Newark Airport and sightseeing 23rd dec 06
Nov 21st, 2006, 06:59 AM
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Newark Airport and sightseeing 23rd dec 06
Hi there to all those who can help!
We are going to be landing at 2.30pm on 23rd Dec at Newark airport and will be spending the night at the marriott hotel at newark airport. As this is our first time in New York we would like to see some sights, however have a very limited time.
Statue of Liberty
I see from previous posts the best way to see the statue of liberty is by a ferry, the staten ferry? is this correct? and does that run all day and how easy will it be to get to this ferry from newark airport after checking into the hotel after the flight?
Little Italy
Would also like to see some of Little Italy and try one of the restaurants for dinner, is this near either of Statue of Liberty or Newark airport.
Empire State Building
Again, as above how close is this to the other attractions and Newark airport.
Getting from A to B is my main concern with the limited time scale!
Any help with any of the above will be greatly appreciated!
We are going to be landing at 2.30pm on 23rd Dec at Newark airport and will be spending the night at the marriott hotel at newark airport. As this is our first time in New York we would like to see some sights, however have a very limited time.
Statue of Liberty
I see from previous posts the best way to see the statue of liberty is by a ferry, the staten ferry? is this correct? and does that run all day and how easy will it be to get to this ferry from newark airport after checking into the hotel after the flight?
Little Italy
Would also like to see some of Little Italy and try one of the restaurants for dinner, is this near either of Statue of Liberty or Newark airport.
Empire State Building
Again, as above how close is this to the other attractions and Newark airport.
Getting from A to B is my main concern with the limited time scale!
Any help with any of the above will be greatly appreciated!
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:04 AM
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Reserve a car, drop your luggage off at hotel while the car waits, have the car drop you off at Battery Park so you can take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty.
Catch the subway and exit at Canal Street (most subways stop at Canal but I'm not sure which line is best), walk up to Mulberry Street and pick a restaurant.
After dinner, catch a cab to the Empire State Building. Catch a cab back to Newark.
With limited time, any reason you are staying in Newark? You'd be better off staying in Manhattan even if you have a super early flight.
Catch the subway and exit at Canal Street (most subways stop at Canal but I'm not sure which line is best), walk up to Mulberry Street and pick a restaurant.
After dinner, catch a cab to the Empire State Building. Catch a cab back to Newark.
With limited time, any reason you are staying in Newark? You'd be better off staying in Manhattan even if you have a super early flight.
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:09 AM
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All sounds great!
We just presumed that it would save alot of time and money by staying in the hotel at the airport, flight is at 0645 on 24th.
You suggest staying in Manhattan then?
I have looked at sites of New York etc and still seem bewildered by all the different areas. Manhattan will be easy to access everything we plan to do then you think?
We just presumed that it would save alot of time and money by staying in the hotel at the airport, flight is at 0645 on 24th.
You suggest staying in Manhattan then?
I have looked at sites of New York etc and still seem bewildered by all the different areas. Manhattan will be easy to access everything we plan to do then you think?
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:18 AM
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"take the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty".
Just wanted to be sure you understand that the Staten Island Ferry only passes by the statue, it does not drop you off on the island to get up close or go in. That said, with so little time, seeing it will mostly likely be all you can do.
With a 6:45 am flight out of Newark on the 24th, I don't think I would stay overnight in Manhattan. I wouldn't be able to sleep for fear of missing flight. Most of the air traffic should have already happened on Friday or Saturday, but there will be folks like you flying on the 24th. This part in IMHO of course.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Just wanted to be sure you understand that the Staten Island Ferry only passes by the statue, it does not drop you off on the island to get up close or go in. That said, with so little time, seeing it will mostly likely be all you can do.
With a 6:45 am flight out of Newark on the 24th, I don't think I would stay overnight in Manhattan. I wouldn't be able to sleep for fear of missing flight. Most of the air traffic should have already happened on Friday or Saturday, but there will be folks like you flying on the 24th. This part in IMHO of course.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:19 AM
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Stay in Manhattan and arrange for a car service to pick you up two hours prior to your flight on the 24th.
The Marriott in Newark isn't cheap I'm sure.
Most people like to stay in the Midtown West area. I highly suggest the Salisbury Hotel (great location MW but not in Times Square).
The Newark Airport area is horrible. Industrial, busy, etc. You will be very happy you changed your reservation to stay in Manhattan. It is magical at Christmas.
I highly suggest you stroll Fifth Avenue and check out the decorated Christmas Windows at Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Bendels, Takashimaya, etc. You also must see the tree at Rockefeller Center.
Stay in Manhattan.
Other good hotels: any of the Affina.com properties, The Park South, The Michelangelo, Le Parker Meridian, etc.
The Marriott in Newark isn't cheap I'm sure.
Most people like to stay in the Midtown West area. I highly suggest the Salisbury Hotel (great location MW but not in Times Square).
The Newark Airport area is horrible. Industrial, busy, etc. You will be very happy you changed your reservation to stay in Manhattan. It is magical at Christmas.
I highly suggest you stroll Fifth Avenue and check out the decorated Christmas Windows at Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Bendels, Takashimaya, etc. You also must see the tree at Rockefeller Center.
Stay in Manhattan.
Other good hotels: any of the Affina.com properties, The Park South, The Michelangelo, Le Parker Meridian, etc.
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:42 AM
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All of the things you want to see are in Manhattan - none of which is terribly close to Newark Airport. To any one point in Manhattan it is min 30min, perhaps more like 45-60 min from Newark. Manhattan is a very big place. Relatively easy to get around by cab or subway, but not instantaneous movement from one part of town to another, and getting around does take time. In NY, don't count on being able to get a cab right away either, as there will be huge crowds in NY on a Saturday night.
I say forget Statue of Liberty. It'll be after dark by the time even get to the ferry terminal. You'll just buzz by on the ferry. There are a lot more enjoyable ways to spend your time in Manhattan.
My recommendation - with just the one evening and your arrival as dusk approaches, get a hotel in Manhattan and focus on mid-town area from Empire State Bldg to Rockefeller Ctr, to Times Sq - that's an area about 1mi n-s.
Drop off your bags, stroll Times Square, 5th Ave, Rockefeller Ctr., enjoy the holiday crowds, sights, sounds and smells.
Forget little Italy as well - generaly lousy touristy restaurants and not much else - pick a simple place near your hotel to get your evening meal and spend your time out on the streets.
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:46 AM
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The Newark Airport Mariott is definitely an awkward place to stay to get around without a rental car.
As mentioned, the Staten Island Ferry is just a mode of Public transportation between Staten Island and NYC. It passes by the ferry but it's a hassle to get to SI's ferry terminal without a rental car.
Based on staying at the Newark Mariott, I would try to take a taxi to Newark Penn Station, take the PATH train to World Trade Center, walk to Battery Park and take the National Park Ferry to the Statue of Liberty (if there's even time for this), then come back to NYC, take the subway or a taxi to Little Italy for Dinner, then Empire State Building at night, then NJ Transit train from NY Penn station to Newark Penn station then taxi back to your Hotel.
It'll be a long afternoon, & I guess it's possible. I'm tired just thinking of it. If anything, I'd eliminate the Statue of Liberty.
Personally I live in Union, NJ (about 10 minutes from EWR) and if I was going to do Dinner & Empire State, I'd probably just drive in and park in a parking garage near the tunnel.
I think you are underestimating how much time it takes to go what seems like a short distance between Newark and NYC. This is a very congested area with plenty of traffic most of the time.
Good luck!
As mentioned, the Staten Island Ferry is just a mode of Public transportation between Staten Island and NYC. It passes by the ferry but it's a hassle to get to SI's ferry terminal without a rental car.
Based on staying at the Newark Mariott, I would try to take a taxi to Newark Penn Station, take the PATH train to World Trade Center, walk to Battery Park and take the National Park Ferry to the Statue of Liberty (if there's even time for this), then come back to NYC, take the subway or a taxi to Little Italy for Dinner, then Empire State Building at night, then NJ Transit train from NY Penn station to Newark Penn station then taxi back to your Hotel.
It'll be a long afternoon, & I guess it's possible. I'm tired just thinking of it. If anything, I'd eliminate the Statue of Liberty.
Personally I live in Union, NJ (about 10 minutes from EWR) and if I was going to do Dinner & Empire State, I'd probably just drive in and park in a parking garage near the tunnel.
I think you are underestimating how much time it takes to go what seems like a short distance between Newark and NYC. This is a very congested area with plenty of traffic most of the time.
Good luck!
Nov 21st, 2006, 07:56 AM
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I am open to any suggestions what so ever as to what to do and see! I understand I have very little time but as I have never been before and everyone else I know has actualy taken a whole holiday there ao they can't help much.
Forget Statue of Liberty then? That seems like what most of you suggest, wait till I tell the boyfriend, that will be one unhappy guy!
Still swaying on the hotel situation though!
Thanks for the suggestions, will try work it out again a bit further!
Forget Statue of Liberty then? That seems like what most of you suggest, wait till I tell the boyfriend, that will be one unhappy guy!
Still swaying on the hotel situation though!
Thanks for the suggestions, will try work it out again a bit further!
Nov 21st, 2006, 08:01 AM
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On the flip side, I think the view from the Staten Island Ferry at night is one of Manhattan's most amazing sites!
For a first timer, I'd forget renting a car.
If you had been to NYC before, I would follow Trish's advice but since you haven't stick to public transportation.
For a first timer, I'd forget renting a car.
If you had been to NYC before, I would follow Trish's advice but since you haven't stick to public transportation.
Nov 21st, 2006, 08:08 AM
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Lucy,
If you are serious about statue of liberty, empire state bldg, little italy, it might help to actually write down a more detailed schedule of the day, perhaps even in 15 min blocks of time. You will see that proposing to do it all, basically in one dark, winter evening, is impossible. And you won't even see the part of NYC that is all decked out for the holidays. - that being shops on 5th ave, Rock ctr tree and skating rink.
The Statue will be there next trip - but holiday atmosphere is only alive in December. Take BF on a carriage ride through central park instead.
you'll see schedule looks something like this, assuming everything works on perfect schedule. This is NYC on a holiday Saturday, afterall, not the Swiss railroad.
2:30 arrive
3:00 pick up bags (maybe 3:30)
3:15 meet up with reserved car service
4:30 arrive at hotel in Manhattan, check in, drop off bags
5:00 leave hotel to catch cab or subway to Battery (SOL or SI ferry)
(add 15min if you want to actually collapse on bed due to travel exhaustion)
5:30 arrive at ferry terminal
5:45 board next SI ferry
If you are serious about statue of liberty, empire state bldg, little italy, it might help to actually write down a more detailed schedule of the day, perhaps even in 15 min blocks of time. You will see that proposing to do it all, basically in one dark, winter evening, is impossible. And you won't even see the part of NYC that is all decked out for the holidays. - that being shops on 5th ave, Rock ctr tree and skating rink.
The Statue will be there next trip - but holiday atmosphere is only alive in December. Take BF on a carriage ride through central park instead.
you'll see schedule looks something like this, assuming everything works on perfect schedule. This is NYC on a holiday Saturday, afterall, not the Swiss railroad.
2:30 arrive
3:00 pick up bags (maybe 3:30)
3:15 meet up with reserved car service
4:30 arrive at hotel in Manhattan, check in, drop off bags
5:00 leave hotel to catch cab or subway to Battery (SOL or SI ferry)
(add 15min if you want to actually collapse on bed due to travel exhaustion)
5:30 arrive at ferry terminal
5:45 board next SI ferry
Nov 21st, 2006, 08:38 AM
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Statue of Liberty Hours are 9:30 am to 5:00 pm at this time of year. Forget it. There's no point in rushing around like a nut for a fleeting glance at Lady Liberty. Save it for another trip.
Liberty is best visited with half a day alotment starting early in the morning.
Focus on quality vs. quantity when really only having one evening in NYC.
Also choosing activities in the same neighborhood (midtown & adjacent) saves the time you'd spend cabbing or subwaying up and down the island.
Liberty is best visited with half a day alotment starting early in the morning.
Focus on quality vs. quantity when really only having one evening in NYC.
Also choosing activities in the same neighborhood (midtown & adjacent) saves the time you'd spend cabbing or subwaying up and down the island.
Nov 21st, 2006, 09:17 AM
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Newark Airport is in Jersey and getting into and out of Manhattan - esp around the holidays will be VERY time-consuming. And since it gets dark at 4:30 the chance of your getting near the statue before dark is extremely small. (Check what time your flight usually lands really - not scheduled -then time to get luggage, drop luggage at hotel and somehow get near the statue - it just won;t happen.) My guestimate is that you'll get into the city around 5:30 or 6pm - no sooner.
Suggest you stay near Newark since your flight is so early - but does the Marriott have a free shuttle? If so - go there, check in and drop your luggage and then head into city by public transit (preferably by train to avoid VERY long traffic delays). You may have to take the shuttle back to the Airport to get the AirTrain into the city. Check the Marriott web site to find out how best to do the train from there.
You really only have time for little walk around, and dinner and 1 evening sight. If you want to look at Times Square, fine but I would do Top of the Rock versus Empire State building, since the lines are much shorter.
Suggest you stay near Newark since your flight is so early - but does the Marriott have a free shuttle? If so - go there, check in and drop your luggage and then head into city by public transit (preferably by train to avoid VERY long traffic delays). You may have to take the shuttle back to the Airport to get the AirTrain into the city. Check the Marriott web site to find out how best to do the train from there.
You really only have time for little walk around, and dinner and 1 evening sight. If you want to look at Times Square, fine but I would do Top of the Rock versus Empire State building, since the lines are much shorter.
Nov 22nd, 2006, 01:29 PM
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Hi thanks again for all the advice!
I have now found a flight which will get us in around 3 hours earlier than first thought.
I have tried to look at maps on the internet and cant real;ly get my head around it.
Is Newark Airport west of manhattan etc?
If I was going to board SIF would I do it from the west and travel across to manhattan?
COuld I then see some things and then board it again to go back and get transport back to NEwark?
Am I totaly wrong with my directions , reading the map and understanding the route of SIF?
Please help!
P.S. I know it is against much advice but I am staying at NEwark MArriott, as someone said before it is just for peace of mind and I have checked, it does do the shuttle so thanks for suggesting I checked that out!
I have now found a flight which will get us in around 3 hours earlier than first thought.
I have tried to look at maps on the internet and cant real;ly get my head around it.
Is Newark Airport west of manhattan etc?
If I was going to board SIF would I do it from the west and travel across to manhattan?
COuld I then see some things and then board it again to go back and get transport back to NEwark?
Am I totaly wrong with my directions , reading the map and understanding the route of SIF?
Please help!
P.S. I know it is against much advice but I am staying at NEwark MArriott, as someone said before it is just for peace of mind and I have checked, it does do the shuttle so thanks for suggesting I checked that out!
Nov 22nd, 2006, 02:24 PM
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We use Newark airport all the time. Yes, stay at the Marriot at the airport. We have had problems with car service getting us from Manhattan to the airport for an early flight. If the weather is bad, all cabs vanish and car service takes their regulars. You can spend the day and evening in NYC cab back to the hotel and get some sleep and have no worries about your morning flight.
The Staten Island ferry is a great ride day or night. The Statue is lit-up at night so you will see it. Go for it.
Little Italy is not a big thrill but if you want Italian food you can go there or to Becco in the theatre district and combine that with Times Square.
Empire State Building and Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) are fun.
Do take the train into the city to avoid the traffic. There is a train stop right at the airport. When you get into the city, take a subway to the ferry. Cabs will be moving at 2 miles an hour on the 23rd, if you can get one. But you will get one to take you back to the airport if you do not want one between 10:15-11:00pm when the theatre breaks and all the cabs are gone. So, earlier or later. Have fun!
The Staten Island ferry is a great ride day or night. The Statue is lit-up at night so you will see it. Go for it.
Little Italy is not a big thrill but if you want Italian food you can go there or to Becco in the theatre district and combine that with Times Square.
Empire State Building and Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) are fun.
Do take the train into the city to avoid the traffic. There is a train stop right at the airport. When you get into the city, take a subway to the ferry. Cabs will be moving at 2 miles an hour on the 23rd, if you can get one. But you will get one to take you back to the airport if you do not want one between 10:15-11:00pm when the theatre breaks and all the cabs are gone. So, earlier or later. Have fun!
Nov 22nd, 2006, 08:54 PM
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I have a couple of ideas for your trip and I really hope you have a great time and WELCOME TO NYC.
The City is really magical this time of year and will be dressed to the nines.
My suggestion would be to get a service car to pick you up at the airport, and drop your bags off at the hotel. Have the car take you up to the Holland Tunnel (instead of the Lincoln Tunnel) and you will get a GREAT view of the Statue of Liberty on your way into the city. The skyline views are pretty amazing too.
Have the service car drop you off at Herald Square, so you can see some of the stores and windows and the Empire State Building.
From there walk up 5th Ave to see some of the buildings and all the decorations up to 50th St, you might want to stop along the way for something warm to drink, and there are lots of places along 5th Ave.
At 50th St is Saks, St. Patricks and of course the Tree at Rock Center.
From there walk west toward Times Square and in your walking find a restaurant that looks fun for dinner, and there are tons of restaurants in the area. Check the windows for the menu which is usually posted near the door.
When you have seen all you want and your feet are too tired to walk anymore, catch a cab back to Newark Airport.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
The City is really magical this time of year and will be dressed to the nines.
My suggestion would be to get a service car to pick you up at the airport, and drop your bags off at the hotel. Have the car take you up to the Holland Tunnel (instead of the Lincoln Tunnel) and you will get a GREAT view of the Statue of Liberty on your way into the city. The skyline views are pretty amazing too.
Have the service car drop you off at Herald Square, so you can see some of the stores and windows and the Empire State Building.
From there walk up 5th Ave to see some of the buildings and all the decorations up to 50th St, you might want to stop along the way for something warm to drink, and there are lots of places along 5th Ave.
At 50th St is Saks, St. Patricks and of course the Tree at Rock Center.
From there walk west toward Times Square and in your walking find a restaurant that looks fun for dinner, and there are tons of restaurants in the area. Check the windows for the menu which is usually posted near the door.
When you have seen all you want and your feet are too tired to walk anymore, catch a cab back to Newark Airport.
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
Nov 23rd, 2006, 03:36 AM
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The easiest and quickest way to get from EWR to Manhattan (excluding helicopter) is train - NJ Transit.
NJ Transit has a Newark Airport stop. Take the Air Train to the NJ Transit station - takes about 5-10 minutes from the terminal. Buy tickets at the ticket machine to NY-Penn Station. In 20 minutes you'll be at the station, underneath Madison Square Garden at 32nd St and 7th Ave.
NJ Transit has a Newark Airport stop. Take the Air Train to the NJ Transit station - takes about 5-10 minutes from the terminal. Buy tickets at the ticket machine to NY-Penn Station. In 20 minutes you'll be at the station, underneath Madison Square Garden at 32nd St and 7th Ave.
Nov 23rd, 2006, 08:09 AM
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On the 23rd of December there is no way I would get in a car into or out of Manhattan. You might be lucky and hit only moderate traffic - or you might find yourself at a standstill - or in gridlock - and take 2 hours from Newark into the City.
Definitely drop your luggage first at the hotel and then travel only by train (into and out of Manhattan) or subway (within Manhattan).
If you insist on seeing the statue your only real option by the time you get to the City is to see it at a distance from the Staten Island ferry. Note that this is a commuter ferry which will be mobbed (thousands of people) going home to Staten Island from their jobs in Manhattan). At that time of day there is a ferry every 15 or 20 minutes - and if you stay outdoors it will be cold - since New York harbor is open to the North Atlantic.
I would not do little Itaky or Chinatown - but grab a subway uptown and do the walk along Fifth Avenue (39th St up to 57th and then across to Lex). This will let you see the major department store windows (Lord & Taylor plus Saks, Tiffany, Trump et al) as well as Rock center with the tree and skating rink and stop in at St Pat's - which is beautiful this time of yeara. Then look for somewherre to eat in the midtown area - and do get resies in advance.
Definitely drop your luggage first at the hotel and then travel only by train (into and out of Manhattan) or subway (within Manhattan).
If you insist on seeing the statue your only real option by the time you get to the City is to see it at a distance from the Staten Island ferry. Note that this is a commuter ferry which will be mobbed (thousands of people) going home to Staten Island from their jobs in Manhattan). At that time of day there is a ferry every 15 or 20 minutes - and if you stay outdoors it will be cold - since New York harbor is open to the North Atlantic.
I would not do little Itaky or Chinatown - but grab a subway uptown and do the walk along Fifth Avenue (39th St up to 57th and then across to Lex). This will let you see the major department store windows (Lord & Taylor plus Saks, Tiffany, Trump et al) as well as Rock center with the tree and skating rink and stop in at St Pat's - which is beautiful this time of yeara. Then look for somewherre to eat in the midtown area - and do get resies in advance.
Nov 23rd, 2006, 08:27 PM
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Please, please, please bear in mind that you are talking about going into NYC on a Saturday afternoon on the day before Christmas Eve. NYC will be an absolute zoo. In addition to people doing last-minute Christmas shopping, there will be hundreds of thousands of tourists going to see the tree, etc. It will be a double “grid lock alert day” in the city. It will still be doable, but you will have to gird yourself for delays and traffic and really big crowds in places like Rockefeller Center and lines for things like the windows at Saks and Lord and Taylor. Also, as noted above, it will be dark by 4 pm or so, so if you want to see the Statue of Liberty, you need to do that first. If you can arrive earlier in the day, that would help things a lot.
IMO, the Marriott at the airport would be fine, esp with a 6:45 am departure the next day, and if you want to go to the Statute of Liberty first (see more below). You can leave your bags and then take public transport as much as possible. IMO you don’t want to be taking baggage onto public transportation that day (or any day, the trains are simply not built for them; if you have very small carry on bags OK, but big suitcases are a total pain on those trains, they are commuter trains). I am not sure I would drive in at any time, unless you stay downtown (more below) and get a car service, if you hit the highways and Holland Tunnel at around 1 pm you should miss the matinee traffic and the traffic build-up for Saturday evening; although I still think highway and tunnel traffic into Manhattan could be bad on that day.
OK so assuming you have dropped your bags off at the airport Marriott and it isn’t snowing and you want to go to the Statue of Liberty and/or Ellis Island, then you need to get to Liberty State Park in order to get the ferry over to the Statue. (You can also get some excellent photos of the Statue and the backdrop of Manhattan from this park.) To get there by public transport will require you to take the Air train to Newark Penn Station, then the PATH subway train to Hoboken, then the Bergen Light Rail to the Park Station, then a bus to get to Liberty State Park itself, so IMO you should just take a cab from the hotel to the park, esp as you don't know the area at all. The cab fares are fixed by zone and destination, and from the airport to that area of Jersey City will be something between $20-25. The cab ride will take about 20 minutes or so. The train/bus combo could take about an hour and cost about $9 per person, so really with 2 people a cab is not much more and will save you a lot of time and hassle. The website for Liberty State Park is http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandf...s/liberty.html. You can find info on the park and using public transportation to get there if you want to at
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandf...irections.html.
Once you have seen the Statute and/or Ellis Island, you can then take a ferry over to lower Manhattan. In lower Manhattan and from there, you can see and do a lot, see below.
If you don’t want to go the Statue of Liberty, then to get to Manhattan from the Marriott you can take the train from Newark (personally, I would take a taxi to Newark Penn station from the hotel and not bother going back to the airport to get on the Air Train, the taxi ride takes about 10 minutes and should cost about $15), OR you can still go to Liberty State Park to take some pictures and then take a ferry across the river to lower Manhattan. I think the ferry is a great ride and you would get some fantastic Manhattan views which you would not get from the train which goes through tunnels. From lower Manhattan, you can see the World Trade Centre site, the beautiful Trinity Church, the Battery area, Wall Street, South Street Seaport and then can walk up to Soho and Little Italy, etc. You might save mid-town for darkness as IMO the tree is best seen at night when it is lit, same with the windows at Saks and Lord & Taylor. If it is not too cold and you have the legs for it, a great walk is up Fifth Ave from lower Manhattan and passing through Greenwich Village, the NYU campus, etc and the Lord & Taylor windows. Otherwise, take the subway up, or walk up part of Fifth and then take a subway.
You will definitely want a reservation for dinner in Manhattan, search this board for reccos, or let us know what you might be interested in and we can make suggestions.
If you stay at the airport Marriott and decide to stay in NYC for dinner, I would suggest you arrange for a car service to go BACK to the hotel at night, as AirTrain to the airport may be limited on Saturday night and you don’t want to be waiting in cold train stations, etc. Traffic going out of Manhattan tends to thin itself out and is generally OK, esp in the later evening. Try to avoid being picked up in the mid-town theatre district around 11 pm when all the theatres are emptying, otherwise, you should be fine. A service I would recco would be Tel Aviv Car Service at 1-800-222-9888 or take a look at their website at http://www.telavivlimo.com. . You might be able to arrange to just call them 30 minutes or so before you would need the car, not sure how flexible they can be on timing, but that would be good if they can do that to give you maximum flexibility for dinner and maybe a walk afterwards to see windows.
The other option you might want to consider is staying in the city, but in that case I would stay way way DOWNTWON in the World Trade Centre area. You can go to the Statue of Liberty from here if you wanted to, or at least have a good view of it from that area. You can take the subway uptown, if it’s not too cold you can walk to the Little Italy and Soho areas or its a very short cab ride. To get there, you might be OK with a car service if they take the Holland Tunnel as lower Manhattan is generally empty on weekends; otherwise, you can take the Air Train to Newark and then the PATH trains to the World Trade Centre area. There is a very nice Ritz-Carlton, the Marriott Financial Center on West Street, and there is also an Embassy Suites which gets good reviews on this site.
Website for Newark Airport is http://www.newarkairport.com. This will give info on public transportation, including the Air Train. The airport is west and a bit south of Manhattan. You will need a good street map of Manhattan and a subway map.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park
Two West Street
New York, New York 10004
Telephone: (212) 344-0800
Facsimile: (212) 344-3804
www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_york_battery_park
New York Marriott® Financial Center
85 West Street
New York, New York 10006 USA
Phone: 1-212-385-4900
Fax: 1-212-227-8136
Toll-free: 1-800-242-8685
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/NYCWS
Embassy Suites Hotel New York
102 North End Avenue
New York, New York 10282
1-212-945-0100
https://secure.hilton.com/en/es/res/index.jhtml
Trinity church may be having Christmas music on the 23rd, take a look at Take a look at http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/.
IMO, the Marriott at the airport would be fine, esp with a 6:45 am departure the next day, and if you want to go to the Statute of Liberty first (see more below). You can leave your bags and then take public transport as much as possible. IMO you don’t want to be taking baggage onto public transportation that day (or any day, the trains are simply not built for them; if you have very small carry on bags OK, but big suitcases are a total pain on those trains, they are commuter trains). I am not sure I would drive in at any time, unless you stay downtown (more below) and get a car service, if you hit the highways and Holland Tunnel at around 1 pm you should miss the matinee traffic and the traffic build-up for Saturday evening; although I still think highway and tunnel traffic into Manhattan could be bad on that day.
OK so assuming you have dropped your bags off at the airport Marriott and it isn’t snowing and you want to go to the Statue of Liberty and/or Ellis Island, then you need to get to Liberty State Park in order to get the ferry over to the Statue. (You can also get some excellent photos of the Statue and the backdrop of Manhattan from this park.) To get there by public transport will require you to take the Air train to Newark Penn Station, then the PATH subway train to Hoboken, then the Bergen Light Rail to the Park Station, then a bus to get to Liberty State Park itself, so IMO you should just take a cab from the hotel to the park, esp as you don't know the area at all. The cab fares are fixed by zone and destination, and from the airport to that area of Jersey City will be something between $20-25. The cab ride will take about 20 minutes or so. The train/bus combo could take about an hour and cost about $9 per person, so really with 2 people a cab is not much more and will save you a lot of time and hassle. The website for Liberty State Park is http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandf...s/liberty.html. You can find info on the park and using public transportation to get there if you want to at
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandf...irections.html.
Once you have seen the Statute and/or Ellis Island, you can then take a ferry over to lower Manhattan. In lower Manhattan and from there, you can see and do a lot, see below.
If you don’t want to go the Statue of Liberty, then to get to Manhattan from the Marriott you can take the train from Newark (personally, I would take a taxi to Newark Penn station from the hotel and not bother going back to the airport to get on the Air Train, the taxi ride takes about 10 minutes and should cost about $15), OR you can still go to Liberty State Park to take some pictures and then take a ferry across the river to lower Manhattan. I think the ferry is a great ride and you would get some fantastic Manhattan views which you would not get from the train which goes through tunnels. From lower Manhattan, you can see the World Trade Centre site, the beautiful Trinity Church, the Battery area, Wall Street, South Street Seaport and then can walk up to Soho and Little Italy, etc. You might save mid-town for darkness as IMO the tree is best seen at night when it is lit, same with the windows at Saks and Lord & Taylor. If it is not too cold and you have the legs for it, a great walk is up Fifth Ave from lower Manhattan and passing through Greenwich Village, the NYU campus, etc and the Lord & Taylor windows. Otherwise, take the subway up, or walk up part of Fifth and then take a subway.
You will definitely want a reservation for dinner in Manhattan, search this board for reccos, or let us know what you might be interested in and we can make suggestions.
If you stay at the airport Marriott and decide to stay in NYC for dinner, I would suggest you arrange for a car service to go BACK to the hotel at night, as AirTrain to the airport may be limited on Saturday night and you don’t want to be waiting in cold train stations, etc. Traffic going out of Manhattan tends to thin itself out and is generally OK, esp in the later evening. Try to avoid being picked up in the mid-town theatre district around 11 pm when all the theatres are emptying, otherwise, you should be fine. A service I would recco would be Tel Aviv Car Service at 1-800-222-9888 or take a look at their website at http://www.telavivlimo.com. . You might be able to arrange to just call them 30 minutes or so before you would need the car, not sure how flexible they can be on timing, but that would be good if they can do that to give you maximum flexibility for dinner and maybe a walk afterwards to see windows.
The other option you might want to consider is staying in the city, but in that case I would stay way way DOWNTWON in the World Trade Centre area. You can go to the Statue of Liberty from here if you wanted to, or at least have a good view of it from that area. You can take the subway uptown, if it’s not too cold you can walk to the Little Italy and Soho areas or its a very short cab ride. To get there, you might be OK with a car service if they take the Holland Tunnel as lower Manhattan is generally empty on weekends; otherwise, you can take the Air Train to Newark and then the PATH trains to the World Trade Centre area. There is a very nice Ritz-Carlton, the Marriott Financial Center on West Street, and there is also an Embassy Suites which gets good reviews on this site.
Website for Newark Airport is http://www.newarkairport.com. This will give info on public transportation, including the Air Train. The airport is west and a bit south of Manhattan. You will need a good street map of Manhattan and a subway map.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park
Two West Street
New York, New York 10004
Telephone: (212) 344-0800
Facsimile: (212) 344-3804
www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_york_battery_park
New York Marriott® Financial Center
85 West Street
New York, New York 10006 USA
Phone: 1-212-385-4900
Fax: 1-212-227-8136
Toll-free: 1-800-242-8685
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/NYCWS
Embassy Suites Hotel New York
102 North End Avenue
New York, New York 10282
1-212-945-0100
https://secure.hilton.com/en/es/res/index.jhtml
Trinity church may be having Christmas music on the 23rd, take a look at Take a look at http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/.
