Hi!
My new husband and I have booked flights and an apt on the UWS. We'll be there through New Years Day and I'd LOVE to find a way to experience the Ball Drop without the chaos of Times Square. Is this in anyway possible? I've been looking at restaurants and hotel rooftops without much luck yet. It's around $700 per person for a terrace view or any other type of "live" view. We're a little too old for the danceclub scenes.

Any insider tips or a suggestion of another fireworks spots or other options to get in on the festivities?

This is his first time visiting and I'm excited to have touristy days that end quietly. Any UWS restaurants we must dine at?

Is the City Pass a good idea to hit tourist spots? I remember using one years ago.

We're fling into Newark for the first time. I meant to see what Uber prices would look like at our arrival time. Is it easy to get a train from there to Manhattan?

I always find the BEST advice on Fodors and appreciate any suggestions/recommendations/info. I'll continue to research as well.

Thanks!

Television

TV . . . and make sure your apartment is legal (almost ALL vacation rentals in NYC are illegal and you certainly don't want to end up w/o a roof over your head over the holiday)

Give up on a live view unless you are willing to pay the going rate--I researched this exhaustively for my SIL one year, and it's either a mob scene with hoi polloi, or an expensive view from above. Everyone, and I mean everyone, who comes to NYC for NYE from all around the world wants what you want, and it's in short supply.

The thing is, do you really want to be stuck somewhere until well after midnight, and then struggle to get back to your apartment?? I know I wouldn't, no matter how ritzy that somewhere is.

Wow, super helpful. Thank you both.

And yes, NewbE, I think you're right. It's that whole, can you endure the crowds for one night... I'm not positive we can. Thanks!

Uber likely is not allowed to pick up at EWR, and I wouldn't have any idea what it might cost. But you can certainly arrange a car service. Expect to pay in the vicinity of $80 to do that, a price that includes the tolls and tip. I tend to use Dial 7, but Carmel is sometimes cheaper. Price both.

To get into the city by train (easy and fast if you don't have a lot of luggage), take the Airtrain to the EWR Airport station and hop on the next NJ Transit train to Penn Station (New York Penn not Newark Penn). At Penn Station, transfer to the 1, 2, 3 or A, C train depending on where you are going on the UWS.

And do be sure your rental exists and will be allowed. Scams in NYC are rampant and legal apartments almost nonexistent.

We took the train recently, and yes, it's easy (just one thing to add to Doug's instructions - follow the signs to the AirTrain, and buy your ticket to NY Penn Station before you get on the AirTrain - senior fare is $9.00 one way)

Yes, good point. And I believe you have to insert and then retrieve your ticket as you are getting on the Airtrain (you use the same ticket for both rides ... to the EWR station and then again from the EWR Airport Station to Penn Station).

Here's Time Out's listing of other possibilities for New Year's Eve

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/new-years-eve

Get your money back for that illegal apartment and book a hotel. That is the best advice anyone can give you for New Year's in NYC.

You run a very real risk of arriving and finding that apartment is no longer available due to a recent change in the laws making even advertising such an apartment illegal. Also you will likely be told to pretend that you are a relative of the legal tenant. Note that the other tenants will likely not be happy to see you - they don;t like the security of the building compromised by it's sublet to people who have not been investigated or approved by either the landlord or the co-op board. And there is a distinct possibility that you will be reported to whoever the authorities are. (There was an article in the local newspaper about a couple that were stuck in this exact situation a week or so ago and it's going to be happening more and more as the law is more strictly enforced. They had to go to a hotel that was $800 the first night before they could find a less expensive place.)

Definitely book a hotel. Just tell the people you rented from you have found out it is illegal and they must refund your money or be reported to the city authorities and sued in small claims court.

As for NYE - the more than million people in times Square are not "hoi polloi" but mostly more adventurous young people - either in years or at heart. And yes, the places with views of the ball drop were sold out long ago (lotteries you had to enter in July or Aug) and tickets were $500 up to $1000 per person. Hotel rooms with views are about $3K per night.

There are other places in the area with parties but it can be difficult to get there and out because of the crowds and lack of subway (that stop using those stations around 2 in the afternoon).

You might want to consider just having a nice dinner uptown somehere and going to the fireworks in central Park - yes crowded - but in a muchmore open space.

While scams regarding NYC apartment rentals are rampant, @nytraveler is being alarmist. There is no recent change that might affect the availability of your apartment if it is a legitimate (albeit illegal) rental. While the problem explained does happen, it's rare, but it's worth looking into the legitimacy of the apartment. If you booked through a legitimate agency like AirBnB or Homeaway, then the chance this is an outright scam is less, but if you booked on Craigslist or some other less legitimate site, the chance is high. You don't tell us, so I can't make that determination.

Here is a good explanation of the hazards in renting an apartment in NYC for less than 30 days.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g...t.Rentals.html

Back to the AirTrain/NJ Transit instructions - you used to have to tag in at the AirTrain, but no longer. You just take the AirTrain to the train station stop (free) and then you show your ticket to the conductor on the NJ Transit train.

We communicated and it was booked through VRBO/Homeaway. I'm sick with nervousness now as it's been paid for and the flights are booked and we certainly couldn't afford a hotel as this late notice. Hoping for the best. I've only stayed with friends or a hotel in the past but wanted my new husband to get the local experience like I've had. I guess I need to have some back up plans in case we're turned away.

Thank you all for the travel information from Newark.

I've read about fireworks in central park near 72nd street which may be our NYE plan. Or just a local restaurant if we can squeeze in somewhere.

I remember eating at a delicious Jewish restaurant my last visit. PIckles on the table, corned beef and a friend ordered mac and cheese balls, etc. I'm hoping I can figure it out to revisit.

I know the Giants won't be playing at home but I need to need to look up the location of the stadium. That may be a drive by viewing on our way from NJ if possible. My husband is a Giants fan.

Thanks again for the advice/info! I welcome any other tidbits and I'll report back after the trip to let you know if we ended up on the streets.

Homeaway is a legitimate source for rentals, so that doesn't concern me. If you've been told to pick up a key at the front desk but say you are the owner/renter's cousin, that's a sign you could run into problems. So just play along and do that. While I have little sympathy for owners who rent out their apartments in violation of both the law and building rules, I have a great deal of sympathy for people who do the renting. (On the positive side, New Year's Eve is not the busiest night of the year in the NYC hotel world, and there are usually rooms available in an emergency.

There are several delis like the one you have described, but no kosher deli could serve corned beef and mac and cheese because it's not allowed. So definitely not 2nd Ave Deli. I can't think of that place.

There are usually fireworks in the park, so that might be your best bet for a festive New Year event.

I don't think you can see the stadium in the Meadowlands as you drive up to the Lincoln Tunnel from EWR because it's too far north, but I never look, so I'm not 100% sure. But if you take the train you can definitely not see it.

However, if you want a real Jewish Deli experience, definitely try the 2nd Ave Deli. IMO it is the best, and I was brought up with NY Kosher delis. It is not on 2nd ave - once was - but on 33rd st near 3rd ave.

Thank you to everyone for your valued advice. The apartment was perfect. Exactly what I wanted for that local experience. Luckily, no problems. I guess the concierge's know better than to pry as there are so many owners doing the same thing. It was great to be able to round the block for groceries or dinner. We did take the trains to and from EWR. Super easy thanks to your information. Ate at Carmine's on NYE which was delicious, fireworks at Central park, ate at Junior's in Times Square which I thought was overrated the last time I was there but amazing this time. Visited Museum of Natural History for a day, did a long Central Park carriage ride with a friend's daughter who is a carriage driver. Everything on Broadway that I was interested in was sold out/priced triple face value due to holiday timing so I entered the online lotteries and won lottery priced tickets to Cats. We visited the 9/11 memorial and the very cool Occulus building, lots of walking for a view of the Statue of Liberty. Really great trip. I'd never go that week again due to the crowds but as always, I LOVE NYC.

I'm glad it worked out for you, but now you will know to book a hotel next time and not an illegal apartment rental.