Hey there, we are leaving for NYC next Thursday and I have gotten a wealth of info from this site, I feel so comfortable in our upcoming journey. I just have gotten my self confused on which way to do something. Here's the dilemma. We want to shop and we want to see some museums, and greenwich village so-ho ect. Here's the problem. I'm not sure if I should do a Grayline tour to catch the museums and staten island ferry, greenwich village areas??

We are staying at the Algonquin, if that helps. Here's what I had planned, and now wonder if I should rearrange.
Friday:
Shopping along 5th Avenue up to 61st and Madison.(HM, Lord Taylor, HneriBendel Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys). Then do Museum mile, Jewish Museum (only open on Friday till 3 and Frick Mansin, Guggenheim)

Saturday:
Addl shopping, Staten Island Ferry, Brooklyn Bridge, 8 Oclock show.

Sunday: Greenwich Village and So Ho hopping, Famous Hotels, Plaza, Waldorf, etc.

I'm thinking I should rearrange, to perhaps, do a Grayline tour on Friday and Saturday, to capture the museums, and greenwich village, brooklyn bridge, staten island? Then on Sunday do our shopping? HELP..ANYONE..

The bus tour will not do you any good unless you just want to look at the outside of something. If you plan on really doing anything you are much better off using the subway for transport - its lots faster.

Separately you have way too much to do on Friday - unless youjust plan on looking at the outsides of the buildings. It would take a week at lest to just see the Met, 1/2 day for the Guggenheom or Frick. You need to decide which you really want to see (or what parts for the Met - go to the web site so you can pick out 2 or 3 departments if you plan on going in) and cut some things out. I would revere the day and do the museums first - so you can cover what you want - then shop later - when it doesn;t matter if your brain is a little tired.

Or better yet, save the shopping for Saturday.

Also, I;m not sure what the famous hotels remarks means - they're just hotels - nothing really to see unless you love hanging out in hotel lobbies for some reason.

The shopping alone at the stores you mention in themselves will keep you more than busy the whole day Friday.
I'm a little confused about your question concerning the Grayline tourbus and "catching the museums and staten island ferry, greenwich village areas." Do mean using the bus to get to these spots? If so, then that's not the best use of your time. For the ferry, take the subway, for example.
I'm also confused about your intentions with the museums. Do you want to visit them or just see them from the outside? If your intent is to get inside them, forget it with your schedule. You've built no time for that.

With all that shopping, you can really only handle one museum on Friday. Remember that many museums offer free hours on Friday-between 6 and 8pm you pay what you wish. I know the Guggenheim does this. Check their hours and when they offer free admission because the admission fees can add up!

If you go to the Frick, be sure to get the audio guide, it really helps you understand the mansion and it's contents. There's more info at http://www.frick.org

I would definitely recommend skipping the Grayline hop on/hop off buses. If the weather was pleasant and you had more time, this would be a wonderful way to see the city and get to all the neighborhoods, major sights and attractions, conveniently.

But, in the winter, and with so much shopping and time spent indoors planned, it would be much more ecomical and faster to use taxis. Though, I'd urge you to get a metro card and print a bus routes map. It is often difficult to find a taxi in the cold weather and when the city is mobbed with visitors. (And, the locals are much better at snaring them than you'll ever be, so you could wait quite a while as others grab them away from you...)

If you do decide on the hop on/hop off buses, be sure to take along a detailed street map. You'll get lost with the one provided (which has only a few streets) and waste lots of time finding a stop, if you wander about, and waiting for the next bus.

Here's my recommendations on your plans.

Don't over plan, it will make you crazy.

Friday shopping sounds like fun so I would suggest starting around 34th St and 6th for Macy's then walk east to 5th Ave and walk up that cover Lord and Taylor (5th and 39th) and continue up 5th lots more stores on both sides of the street. Rockefeller Center and the tree is at 50th and 5th and Saks is across the street, there is a big display at Saks on the hour and half hour so you might time your trip to see the Christmas lights there.

The stores will holiday windows are Macy's, Lord and Taylor, Saks and of course lots more along 5th Ave.

If you want to do a museum, Friday night the Met is open until 8 or 9 pm and the Christmas Tree there is one of the most beautiful and it is decorated with beautiful figurines centuries old.

Saturday you might want to do some shopping way downtown like Century 21, see the see the WWC which is across the street, St Paul's chapel (to see the exhibit on 9/11 and alot of shops in that area.

From there you might walk uptown to Canal St. and do a bit more shopping.
and continue up through Little Italy to Soho.

I would not suggest taking the Greyline or Apple tour this time of year. Traffic is REALLY bad because of the holidays.

Sunday you can walk midtown and see some of the older hotels, the Plaza, Waldorf, Palace, and you might want to try and get into MoMa on 55th off 5th, or up to the Guggenheim.

I would suggest picking one area of the city to explore at a time, so you aren't spending alot of time traveling from one area to another.

Get a map of the city so you have an idea directions, it will make it so much easier.

Have a great time and enjoy the city, it is so pretty here this time of year.