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-   -   5 days in New York City. First time to be there. (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/5-days-in-new-york-city-first-time-to-be-there-1088061/)

doublelong Feb 27th, 2016 07:05 PM

5 days in New York City. First time to be there.
 
Hello. Me, my wife and her 7 Y/O daughter will be going to New York City in May for 5 days. We already have plane tickets but that is all we have. We will fly into LaGuardia on the 24th at 3pm, and fly out from Newark New Jersey on Sunday May 29th at 10am. There are about 6 things I want to do when we are there. 1. Statue of Liberty. 2. Empire State Building. 3. 9/11 Memorial. 4. Broadway Show. 5. Tour the City on a tour bus or something like that. (Mainly something with a guide) 6. Food Tour. My wife would like to go to Coney Island also. I'm not even sure we can do those things in the 5 days we will be there. For 1 thing I don't know the best place to stay, where not to stay, things like that. I want to be safe, and want to keep the family safe. I'm leaning towards a motel near LaGuardia, but not sure if thats convenient, because I'm not sure of transportation to and from the Motel to where the tourist stuff is. Another thing is getting to the Airport in New Jersey the day we leave. I've heard the Taxis are pretty expensive and not even sure we can get a taxi to Jersey from New York. I just need help with the city Of New York mainly. Transportation and best places to stay to be able to do the things I want. I will do more research before we leave, but I was wondering if I can get some help from people that have already been there. I'd like to not spend a fortune on a motel, ($200 or less), and I don't mind riding the subway or bus or train. (Actually I want to ride all those things since I might never be back. Thanks for any help.

tomfuller Feb 27th, 2016 07:24 PM

I won't advise on where to stay but this is your best way to get to the Newark airport. http://www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-airtrain.html

IMDonehere Feb 27th, 2016 08:17 PM

There are few places more inconvenient for seeing the sites than staying near La Guardia.

If you go to the box at the top that reads "View by State" and click on New York, you will see many discussions on where to stay in NYC.

LauraNYC Feb 28th, 2016 03:49 AM

Everyone would tell you the best hotdogs are Papaya. Don't trust them! Really not that great. And there's much better food in NY even junkfood.

nytraveler Feb 28th, 2016 04:34 AM

No, staying at LGA is a terrible idea - not only will you waste a ton of time but it will be expensive and require changing buses and subway.

You really want to stay in Manhattan but your budget is very low for 3 people at that time of year. I have done a quick check and the closest thing I can find is the Travel Inn, which is a decent budget property with rooms at $207 plus 15% tax. (There are cheaper places listed for Manhattan but they are hostels, illegal apartments. or "hotels" used by the city to house homeless people.)

So your best bet is to look at places in Long Island City - also Queens, but only about 10 minutes from Manhattan by subway. Look at the locations there making sure you are adjacent to a subway stop and also check out reviews on tripadvisor.com. Staying there will avoid wasting a couple of hours a day trekking to and from LGA.

As for the SoL you MUST get advance tickets from statuecruises.com - the only legal ticketseller - and should pick the earliest ferry possible so you get to the island before the worst of the mobs. I would buy pedestal (indoor museum) tickets but not those for the crown since 27 flights of stairs is a lot for a child. Be sure to get to the ferry early since there is airline type security (no backpacks or large bags) and you will be scanned to get on. Expect the SoL, Ellis Island Museum (brilliant) and ferries to take about 5 hours.

You should also get advance tickets for a broadway show. Getting tickets for a hit will be difficult with so little lead time - but if you go to playbill.com or broadwaybox.com you can see which of the older shows are offering discounts (get on their mailing lists) so you can get tickets in advance and have a better choice of seats than waiting and standing on line at TKTS while there.

I wold not bother with Coney Island - it is a very long trip (about 1.5 hours on the subway) and is a very traditional 1940s type amusement area in a not great area. There are better beaches in NYC - but I would not bother when you have so few days to se things.

Also would do ToTR versus ESB - for the former you can purchase advance tickets the day before and pick the best time - I would do sunset to see the city both in daylight and lit up at night.

As for the HoHo buses they are very expensive, spend alot of time suck in traffic and do NOT work as transit. They are limited in wehre they are allowed to go and only run every 30 minutes or so - versus every 5 minutes for subway or regular city buses. (Get a weekly unlimited metrocard for each of you - $31 - good for both subways and regular city buses.)

If you really want a guided tour look at onboard or similar smaller buses with much better guides.

I think your next step is to quickly get a cancelable lodging since many sell out quite early (you can keep looking for better deals as you get closer) and read a couple of guidebooks and study street and subway maps of the city so you can get your bearings.

sf7307 Feb 28th, 2016 10:32 AM

Also would do ToTR versus ESB - for the former you can purchase advance tickets the day before and pick the best time - I would do sunset to see the city both in daylight and lit up at night.

Not to mention that you can see the ESB from the Top of the Rock, which is better than being IN the ESB!

sf7307 Feb 28th, 2016 10:38 AM

PS, I love the hot dogs at Grey's Papaya (not sure if they're the same as those at Papaya King).

IMDonehere Feb 28th, 2016 12:11 PM

Grey's Papaya and Papaya King are different but the same. They are the extreme opposite of fine dining and fun and cheap places and are NY as much as the Statue of Liberty. We also have dirt water dogs which are sold by street vendors.

The Papaya King on St.Marks serves beer.

JoJoSiestaKey Feb 28th, 2016 03:40 PM

I agree staying at LGA is a horrible idea.

The city will wear you out and you'll want to be able to run back to your room for a mid day rest. Especially with a 7 year old.

Coney Island will eat up an entire day. I'd skip that too.

doug_stallings Feb 29th, 2016 06:17 AM

It's going to be tough to find accommodations at that price range, but it's not impossible. Definitely stay in Manhattan on the west side. Normally, I'd recommend staying in Long Island City, Queens, where you can get a hotel room for $140 at that time of the year, but it's not practical if you are going to EWR. If you can raise your budget to $225, you'll have more options. DON'T stay in NJ and don't stay at the airport. If you have to stay cheaper, then stay in LIC, and on your departure day you can take the E train to Penn Station, where you'll get NJ Transit to the airport, but that trip will take at least 90 minutes.

BigRuss Feb 29th, 2016 07:58 AM

<< I'm leaning towards a motel near LaGuardia, but not sure if thats convenient, because I'm not sure of transportation to and from the Motel to where the tourist stuff is. >>

Staying at LGA when visiting NYC is completely daft. There's no better way to hate being in NY than to be in or around LGA for more time than necessary. And the hour-long trip by bus and train (and likely multiple trains) to whatever you want to see in the city will be a horrendous experience. And getting to Newark from LaGuardia would take the better part of 2 hours.

There are a ton of threads about inexpensive lodging in NYC. In NYC, a "motel" is rented by the hour. There are many hotels, few will be $200 per INCLUDING all taxes.

Going home from New Jersey (this means Newark International Airport, right? If not, speak up), get the appropriate New Jersey Transit line at Penn Station. Period.

Travelkitty Mar 1st, 2016 11:50 AM

I'd recommend a visit to Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum. A long visit at the Museum may be a lot for a 7 year old, but there are certain exhibits kids would love. I'd recommend she read From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler before the visit to help initiate an interest in the Museum.

Or if the Met isn't something you think she'd like, maybe a walk through Central Park and a visit to the Museum of Natural History.

Sassafrass Mar 1st, 2016 04:02 PM

Completely different from things you may be interested in, but could be a good thing. Is your little Stepdaughter into dolls? If not, then ignore this. If she is, then I strongly suggest a visit to the big American Girl Doll Store in NYC with plans to splurge and buy her a doll, either one of the story dolls or one that looks like her.

It is expensive and I was totally opposed to the idea, but did it for my Granddaughter's sixth birthday. Best thing I ever got for her. She practically never lets that doll out of her sight. It is a great memory for her and turned out to be one for DH and me also.

doublelong Mar 2nd, 2016 12:08 PM

Thanks for all the input. Me and the wife have been talking about everything ya'll have said. We will be leaving from Newark Airport, BigRuss.
I have been researching like I said, and I guess we will probably be stayiong in Long Island. I say guess, becaus eI haven't made reservations yet. I did take ya'lls advice and buy tickets to the SOL early.And we will be skipping the ESB and doing the Rock instead. Another thing I'd like to do is to find some of the good food there. Like the Pizzas, and som eof the things from China Town. I did read somewhere here in Fodors, not to eat from the hot dog carts. Can anyone tell me if they agree with this or not.
Again. Thanks for all the input I have already gotten.

Shar Mar 2nd, 2016 02:39 PM

Subway museum in Brooklyn us very interesting and a 7 year old would enjoy it as much as adults Good pizza at Lombardis in littke Italy is great. Could b Lombardos. HOHO WILL get stuck in traffic. Every auto does it is just going to happen and a lot of time wasted. Walking the high line would b nice but avoid weekends as it us mobbed.

BigRuss Mar 2nd, 2016 03:50 PM

There are tons of good pizza joints - the hole-in-the-wall a block from my elders on the SE corner of 8th and 23rd is good. Check TimeOut or NY magazine for someplace that will fit where you're planning to be touring.

Thinking you should be able to get a hotel in Long Island CITY, not Long Island, on your budget. Traveling in from Long Island will suck.

And to be clear: the PHYSICAL land mass called <u>Long Island</u> is the island due east of midtown/southern Manhattan connected to Manhattan by two tunnels and various bridges. The two western counties of Long Island are Queens and Kings County, which are also the NYC boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. The two eastern counties are Nassau and Suffolk.

The colloquial use of "Long Island" is the more popular and contextually correct description. When people in/of/from/re NY talk about "Long Island," they mean ONLY Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Long Island City is not in "Long Island" as New Yorkers would use the term, it is in Queens and just across the East River from Manhattan. It is a lot closer to "the City" (which means Manhattan) than Long Island.

doublelong Mar 3rd, 2016 08:11 AM

You're correct BigRuss. The Motel is in the city of Long Island. I really didn't know there was a difference. Thanks for the info. We've decided not to do the HoHo busses because of everyones input. I don't want to be stuck in traffic on my vacation. About the High Line. I've been hearing about it in my research. What is there to do ther? Are there restaurants? Bars? Is there muct to do for a 7 y/o? I really do appreciate all the input. Another question. The MTA card you buy for the subways and busses. I think I read somewhere, where a week long ticket for unlimited rides cost $31 per person. Or you can buy one that you pay as you go. I'm going to be there 5 days. Do you think we will benefit from the unlimited pass? Or should we do the pay as we go? We plan on being out as much as possible. Also where do I buy the MTA cards at? Are they at all stations? Thanks

doug_stallings Mar 3rd, 2016 08:38 AM

As I said originally, if you are staying in Long Island City, you have to choose your hotel carefully based on location. We offered to give you advice, and that still holds. We can tell you if you need to look further for a better located hotel or not.

I love the Highline, but it's a place to stroll and look at the city, not a place to eat and drink. Having said that, there are a few places directly on the Highline where you can get food and drinks if the weather is good. Whether they are open in May depends in large part on the weather. But it's been warm here, so there's hope.

A weekly unlimited Metrocard pays for itself after the 11th ride. So if you plan to ride the subway more than 2 times each day (including your days or arrival and departure), it's worthwhile to purchase an unlimited 7-day Metrocard. But just because you plan on "being out" doesn't mean you will ride the subway or bus that many times. You can buy a Metrocard at every subway station and at LGA (but there are only 2 machines there). If you aren't taking the subway to your hotel, then you can buy one at the Queen's Plaza subway station. If you buy unlimited cards, you will have to buy 3 separate cards (one for each of you). If you decide to pay as you go, you can use a single card for all three of you, assuming you will always be traveling together. But unless you buy the unlimited cards, it's probably not a good idea to have a separate card for your 7 year-old, who might lose it. You can get a refund, but not automatically.

doublelong Mar 3rd, 2016 11:32 AM

Thanks Doug Ok. So how about the Ramada Inn in LIC? Or the Comfort Inn in LIC? Or the Quality Inn in LIC? These 3 come at $130 per night plus taxes. Just seeing if these are in a good neighborhood with good public transport.


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