My wife and several other couples have decided it might be great fun to go to NYC for a few days surrounding New Year's Eve - do the Time's Square thing and see the ball drop.

Any thoughts from those who have done it, or those who are familiar with NYC, about where to stay, etc? Thanks very much.

Dave Zemens
Rochester, Michigan

Not to be discouraging, but this is the single busiest night of the year in NYC. Hotels are booked solid at sky high rates - as are any "special" restaurants. (Plan to reserve your hotel by September. If you give a budget we can make recos.)

As for going to Times Square to watch the ball drop - this is best left to college students. We did it then and it was fun - but we're not 19 any more - and the heightened security since 9/11 has made it much more problematic:

To be close enough to see anything you have to arrive at least 5/6 hours in advance.

After screening (you can;t being any large items or alcohol in with you - nor foldng chairs etc) you are placed in a police-barricaded holding pen with thousands of others - in which you must stay until after the event.

There may or may not be restaurants or "facilities" including porta-potties in the pen.

Streets are closed and public transport to the area is blocked off several hours in advance - and until after the event - so ingress and egress is all by foot.

It may be warm (40's) like last year - or it may be cold - like teens.

Overall - much better seen on TV.

If you decide to come - there is usually an alternate - which is much more accessible - fireworks over Cenral Park.

I would double check the NYC web site in the early fall for more info.

One thought....claustrophobic. I'm not but I would be very quickly in Times Square. Friends who work in the area high tale it out of there as fast as they can.

My 18 year old, the planners that he and his friends are (NOT), thought they would get near Times Square a couple of hours before midnight. Of course that didn't happen, but they made it to Central Park to see the fireworks -- they had a great time. But then again as nytraveler mentioned, teens seem to manage these things much better than us more "mature" types. Then again, my husband and I always talk about taking the New Year's Eve plunge...

But hey, it shouldn't stop you from visiting NYC with your friends!!!

I found a very good price for the four start Millenium Hilton (adjacent to the WTC construction). Anyone have thoughts on this hotel?

Thanks again.

Hi Dave! I would suggest one of two things: Make a friend in NYC fast and get dibs on their couch/floor or consider a hotel with a Manhattan view in New Jersey. There are several new properties in Hoboken and Jersey City. Public transportation via the Path train and busses will easily get you to/from the city, even on New Years eve. You can enjoy the festivities here without paying ridiculously high prices.

http://everythingtravel.blogspot.com/

Thanks 'everythingtravel'. I found a pretty good deal on the price at the Milenium Hilton. My question has more to do with it's location than the price. Any thoughts on that?

I stayed there when the towers were still standing and it's a beautiful hotel - sleek modern rooms with a lot of teak. I was mesmerized by looking through airspace into the office towers. Now that they aren't there anymore it would be a bit morbid for me. But, the hotel is gorgeous. You do know it is at the end of the island so a long cab ride or subway ride to Midtown?

I would NOT do the Times Square/ ball drop thing for the reasons previously stated. Now, if I could get a room with a TS view, that would be different.

Refer to the "Magic/Disney" thread to get an idea of what Times Square on NYE is like.

The first time I went someone threw up on my shoe. Then someone else peed on the other. But I was only 20 so I didn't rightly care.

Everyone seems to be ignoring your question. The Millenium is a great location for you. If you got a good price, don't hesitate -- grab it.

Thanks, Patrick. I don't want to be so far away from midtown that we don't feel like we are in NYC, if you know what I mean? How dead do things get in the Financial area at night?

Dead.

What am I, Patrick? Chopped liver?

The Millenium Hilton is a nice hotel - but it is as removed from Times Square as could be - which actually might be a very good thing. It is a very easy subway ride from TS to Cortlandt street (across from the hotel) on the N or R train - there is also the E train to the WTC stop - a few blocks away. There is a nice pool in the hotel - and the views are great, but the area is extremely quiet at night - not too many restaurants, except in nearby Tribeca (5 or 6 blocks north). Of course, if you spend a lot of your time in TS, maybe that will be a relief.

New Years Eve in NYC is usually not for the faint-hearted or budget conscious. Of course, you can do a few wonderful things for little or no money - There are some first night celebrations around Grand Central, sometimes there are fireworks in Central Park, an early (6:00 or 7:00pm) dinner at downtown restaurants before they start charging the big cover can be fun . . . But it can be a nightmare too - no empty cabs, freezing weather, overpriced drinks and meals starting at $100 or more per person. nytravelers' description strikes this lifelong NYer as pretty apt. Gauge your discomfort level and plan accordingly.

Re: the Millennium location - yes, the Financial District is more or less dead at night.

If you stay there you are to feel you are in NYC - in the snese you are thinking of. You won't be in easy walking distance of midtown or of the lively downtown neighborhoods (village, East Village, Soho, Chelsea) - Tribca is the closest but not that close.

If you can adjust to that, though, you will be in a beautiful place that is less than a 15-minute subway ride to Times Square. And if there are any seroius shoppers among you - you can almost see Century 21, the Queen of designer discount emporia, out your hotel window.

(But it may be closed New Year's Day.)

Very nice hotel in a good area. You'll find that the financial district esentially shuts down after 5pm - I mention that so you know there will be limited evening dining/entertainment choices. Easily solved by heading uptown though. A major subway line (N/R) will let you out DIRECTLY in front of the hotel and the best discount dept. store in NYC is right next door.

http://everythingtravel.blogspot.com/