I have wanted to go to New York City for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately none of my friends share this enthusiasm, so I will be making the trip on my own. I'm looking for information to see if this is a safe option? Also if there is affordable, nice accommodation in the city that isn't going to cost the earth because I will be on my own? I live in Melbourne Australia so am used to wet cold winters, would love to see the snow in the city, but not if this means that nothing is accessible.

This is my dream holiday destination and I want to do it properly!

good on you Lozz80. There will be many people here that will help you. I am from Melbourne too and will be in NYC on 15th of December. Like you I have always wanted to go and finally this is the year. Whatever you do I am sure you will have a great time.

Even when it snows moderately, it clears up quickly in Manhattan due to the heat generated by the buildings, subways, etc and the tremendous amount of pedestrian traffic. The outer boroughs is an entirely different story.

Well the prices running up to Christmas/New Year's are the highest of the year and anything even remotely like a bargain is long gone. I would assume the lest you could spend is something like $300 per night for a very basic room. The city is gorgeous - but mobbed and expensive.

But, if you choose to go in Jan or Feb (except Valentine's Day) this is low season and you can get hotels for a pittance. check out Travelzoo.com or one of the other discount sites where you get to pick the hotel, rather than Priceline where you have to bid blind - to see what discount they are offering. there should be great deals.

As for the weather - sorry - New York is MUCH colder than Melbourne - if you come in winter you will need a heavy coat, hat scarf, gloves and waterproof non-skid boots of some sort. Out highs then are often in the 30's (near zero centigrade) and at night often in the teens. Every winter we get nights around zero farenheit. Plus the city tends to be windy in winter and damp - since we're on a massive natural deep-water harbor.

We are actually about 100 miles south of the snow belt - so some years we get practically none - a couple of inches 4 or 5 times - and other years we get a lot (the biggest recently was 28" over 30 hours). Some years we get 2 or 3 storms and some 8 or 10. The snow doesn't last long as snow - but if it turns colder can freeze as ice all over the streets. As long as you have boots you can still get around the city since nothing stops the subways - but the outdoors will be difficult until everything is shoveled (stores and apartments have 24 hours after the snow stops to clean their sidewalk - it's not done by the city).

But as long as you are focused on indoor activities you should be fine - and if you get a couple of warmer days - in the 40's you can certainly visit Central Park and take one of the boat trips (not recommended if really cold since you will freeze you buns off.)

The best time to visit IMHO is May - which will be warm, park green but not yet hellishly ot - but by then hotel prices have started to creep backup - although you can usually still find a deal - perhaps $150 of so for a single if you shop hard.

Sorry, I hit the send button too soon.

The East River, which is actually an estuary, used to freeze over but that has not happened, in I would guess the last 100 years, even during our most bitter winters due to the reasons stated above.

Re safety in NYC: you shouldn't have problems most places in Manhattan during the day. Traditionally, it's considered wise to keep your wits about you late at night in areas above 96th Street, in the Meat Packing District, Alphabet City east of East Village, and parts of the Lower East Side. Also avoid parks at night unless there's a large event going on, and take a cab rather than the subway late at night. But note well that Manhattan is one of the safest urban areas in the US, and the chances you'll encounter safety issues are minimal.

Outer boroughs can vary a bit, though tourist attractions in them generally are in areas that are considered safe during daylight hours.

With a little common sense, you shouldn't have worries.

I agree with the above comments.

(1) You'll have a great time!
(2) You will be safe. We'll make sure you know which neighborhoods are off-limits.
(3) Visiting New York in the winter is reasonable. The pre-holiday atmosphere in December is enchanting (though it's much more crowded and more expensive in that period), and hotel costs will be lower in January and February. But you'll probably be disappointed if you come hoping to see the city under a coat of snow. It doesn't snow all that often in New York. When it does, everything is still accessible, and it's briefly quite beautiful, but then the snow gets plowed to the sides of the streets, where it quickly turns gray and ugly with dirt and grime. In Central Park, the snow stays beautiful longer, but even there it will melt, leaving the Park kind of a barren place.

New York City is the safest large city in the country and there is no problem at all visiting any tourist area - even alone, even if you are a petite woman. (There are a few areas that are higher in crime but they are outlying, primarily residential areas that you will not find yourself anywhere near.)

As long as you are sensible - not wandering down dark alleys alone at 3 am when you've had too much to drink - you should not have any problems. The subway and buses run 24/7 - although between 1 am and 6 am they are less frequent and a cab is probably a better idea just to save time.

As for staying south of 96th St - that advice is 20 years old. Areas north of 96th are the only ones now where there is any reasonable housing and young people are moving there in droves - and have been for the last 8 or 10 years. And columbia university is well north of there. Again - just be sensible about dark alleys at 3 am.

My advice re north of 96th Street was to "keep your wits about you late at night." I don't think that's unreasonable advice, especially if you're walking alone. I'd never suggest to anyone not to head north of here, generally speaking, and some areas are okay pretty much any time of day or night -- though there are some odd pockets, especially in Washington Heights, I'd be more concerned about up here as well.

I'm the person who posted a Harlem Walking Tour back a while ago here, after all.

The East Village from Ave B west has more people on the streets from Thursday night until Sunday morning at 3 AM than live in many towns.

I have a good friend who's from Melbourne now living and working in NYC. She first came on her own on vacation and fell in love with NYC so got her co. to transfer her here to work. You'll have a great time. Know that hotel prices fluctuate pretty dramatically based on when you decide to come. If you want help selecting a hotel, give us an idea of when you're thinking of coming and a hotel budget. There's no way to plan for snow but it's most likely in Feb. I think.

Presumably in reply to my safety suggestions, Aduchamp1 wrote: "The East Village from Ave B west has more people on the streets from Thursday night until Sunday morning at 3 AM than live in many towns."

Agreed, but that's not "Alphabet City east of East Village" about which I said, "[t]raditionally, it's considered wise to keep your wits about you late at night." Again, I fail to see any argument that my suggestion might be wholly off base.

Please note that Alphabet City, a term which is not used that often any more, starts at Avenue A and goes to the river from 14th Street to Houston. But even Avenue C has begun to be built up with more and more bars and restaurants.

Here are the crime stats for the 9th precinct which includes the entire East Village.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloa...s/cs009pct.pdf

Aduchamp1, if you want me to express myself more clearly, that's fine with me. "The part of Alphabet City located east of East Village." Better? More clear?

I have no doubt that this section of Alphabet Village is gentrifying, and the same is surely true for the other areas I referenced above to varying degrees. That all being the case, I still fail to see the harm in suggesting to someone specifically asking for guidance on safety issues in NYC that "[t]raditionally, it's considered wise to keep your wits about you late at night" in these parts of town, especially for what I presume is a woman walking alone.

I think that every traveler should keep their wits about them at all times - not matter what city or neighborhood. Even their home towns. It's only common sense.

I see no reason to point out specific areas - unless you are telling people to stay out of Bed-Stuy or East New York.

Hi Lozz. I am another Aussie who longed for a trip to NYC. Noone would come with me so, rather than lose my dream, I came on my own.I found the city safe and the people friendly and helpful. I went in May so don't know what prices are for when you want but others have given and will give you valuable information. Go for your dream . You will love it as I did.

Wow thanks guys - I really appreciate all the info (could have done without the bickering tho!)

I'm thinking I'll probably aim for Mar-Apr. Still cold but not peak season.

Any suggestions on where to stay? Not really keen on backpacker type accommodation. Also, found a web site offering a 'New York Pass' which was pre-paid entry to most attractions. Does anyone know if this is worthwhile?

Lozz, since it's just yourself you can get some GREAT deals on hotel rooms on Priceline or Hotwire. www.betterbidding.com will help you figure out the process - we can too. Those rooms are nonrefundable, hence the great prices.

Look at travelzoo.com for specials too.

For a moderate place to stay, I like the LaQuinta on 32nd street. I looked at random dates in March and got a price in the low 100s with a AAA rate. A subway stop is on the corner (which is good in the winter) and they offer free breakfast and a small rooftop bar. Once you know your dates, I'd book something that you can cancel later and then look for deals. It's not in the fanciest of neighborhoods (to say the least) but is not far from Macy's, Herald Square and Madison Square Garden. A family member lived in that area for a while and enjoyed the location. Almost any area will work so widen your search. I stay often in the UWS but if the truth be told, I'd rather be a few steps away from the theaters than a few subway stops away.

A lot of people will say they would NEVER stay in Times Square, but for a lot of us who love Broadway shows it's our favorite place to stay for short visits in the city.

I was in NYC at about that time this year so click on my name if you want to read my trip report. There are many other trip reports that are great in helping to plan a trip - as are the Fodor's destination notes above.

NYC is my favorite place to travel solo. I try to take on at least a couple of day when I can (after work trips)

Most "New York Pass" or "City Pass" options I've seen offer false economy by saying it includes "free" entry to places that are always pay-what-you-wish. Also look closely at how much time you have to see all the options--often an impossible schedule. I would research if I really wanted to visit the places listed, what the entry fees are, and verify any "free entry times" before committing a lot of money to a pass.

One discount I do recommend: check the combo tickets being offered by Top of the Rock, the observation deck on top of Rockefeller Center. There is usually a good combination ticket for that and the Museum of Modern Art.
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/

Another good investment: a MetroCard Unlimited Ride pass for the duration of your visit. the fares are changing soon, and the one-day unlimited ride ticket will disappear. But the 7-day pass could still be an excellent value depending on your plans.

http://www.mta.info/mta/pdf/approved_fares.pdf

If you give us an idea of how much you are prepared to pay, we can help you further.