24 hours in New York with 3 children.
Dec 17th, 2009, 10:49 AM
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24 hours in New York with 3 children.
Our trip to New York from Baltimore with 3 children (5,8,9) was a great success. Thank you Fodorites. Your advice really makes travelling easier.
We got to New York on the Mega bus about 3PM Sunday, Dec 9. Our hotel was the Hampton Inn Madison Square. They were able to accomodate the five of us because 3 were young children. When I had booked the hotel though Hampton Inn Central I was told that they could put a cot in the room. This was impossible because of the size of the room. Reception told me to always check with the hotel itself. Anyway we made do with what we had. The mother slept with 2 kids and I shared with the other. The room was clean and modern, but really postage stamp size. There was literally nowhere to be except on the beds. It was fine because we just slept there, but I would never stay for more than one night, even if I was by myself. Besides the proximity to our bus, the big plus was the buffet breakfast. It enabled the kids to pick and choose and have as much as they wanted, which is much easier than using a menu. The breakfast filled them up, except for snacks along the way, until we got back to Baltimore. I thought that maybe the next time we should upgrade to a bigger space (the Afffinia) but we decided that with the kids the breakfast was more important and would choose the Hampton Inn again.
Immediately after check in we started out walking. We had an umbrella stroller and there was always one kid or another in it. Our first stop was Macy's windows. Then we went inside-a big mistake. My daughter-in-law wanted to see the Santa floor that she remembered from the movie. It took at least 1/2 hour to get on an elevator and it wasn't possible to see anything. We did have a nice lunch there at Cucina's-soup in bread bowls, very filling and enjoyable for the kids. Then we proceeded to visit the other displays-Lord and Taylor's, Saks and Rockefeller Centre. The viewing at Sak's was well organized with everyone taking their turn. We loved all the hoopla at Rockefeller Centre. I bought the kids hats that twinkled. That perked them up and stopped the whinning about the walking. I would recommend doing something like that to pacify young children. After a long time at Rockefeller Centre we walked to Time Square and visited American Girl, the NHL store and Toys R Us. My grandson got a Sydney Crosby T shirt and a Minnesota Wilds mug for his father. He was in heaven. The only other shopping we did was a snow globe of New York for my granddaughter. From Times Square we took a cab, arriving back at the hotel at 10:30 pm. A pretty good day's work for the 3 kids and their old baba (me).
The next day we took the subway (no problem) and the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. We all enjoyed that. When we finished that trip it was time to catch our bus home. The kids wanted to stay longer, but we were afraid we wouldn't get on the later bus and my legs were giving out so we went back to Baltimore.
It was certainly a wonderful, worthwhile experience for the five of us to enjoy together. The kids got a lot more out of it thaI had expected. I have read a lot of negative things about the crowds, but for me that was part of the experience.
I hope to repeat the trip next year, but I will make sure my visit to Baltimore enables us to be in New York to celebrate the lighting of the 5th Ave. menorah. We will start at Central Park and do that part of the city and include a visit to the Natural History Museum.
Thanks again Fodorites for helping to make this trip successful.
We got to New York on the Mega bus about 3PM Sunday, Dec 9. Our hotel was the Hampton Inn Madison Square. They were able to accomodate the five of us because 3 were young children. When I had booked the hotel though Hampton Inn Central I was told that they could put a cot in the room. This was impossible because of the size of the room. Reception told me to always check with the hotel itself. Anyway we made do with what we had. The mother slept with 2 kids and I shared with the other. The room was clean and modern, but really postage stamp size. There was literally nowhere to be except on the beds. It was fine because we just slept there, but I would never stay for more than one night, even if I was by myself. Besides the proximity to our bus, the big plus was the buffet breakfast. It enabled the kids to pick and choose and have as much as they wanted, which is much easier than using a menu. The breakfast filled them up, except for snacks along the way, until we got back to Baltimore. I thought that maybe the next time we should upgrade to a bigger space (the Afffinia) but we decided that with the kids the breakfast was more important and would choose the Hampton Inn again.
Immediately after check in we started out walking. We had an umbrella stroller and there was always one kid or another in it. Our first stop was Macy's windows. Then we went inside-a big mistake. My daughter-in-law wanted to see the Santa floor that she remembered from the movie. It took at least 1/2 hour to get on an elevator and it wasn't possible to see anything. We did have a nice lunch there at Cucina's-soup in bread bowls, very filling and enjoyable for the kids. Then we proceeded to visit the other displays-Lord and Taylor's, Saks and Rockefeller Centre. The viewing at Sak's was well organized with everyone taking their turn. We loved all the hoopla at Rockefeller Centre. I bought the kids hats that twinkled. That perked them up and stopped the whinning about the walking. I would recommend doing something like that to pacify young children. After a long time at Rockefeller Centre we walked to Time Square and visited American Girl, the NHL store and Toys R Us. My grandson got a Sydney Crosby T shirt and a Minnesota Wilds mug for his father. He was in heaven. The only other shopping we did was a snow globe of New York for my granddaughter. From Times Square we took a cab, arriving back at the hotel at 10:30 pm. A pretty good day's work for the 3 kids and their old baba (me).
The next day we took the subway (no problem) and the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. We all enjoyed that. When we finished that trip it was time to catch our bus home. The kids wanted to stay longer, but we were afraid we wouldn't get on the later bus and my legs were giving out so we went back to Baltimore.
It was certainly a wonderful, worthwhile experience for the five of us to enjoy together. The kids got a lot more out of it thaI had expected. I have read a lot of negative things about the crowds, but for me that was part of the experience.
I hope to repeat the trip next year, but I will make sure my visit to Baltimore enables us to be in New York to celebrate the lighting of the 5th Ave. menorah. We will start at Central Park and do that part of the city and include a visit to the Natural History Museum.
Thanks again Fodorites for helping to make this trip successful.
Dec 17th, 2009, 11:47 AM
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Glad you enjoyed your visit.
What you had at your hotel is typical of many Manhattan hotels -esp the budget ones - and why the city won't allow more than 4 people per room.
If you come next year check on a hotel on the upper west side - the Beacon ha suites and is modestly priced - esp if youreserve far in advance on the web sdite. And you're rightnear Natural History and Central Park.
What you had at your hotel is typical of many Manhattan hotels -esp the budget ones - and why the city won't allow more than 4 people per room.
If you come next year check on a hotel on the upper west side - the Beacon ha suites and is modestly priced - esp if youreserve far in advance on the web sdite. And you're rightnear Natural History and Central Park.
Dec 17th, 2009, 12:04 PM
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We liked the location because it is a few minutes from the Mega Bus stop, so we didn't have to worry about a cab from and to the bus with our suitcases. What we liked about the hotel was the included breakfast for the kids. Otherwise we would go to the Affinia which is right on the corner. I think it is easier to get to the Central Park area by bus, than trying to navigate with overnight bags for 5 people.
Dec 17th, 2009, 02:47 PM
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It was $35 each return. The last time I went it was $16 return. Sometimes it is as little as $1. It depends on how far in advance you book and the date. I think the purpose of this bus is to transport people between New York and Washington, with a stop in Baltimore. You can go back and forth to New York from Baltimore, but I don't think you can get on in Baltimore and go to Washington.
Dec 17th, 2009, 08:35 PM
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I was in NYC last weekend. I have been to NYC that same weekend 5 times in prior years. IMO, this year the crowds in MIdtown were very noticeably much smaller than ever before in our prior visits this time of year, even in 2001 a few months after 9/11. I guess it is the economy. I recall 8-9 yrs ago when the police had barricades up at intersections to hold the crowds back from the street. None of that now.
They're lucky to have such a good baba!
Dec 19th, 2009, 07:27 PM
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I neglected to mention one of the most important factors in making out trip so successful-the friendliness and helpfullness of the people. This includes the staff at the hotel, people on the subway, policemen and just the people on the street. Everyone was willing to answer our questions and give us directions.
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