New York, New York!

[whiskeysheri]

Morning all!

We're hoping to go to New York for a week sometime in December and basically have no idea where to start with things.

Can anyone suggest the best places for flights? Accomodation? The must-see sights? Basically any info anyone might have will help us. I'm just so excited! :o)

Lots of thanks in advance, WS xxx

[stylinsam]

pleasee can i come instead of him!! pah! i hate that man!! lol mwah !

[chazza]

we got our deal through onlinetravel.co.uk (same as expedia), we searched for flight+hotel and got a week for less than �500), including direct flights (which from belfast is unusual), central accomodation and breakfast included

[libby1980]

I am off to NY for the first time next week!! Am sooo excited! We booked everything on Expedia. We had our hotel (The Salisbury) recommended to us, and we are flying with Virgin. Also, try Tripadvisor webpage for hotel reviews, it's brilliant. Have a lovely time!

[spudqueen]

Sorry, can't remember the websites I used to book my flights and hotel when I went last December, but I can tell you that I flew with Continental to Newark rather than JFK, which was great. It was actually better for us as the bus from Newark (about 30 - 40 minutes) took us to the Port Authority Bus Station which was two blocks from our hotel. The hotel I stayed in was the Milford Plaza, one block from Times Square. I also booked a helicopter flight, tickets for Top of The Rock (the re-opened last year top of the Rockefeller Center) and tickets for a Broadway show on the internet.
We did Macys, The Staten Island Ferry, Wall St (and a quick trip to pay our respects at Ground Zero), helipcopter flight over Manhatten, Greenwich Village, Little Italy, China Town, Central Park, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State (at night), Fifth Avenue Shopping, Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Centre including Top of the Rock. We walked miles but had the most fantastic time! In December the shops are decorated so beautifully and there are ice rinks at the Rockefeller Centre and in Central Park. I'm so jealous, wish I was going back!

[bendigedig]

im going in november, i looked for ages for the best flight deals and the best i could find was on the american airlines website - best thing about that was being able to allocate seats there and then - mine was a bit complicated as i wanted to fly to new york and train to chicago and fly back from chicago so i dont know if you could get a better deal on return flights, again i looked at expedia, opodo and other sites for hotel accommodation saw one i liked the sound of (belleclaire - like libby i used tripadvisor) and contacted the hotel directly and again got a better price so if you find a hotel, always check their website first - have a great time - im so excited!!

[wonderwoman1]

hi whiskey...we go every 2 years and we have stayed in the very best and the very worst of hotels! If you are looking for a middle of the road one I would suggest The Edison, its just off Times Square and is so central for everything.

We flew with British Airways who are doing really good deals just now

Since i am a shopping girlie(as you know)....you MUST go to Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Maceys and Barneys.
Go to China Town, Little Italy, a horse and carriage ride through Central Park, cocktails at the Plaza, Rockerfeller Centre, Staten Island Ferry, Statue of Liberty, we did the Empire state Building twice(once in the day time but you have to see it at night too!!), Wall St, Ground Zero, Grenwich Village and Grand Central station

We are going in December too....you'll love it and like us you will want to go back again and again!!

xxxxxxx

[pega]

Like the other have said a great place been 7 times and hope to go again, have been with Virgin and BA but found American airline was very good, also been to Newark and can get a bus but JFK there's a choice of transport into manhatten a very good bus service $28 dollars return and drops off at Hotels, main stop is grand central station. an excellent hotel is the Rooselvt on corner of madision and 5th ave, so central and just minutes from grand central station, lovely rooms and very comfortable There's so much to see in NYC, I would suggest you take the apple bus tour leaves from various places and can get on and off all day and would give you an idea of the main places also there's a ferry that takes you around manhatten island and see places like yankee stadium , but without a doubt best to walk and explore, and can do miles of blocks but its interesting and look up as some interesting buildings among the skyscrappers, have a great time.

[minimonkey]

i went from manc to newark - train from newark to penn station is really good and quick and we stayed at ramada new yorker - opp penn station so literally had to carry our bags across the road - right next to madison square garden - along road from times square, macys and empire state. got it all on expedia have fun xxx

[JoolsTwo]

I'm so Jealous, we were there in July (too hot) and we are already planning our next trip (Dec next year). I am looking forward to seeing it decked out for Christmas. I can't add much to what has already been said. We did look at the Central Liberary which we found interesting. Statten Island ferry is good for seeing the Statue of Liberty unless you want to go up it, but the queues are long and I think you see it better from the water. Oh I do wish it was me going. Any room in your suitcase? :-) Enjoy your trip.

[spudqueen]

JimJools - you can no longer go up the Statue of Liberty - so the Staten Island Ferry (which is free) is probably the best way of seeing it.

[JoolsTwo]

We didn't try, but there seemed to be people queueing on the Island so we assumed they we waiting to go up. But it does surprise me as you can still go up the Empire State and Rockafeller Center.

[vicster2006]

if you can try to stay at the sheridan newyork hotel and towers its about 5mins walk down to times sq, i stayed their in june it was really good 4 star so a bit more expensive but you def get what u pay for.
i love new york been 4 times, try fly BA if u can i think they are by far the best, avoid delta is poss.
i booked throught lastminute.com so you might want to give those a try.
the best bit of info i can give is get a grayline open top bus sight seeing ticket its about �48 dollars and last 2 days its a hop on and off aswell, this ticket is the all loops so you can see the empire state, ground zero, little italy etc well work it plus there is money off voucers with your ticket for planet hollywood and loads of other places. (the ticket people can be found in times sq)
xmas is amazing in nyc, go to rockerfella centre and see the tree its amazing!!!!!
wrap up warm it will be cold hats scarves and gloves are a must, leave loadsa room in your cases as you will be bringing back loads of shopping!
south street seaport is good too, nice shops and a few bars where you can see and look at the brooklyn bridge.
if you have enough time try to walk over the brooklyn bridge or at least have way to brooklyn then back, the ticket i mentioned has a stop near to the brooklyn bridge so hop off and take a stroll over, you will get the most amazing pics of lower manhattan!!!
im so jelous i love the place!
have a great time!!!!!!!

[vicster2006]

forgive my spelling i was too excited writing about nyc lol!!

[filthiestfis]

vicster, why should one avoid Delta airlines? what happened when u flew with them? What makes BA the best to travel to new york? :O)

[auntiebertie]

Have you tried www.lastminute.com for a flight/hotel package. They can come up with good deals?
Last time we stayed in Hotel called 70 Park Avenue, next month we are staying at Bedford.....suggest that you check out www.tripadvisor.com before booking into any hotel to see what other guests have said.
In addition to what to see there is always shopping shopping shopping....with the �/$ rate so good at the mo things really are half price especially in Gap [and its cheaper range called Old Navy which we don't get over here].
if you are a serious shopper then suggest a day trip out to Woodbury Common - it is an Outlet Mall about an hour norht of NYC - fantastic range of shops ranging from Gucci down to Gap! Set in beautiful hill scenery the bargains are amazing.
Take Greyline tours from Port Authority Bus Terminal - seem to think a return ticket is $32
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.a sp?id=7
Enjoy! [and remember that it will be flipping cold in December so wrap up well!]

[vicster2006]

delta i found there planes to be dated and a bit run down, nothing wrong with the service though cabin crew are always really friendly.
ba ive always found to be excellant, good in-flight entertainment and friendly cabin crew.

[whiskeysheri]

Thank you all so much for your answers- they're brilliantly helpful! :o)

Oi, Sammi! Ain't your Little Brown Bag gonna be good enough for you?! Tsk! ;o)

Ooh, hi ww1, hun! Would love to meet up with you over there... :o)

LMAO, JimJools! I think I'll actually have to buy another suitcase over there for all my shopping! :o)

Thank you all again, so much. You don't know how helpful you've been. Please post again if you think of anything else... xxxxx