a typical Broadway musical on him, an off Broadway show that%26#39;s a bit different like Stomp or Fuezerbruta might be a lot of fun and something different. There are discounts on
broadwaybox.com
Don%26#39;t know if you have read the reviews on TA about the Grand Hyatt
tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g60763-d93450鈥?/a>
And also past threads on the GH -- just type Grand Hyatt in the search box on the forum
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/SearchForums?ff=5%26amp;geo=60763%26amp;scope=2%26amp;q=grand+hyatt%26amp;x=0%26amp;y=0%26amp;returnTo=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tripadvisor.co.uk%2FShowForum-g60763-i5-New_York_City_New_York.html
Central Park -- check out CentralPark.com they have maps you can print off and audio tours to upload on your iPod. You have to sign up to site to access these, but it%26#39;s free quick and easy
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Crystler, near the hotel so be easy to just pass that. %26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
It%26#39;s the Chrysler Building -- just FYI, and also go there at night, when you have a better chance of checking out the lobby.
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Time Square ( i love the place, just wandering about). He will want to go into madam tusseu... i imagine altough trying to convince against that as seen it and didnt care much for it.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Leaning towards getting the pass. I have read the reviews and know a lot recommend against it but least then if had it would know thats budgeted in before going.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
Again Times Square. I%26#39;m anti NY pass, don%26#39;t see the need for it, you say you would farther not go to Madmame Tussauds but then going to buy the pass with the admission included. Why? -- You only have 3 days, I wouldn%26#39;t waste you time. Maybe check it out if you%26#39;re in London one time.
If you%26#39;re not really into museums you could maybe pop into either the Natural History or Met, when in Central Park for an hour or so.
For the SoL/EL make sure you get the first ferry of the day.
Happy Planning! :)
If you don%26#39;t buy a pass, make sure to look for online discounts for Mme Tussaud%26#39;s. It%26#39;s very expensive and there are discounts on
broadwaybox.com/shows/madame_tussauds_nyc_ti鈥?/a>
and elsewhere.
I%26#39;d def add a visit to the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City, next to the World Financial Center and near the WTC site. (Type ';Irish Hunger Memorial'; in the search box for more threads.)
I%26#39;m sure, if you%26#39;ve read over 400 pages of this crazy forum, then you know about the Tribute Center and St. Paul%26#39;s Chapel. ;o)
There is lots of construction at the WTC site right now, so if he%26#39;s into massive steam shovels and pile drivers, there%26#39;s lots to see from the Amex Building balcony in the World Financial Center.
Museums - Since you only have 3 days, try to get to one museum, but don%26#39;t worry if that%26#39;s all you see.
If he%26#39;s into history, I%26#39;d suggest Museum of the City of New York, the New-York Historical Society, the Tenement Museum, the Skyscraper Museum, or
http://www.mcny.org/
https://www.nyhistory.org/web/
www.tenement.org
If he%26#39;s into infrastructure or object design, I%26#39;d reco the architecture and design area of MOMA and the Cooper-Hewitt, or the Skyscraper Museum.
http://cooperhewitt.org/
www.moma.org
www.skyscraper.org/LOCATION/overview.htm
Shows - He might be under the impression that Broadway is all ';Zigfield Follies,'; but it%26#39;s not.
If he likes South Park, I%26#39;d reco Avenue Q. It%26#39;s a riot! Live nude puppet sex!
Does he like drama? For example, you both might like August: Osage County - a crazy, sad and funny drama about a centrally isolated rural American family. (It%26#39;s a bit long though.)
Or, how about a musical based on the 1980s cult film, The Toxic Avenger:
http://www.thetoxicavengermusical.com/
(I%26#39;ll probably be seeing that next month, btw.)
There%26#39;s always some Irish and Irish-American theater here, too. Check out these:
http://www.59e59.org/frameset.htm
Right now, all of these are available at the discount TKTS booths.
