Ok, you guys talked me into visiting NYC and we will arrive on Oct. 15. Just made the decision a few days ago. Yesterday I knew nothing about the city and today I feel like I know a lot. I've got a couple guide books and read a lot of old threads.

I just looked on the JFK Airtrain site to see how to get from there to upper west side. It might as well have been written in Sanskrit because I didn't understand a word. We will take a cab, even though it is more expensive, because I can't get off the plane and manuever through publc transit in my first hour on the ground. I'm from Southern CA. We don't "do" mass transit. Maybe after we get it wired we can use it to get back to JFK.

Since we are arriving on Saturday evening, we are going to wake up Sunday morning raring to go. Are there places we should or should not go because it is Sunday? Think we should attack the subway immediately and get comfortable with that. Should we take the 2 hour circle line tour or would a double decker bus be better to get acquainted with the city? How 'bout the Empire State Building on Sunday?

I have done my homework and know that we will have to see the city by area, so are starting to figure out what are must sees and plan from there.

How far is it from the west side of Central Park to the east?

Get ready because this is probably just the first of a lot of questions I'm going to have.

Thanks.

I think the taxi from JFK is a better idea to the upper westside anyway, so you made a good decision, imo.

The only thing you have to be careful of on Sunday morning is some things (like shops) may not open too early. Most shops open at 11 or 12 on Sunday. Going to a church (like St. Patrick's) can also be problematic since you can't sightsee there while they're holding a service. Sunday is a big brunch day in NYC and the upper westside is FILLED with popular, destination brunch restaurants where you may see people lining up outside! Sarabeth's and Popover Cafe are 2 examples. Isabella's is another popular one.

Seeing Manhattan from the water and seeing it in a tour bus are totally different. If you have the time you should do both. The bus will give you a better idea of what's where. The esb is fine for a Sunday. Buy tickets ahead online to avoid ticket buyer's line. You'll still have to wait in line for the elevator though. But Sun. morning could be a good time. One idea though, many people like going near sunset so they get to see the view in daylight and then when the city goes dark and starts to light up. I also think there's something to be said for going to the top after you've been here for a while so you can recognize places you've been.

While the park is very long, north to south, it's only about 3 blocks wide so it's not a bad walk across to the eastside. On a nice day, a Sunday morning in the park is lovely

You should rent the movie "You've Got Mail" with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. It was shot on the upper westside. You'll have fun recognizing the places they show when you get here. You can take a tour of the neighborhood here

http://youvegotmail.warnerbros.com/cmp/2frameset.html

mclaurie's response was so complete, there's not much left to say! The distance across Central Park is a little under a half mile.

Yes, agree with mclaurie's reply.

Definitely do the Greyline 48 hour all loop tour. So worth the money and the night time Brooklyn is a must.

Would just add the following about the double decker hop on/hop off buses: Only if the weather (and the forecast for the next day) is pleasant for sitting on the open air upper deck. In the nice weather, this is the very best way to enjoy the spectacular architecture all about, the neighborhoods...you'd want to plan hopping off in order of stops (route goes only one direction) and have a good map along (the one provided is not sufficient) for finding your way back to the stop or to the next one if you get off and wander a bit.

If the weather is not pleasant, the double decker tours are just a very expensive way to get around. You can't see much from the windows of the lower level.

If you're going to do a Circle Line boat tour - HIGHLY recommend the Harbor Lights cruise.

We'll be there the week before. Here are some of the things I've figured out so far:

We debated taxi vs hire car(folks seem evenly divided on this one) and went with the hire car suggested by our hotel. We are using Carmel (212)666-6666. The flat fee (excluding tolls and tip) from JFK to W. 23rd Street is $40 for 2 people with luggage. We made reservations and are to call once we have made it through baggage claim. Supposedly, the car will be there in 5-7 minutes.

The PARK..ah.. I hope to plan alot of time there. I bought the Barnes and Noble Map and Guide to Central Park(suggested on a previous thread). It's definitely portable and is filled with informtion.

Beyond that, get ready for an incredible experience. We haven't been to the city for over 10 years. I am more excited about this trip than about our South of France trip last Fall(go figure!!)

I suggest buying Top 10 NewYork guidebook. It's compact enough to keep with you at all times, has good maps of streets and subway lines, and some great ideas. Have fun.....We walk the Brooklyn Bridge at least once a year to commemorate New Yorkers fleeing 9/11, which we witnessed on TV in horror. Grimaldi's is great, as is Jaques Torres chocolates and wicked hot cocoa.
Enjoy.

From the upper West Side, take the A train to the Air Train. It's very simple.

Great! Please do a report of your NYC visit when you return. I agree you are smart to go with the cab since it'll be evening. Enjoy!

"From the upper West Side, take the A train to the Air Train. It's very simple."

This is so wrong I don't know where to begin.

1. The "A" train runs express, which means there are ZERO stops between 59th Street and 125th Street. Kind of a big walk from the 70's, don't you think?

2. The "A" train trip from the UWS to JFK takes well over an hour, since this is the much slower Brooklyn route (a/k/a slow boat to China). It is literally the most circuitous route possible. There are at least two better methods to get to JFK. If you are stying above 14th Street is is ALWAYS FASTER to take the "E" to JFK rather than the "A".

Those are:

a) Take the downtown "1" train to Times Square. Then take the UPTOWN "E" train to Sutphin Blvd. It's a short walk indoors to the Jamaica Airtrain Terminal. Signage is good and obvious.

b) Take the downtown "1" train to Penn Station then take the next LIRR train to Jamaica Center (there is frequent service- Jamaica is a major hub). It's the same complex as the Sutphin subway station and the Airtrain terminal.

One last note about Airtrain. It has a separate turnstile when you transfer from the Subway or LIRR and is $5 per person. You MUST use a CASH Metrocard (the one with a declining balance), NOT a Daily/Weekly pass! There are many Metrocard machines at the Airtrain Terminal.

Airtrain is easy and convenient - as long as you have the right information.

If anyone is interested in Airtrain I'll post a 'plain english' instruction manual on a separate thread.

Please bear with me because, as I told you before, I am a hick. Do I understand that to take the Airtrain we would be walking a few blocks down the street, schlepping our luggage behind us, to take a train, and then doing the same thing in Times Square?

The only advantage to taking the Airtrain is that it's cheaper. Period.
With luggage, don't do it!

Thanks

Yes Airtrain involves schleping luggage through the street - unless you take it to Penn Station and take a cab from there.

I would take a cab - $45 flat fare plus tip and toll for about $60. Or you can take a shuttle bus - either diect to your hotel - or to a central point (Grand Central or Port Authority) and then a cab from there. The cost depends on which choice you take - and the ones that go directly to hotels are reportedly very slow - since they may be dropping at a bunch of hotels.

All this info in interminable detail cvan be fond at the JFK site - under transportation.

Also if you go to the MTA web site you can get an interactive downloadable subway map to study in advance.

I just thought of something that you may have already thought of, but I wasn't sure. Have you thought of contacting Big Apple Greeters? They are a volunteer guide group and one may be able to greet you, show you the ropes of the subway, and give you a personal tour. Unfortunately, as a volunteer organization, they don't always have availability, but it might be worth inquiring as I've heard they are very helpful. Their website is: www.bigapplegreeter.org.

Have a great trip!

QC, granted that I made an assumption, which is that if you are leaving New York, you know the difference between a local and an express train. If you don't, don't bother trying to get to JFK via public transportation. The A train may be slow, but it is much simpler than the directions you give. It is not clear that Softato1 is in a hurry.

Michael, the important point is that no matter which of the public transportation routes is the best, you shouldn't try it with luggage......no matter how much time you have!

Take a taxi to/from the airport.

Jump on one of the double decker buses and relax and let them orient you to the city and make sure you understand their route map. When you see something you want to do, jump off and explore and then catch the next ddbus stop and go on.

For many visits, I used the dd buses as my main way around the touristy areas and grabbed a taxi to go longer distances. Subways are fine (fast and cheaper) but personally, I like to see the city from ground level and use the time to rest and "sightsee" from the comfort of a car. The few dollars have always been well worth it for me.

Take a carriage ride into Central Park - pick them up across from the Plaza at Central Park South.

Stroll. Enjoy. Don't stress about dinner reservations unless you are a "foodie". There is great food everywhere in the city.

My favorite pre-theatre dining? Deli sandwiches in the room - allowing for a short rest after a long day of sight seeing and before a great night on Broadway.

Have fun!

PS - If you do one museum, do the Frick. Small, intimate, amazing group of masterpieces in an incredible home/museum built to display the works of art.

HowardR, I use public transportation all the time, in NYC, SF and European cities. The NYC option is probably the easiest because platform change (from local to express) eliminates stairs, and the transfer to the AirTrain has an escalator.

It's already been said... but if you can swing it, take a taxi. It will just be so much easier. Or... call a car service. I usually dial 212-777-7777. They're very reliable. You can make the reservation ahead of time and then call them from the airport once you have your luggage. The car will arrive within 5 minutes. I live on the Upper West Side.. just curious, where are you staying.. and for how long?