carrolldf

Help me decide what to see.

I love London and Paris but have decided to go to NYC instead this year. I've never been but it sounds like a lot of what I enjoy about London and Paris, I'll find in NYC.

Timing -- not sure but will probably be in either May or October. I try not to travel when school is out or during peak times. The fewer people, the better. I realize there will always be crowds but would prefer smaller crowds.

I love museums. But 3-4 hours at a time is about all I can take before I go into overload and can't absorb any more. I like exhibits, especially antiquities such as the Egyptian ehibits at the Louvre and British Museums. (Not the only ones I enjoy but examples.)

I love the gardens. If the weather is semi-decent (meaning it's not pouring down rain or freezing), I am happy wondering outside through gardens such as Luxemborg Gardens or Hyde Park or just wondering the streets looking at flowers and trees. (I got some great pictures of chestnuts last fall in Paris.)

I enjoy just walking around and looking at things that are different than they are at home, such as buildings. (I live in San Antonio.)

I enjoy "window shopping" and browsing. I don't really buy too much when I travel but enjoy looking at what's available in the stores.

Where to stay -- I'll probably go Priceline. I've been happen what I've gotten thorugh PL in London. Not sure what area to stay in NYC but seems like, similar to Paris and London, the subway will get me to where I need to go.

So, based on all this, help me plan my trip.

Patrick

I hope the regulars here don't fall over with shock, but in your case I wouldn't stay in the Times Square area. Either East or West Village or the upper East or upper West sides could be what you want. (Sorry, I don't know how those areas play out in Priceline).

I vote for May, as October is more likely to be colder and gray. In May the neighborhood restaurants start putting their tables out on the sidewalks and that all seems so "European".

LN

You just might be wise to post this on the London or Paris board as they may be best able to offer the most insight. Most Americans that visit NYC do not view the city as a "European" would.

I also agree with Patrick that May would be a beautiful time to visit as it is in London and Paris.

Nike

Hi
I think New York is at its best in late spring (early spring is pretty fickle) and in the fall and the time up until Christmas.
May will have longer days, but fall and pre-Christmas are crisp and there's all the pre-holiday merchandising and decorations (and crowds!--so maybe not a good idea for)

I never recommend staying in the Times Square area, it is central only to itself I think. I also don't know how Priceline divvies up Manhattan, but I think any area from the east teens to the east 60s on the east side, or east 70s to east 80s on the west side, or Greenwich Village or Soho, would have some charm, not the phony razzle-dazzle of Times Square. Staying in T

Nike

sorry, pushed the wrong button

Staying in Times Square would be like staying in Piccadilly Circus, and hardly anyone recommends that.

The Metropolitan Museum is not as large as the Louvre of course, but it IS very large.
I'd say divide it into two visits.
One day for the antiquities, another day for a survey of the paintings and other sculptures. There are Highlights guided tours at various times during the day, and also audio guides in which you can punch in the number of the work of art you are looking at.

I haven't been to the newly-reopened Museum of Modern Art, but you might want to consider that as well.

HowardR

You can indeed have a "European-type" experience in New York.
Starting with museums, the Metropolitan has the best to compare with the best of both the Louvre and Orsay. It has a wonderful collection of antiquities--Egyptian, Greek and Roman--along with a magnificent collection of Impressionists paintings.....plus a lot more.
The downtown neighborhoods--East and West Village, Soho, etc.--are certainly continental in flavor.
Restaurants? Take you pick of hundreds, thousands.
Parks? Central Park should satisfy the most eclectic tastes.

Seamus

Hi neighbor - Agree with others that Times Square is not the area to stay. We found a great deal on a studio apartment online at www.metro-home.com. They are running a special through the end of March for 139/nt with one free night on rentals of more than 3 days. Reviews I checked have been positive, will post on return. Or you can join the SA Fodors GTG and get an in person review - email me at [email protected] for more info.

nytraveler

In a lot of ways NYC is the most european of US cities. It is absolutely a walking city - supported by a massive public transportation system. there are a huge # of museums on every topic you can think of - as well as entire neighborhoods devoted to art galleries.

There are lots of neighborhoods that are great for just walking/exploring/cafe sitting - upper west side, soho, village, lower east side, brooklyn heights.

Besides Central Park - parts of which are amazingly beautiful - there are also major botanical gardens in both the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Food is the most diverse and best in the US - and does not require mortgaging the house to eat well - just stay away from anything that looks like a chain - and Tavern on the Green.

Can't imagine what else you would need - but obviously I think its the perfect city - that's why I'm still here.

Scarlett

I happen to prefer Autumn in NY The brisk air, the colors of the trees, the theater and Opera openings.
The Metropolitan Museum is too good to miss, pick a catagory you like, just immerse yourself for a couple of hours then have lunch.
Hyde Park=Central Park
Everyone walks in NYC, join the crowd!
Up Fifth Avenue, down Madison. Soho, West Village, Chinatown, Little Italy.
Window shopping, sigh. Madison Avenue!
Soho.
I must stop now, I am too homesick to go on~

Margie

Walking through the Mall in Central Park reminded me of the gardens in Paris, as did Bryant Park.

carrolldf

Thanks for replies. I'm in planning stage (which has been known to drag out for quite some time). Right now, October is looking better than May for getting the time off, etc.

I'll check out the areas suggested and match against Priceline to see what might work for places to stay.

I've read somewhere suggestions to stay in Jersey City and take subway into NYC. Any comments on this strategy? Hotel costs for Jersey City on Priceline seems to come in at less than half the cost in NYC>

Patrick

"I've read somewhere suggestions to stay in Jersey City and take subway into NYC. Any comments on this strategy? Hotel costs for Jersey City on Priceline seems to come in at less than half the cost in NYC>"

You are the one wanting to compare to Paris and London, so ask yourself. If spending a week in Paris would you prefer staying in Versailles instead of in Paris and traveling in? In London would you enjoy getting a place in Luton? If the answer to those questions is yes, then go for Jersey City. (And I apologize that my comparison is not very good because I really can't think of a Jersey City comparison in Paris or London).

rv224

the problem with staying in Jersey City is that the Path train (the NJ subway) only goes to a few locations in NYC south of 34th Street and on the West side. You will have to transfer on the NY subway to go elsewhere. Plus, you'll have to do vice versa coming back.

However, it is a cheaper place to stay and the views for Jersey city are amazing. Make sure you choose a hotel in Newport/Pavonia area. I think the two nearest ones to the PATH station are the Doubletree and the Marriot Courtyard.

Timing: I agree that October is much better. May is crowded and if it is hot - not as pleasant.

Museums: You MUST go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art - has both Art and Antiquities. I also am a more antiquities person than Art and I love the Met.

Gardens: Central Park.

Window shopping: go to Soho (downtown) for young, hip stores. Go to 5th Avenue (midtown) for high fashion stores (like Tiffany's, etc.)

Other things to do:
-go to Chinatown and Little Italy
-see the Empire State Building
-watch a play or broadway show
-take the free Staten Island ferry for great views of the Statue of Liberty

mclaurie

I have a preference for May, especially for gardens. I think it's also a time when everyone's excited to be over the winter weather and spirits are high!!

While I agree Priceline is the greatest deal in NYC, I think the kind of hotel/neighborhood you'd want is not guaranteed on PL. IMO, PL is best for staying in midtown where the choices are widest. I agree that for you, staying upper east, west or downtown would be better and the PL hotels/areas are limited. The Soho Grand and 60 Thompson are good PL downtown hotels but they're mixed with the Millenium Hilton in the Finanacial District.

There are several good hotels on the upper west side that don't break the bank--The Lucerne, the Beacon, the Milburn, the Excelsior. It's a nice, busy residential area with good transport to midtown, decent restaurants, a walk across the park to the Met Museum, IN the same area as the Museum of Nat. Hist.

In addition to the Met Museum which is indeed great for antiquities, you might also like the Cloisters (there's a bus from the Met to the Cloisters). Some great smaller musems, good for a few hours visit are the Frick (American version of the Wallace collection), the Neue Museum (Viennese art and great rest. Cafe Sabarsky), the Museum of the City of NY, the Cooper Hewitt design museum. Here's a website that lists a bunch
http://www.newyorkled.com/museums.htm

For strolling/window shopping, upper east/west sides, and the village, Soho, Chelsea...really everyplace but midtown

karens

The Frick Collection is close to the Metropolitan Museum. Great art. And since you like Egyptian stuff, you must go the Met!

One of my favorite places in NYC is the Strand Bookstore - it is stuffed with remaindered, discounted books. I can easily spend over an hour in here. It's not far from Greenwich Village, which is a great place to walk around.

I go into NYC by myself every year in about early Nov., and the weather is usually fine for walking around; some of the fall leaves are still on the trees. (Some, not many).

Elizabeth

1. Time: both months nice. Can't go wrong. I've read & agreed with writers who say October belongs to New York, because its sunny crispness matches the energy of the city. But Gardens no good in October.

2. Gardens. a) Central Park Conservancy Garden - 5th Ave and about 104th St. 3 formal gardens, privateley maintained - one French, one Italian, one English. Under-visited, amazing.

b) Bryant Park behind the library 42nd St 5th Ave/6th Ave. There's a fancy restaurant there, also a cafe. I think it is Parisian in feel, the garden.

c) Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Really lovely. On a May visit the lilacs may be out. If there's been no frost there'll still be things to see in October, in any case there are wonderful trees and a Japanese garden with water that is lovely all year round.

d) a walk along the promenade in Battery Park City, along the water. Herbaceous borders are nice. If you walk north along here you could end up at Steamers for a casual and, in right weatehr, outdoor lunch or dinner right on the river.

3. Museums. Yes to the Frick as your 2nd after the Metropolitan. You can combine Metropolitan with walking in Central Park tho from here to garden mentioned above it is aobut a mile.

A museum called the Neue Museum is a building not to be missed even if you're not so interested in the show there, also its cafe is really not to be missed. I'd go there for coffee & dessert.

3. Etc. I hope you get to Nolita. It is a district of boutiques & cafes that is European in feel. Boutiques are "real" boutiques, i.e. one of a kind little shops, elegant, somewhat expensive. Not much for larger size garments (above size 10), but great for shoes, bags, jewelry, some things for the house.

Elizabeth, Mott, and Mulberry Streets for about 2 blocks each, below Houston -
a compact little area. Go on a sunny day. It always lifts my mood. I seldom buy anything.

atilla

I was also going to recommend the Central Park Concervancy Gardens but I see that Elizabeth did already. Very good recommendation, a must see if you like gardens. Some fascinating fountains there also with interesting history.

GoTravel

October is my favorite time to visit New York but May is a better time because it is less crowded.

There is no reason to stay in New Jersey if you are visiting Manhattan. Any savings you may find isn't worth the time it takes to commute or the convenience of my hotel if I want to take a mid day break.

Visit The Cloisters. Take an architectual tour of: Carnegie Hall, New York Library, financial district, and whatever the theater is at Rockefeller Center (why is it escaping me now?). There is also a walking architectual tour of the Broadway Theaters. See the Frick, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park.

vacationdreamer

If you love London and Paris, you'll love NY. It sounds like you're leaning towards Oct anyway, but the temps between May and October won't be that different, but Oct is much less likely to see rain. I would definitely not call Oct gray - no flowers, but leaves still green or changing beautifully towards the end of the month.

You've gotten some great advice already - I would add that on your Met day, you could walk down Madison Ave for window shopping and randomly go down some sidestreets and see beautiful brownstones.

To Nike - A very technical sidenote - I've always heard that the Met was the largest art museum in the Western Hempisphere.

atilla

vacationdreamer, your comment about the Met intrigued me so I had to satisfy my own curiousity and find out. According to the Louvre's website it is 1.6 million square feet and The Met's website quotes itself as being 2 million square feet. So if those figures are correct, then yes, The Metropolitan is larger.