New York

[mountainboo]

I have been looking at holiday packages for New York and most operators are coming up with hotels in Manhatten. Whilst I would love it, my husband would prefer to stay outside of the city. Where are some decent areas with good access to Manhatten? TIA

[dr b]

Well, having used the word "decent" you just eliminated anything in New Jersey. Do you plan on getting around via the subway, trains, taxis, rented car? And by outside the city do you just mean not on Manhattan or outside NYC altogether?

[237SJ]

New Jersey is close but it`s quite industrial. The only place I have been through is Queens which you go through on the way from Manhattan to JFK. It`s not the most scenic place I have ever seen. There might be nice parts but it is densely populated and looks a bit depressing in parts. You`d have much more choice of hotels, places to eat and easier "getting about" if you stay in Manhattan.

[mountainboo]

Thanks. I'm glad you both told me about New Jersey as I was just looking there. We would be using public transport to get around. We would like to stay in the NY area but I wasn't sure if NY extends to, perhaps quieter areas?

[237SJ]

Well it does extend into less high rise areas. When you go over the bridge towards Queens you see warehouses and there`s a bloody big brewery, then you get to residential roads with clapboard type houses and little blocks with the usual deli etc. I`m not sure about north of Manhattan but that is the Bronx and I`m not sure I`d want to stay there. It would be costly (but Manhatten is costly these days) but if you want a slightly quieter area, one of the hotels around Central Park might be OK. At least you can escape into the park. NY is all about Manhattan really. You can get about on the subway (taxis are hard to flag down at rush hour) and you can eat anywhere.

[dr b]

I agree, in terms of easy access to the things you are most likely to want to see, staying in Manhattan makes the most sense (staying in the Lincoln Square area puts you within walking distance of a lot of stuff if you don't mind 15-30 minute walks. The Hampton Inn Times Square, where we normally stay, is actually about half way between Lincoln Center & Times Square).

You really don't want to spend a lot of time *under* Manhattan learning the ins & outs of the A train vs the D train, when you could be in Times Square. Yes, Manhattan hotels are pricey and it is all hustle & bustle, but isn't that why you go to NYC? For the high prices, hustle and bustle?

But, if you can't convince your husband to stay on the island, you could look in Brooklyn or the Bronx. A relatively small savings, though, for the extra travel time you'd be incurring. I kid (slightly) about New Jersey; Jersey City is just across the river, and they do have legalized gambling there. If being very far removed is the goal, look at Stamford Connecticut and take the train in with all the bankers and hedge fund managers.

[dr b]

And, what 237SJ just said.

[237SJ]

I`ve just thought. I`ve stayed on Long Island before. There are quieter OK parts of that but it`s not that easy to nip in and out of the city. But at least it`s a bit more scenic that Queens, Jamaica etc.

[mountainboo]

Thanks again. I will try and persuade my husband to consider Manhattan, near Central Park is a good idea. He thinks it will be dirty and smelly in the city, I may be naive here but surely mid town Manhattan isn't like that, is it?

[237SJ]

No, Manhattan isn`t dirty or smelly. Busy and bustling yes but not filthy. With work I stay on E55th and Lexington Avenue which is handy for the park and Bloomingdales :-) I was there 3 days ago actually. One time I went for a long weekend and stayed at the Helmsley Hotel on 42nd Street which is handy for the other end of manhattan (Empire State, Grand Central Station) I like to be fairly near the centre as in Lexington, 5th Avenue etc.

[ladybirder]

This is a 5* B&B but you'll have to get your own flights. Lovely old brownstone house, massive rooms, overlooking a park and beautifully furnished in.

http://www.tripadviso...New_York.html#REVIEWS

[ladybirder]

By the way this is just north of Central Park with a bus stop outside the door and the metro at the end of the road. It's in Mornington Heights.

[VHG]

New York is made up of a number of areas - Manhatten being one the others being Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx. New Jersey is not actually part of New York but is alongside it (it is part of New Jersey state not New York state).

Manhatten is an island, so to get to it from anywhere else you have to go over or under water (subway etc).

I would say 90% (or more) of what the tourists want to see is on Manhatten and staying anywhere else would just give you lots of extra travelling to do.

After a meal or show in Manhatten you can easily get back to your hotel if you are staying on Manhatten island. If you are staying anywhere else it is subways and taxis etc.

I would strongly recomend you DONT stay anywhere else but Manhatten.