My husband and I are en route to Europe for a month to celebrate my 40th birthday. We are flying in to JFK on 10/2 at 3:00pm and depart the following evening at 6:30pm. We have never been to NYC but have travelled all over the world and are not easily overwhelmed- that being said can anyone give me an idea of hotel(moderately priced- $150.00 range) and dinner and half day excursion in the city. I know that it's very little time- maybe a particular area/neighborhood good for walking and casual dining, a little blues or jazz late night... Thanks

Can't comment on a really nice hotel since I prefer to spend my money on fine food, fine wine, and sites. I stay often at Hotel Stanford in Midtown near Macy's.....for $150 per night. My suggestions for how to spend your time in the city (with birthday celebration in mind) would be:

Times Square. View Lounge at Mariott Marquis for drinks. One if by Land, Two if by Sea in Greenwich Village for dinner (fine food, exquisite service, very romantic atmosphere). Don't know if you have time for a Broadway show or not, but that's worthwhile. End the night at the top of the Empire State Building......elevators go up until 11:30 p.m.

These are just my suggestions, of course. I'm sure you'll have MANY more.

Enjoy the Big Apple.

Try the Beacon Hotel located at W. 75th and Broadway. This is a residential Area known as the upper west side. Plenty of casual dining and a nice area for walking. On your evening in the city you could walk to Central Park from the hotel and also walk to Times Square. Lincoln Center is 10 blocks from the Beacon. There was a jazz club across the street from Lincoln Center called the Iridium which may still be oporating. On the following day you can do the Downtown tour on the Hop On Hop Off bus double decker bus. The cost is $25 a person and if you just sit on the bus and do the loop the trip takes about 3 hours. The bus goes through Times Squares and goes by Madison Sq. Garden. Empire State, Greenwich Village. Little italy. Chinbatown, SOHO,Battery Park, Wall street, South Street Seaport, United Nations and Rockefeller Center. You can pick up the bus at W.48th St. and Broadway. If you got on the bus at 9 am you might be able to get off at one or two of the stops. If you get off at BAttery Park you can take round trip on the STaten ISland ferry. The ferry is free and the rt will take less than 1 hour 15 minutes. YOu sail by the Statue of Liberty and get a great view of the NYC skyline. With a 6:30 flight you want to start back to JFK no later than 3pm.

Try Priceline to get a good deal on a hotel. It allows you to pick what rating and what location in the city.

Hi,
I like using Public buses for tourist viewing. I do that in every city I go to. It's only $4 for a one-day Metrocard and you can ride all the buses and subways you want. Start on the M5 bus; it goes down Fifth ave. to the village and back up on 6th Ave towards Central Park South. It's more frequent and cheaper than the tourist buses. There's a great little restaurant called Knickerbockers University Place and 8th Street which have live jazz music with dinner at reasonable prices. Another Jazz club which is great for the late night is called Iridium located across from Lincoln Center. Great atmosphere there.
Have fun.

Thanks for the information! I know 24 hours won't do this city justice, but I am sure once I get a taste I will return!
Ciao!