TucanCosta2009

This is our 26 hrs in NYC trip report which is separated from our 10 day report for Costa Rica. My wife and I did all of what we consider the major tourist sites in NYC that we wanted to see in less then 26 hrs of our layover in New York City (courtesy of a lack of flight options via Continental) from our arrival at 330pm on Feb 13th until 530pm on the 14th. It was nice to see all major things in NYC that you see on TV or in movies but I have to say the vast sea of humanity was way to much for me to want to visit again much less live in that concrete jungle that never sleeps.

Let me first say that the Newark Airport sucks with minimal amenities and is dirty and dingy. We decided to use the Super Shuttle to get into Manhattan after passing up our 1 night voucher from Continental in favor of staying in town and seeing the sites that evening to make the most of our time in NYC. It should have been about a 30 min drive into Manhattan as it was on our private town car for ($59+ tip) ride back but we decided to take the Super Shuttle ($38+tip) service to save a few bucks, big mistake. The train wasn’t really an option I wanted to try with many bags as was suggested by customer service for the speed to get into the city.

I highly recommend not taking this shuttle service because you have to wait about 20 min only to be transferred to another van for like 10-15 min and then driven around for 2 hrs in Manhattan even though your #3 of like 5 for drop offs in a van of 11 people stuffed to the ceiling with luggage. The private car as far as I am concerned is the only way to go and we used Dial 7 Car and Limousine Service.

In NYC we stayed at Club Quarters Rockefeller Center on West 51st street in Manhattan. You have to book online only and not via phone for this hotel unless you are a member of this club, kind of like Sam’s club but it really wasn’t a big deal. It was a great location directly across from the Rockefeller Plaza and we could see Radio City Music hall directly across from our window about 200 ft from our hotel doorstep. We stayed on the 15th floor and our room was very spacious for what I think of when I think of NYC and the front staff in the evening at least was so helpful with suggestions on places to dine, tour bookings and discounts for local attractions. The rate I thought for the location was outstanding at $175/night. It was quite from street noise but not the drunken fools that came home at 200 am all rowdy.

We walked up to Time Square, saw the location of where the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, went to the Hard Rock, saw the outside of where Letterman, the skating rink of Rockefeller plaza, is filmed and had dinner on Broadway at the Stardust diner which was unique with its singing Karaoke wait staff who were trying to break into the stage industry just down the street. We also went to the Top of The Rock (Rockefeller Plaza) at night for $36 and then up to the top of the Empire State Building the next day for $48 because I had to have the skyline map for $8. There was basically no line at either one which was surprising but welcomed and did each one with extensive picture taking for around 30-40 min total.

In the morning we took Gray Line’s downtown bus tour of Manhattan for about $80 where you hop on an off at various tourist sites such as Battery Park (Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge), Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Empire State Building, China Town and Ground Zero (formerly the area of the Twin Towers). We also took a nice ride around Central Park for about 30 minutes in a horse drawn carriage since it was Valentine’s Day to see the park quicker and more romantically. The park was smaller then I thought it would be after seeing it from the Empire State building.

Overall a good 26 hours in NYC that was worth the layover to see it and cross some items off my bucket list (Statue of Liberty, NYC, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building and Central Park, Time Square).

sf7307

Glad you had fun.

I'm curious about this comment The park was smaller then I thought it would be after seeing it from the Empire State building. Did you expect something MORE than 2 miles in length, or just wider?

TucanCosta2009

I thought it would have been longer in size. Then again I am from Wisconsin where we live in the outdoors and everything in nature is big. Not to say it wasn't impressive just the view from the ESB made it look a little larger until you were in right inside of it, that's all.

ellenem

Glad you had a good time. I hope next time you can stay a little longer and get a sense of Manhattan's neighborhoods.

Sorry you had your problem with the SuperShuttle--this is the same story we tell visiotrs all the time. The SuperShuttle does not work well in NYC.

I trust you realize that your problem with crowds came from visiting all the most heavily touristed spots in the city in a short period of time. I also trust you realize that your carriage ride went for just a small loop into Central Park, hardly goes further north than 70th St (the park extends to 110th St).

LaurenKahn1

Next time take the Air Train from the Newark Airport. Much faster than a taxi--not to mention cheaper. Other than that you did well with your limited time.

P.S. Driving in NYC is nuts even if you are in a taxi.

artstuff

I think you did an excellent job of hitting the highlights of New York City in the short amount of time that you had.

Robyn

nytraveler

Super Shuttle is well known as being a disaster in NYC - sorry you didn't see all the mentions here not to use it.

And I don;t think Central Park is as small as you think - the carriage rides take you through only a limited area of the park (since they have to stay on the roads and most of the park is for pedestrians only). The part you saw may have looked small - but the Park is larger than the country of Monaco.