Returned on Sunday from a long weekend in NYC and thought I’d pass on some things I learned in case it can help anyone.

1) Don’t count on the airport express shuttle. We waited an hour for a bus that is supposed to run every 20 minutes and it never showed up. By then we had seen about six city buses go by so we decided to jump on the next one. It was no problem at all – we got to our hotel in less than an hour and it cost $2. I wouldn’t suggest this during rush hour, but if you travel at a slow time it works just fine. We rode the subway a lot and public transportation worked great for us the whole trip.

2) Don’t over-plan. I did and it really stressed me out when things didn’t go as expected. I’ve learned that I need to be a little more spontaneous. I was so insistent on seeing as much as we could possibly see that we were utterly exhausted by the end of the trip. My poor husband’s feet were killing him and I just wouldn’t stop or admit that my feet hurt too! When I took my shoes off for security at the airport I found that my feet were bloody!

3) The fact that a restaurant is really hyped on the internet does not make it good. I just had to go to Grimaldi’s and wait in line for 20 minutes, and while it wasn’t bad, there was nothing special about it at all in my opinion. And I had to go get a cupcake at Magnolia’s. It was good, but the only exceptional thing was the price - $2.75 for one cupcake.

4) Don’t think you can just wander around Central Park and see things. We got hopelessly lost in there, even though we had a map (not a good one though). There were a few signs/maps posted, but we couldn’t seem to understand them at all. Next time I’ll do a guided tour.

I hope it doesn’t sound like we didn’t have a good time, because we did. It’s a beautiful city and I can’t wait to return (but I’ll do it a little better next time!)

Glad you had a good time. Since you told us four things you learned not to do, can you also share four things that you think worked well for you?

I, too, returned on Sunday from a long weekend in NYC with some girlfriends. We didn't use the shuttle, so I can't speak to that, but I definitely agree with your comments about Magnolia's cupcakes. I am working on my trip report right now - when I am finished I'll post about the other things we liked and disliked.

I'm glad you guys weren't wowed by Magnolia. IMO it's all about the image.

I can't walk past Magnolia without thinking that all those cupcakes are sitting in a window display that used to be full of uncaged parrots. It was a fun store to visit in its days as a Bird Store, with most of the birds out and about. On one particular night after store hours, I recall looking at the parrots in the window and then noticing that there must have been at least 20 wild mice foraging for dropped seeds in the cedar shavings below the birds.

Two comments from a New Yorker ...

I assume if a restaurant is "really hyped on the internet," it's past its prime and (often) a tourist trap. (Exceptions exist, of course.)

I've never heard a good thing about the shuttle.

Hi Pugsley. Thanks for your post. I am planning the family vacation in late July. Can you elaborate a little on over-planning. I love to plan -- I think it leads to less stress. What didn't go as expected -- did you just have too many activities in one day, you criss-crossed the city, etc?

ellenem, ewww I'm glad I didn't know about the bird thing before I went.

And here are some positive things about the trip... (I have more than four!)

Was really impressed by the subway system. Easy, convenient, cheap. It’s so great to be able to get almost anywhere in the city quickly and cheaply. We felt perfectly safe too.

Saw Wicked and LOVED it. Really wish we had time to see more shows and to use the TKTS booth.

Top of the Rock was fantastic. I’ve done the ESB before but I liked this much better. Wish the weather had been a little clearer but it was still a gorgeous view, and the elevator ride was pretty cool. Next time I’d like to try it at sunset.

Did the Gray Line double decker bus and thought it gave a great overview of the city. Once we got on, we stayed on so we wouldn’t lose our seats. Then we took the subway back to places where we wanted to spend some time.

Loved just walking around areas I haven’t spent time in before. Really liked the Village. Took the subway to Brooklyn and walked back over the bridge. Beautiful view! Central Park is amazing (it just would have been better if we had a clue what we were doing!)

Stayed at the Grand Hyatt for $162 from Priceline and it was great. Very nice hotel, very convenient location. Attached to Grand Central Terminal so we didn’t even need to go outside to use the subway. (And there’s a subway shuttle between there and Times Square which is great if you don’t feel like walking)

Agree also about Magnolia, but I would have been disappointed if I hadn't tried it. Also found out by our second trip that there is a difference (in my opinion at least) between brick oven and coal fired brick oven pizza).

I don't think you need a guided tour of Central Park -- just realize that you aren't going to see (walk) all the Park at one time. Just do a little research ahead of time with a map in hand and see what parts you want to walk through. Even then, like you said, things aren't really well marked -- but I just figured that the Park is there for New Yorkers first and they probably know their way around (and it would distract from some of the beauty if there were more signs) Again just my opinion and we were able to get around well the second time, although we got lost the first time also (in the Bramble).

Also, I would advise to study the subway system before you go and get a good subway map from the visitor's center when you get there (it was so much easier to read than the ones I had before we went).

Love NYC -- went the last two years in the spring and really getting anxious to return.

This is a good topic -- thanks for posting it.

Regarding over-planning ...

NYC is a walking city, a city to slowly explore, neighborhood-by-neighborhood. If you have a "check-the-box" mentality, you'll be miserable and you'll miss the whole point.

You can't see it all in one visit, you won't see it all in one visit.

But you CAN certainly come back!

Oops, no wonder we got lost -- it's called Ramble, I think, not Bramble.

Pugsley, thanks for sharing what you learned and what you liked in NYC.

We are going in May. We have dinner reservations so early at Peter Luger 4:45 and I thought we could do ESB after. But, now I'm considering The Rock. What was it about The Rock that you liked better than the ESB?

Thanks.

Hey lewright. The planning of the trip is really enjoyable for me too. And I agree with you that good planning reduces stress. I hate being in a strange place and having no idea what to do next. Or to get home and find out about all the things I missed because I didn’t do any research. My excessive planning usually works out really well for me and it mostly worked out great for this trip. Especially things like learning about the subway system in advance so we didn’t get flustered or hold up lines and look like dopey tourists. I generally knew what to expect and we did everything pretty efficiently. I think we made good use of our time.

Here are some times when planning wasn’t my friend:

1) When the express bus from the airport didn’t come it just ticked me off so the trip got off to a bad start. And I felt like it was all my fault. The good news was that I knew exactly what my alternatives were and I knew how to take the city bus (which worked out fine but I should have just taken a cab).

2) I was so set on a pastrami sandwich in a particular deli being my first meal that I got upset when the deli I wanted was closed and I couldn’t find any of my other choices. I just wouldn’t give up until I found something on my “list” and I was a complete baby about it. Finally we were starving and ended up in one of those cafeteria type places during the lunch rush and it was not pleasant (it’s hard to jump right into the fast NYC pace).

3) There were places on my “list” that I was set on seeing and I just wouldn’t give up on them despite both of us being exhausted. We just didn’t have enough time or energy for everything I wanted to do.

My main problem was that I was disappointed whenever something didn’t go exactly as planned or wasn’t as good as I expected (like some of the food). I just needed to chill out a little bit. Also, when I do all the planning I feel guilty if anything goes wrong, like I’ve failed in some way and ruined the trip for my husband or whoever I’m with. The bottom line is that planning and research is fantastic but be flexible and know that things aren’t always going to go as you expected. Especially in a place like NYC where many things are just totally out of your control!

Abigail, I’d strongly recommend you do the Top of the Rock instead of ESB. I’ve done both and I much preferred the view at the Rock (maybe because it gives you have a view of the Empire State Building). There are some interesting videos at the beginning and it has a fun elevator ride. There was no wait at the TotR either because you get timed tickets (you can either get them in advance or get them there). There was a huge line at the ESB when we went by there. I think TotR is more expensive, but it’s well worth it.

Gekko, you’re so right – it’s a wonderful city just to wander around. This trip was just way too short but I’ll be back soon. We took the Delta shuttle from DC and it was so quick and easy. No lines in DC or LGA and when we got to the airport early they let us get right on the earlier flight. And there was complimentary beer & wine! We definitely need to do this more often.

Thank you, Pugsley,

Top of the Rock sounds good.

Pugsley - thanks for your report. I'm very much like you when it comes to obsessive/compulsive planning, and also get upset if things don't go the way I have it planned on my itin. I know exactly what you mean regarding "get home and find out about all the things I missed because I didn’t do any research."

Over time, I have learned to relax a bit. It helps to have a husband who is laid back and has no interest in trip planning. He teaches me how to smell the roses along the way, rather than just focus on getting to the final destination.

So these days when I travel with him, at least I include lunch time where we actually sit down and eat (instead of grabbing something on-the-go and eat while walking to the next sight!)

Oh ellenm, thanks for the reminder about the birdstore - we used to live on Bleecker Street when my son was a toddler - our route would include Bleecker playground, the bird store, the indonesian artifacts store (he loved the statues and scary masks) and the late lamented moondog ice cream - where he first tasted ice cream!
The bird store was a riot - they were very finicky about letting people in - once they let us in and a bird flew on my son's head - they were so impressed that Alex just stood there and didn't try to grab it! I miss that place.

Your note on Central Park is right on target.

Many people come to the city and think Central Park is a big meadow with flower gardens.

First of all - it's enormous - with a bunch of different things to see and od for all tastes.

Second, quite a bit of it is in a natural, fairly heavily wooded state with lots of large rocks and winding paths that end up not where you intended.

It's a great place to enjoy - but you need a good map and to decide in advance what you want to see - or decide to spend the whole day.

Puglsey.....great "good" and "bad" list.....I love NYC, have been several times, and I am (like you) one of those "over-planners", but when I'm in a city I just love to go-go-go! The thing about NYC, is that if you can't do, or get, or eat where you planned, there's always something just as fun (or more fun!) around the corner. I hadn't been in NYC for MANY years, so when I went back as a solo traveler a couple of years ago, I booked my flight, hotel, and RT "express" shuttle on the internet. I paid $34 RT for that shuttle, and when it took me just under 2 hrs to finally get to my hotel from LGA, (they stopped at 10 hotels BEFORE dropping me off at mine)I decided to forget about the shuttle for my return trip. Also, when I found out that the "return trip" shuttle would be picking me up at 10:00 AM for my 6:00pm return flight, I went for an expensive car service instead. It gave me about 4 extra hours in the city on the day I left! So I was out $17, AND I paid a lot for the car service, but I was so glad I did! The hotel people said a cab would be tough to get @ 4:00, and they were right according to other Fodorites' posts that I read once I returned. On this last trip, I took a cab in and a car service back to the airport, and it worked great. Altho, Pugsley, it took me a couple of hours to get over the "wasted" time on that "into the city" shuttle.....I guess one is always going to have some wasted time on every trip....but it's hard to swallow! Thanks again for your report! I haven't done the TOTR yet....I've read a lot of good about it, and have ALMOST done it my last couple of trips, but your report was the first I heard of the fun elevator ride, and the pre-TOTR videos.....you've convinced me to add that to my next itinerary!

Pugsley - good report - I'm glad it was a good trip. I'm an over planner too, but I have gotten better - still planning, but leaving some empty time between things I really want to do to allow for some spontaneity and unexpected turn of events. and I do understand getting upset when it doesn't pan out after so much planning - we arrived in Florence last September to find out that there would be a strike when we had museum reservations booked - I was a little bent out of shape, but with some creativity, it worked out.

I am not a fan of the Ramble - I love the park, but like to be in areas where there are always people around.

Abigail - You are aware that Peter Luger's does not accept credit cards except their own, right? Have a great meal!