Getting from NJ to NYC
 

I am staying in New Bergen, NJ and will traveling to NYC for a day or two to see just a few sights while in NJ. Here's my question - what is the BEST way to get from New Bergen or Hoboken to NYC? There is a shuttle from my hotel (Comfort Suites New Bergen) round trip for $12.00 taking me to Times Square and returning me that night. I want to leave my car in the hotel parking lot....supposedly buses are a couple of blocks away.

Other question is....my daughter wants to "SEE" the Statue of Liberty....not go onto the island, but get a few pictures, even from a distance....any ideas on a good way to do that? These are my limited sights that we want to see (not much time)....any suggestion on order of visits to make it easier?
Statue of LIberty
Empire State Building (not go up- just look from outside)
Location of WTC tragedy
Times Square
FAO Schwartz
Thanks for any help you could give us!!!!

The easiest(and cheapest) way to see the Statue of Liberty and have some great photo ops of the landmark is ride the Staten Island Ferry. It's free and offers great views of the statue.

Do you mean Comfort Suites North Bergen (1200 Tonnelle Ave)?

If so, you are a 15-minute walk from the NJ Transit bus #320 stop that goes to Port Authority Bus Terminal. Googlemaps estimates 30 minutes total for this trip (15 min walk plus 15 min bus), but but be forewarned that there can be huge traffic jams along this stretch of road leading into the Lincoln Tunnel to Manhattan.

The Staten Island Ferry (for the SOL view) and WTC site are close to one another and are one obvious grouping. From the Bus Terminal, take the E train to World Trade Center. Visit the WTC site, then St Paul's Chapel, and walk down Broadway past Wall St, all the way to Battery Park. Take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry (free-30 mins each way).

From the ferry terminal, take the R subway train from Whitehall St/South Ferry to Fifth Ave and 60th St. You'll be right by FAO Schwarz. Then walk south on Fifth Ave to Rockefeller Center (50th St). Pay to go to the Top of the Rock for the best view of the Empire State Building and NYC in general. Then walk a few blocks to Times Square.

You'll accomplish all you interests in one day. Of course there are ways to linger over any part of this, but the itinerary I've described is a reasonable way to fill your day.

ellenem, that schedule was perfect, the only thing I would add would be a stop for food at Carnegie Deli or Ellen's Stardust, both close to TOTR.

Yes ellenem, North Bergen - sorry I was typing in a hurry. Thank you SOOO much for the info! How much is it to go to the Top of the Rock? Long lines? Is that itenerary easily done in one day? PLEASE tell me yes!!! Travelbuff...what's the price rance at those two restaurants....crowded??? I've heard to ask where local people eat lunch and not to go to the "touristy" spots. But I definately need something EASY to find....VERY nervous about getting us lost.

Found Ellen's Stardust online...do you need reservations?

Please don't be nervous about NYC; many, many tourists make their way about every day. Consider going online to find an information center; I use one at 7th Ave and 47 St....they have free maps.

Also consider buying an all day pass for the bus and subway system (use machines in the stations)....credit card or cash. That way you are not always fishing for change. In any case, take a roll of quarters. You want to do a lot in one day and using public transportation helps to pack more in.

Enjoy the city!! It is great!

You don't need reservations for Ellen's Stardust Diner for lunch (I'm actually not sure they even take reservations at all, but I don't know that for sure); if you come in on a Wednesday, you will have to wait for a table, though, because of the Broadway matinees. It's typical, overpriced, mediocre diner food, but they have singing waiters, and it's a major tourist stop. Expect to pay at least $20 each for lunch. To me, that's not worth it, but many tourists like the experience.

If you want a really good hamburger, you could go to Five Napkin Burger, which is over on 9th Avenue/45th Street near Times Square (it's about a 15- or 20-minute walk from Rock Center). For that, you absolutely do need reservations, even for lunch. But there are myriad reasonably priced restaurants over there that serve good food for decent prices (though you'll still pay almost $20 for lunch). There are some popular Chinese places near Rock Center that draw the Midtown office workers.

New Yorkers usually pick up sandwiches and pay about $10 per person. I love Pret a Manger, which has an outlet in the underground shopping concourse underneath Rock Center. You can get a sandwich and a drink for $10, and they have a few tables to eat in air-conditioned comfort. There are, of course, several other places to eat in Rock Center itself, many overpriced like Ellen's. So that's really your choice.

TOTR generally does not have huge lines. You buy a timed ticket and then enter and go. You can normally get a timed ticket for a period within the hour (or immediately in some cases). It costs $21, which is a rip-off, but you do get great views of all the famous buildings in Midtown, including the Empire State Building. (It's not as much of a rip-off as the Empire State Building itself, which actually costs less but requires you to wait in an hours-long line.)

Thanks for a different perspective Doug. I found Top of the Rock online - is there usually a problem on a Saturday to get a ticket for soon after you get there? I would buy them now ahead of time, but have NO CLUE what time I would actually be there. EVERYONE KEEP THE LUNCH SUGGESTIONS COMING!

I wouldn't rule out the hotel shuttle for $12 round trip.

Tonnelle Avenue is a very heavily traveled road for both cars and trucks as it is part of route 1/9 which is a major north south roadway in NJ.

I wouldn't so readily assume there are sidewalks or that you can reach the bus stop without having to cross in an area not normally used by pedestrians. That would be especially true at night. I would scope out what walking entails once there.

I agree that the hotel shuttle Times Square sounds like a reasonable deal if it meets your schedule. There are a number of subway connections from Times Square that would get you to the WTC area.

I think you can do the schedule I describe in one day with time to spare. The downtown section could be done in about 3 hours without rushing. The uptown section would also take about 3 hours without rushing--longer if you linger at FAO Schwarz or TOTR or duck into St Patrick's or Central Park. I assumed you would do the downtown section in the morning and then the uptown section in the afternoon. I put Times Square toward the end of the day, thinking you would have fading daylight to experience Times Square's lights and then be close to your bus/shuttle location to return to your hotel.

I was at Top of the Rock last Monday afternoon and we got immediate tickets to go in. We waited less than 10 minutes to ride the elevator. My friends thought it was well worth the price, considering the ease of access and the magnificent view.

You can't really see much of the ESB if you go there - it's way too tall - and from the street you just see the side of a big building. You need to go up TOTR in order to get a real overview of the city - the Park, the tops of the buildings and the overall skyline. These cannot be appreciated from the ground.

Ellen's Stardust is basic diner fare but the performing staff is fun - IMHO worth it to spend a few $ more fo ryour burger or omelet.

Ellenem...you should be a tour guide - ha! Busy in August??? LOL!

YOu guys will have a great time, and don't worry about getting lost, I do it all the time. I come up from the subway and have to figure out where I am, and sometimes head out in the wrong direction, so expect it will happen and just ask someone for directions.

If you want to see the SOL, the Staten Island ferry is the best way to do it, and take the ferry in the evening just at dusk going over to Staten Island and coming back the lights coming up over the city is spectacular.

What you might do is spend some time downtown, seeing the sites, WTC, City Hall, St. Paul's Chapel (I was there last weekend, and the exhibit is inspiring), Trinity Church, BAttery Park, WAll St, all within a few blocks.

For lunch in that area, you could walk over to the South St. Seaport to the many restaurants there, or for a history lesson/lunch go to Fraunces Tavern. The food is good and not very expensive. This is where Washington said goodbye to his tropps, walked up Broad St, and took the oath of office at the Federal Building (on the corner of Wall St), and became our first President. Fraunces Tavern also has a museum upstairs that's pretty good.

Across the street from the WTC is Century 21, a good place for a bit of shopping, your daughter will like.

From there you might head just a bit uptown to Chinatown for dinner and the best imho is Peking Duck House on Mott St, if you like duck, this place is heaven. From there walk to Little Italy for some desert and then head on back uptown to catch the bus back to NJ.

In this heat the Staten Island Ferry will really be a welcome relief........

Thanks travelbuff...I guess I am nervous because I have NEVER rode a subway, NEVER rode a public bus and the largest city I have been in as an adult is Charlotte NC and Orlando FL. I know, I know, everyone is probably thinking WHAT????? I am sure I will be fine, but if you see some woman on the news on the weekend of the 12-15th of August that can't find her way back to New Jersey - IT IS ME!!!!

As a backup plan Mommy321 Hoboken is a very easy place to get a taxi from should you find yourself uncertain about how to get to the hotel.

When you come out of the PATH station there is a line of cabs. Just get in line and tell the driver where you're going. (He may pick up another fare or two as well from the PATH station.) Not sure what the price is.

Bu

Don't worry. Contrary to popular belief, New Yorkers are helpful and friendly to visitors. NYC kids use the bus and subway every day to get to school. You can do it, too.

Meanwhile, August is not so busy for me . . . hmmmm . . .

I am sure everyone is wonderful (as everyone here has been already)! Ellenem...do you live in NY now?

since 1974

MOMMY321,

I just realized that you are the same poster who, on another thread, mentioned that you are a party of 4. If that is the case, then I encourage you again to reconsider your NJ hotel. 4 people will spend $12 each roundtrip just to reach Manhattan. Add that $48 to your budget and see if you can find an NYC hotel that might work for you.

Is your hesitation about a hotel in Manhattan more to do with fear of driving in Manhattan than cost? (I'm thinking it might be based on your comments about the subway.) If so, I'll say that I had a similar reluctant driver visit me two weeks ago. She set her GPS, drove into Manhattan, and said it was actually pretty easy and straightforward. It's true that she was traveling midday on a Sunday, so traffic was lighter.

Please do consider the cost of the commute—cost-wise AND time-wise—as you weigh the options.