First trip to New York City from Omaha, got a Priceline trip for $1600.00 for six nights at the Hilton plus roundtrip airfare from Omaha to LaGuardia for August for four people.

Planning on taking a cab to the airport from Hilton at Rockefeller. Is there anything to do, tourist wise, in the vicinity of LaGuardia? Reason asking is the day we leave, we depart LaGuardia at 7:30 p.m. on a Sunday. Extra cost to store bags at our hotel so thinking about going to the airport early and dropping the luggage off and then spending the day in the LaGuardia area if there is anything there to do? Or should we just pay the extra to leave bags at hotel and spend the day in Manhattan?

Let me get this straight. You're saying that after spending six nights at the Hilton, they are going to charge you to store your luggage for four hours or so?? That is probably one of the most outrageous things I've ever heard!!!
But to answer your question, no, I'd say there is nothing of any great excitement to do near LaGuardia.

That sounds really cheap for 4 people if it includes your hotel and your airfare. I would check out what area of town the Hilton is located before I paid for anything!

Well I don't know for sure about charging for storage, I just read that from a comment either on this site or biddingfortravel about the hotel. Thanks though about whether I should find anything to do around LaGuardia.

I think this was a good price for six nights, 4 people and airfare from a small airport in midwest to NYC. Yes, it is the Hilton Towers at Rockefeller Center.

I feel better already. I have just never heard of a hotel that wouldn't store your luggage for a later departure without charging you. Please tell me someone was pulling your leg!

And yes, I'd say you have a great deal!!

In case you wind up in Queens, while not a bustling tourist mecca, does have a few things to do. The NY Hall of Science (more for kids) and the Museum of the Moving Image (dedicated to moviemaking, as Queens was "hollywood" circa 1920), are relatively close to the airport. And there's always the Mets.

Since you were a guest at the hotel, I would think the bell stand should be able to help out and hold your bags for a couple of hours so you can do something in Manhattan. I would not go to the airport early either, since there is nowhere to store your bags there either and once you check your bags onto your flight I don't believe you can leave the airport.

There really isn't much in the area around LaGuardia, and so much to see in Manhattan.

That price sounds GREAT to me and your hotel is in a convenient area to everything.

August will be very HOT here, so you might think about one day at the beach, on Long Island or New Jersey and you can take public transit there.

Have a great time.

I am also surprised that you would have to pay for storage of your luggage! However, I would recommend that you stay in Manhattan that day. There is nothing to do around LaGuardia airport and the things that were mentioned to do in Queens while not too far from the airport will still require you to pay for a cab to get there. I think that you will probably enjoy the day in Manhattan better and won't have to hassle with cabs to and from wherever you might choose to go in Queens.
You have an incredible price for your vacation and if you are interested in good, cheap, non-touristy restaurants post a message and I would be happy to name a few. Have a great vacation!

Well, I would join the Hilton Honors program and then when you check in request a "late check out " on the day that you leave. Most hotels have a room where you store your bags and they don't charge for it. Even if they don't give you a late check out, I would definitely stay in the city.

Good point, Emily. I'm a big believer in joining every hotel's "guest" program as they are free and will invariably give you some amenities -- like free local phone calls, morning newspaper, and especially first shot at free upgrades of rooms. The one thing I'm not very lucky with is the late checkout, as most of them will only add an hour or maybe two, unless the hotel isn't busy at all. And I don't think the Hilton is ever not busy!

Let's put things in perspective. Even if the hotel charged you for storing your luggage, it would only be a few dollars. After a week in New York, which will probably end of costing you a total of $2,500-$3,000 or more, you're concerned about a few dollars for storing your luggage! (If the storage is free, I hope you'll at least tip the bellman who gets it for you!)
As others have said, you're much better off staying in Manhattan rather than going to Laguardia early.

Also, many airports no longer allow use of luggage lockers and won't let you check your bags for your flight more than a limited (sometimes VERY limited, like 2 hours) number of hours in advance of your flight. Know the rules before you trek early to LaGuardia.

I agree with the others; stay in Manhattan!

I agree with the others that you should stay in Manhattan. If you decide to head for the airport early, the Museum of Modern Art is only about 6 miles from LaGuardia Airport.

Shea stadium is right by Laguardia, and you could check out a mets game (it's not the yankees but it could be fun). on a Sunday it would be a 1pm game. also, I think the US open tennis is there in August (right next to Shea Stadium)...

I agree with the other posters about leaving your bags at the hotel and staying in Manhattan. However, if I HAD to spend a day near LaGuardia in August, I would do the following:
If you play tennis there are no better courts in NY than the courts at the National Tennis center in Flushing Meadows Park. They close the courts about two weeks before the tournament starts but if it's early August you can use them. There is a fee.
Mets game. Check the schedule to see if they're at home.
If you got an early start you could even do both these things, but you will need to use cabs.

You can check out Little India by 74th street (1 mile away from lga).

You can check out Chinatown Queens at Main Street (2 miles from lga)

Having just traveled from and to New York, I can tell you that you will most definately not be able to check your bags in advance. In fact, you can't really "check" your bags at all any more. You take your suitcases to security, where they check your ID, and then take your bags to be x-rayed (and sometimes checked by hand) while you go through the security gate.

I don't think the Hilton charges for storing your luggage but I do remember tipping the bellman for storing it for me. Nothing at LaGuardia. Stay in the city.