We have a layover in NY on the way back from Paris. We arrive JFK at 8:00 pm and depart the next day at noon. I know it's REALLY short, but does anyone have a recommendation on something to do that would be worth the effort? A hotel, late night or early morning dining recommendation would be appreciated!

For hoel recos you need to tell us how many of you there are and what budget you have.

Also some ideas of food budget and types of cuisines you like/dislike - since there are a lot of places tht serve late (arriving at JFK at 8 pm you won;t get into the city until after 10 asuming you need to wait for luggage).

As for what to do - by the time you eat somethiing it will be about 6am Pais time - so you'll be shot.

But - you may have had enough food on the plane and just want to do something. In that case I would reco Top of the Rock and just getting a drink or snack in that area.

Thanks~I will be with my 16 yr. old daughter. I did this same layover on the way back from Morocco a couple of months ago, but I had dinner with a friend in Brooklyn. Yes, I WAS shot, but it was worth it....but the memory of it is like a fuzzy dream (but good)! I would pay anything between $200-400/night depending on how worthwhile the experience/ambiance is. We are up for anything. It's not so much about knowing the perfect thing for me; the response I wanted was for people to tell me what THEY thought would be a worthwhile experience given a limited time frame, and why they think so. I'm willing to hear other peoples ideas. I've been to NYC several times; what I'm looking for is a different/fresh perspective. I guess the thing to keep in mind is that I'll be with a 16 year old girl who has never been to NY. Also, it's not that I even want this layover, but since we're flying on frequent flyer miles our itinerary choices were very limitied. I'm just trying to make the most of the itinerary we have.

One idea is to stay at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott hotel, about 30 mins. from JFK. From there you could have a walk over the bridge into Manhattan for great skyline views (if daughter is a fan of Sex and the City, it will look familiar).

OR, stay in Soho. You don't say when you're doing this but Hampton Inn is opening a new hotel in Soho mid July. Have dinner or breakfast at Balthazar.

When is this (month/day of the week)? What are daughter's interests?

For the benefit of the 16 year old, I think it could be cool to get a room in Times Square with a view.

Personally, I don't think it is worth it to stay in the city. Think about it. You arrive 8 PM, (if your flight is on time). By the time you disembark, get luggage, wait on the taxi line, get to hotel, get through check in, you are looking at 10 PM. You will have maybe 2 hours to do either a late dinner or perhaps go to the top of Empire State or Top of the Rock (last trip up is at about 11 PM I believe). Nothing else will be open at that hour that you could bring a 16 year old to. You will have about enough time to have breakfast in the morning and will need to head out for the airport by 10 AM latest to check luggage, get through security, walk the mile to your gate, etc. Is it really worth several hundred dollars and all that energy for 2 hours in the city?

I would stay in a cheap hotel by JFK and cab into the city for the 2 hours, and then cab back. It will cost you about $100, but even with the airport hotel, still cheaper and less stress than having to deal with AM traffic to the airport.

The problem is the airport hotels are not that cheap and are not very nice, not to mentione you're stuck there with nowhere to eat except in the hotel. You'd do better bidding on Priceline for a 4* hotel for 1 night (if you're just 2 people).