Best Base In Manhatten?
Dec 29th, 2002, 03:24 AM
#1
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Best Base In Manhatten?
I am an Australian coming to New York In April.I am interested in all the tourist type things.There will be three of us includig my wife and 15 year old son visiting for four days.Which part of Manhatten will make the best base? Also you good people may have one suggestion for something really special that does not usually make the Tour books.
Dec 29th, 2002, 05:49 AM
#2
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Consider the Murray Hill area on the East side. It's away from the tourist crush of Times Square, but within walking distance of that area, offers a nice variety of places to eat that are not part of a chain, has good access to subway and bus lines.
As for activities, the Cloisters in April chould be quite lovely, with the trees in the surrounding park in bloom. It's actually part of the Metropolitan museum and is a castle like building that displays medieval relics. Easily reached on public transportation.
While in NYC, take advanage of the Metro Pass for subway and buses. For $4 a day it gives you unlimited rides.
As for activities, the Cloisters in April chould be quite lovely, with the trees in the surrounding park in bloom. It's actually part of the Metropolitan museum and is a castle like building that displays medieval relics. Easily reached on public transportation.
While in NYC, take advanage of the Metro Pass for subway and buses. For $4 a day it gives you unlimited rides.
Dec 29th, 2002, 05:50 AM
#3
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Midtown Manhattan would definitely be the best place for you, preferably NOT in the Times Square area (other people disagree, but I think Times Sq is a horrible place for tourists to stay -- it's not New York; it's an annoyingly loud circus). Enjoy NYC!
Dec 29th, 2002, 07:26 AM
#5
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I'd stay in Midtown as it has best subway access, check out BiddingForTravel.com for best deals thru Priceline! Of course, buy unlimited metrocards for subway/bus use.
Things not necessarily mentioned in your guide book:
Lunch/Dinner in Chinatown (Mott St)
Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge (take subway if you don't like walking) and have lunch at Grimaldi's pizza (then continue down the street to the promenade for homemade ice cream and an unobstructed view of the NYC skyline)
If weather warm, take-out lunch from Zabar's and then sit/eat in Central Park
Things not necessarily mentioned in your guide book:
Lunch/Dinner in Chinatown (Mott St)
Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge (take subway if you don't like walking) and have lunch at Grimaldi's pizza (then continue down the street to the promenade for homemade ice cream and an unobstructed view of the NYC skyline)
If weather warm, take-out lunch from Zabar's and then sit/eat in Central Park
Dec 29th, 2002, 10:07 AM
#6
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Check www.biddingfortravel.com to see successful bids on Priceline and then bid on Priceline. I suggest midtown west which is where Time Square is. It is quite something to see with the lights, theaters, shops, etc.
I have heard that The Cloisters is wonderful, but many people, such as myself have not made it there yet.
For shopping deals, check out the two locations of Filene's Basement. One is across from Zabar's which is a great market to get delicious food to go.
Also, go to the visitor's center in Time Square. You can send free e-mail postcards with your photo on them. Also, you can buy subway passes there and get lots of useful information.
Check www.theweatherchannel.com before you pack. You will probably need to dress in layers.
I have heard that The Cloisters is wonderful, but many people, such as myself have not made it there yet.
For shopping deals, check out the two locations of Filene's Basement. One is across from Zabar's which is a great market to get delicious food to go.
Also, go to the visitor's center in Time Square. You can send free e-mail postcards with your photo on them. Also, you can buy subway passes there and get lots of useful information.
Check www.theweatherchannel.com before you pack. You will probably need to dress in layers.
Dec 29th, 2002, 02:41 PM
#7
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Times Square is no more representative of NYC than Fisherman's Wharf is of San Francisco, or Navy Pier in Chicago: Tourist destinations which most locals avoid.
I agree with those who recommend Midtown East. You can walk to Grand Central station, both for the architecture and to access the subway. There's a tourist information booth right across the street that's not nearly as crazed as the one in Times Square.
You're also near the UN, the New York Public Library, restored a couple of years ago with interesting exhibits and displays.
I agree with those who recommend Midtown East. You can walk to Grand Central station, both for the architecture and to access the subway. There's a tourist information booth right across the street that's not nearly as crazed as the one in Times Square.
You're also near the UN, the New York Public Library, restored a couple of years ago with interesting exhibits and displays.
Dec 29th, 2002, 11:15 PM
#10
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Graeme, My email advice from Priceline was that you wont be able to use Priceline unless you have a credit card issued in the US. Don't go to the bidding for travel site and see all the wonderful prices people have paid for hotel rooms using this system as you will just get as jealous as I am! We have enjoyed staying in Greenwich Village and in what I think is Midtown around the 9th avenue and 43rd street area both because the restaurants are great and you don't have to use transport at night back to the hotel. Not a safety issue, just a preference.
Dec 30th, 2002, 07:04 AM
#11
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Why not try quikbook.com? Or, is that limited as well?
I, too, like Mid-town (and NOT right at Times Square)for convenience to tourist stops and to shopping and to public transportation. I often choose the west side over east because of proxilmity to theaters, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, etc. and I don't care for the evening taxi east to west cross town nightmares trying to negotiate restaurants & the 8pm curtains. Also, as a sort of hedge because I enjoy Lincoln Center and Central Park & the museums in that area, the Central Park South hotels, or those slightly uptown from there.
I would suggest that you look into the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side and try the planetarium. sometimes that makes the travel books, & sometimes not. Also, I've seen even those who aren't crazy about opera love the backstage Metropolitan Opera tour where they can see how all this complex theater works. You can reserve in advance for both of these. The Museum of TV and Radio in Mid-town is also a hit for many. You can even select an old show and watch it. Really, you will get more help here if you can tell people of any special interests you or your son may have.
I, too, like Mid-town (and NOT right at Times Square)for convenience to tourist stops and to shopping and to public transportation. I often choose the west side over east because of proxilmity to theaters, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, etc. and I don't care for the evening taxi east to west cross town nightmares trying to negotiate restaurants & the 8pm curtains. Also, as a sort of hedge because I enjoy Lincoln Center and Central Park & the museums in that area, the Central Park South hotels, or those slightly uptown from there.
I would suggest that you look into the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side and try the planetarium. sometimes that makes the travel books, & sometimes not. Also, I've seen even those who aren't crazy about opera love the backstage Metropolitan Opera tour where they can see how all this complex theater works. You can reserve in advance for both of these. The Museum of TV and Radio in Mid-town is also a hit for many. You can even select an old show and watch it. Really, you will get more help here if you can tell people of any special interests you or your son may have.
Dec 30th, 2002, 07:44 AM
#12
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We just spent Christmas in NYC. Stayed at Hilton near Rockefeller Center - great midtown location, thought it was quite reasonable rate considering the holiday, and good service, beautiful. Watched the Today Show from the Plaza (we were on TV!) and we did the NBC Experience - it was fun if you like TV; the 3rd floor has a Tonight show set where you can be "interviewed" by Jay Leno. My nieces loved Mars 2112 in Times Square - a red planet restaurant filled with aliens (plan to spend about 2 hours). We went to the Ukranian Museum but it was closed so check out times/days of operation for any site you want to see. Enjoyed Hungarian food at Moca's at 82nd and 2nd avenue - seemed like restaurant row there - a variety of cuisines, moderately priced, and filled with locals. In previous trips my best times have been: Wall Street (I think you can still view trading from the gallery), United Nations, Statue of Liberty, Guggenheim and Modern Museum of Art museums, Little Italy and Chinatown, and you gotta do a Broadway show (get half price tickets at the Ticket place in Times Square). Have a great time!
Dec 30th, 2002, 09:32 AM
#13
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I'm not sure Graeme would be all that interested in Today and Leno since these are American TV shows and he is coming from Australia. Also, NYSE is no longer open to the general public. I also agree that Times Square is not the best place to stay, only because the only people there are other tourists (and overwhelmingly so). I second Murray Hill, a nice residential neighborhood but walking distance to Times Square.
Dec 30th, 2002, 09:52 AM
#14
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It really does depend on what you plan to do. While I have stayed in a residential area on the Upper East Side for a month stay and really LOVED it, for a trip of just four days, I'd still stay near Times Square. Why? Because I'm a theatre goer and would be at the theatre each night. I'd much prefer doing public transportation during the day to explore the rest of the city, but stay close to "home" and not fight the traffic and crowds going to the theatre district every night, eating dinner, and then having to get transportation somewhere else. On the other hand if evening theatre is not part of the plan, then some of the other suggestions make a lot of sense.
Dec 30th, 2002, 09:57 AM
#15
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Graeme, I also agree with the others that Murray Hill is a good choice but also suggest the Gramercy Park area. It's very pretty, much quieter than midtown and has some lovely, smaller hotels and restaurants to choose from. It's a picturesque and historical part of town. It's slightly south of Murray Hill, on the east side, and walking distance (if you're good walkers) to both midtown and Greenwich Village. I went to dinner last week at a restaurant called Coffee Shop that I'm sure your family would like, especially your son. It's on Union Square west (Union Sqaure is between 14th and 17th Streets on the east side). Very good food, very reasonable and ultra-cool, hipster atmosphere. Try it. Have a great time in NY.
Dec 30th, 2002, 11:00 AM
#16
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Here are a couple of sightseeing suggestions. My New York is rusty, so I might not get the names exactly right. One of my favourite museums is the Cooper Hewitt, which is a kind of a design museum with sociology mixed in - you'll get a quirky exhibition like mid-20th century household appliances and the associated advertising depicting the role of women. Another good (especially for a rainy day) is the Museum of Television and Radio - you can watch all sorts of interesting reels. Finally, check out the Tenement Museum downtown - for a slice of real New York history. In your tour books, but also very moving, is Ellis Island.
