nytraveler

April is not likely to be cold and the chance of snow is almost nil (what we get is almost all Jan/Feb - although March is possible). You just need to avoid easter weeks (before or after) since prices will be a lot higher.

sf7307

>>

I agree it's not likely to be cold. However, the last time I was there in April, one week, it went from being freezing/raining (temps in the high 30s) to balmy (70s) the same week.

starrs

Me too. Wore my heaviest winter coat* at the beginning of the trip and didn't need a jacket at the end of it.
As always, dress in layers. You'll be fine.

*my long wool business "New Jersey" coat - purchased for winter trips to the cold north

Lozz80

I'm getting excited just reading all this!!!

I think I'll be aiming for late March/early April so should miss Easter which is at the end of April next year.

Not really sure what is realistic for accommodation, but maybe something around $100 per night? I know that getting a single is more expensive than twin share and I don't want to stay somewhere dodgy!!!

The more I start to look at planning this trip the more I realise that I'm in love with the idea of going to New York but I don't really know anything about it!!! Apart from the obvious things like trying to see a show on Broadway, going up the Empire State Building, seeing the Statue of Liberty I'm not really sure what else is good value, as opposed to touristy gimicks!

nelsonian

I think you will find $ 100 a night is not a realistic figure. My husband and I were there three years ago at the beginning of April (we thought it would be spring, but it was freezing), and the cheapest accommodation we could find at that stage was $ 150,00 a night at the Radio City Apartments. We didn't know about Priceline then.

Radio City Apartments are right by Time Square, handy to subways, but they are very popular and you need to book way in advance.

We are from New Zealand and it was my dream also to go to NYC, it blew me away when we saw all the yellow cabs, and the traffic, and heard all the honking of horns. It was just like in the movies . Little did we know then that my daughter would be living there now. Another trip is in order.

Peteralan

Lozz, can I suggest you get a good guide book and read up on the miriad of things which are available to you in NYC. Alternatively, you could play it by ear and just wander and you will find lots to grab your attention. I have to tell you though $ 100 per night will be hard to find. Unfortunately NYC is expensive for accommodation. The locals will point you in the right direction as to where you might find a place closer to your estimate.

nelsonian

The things we did included going on the Staten Island ferry which is free and goes right past the Statue of Liberty. We also went up to the Top of the Rock (Rockerfeller Center) which is now just as popular as the Empire State Building, and less crowded. Went to the Frick Art Gallery which was just amazing, I had never seen so many wonderful paintings. Did a couple of Broadway Shows, we loved Wicked which is still running. Billy Elliott is great too but you might have seen that in Melbourne. Come to think of it Wicked has played in Melbourne also. Central Park is a must but don't expect it to be green in April. I was disappointed forgetting the fact that yes it does snow and get very cold in NYC and parks don't stay green like they do in NZ.

ggreen

Agreed that $100/night is low for NYC. You might look into the Pod hotel in midtown on the east side (www.podhotel.com). It's more of a European style of hotel, with a range of options including I believe a shared bath down the hall.

Also, if you are a woman, you might have luck staying in a women-only residence. These places require an application, not all accept short-term visitors, and can book up quickly. If you want to try, here are some suggestions: The Brandon on the Upper West Side (http://www.thebrandon.org/) takes visitors; some of the others are might take a woman in town on business, such as the Webster (http://www.websterapartments.org/) and the Markle.

As for what to see, other than the city itself, what are your interests? Art, history, shopping, sports...?

Lozz80

So after doing some more research I've discovered that my original thought of $100 per night was a little unrealistic!!! Managed to get a decent brochure from a travel agent today so will look at rates etc. Have also found the Lonely Planet NYC guide so am looking forward to reading that over the weekend too!

I'm starting to put together a list of places I think I want to go and then I can work out the logistics from there.

Didn't see Wicked when it was here in Melbourne so would be aiming for that or Lion King if its still on when I get there (saw it here and was FANTASTIC).

millie2112

Lozz80, please put away the travel brochures for the hotels. I find that these prices are extremely high. You can do better by looking at sites such as:
www.travelzoo.com or www.wego.com or www.hotelclub.com.
Also, use a forum such as tripadvisor to look at hotels, as well as www.oyster.com.
Each hotel will have their own website and listed specials. You can also sign up to hotel emails. They will send you specials when they have them.
You could also be brave and try www.priceline.com

nytraveler

Both shows are still running and are full or close to. And Disney rarely discounts - as a policy, Once your dates are final you should buy tickets them to get your best choice of seats/prices.

And $100 per night in NYC is possible that time of year only through Priceline - which mean bidding blind. You might get a 4* hotel - but you need to research how to do this to ensure you don;t get something you can;t live with.

If you prefer to know where you will be staying in advance you ned to use the unblinded discount sites (travelzoo.com, kayak.com, etc) but them check tripadvisor.com to get guest reviews.

Also, once you have picked out possible hotels go directly to the sites - which often have internet specials.

Radio City Apartments is simple but in a great location. but since the rates are so slow they sell out many months in advance.

The Newton on the upper west side (great mid/upscale residential neighborhood, many good local inexpensive/moderate restaurants, a couple of blocks to Central Park, walkable to lots of major museums and right on top of the subway) is modest but recently updated and has a single or a double with shared bath for about $165 a night. This if for early April - but if you avoid Easter rates will be lower.

bachslunch

nytraveler said: "I see no reason to point out specific areas"

We're going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.

nytraveler also said "- unless you are telling people to stay out of Bed-Stuy or East New York.."

No argument with either area as a place to stay out of, period.

AnnMarie_C

I never thought in a million that I'd enjoy staying in or near Times Square but I got a great last minute deal this past spring at the Sheraton Towers and as it turned out we enjoyed the location so much it's where we'll be when we return in a couple of weeks. As starrs writes the location is great for theater!

starrs

AnnMarie, I'm so glad you enjoyed it too. There are some hotels right IN/ON the craziness, and I can see why some people would not enjoy it. But even just a 1/2 block to a block away makes a BIG difference. And in winter? There's no other place I'd rather stay, especially if I plan on going to the theaters more than once (and Broadway IS my biggest draw)

The Muse was 1/2 block from the Thanksgiving Day parade. We were steps away from seeing it from the street, could see the balloons from the window and watch the rest of it from the bed. Sweet. Anything on 8th would work for me too, especially the Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn. It's where I stayed for years for free and it's still my favorite base.

Aduchamp1

We're going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.

Your impressions of the East Village, LES, and Meatpacking are as old as Letterman's jokes about crime. Just twenty years out of date.

And the Lower East Side is so bad, there is $400 a night hotel and SVA built a dorm for its students.

nancy1652

The Milburn Hotel at 76th and Broadway on the Upper West Side is a very nice place to stay. There is a fridge, microwave, dishes, etc. in each room. The beds are very comfortable, the bathrooms extremely large and clean. One block away is the Fairway market where you can buy food for times when you don't want to eat out. They also have a nice continental breakfast which is free. If you stay for a week, they'll give you a discounted rate. I just got a room for $199 for March. However, be aware that there is about an 18% hotel tax for each night, so it adds up. Still a good deal for an ideal location.

AnnMarie_C

starrs, Fodor's needs a "Like" button.

bachslunch

Aduchamp1, you'll in fact find pretty much the exact safety advice I gave the OP in recent Frommer's guidebooks on New York City, for one. It's not as if I'm the only person to say something to this effect. Besides, if I were giving out 20+ year old advice on NYC safety, I'd be warning people not to walk in these areas at all and to avoid scary spots like Chelsea, Times Square, and various other venues to boot.

Just as importantly, it's not clear that what I posted is being read or interpreted fairly. Here's the part I suspect is getting the undies knotted up:

"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."

Point by point:

-Note the use of the word "traditionally," which already puts some level of qualifier on the advice.

-Note that the term "keep your wits about you" is not the same thing as "don't go into," nor the same as "run scared as hell if you even think of venturing forth into."

-Note that the term "late at night" was used. No, that's not the same thing as "all the time." I did say prior to this "you shouldn't have problems most places in Manhattan during the day" and also followed up with "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." And I did later say above that "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."

It's not clear to me that naysayers on this thread even read or comprehended any of the above with the least bit of care.

And there's yet another issue that affected the advice I gave above. It appears that the OP is a lone tourist, I'm assuming a woman traveling by herself. Given that the person is not a local and likely doesn't know the city at all and specifically asked for advice on safety, I didn't think it was out of line to suggest what I did given the person's situation.

For you to disagree with all the above as qualified, am guessing you'd have to be willing to say instead that every part of Manhattan is equally safe every hour of the day or night no matter the individual (or group) walking there. I presume you believe this to be the case?

starrs

I agree with bachslunch. A family member (a young woman) is living in Alphabet City after living in three other areas of the city in the last few years and would agree also. bachslunch is spot on with the advice given to a solo woman traveling to the city on her first trip.

Lozz80

My Mum has decided to come along on my NY adventure!

We're going to stay in Conneticut and come in on the train each day - much cheaper!!!

Travelling with someone else makes this much more affordable and just gives me some piece of mind.

Thank you to all for your wonderful suggestions!