playlady

I have promised to take my 17 yo daughter to NYC for her Christmas/birthday present. Since there's a long weekend in January (MLK holiday,) I had thought about doing it then. Any comments or suggestions?
Also, I can't decide where to go ahead and get a flight/hotel package or try and book each myself? I don't want to have to spend a lot of getting around, so was thinking about staying in Midtown/Times Square area?

vjpblovesitaly

Book separately.

I would use priceline if you can share a bed.

You won't spend a lot getting around if you use the subway. The fare is $2.50 or $2.75 each ride. I think there are unlimited day passes also. You can check the MTA website for that.

Why is this tagged North Carolina?

starrs

If you are considering Jan and it's a combo Christmas/bday present, what about the week between Christmas and New Year's? IMO it's one of the best times to be in NYC. Everything is still decorated for the holidays but prices drop dramatically after Christmas. It's just a magical time of the year to be there. Leave before New Year's Eve but if you could get away between Dec 26 and 30, you'd have a GREAT trip at a great time.

In any case, I'd book a flight and hotel on my own. Check out travelzoo.com for specials and I like Hotwire better than Priceline. You may a bit more but it's less of a hassle to buy vs bid and you have more control over bed type. Sometimes Priceline gives you a double to share (rather than King or Queen). As long as the room sleeps two they are meeting their promise. Check betterbidding.com for the hotel list to see what hotels you'll probably get. I'd bid on a 4* or a 3.5* but not lower.

Aduchamp1

The weather can be brutal that time of year.

Transportation is excellent in Manhattan-subways, buses, cabs, walking so there is no need to stay in Times Square unless you think it will make your trip more enjoyable.

Additionally most of the sights are not in the Times Square area such as Met Museum or in the opposite direction the Statue of Liberty.

Kealalani

If there is snow or snow is predicted, bring snow boots. Nothing like trying to walk off a sidewalk into a foot of icy slush.

nytraveler

If you go in January many hotels will be having big sales and you can pick the one yuo want - no need to take a chance on priceline. And there are many more attractive areas than Times Square that are cnetral - midtown east or Central Park South. And getting around Manhattan by subway is esy - and it always runs - no mater how bad the weather.

If you tell us what things are on top of your list and a hotel budget people canmake recos as to where to stay.

(But do bring your winerclosthes, a sturdy folding umbrella and waterproof boots.)

Nikki

I go with some friends for a weekend every year in January. It's the best time of the year for hotel prices. I check www.quikbook.com to see what is available, then check the hotels' own websites to see if the rates are better. I book something that can be canceled, and I keep checking right up until the day before the trip, because sometimes rates drop at the last minute.

playlady

Thanks for all the great suggestions. We're trying to save a much money as possible to see the maximum number of plays we can afford to see. We'd also like to go back to the Empire State building as well as the MOMA. We may also try to go to Little Italy and Chinatown.
Has anybody ever stayed at the Broadway Plaza?

starrs

There's a 4* Midtown East hotel on Hotwire right now at $126. It's recommended by 90% of the travelers. I don't have time to cross reference using TripAdvisor and betterbidding.com, but that would be a good deal. More should be available between now and then. You could book a room that can be cancelled and try for a better deal later on Hotwire. Even the Hilton group hotels are coming up at good rates for that time frame. If your goal is to see as many shows as possible, STAY IN THE TIMES SQUARE AREA - no matter what the locals say. It's still my favorite place to stay in the city, especially if shows are the focus. Go to www.broadwaybox.com to look at discounts and sign up for their newsletter. They will give you discount codes to use at either ticketmaster or telecharge, the official ticket sellers for the shows.

sf7307

I happened to be on betterbidding for myself at the time, so I checked. If the Hotwire hotel starrs is referring to has the following amenities - restaurant, business center, high-speed internet - then it's likely the Kimberly Hotel.

playlady

Again, thanks for the great suggestions especially about getting the less expensive tickets. Is there anything else, maybe off the beatne path, that we should try to do or see?

volcanogirl

We stayed at the new Staybridge Suites and really liked it a lot. We were able to walk to Broadway and Times Square from there. The place is sparkling new, and we had a kitchen with full size frig.

volcanogirl

I don't think anyone else has mentioned it, but there's a TKTS booth right in Times Square that sells discounted tickets to shows. You can also sign up on playbill.com before you go, and they'll send you discounted ticket offers.

nytraveler

It's better to get discount tickets in advance via broadwaybox.com. It gives you the best choice of seats and you don;t have to waste valuable time in NYC standing on line (in the cold) to get tickets while there.

I would definitely do Top of the Rock versus Empire State Building - IMHO the views are better - esp OF the ESB - and there is a discount ticket with MoMA. Plus you get tickets for a particular time - so no possibly long waiting waiting for tickets for elevators.

Little Italy is essentially gone. Just a few not very good restaurants left. Chinatown is much more vialbe, quite colorful shops (but for tschotckes you don't really need) , markets and some decent restaurants with real Chinese food (NOT PF CHangs or Panda Palace).

nvl325

MOMA is free Fridays from 4 to 8 I think it is. We've been before and not too bad- of course in Jan the weather might determine if you want to stand in line outside! The line forms early, but if you go somewhat after 4, it hasn't been too bad. Hey, saving 20 bucks each, why not? (At a crowded time of year, the galleries can be quite full, but I think Jan would be ok.)

volcanogirl

starrs, we loved the Times Square area too. I'm sure if we lived there, we'd avoid it, but as a tourist it was really convenient to be able to walk to the theater and fun to see an area that you hear so much about.

Playlady, the TKTS line wasn't long when we were there, and we got 40% off tickets through a Playbill offer. Lots of good options. Make dinner reservations ahead of time if you plan on eating in the area. Trattoria Trecolori was good. We also did a Foods of New York walking tour that we loved - good way to get out and see other areas of town; the food was excellent.

christabir

January is the Season of Savings historically for Bway shows. It starts advertising in Nov or Dec. Great seats, great shows for 40-50% off. I've had good luck with travelocity packages - flight and hotel cheaper than booking separately. But it really is just luck to get a good deal.

Wear waterproof boots. As mentioned above, walking can be messy.

TC

DH and I go many years (we're doing it this year) to NY for the week right after New Year's Eve. Everything is so much cheaper. I love The Muse hotel on 46th street. It usually goes for about $400 per night. We got it for $200. Agree, that Quikbook.com is a very good source with no hidden fees.

You should have no problem getting great discount show tickets through Playbill.com or Broadwaybox.com. Have a look at some of the shows that have been playing for awhile - like In The Heights. Consider an off-broadway show to save money. I really liked Love,Loss and What I Wore - a very girly show located withing an easy walk of TS hotels. Wintuk - the Cirque du Sole Christmas show is amazing. Avenue Q is off-Broadway now. There is always Stomp or The Blue Man Group.

If you go early enough in Jan, many of the Christmas windows are still up as is Rock Center tree, etc. You might even get tickets for the Radio City Christmas Show - which is a knockout. If its still up, I highly recommend the Angel Christmas Tree at The Met Museum. The 3-day unlimited subway pass is a wonderful deal for getting around. I would think that a 17 year old would absolutely want to shop Chinatown. Have dinner after one of your shows at Joe Allen or Toloache - many times you will see post-play Broadway casts.

ellenem

"The 3-day unlimited subway pass is a wonderful deal for getting around."

There is no 3-day pass. There is a 1-day pass and the next level is a 7-day pass.

http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm

TC

Oh, sorry, Ellen. Seems there used to be a 3-day pass. Oh well, even the 7 day pass is a good deal. We just use it for 4 or 5 days and then give the rest to the doorman at our hotel to finish.