seeksocean

Four of us will be headed to NYC in late July. I know....it'll be HOT! It's big birthday for one of us and we plan on spending as much time as we can in air conditioned comfort. Our original plan was to get a VRBO condo in Manhattan. But, now we are thinking of two hotel rooms (4 people total...at least for now). A hotel might just be more fun.

I have researched many great options through the Tripadvisor countdown, but most of the Manhattan properties are just too pricey for us. I am now thinking of the Marriott Residence Inn Times Square as an option. It includes breakfast and that's a plus. Plus, it's really reasonable price wise and gets really good reviews.

We are certain to see a Broadway show and we are leaning towards, South Pacific. We want to see a couple museums and have other sites and have 4 full days to do it. A walk in Central Park and the water tour of the Statue of Liberty. Great food too...of course!

I have looked at the Costco New York Access card and that's looks like a good deal. Any opinions, suggestions, etc? Thanks so much!!

mclaurie

So far I think your decisions are good. Hotels in July shouldn't be that pricey. The Residence Inn is close enough to Times Square to make it walkable to most theaters but not right in the middle of the mess. Their rooms have a full kitchen but are really only comfortable for 2 or with 1 kid.

Don't know which water tour you're talking about. To actually visit the statue or Ellis Island, only statuecruises.com goes and you should book in advance. If you just want to pass by it, you have lots of options from the standard circleline.com cruise to the nicer nywaterway.com cruise or one of the smaller boats like shearwatersailing.com or sail-nyc.com Goldstar. com often has very good discounts for these cruises. Bateauxnewyork.com is a nice way to celebrate a special b'day.

I'm not a big fan of any of the access cards because they tend to direct you to places you wouldn't otherwise visit. List the things you're sure you want to see, their regular fees and then see if you're really saving money. Many of the museums are suggested fees or have free hours. There are combo tickets like MOMA/Top of the Rock for $30 that tend to be better deals than paying a big price for a pass.

nytraveler

Just one note - South Pacific isn't a B'way show - it;s at Lincoln Center.

Agree the passes are not a good idea - too much money and too many things you don;t really want to see.

If you want to visit the SoL you need to buy tickets now since they sell out months in advance - and only the official ferry goes to Liberty island. Other cruises (including the free Staten island Ferry) can give you a decent view - but cannot stop there. IMHO the Ellis Island Immigration Museum (same ferry) is brilliant and not to be missed.

As for food - three are may thousands of good options. What cuisines do you like/dislike and what is your budget.

HowardR

Not to confuse the OP, it should be pointed out that while South Pacific is not playing in a theater in the Broadway area, it is still a "Broadway show" in every other way!

Aduchamp1

Technically what is Broadway and off Broadway is more complciated than its location. Lincoln Center although not in the Theater District is considered a Broadway Theatre. The Broadway designation matters with reagrd to pay scale, who qualifies for the Tonys, and the amount of seating.

Of course, there are just a handful of theatres directly on Broadway since most are on the side streets. And there are off Broadway productions in the Theatre Disrtict. Off Broadway is usually defined by having 99-500 seats. One qualification to be a Broadway show is that there must be more than 500 seats.

And many Broadway shows including A Chorus Line, Godspell, Avenue Q, Rent, In The Heights, Spring Awakening, Hair, and Little Shop of Horrors, started as smaller productions in theaters that are not considered Broadway.

But to most people Broadway means the Theatre District with elaborate musicals or plays by well known writers of plays that have been tested elsewhere.

I hope that clarifies the matter. (Insert sarcastic face.)

tbbeach

My sister and I recently were in NYC and we stayed at The Belvedere. The hotel was wonderful. We had a nice room with a view of the city. There is a frig, microwave, and coffeemaker if you wanted to have some snacks in the room. The location was great..?around 43 street as I recall, close to Times Square, subway station, theaters, and some great restaurants in the area. We were there in Feb and we payed $100.00. We got 1/2 price show tickets at Times Square for Hair. We both enjoyed the show. We got in line at 9:00 (they open at 10 for 1/2 price show tickets daily) We were on our way by 10:30.

HowardR

Well done Aduchamp! My simple intention was to merely point out that despite playing approximately 20 blocks from the geographic area that is referred to as Broadway, South Pacific is (for want of a better way of saying it) still what is known as a "Broadway show"!

nytraveler

Of course South Pacific is a B'way style show - but to people not familiar with the city, thought it useful to point out they are staying near Times Square (don;t know why) - which is not near the theater - but more than a mile away.

seeksocean

Thanks! What 'Broadway' shows are recommended to see now?

But, right now I need a few more opinions on the hotel. Our original idea was to be walking distance to Central Park and really be in midtown Manhattan. But, the hotels there seem a lot more expensive. That's why I though that the Residence in at Times Square would be the best and most economic place to start and then take transportation to other places.

However, reading that breakfasts can be cheap in NYC, please suggest more hotel options in the $300 and under including tax category. By the way...Costco sells the NYC City Pass for only $67.99. Is that worth it? Thanks!

mclaurie

There should be dozens of hotels in the $300 and under range in July. You should get used to using maps.google.com to get a sense of distances. Off the top of my head, the blakelyhotelny.com is a smaller hotel that provides many of the same amenities like a cont. breakfast and a small kitchen in most rooms. It's closer to Central Park. Btw, I don't know what you mean by "really in midtown." Midtown is generally considered from 34 st. - 59 st. so the Residence Inn is in midtown. 6 Columbus, the Hudson and the Empire are more modern trendy hotels even closer to Central Park. The rooms at these are smaller though. (6 Columbus has pod rooms that are painfully small so avoid those).

In answer to the "is it worth it" City pass question, it wouldn't be for me. If you want to go to the SOL/Ellis Island, the best way if with a timed reservation from statuecruises.com With a City Pass you don't get a timed ticket and will not be in the first group. Some of the museums like the Met are pay what you wish--the pass is only for general admission at the Mus. of Nat. Hist. I'd buy the combo ticket for MOMA/TOTR and would either do a free Staten Island ferry ride or the nywaterway.com tour which is nicer than Circle Line.

jroth

South Pacific is a glorious choice for a musical - one of the greatest of all time. Yes - it is in Lincoln Center - a 5 minute subway ride from Times Square - and you get to see and visit that great cultural complex.

seeksocean

Thanks all. Lokks like I need to do some more research on what is where in NYC. I know TA has a good FAQ NYC forum. Maybe I should study that. Good heads up on the City Pass value. I think as we go, is a better option.

nytraveler

Midtown goes as far north as 59th St - but Central Park starts at 59th St and goes up to 110th. If you want to be right near the Park you either need the uppermost part of midtown (56th St north or so ) or the upper west side - which has a bunch of good moderate hotels.

This would put you in walking distance of several of the major museums, Lincoln Center, a host of good inexpensive neighborhood restaurants - and 2 subway lines to take you to downtown and other parts of the city. (Note that in NYC "downtown" is NOT the center, "downtown" is the very southern tip of the island and is basically the financial district, city hall and municipal center).

seeksocean

Thanks! I did end up booking the Marriott Residence Inn Manhattan/Times Square. I was able to make a connection with a really nice hotel staff member that is helping us situate there. She states that it's a 20 block (1 mile) walk to central park. And that's okay. I like the idea of having breakfast right there, and if we want to breakfast elsewhere, that's okay too. At least we have a choice and can go down to the buffet in our sweats if we want to. There is a pretty liberal cancellation policy (24 hrs), so if we find somewhere better we can go for it. But truthfully, the deal I got was $219 a suite, which is 320 sq.ft. with a queen bed and fold out sofabed and kitchenette in each room and includes a full breakfast buffet in a #18 out of #414 TA NYC hotel. Well, that's hard to beat!

sf7307

Sorry, but you cannot put 4 adults in one of those suites. We've stayed there, and it's barely big enough for three people, let alone four. I actually don't think the sofabed can fit two. And as I said, the bathroom is the smallest I've ever seen in a hotel room - strictly one person at a time.

But, if you do end up there, know that there is a local dive coffee shop one block north on the same side of Sixth Ave. that has fabulous home-made croissants. I think the place is called something like "Les Croissants".

seeksocean

In the very opening statement I mention that we are getting two hotel rooms. There will be two in each room. At first I thought that the king bed and sofabed in each room would be a good idea. But, since one will be on a sofabed we might want more space in the room and opted for a queen and a sofabed in each room. Is that a good idea? Also, I have talked to a great hotel staff person who will help us locate the best situation we can get, as it gets closer to our trip. Thanks for the "Les Croissants" suggestion. Sounds great! Any other suggestions in and around the area would be great.

seeksocean

Next Up: How to plan out our time there. We will be flying in late at night on a Wednesday. We would have 4 full days and a half day on the 5th. We want to see that Broadway show(or off-Broadway...if South Pacific is the popular first time Braodway-ish play choice) . Take the water tour, Go to maybe two important museums (what are your choices?). Go shopping. Go to Central Park and Top of the Rock. Empire State Building (I get mixed reviews on that). Most say just do Top of the Rock. Eat at great places...from cheap street food and inexpensive cafes and delis to a couple expensive, but worth it places.

So, dear NYC Fodor friends in the know. Please feel free to be opinionated. Thanks again for being there and Happy Mothers Day!

K_brklyn

For good cheap eats try some of the new food trucks like: Calexico http://www.calexicocart.com/page/page/4364476.htm

Wafels & Dinge http://www.wafelsanddinges.com/location.html

Rickshaw Dumpling http://rickshawdumplings.com/,

Jamaican Dutchy 51st & 7th

Schnitzel & Things http://schnitzelandthings.com/

seeksocean

Yay! Got our tickets! With minimal layovers and fabulous times! And on miles to boot!!!!! So, now that we have our times down, it's on to the planning daily stuff....and FOOD and WINE! I am loving all the input. Thank you! I am hoping for opinions on the museums not to miss. I have the Metropolitan of Modern Art high on the list.

Also, still 'on the bench' about the right Broadway show to see. Keep those suggestions coming in. Thanks again all you!!!!!

sf7307

Don't worry about the difference between a king bed and a queen bed. The way the rooms are set up, the beds are across from the sofabed (i.e. when the sofabed is open, the foot of the bed and the foot of the sofabed meet in the middle of the room), so the bigger bed only takes up more width, not more length.