chimmicat

Just back from the NYC. Recommend calling for Limousine Service for transportation from airport to hotel and the same upon departure. The Limo is actually a towncar.
We had a great experience with John from Tri-State Limousine at 203-673-2431.
Recommend Cosmopolitan Tribeca for a clean and reasonable place to stay.
Buy your Theater tickets at the TKTS both in Times Square at the Marriot Marquis. Tickets 50% off for same day seats, but bring cash, no credit cards allowed.
Recommend Juniors Restaurant in the same area for a good meal and great Service at 45th and Shubert Alley.
If planning to attend Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting ceremony next year, go early in the day and watch rehersals and leave late afternoon and watch the rest on T.V.
Go to China Town for great souviner shopping and go to The Rock observation deck instead of the Empire State Building
Skip NBC tour at Rockfeller Center.
Use the subway and walk you never know who you might see.

mclaurie

Superb tips, especially about the rehearsal for the tree lighting. Sounds like a good trip.

barnumbailey

Why skip the NBC tour at Rockefeller Center? Was it not worthwhile?

Hilary

Yes, I too would like comment on NBC tour as we might do that when we are visiting.

Calamari

I just returned last week from NYC. I would suggest to skip China Town completely as well as Little Italy. The China Town in San Fran is so much better for tourists. With so much to do and see in NYC, I am v. sorry we wasted almost an entire day in China Town and Little Italy. Just my thoughts.

Gekko

I have many tourist friends who enjoy a visit to Canal Street (Chinatown), whether is be for knockoff products or great tea (Ten-Ren on Mott Street).

And don't forget about Pearl River on Broadway.

Also, lunch in Little Italy can be a lot of fun (Lombardi's or Il Fornaio).

bill_boy

Anybody know where Lombardi's is in Little Italy?

SandyBrit

chimmicat - Thanks for posting your NYC trip tips and experience. Always helpful for first time visitors or those of us who visit more frequently. Can't wait to go back.

Sandy

ekscrunchy

Bill: Lombardi's is on Spring at the corner of Mott Street. And L'Asso, at 192 Mott on the corner of Kenmare, just got a good writeup in TimeOut's pizza survey; the owner is from Naples and uses DOC standards in making his pies, according to the article.

I am puzzled as to why, Calamari, if you found Chinatown and Little Italy so uninteresting, you spent almost a whole day there? I have been to the Chinatown in San Francisco and found it smaller and more touristy than the one here..
I hope visitors realize that our Chinatown extends far beyond the confines of streets such as Canal and Mott...

djkbooks

We enjoyed the NBC tour, but didn't do this until a visit after we'd seen nearly everything else. It was fun to see how tiny the sets are, see how the weather is done in front of a green screen (or was it blue?), and sit in the Saturday Night Live studio and hear all about the production. What I liked most were the photographs all along the walls in the hallway, but they dragged us through too quickly to really get a good look. Our tour guides were excellent.

Note that tours fill up quickly. Plan to head over as early as you can and have plans for what you'll do until tour time.

aztarian

www.BroadwayGuides.com has links to the best of the best on broadway.

Calamari

ekscrunchy - I was with a group of friends so I was stuck. They had done the museums with me and perhaps were not as thrilled as I was. Nonetheless - Huge waste of a day.

martite

Does anyone know what the rates are for Tri-State Limo? I called but got a wierd answering machine. I was planning on taking a cab but if this is cheaper.....

Gekko

www.dial7.com

212-777-7777