New York at Xmas time.

[Nudga]

Has anyone been and done it?

Me and Mrs N are going in December to celebrate 20 years of marriage.
Going to do the usual stuff, Broadway show, Empire State, Rockefeller centre, Central Park etc.

What are the doos and don'ts? Food, music, getting around etc

[DRFC_AjA]

Don't leave kids in the plaza hotel on their own with credit cards, they spend loads on room service 

[BobG]

And don't go up any Twin Towers....

The aircraft carrier that now acts as a museum is a stonker though. Forgotten it's name but it's good.

BobG

[pib]

Not been at Xmas but it’s a phenomenal place.

Subway is fine for getting around. Some freaks on it as in every city but it’s fine and pretty efficient. I felt pretty safe even at night, just exercise the usual caution with valuables/cash etc.

Times Square is overrated and stupidly busy but worth a visit once just to say you’ve done it.

We were advised to go into just one of Rockefeller/Empire State because they’re not far apart and quite similar, but the views from the Empire State are better as it’s taller so we did that, and the museum bit in there is decent.

Go to Katz’s Delicatessen and have the pastrami sandwich. Expensive but worth every dime!

9/11 museum is fantastically done but a really emotive experience.

Any other time of year I’d recommend a baseball game as it’s a great experience, but it’ll be the off season in December.

[Nudga]

Nice one Pub.

As a tight Yorkshire lad, is the tipping side of things going to send me nuts?

[pib]

Nice one Pub.

As a tight Yorkshire lad, is the tipping side of things going to send me nuts?

Most likely yes. It is an expensive city to visit and the tipping contributes a fair bit to that. Most places have a touch screen where you can choose how much you want to tip (or no tip) - depends if you care about what they think of you.

Watch out for the tax being added on to everything rather than included in the price as well.

[Bristol Red Rover]

One of my take away main memories was of ice skating amidst the towers as it was snowing. Also just the small stuff off piste of every day life, cafes, delis, in amongst the pre Xmas buzz. Regret not finding a good small club gig, and not visiting Queens, Brooklyn. Was 35 years ago, so can't give any current advice. Sleeping pills can be useful! 

[pib]

Brooklyn, good shout BRR. If you want to do the touristy things then seeing the Manhattan skyline is a good one. If you don't do a riverboat trip, take a trip across to Dumbo to the nice little area by the East River with parks and beaches where you can get great views (and some good places for food/ice cream - e.g. Juliana's or Grimaldi's for pizza)

[turnbull for england]

Sorry to piggy back your post Nudga,  but Mrs TFE has her birthday on NYE, with a significant one in 3 years. The lack of "doing  something special"has always been a thing has anyone ever been somewhere where NyE was worth going

[silent majority]

Has anyone been and done it?

Me and Mrs N are going in December to celebrate 20 years of marriage.
Going to do the usual stuff, Broadway show, Empire State, Rockefeller centre, Central Park etc.

What are the doos and don'ts? Food, music, getting around etc

Been lots of times Nudga, our son lived there for 8 years or so, and Xmas was obviously one of those times we would visit.

It can be cold, we were delayed coming back once because of snow at Newark airport. I would suggest just google interesting things to do and visit, and that wouldn't include the Statue of Liberty! It can be tiresome getting there and back. If you want decent pictures and food I would suggest jump on the ferry across to Hoboken, plenty of decent restaurants on the Hudson and fantastic picture opportunities of the NY skyline.

Give me a call if you want more ideas.

[Nudga]

Thank you fellas, much appreciated.

Although visiting The Bronx and Queens sounds like a recipe for disaster. Have this vision of them being totally unsafe??

[BillyStubbsTears]

Only been once 20 years ago. I'd echo a lot of what's been said her. Overwhelming experience for the scale and bustle of the place. Just taking that in is worth the trip.

I agree that it didn't feel threatening, although I'd watch it at the metro stations late at night.

If your getting a taxi from JFK, there's nothing like the experience of Manhattan looming ahead of you. We arrived late so the lights were on all over the city and it was breathtaking.

We walked over the Brooklyn Bridge - some good views of the city from there. I was amazed how quickly it seemed to get rough over on that side. Within a mile it felt like we were in a Starsky & Hutch set.

[pib]

Thank you fellas, much appreciated.

Although visiting The Bronx and Queens sounds like a recipe for disaster. Have this vision of them being totally unsafe??

Queens is rough, don't think there is any particular reason to be there though, save for going to/from the airport. Went to watch the Yankees which is in the Bronx and didn't feel threatened at all, even when it finished which would've been around 10pm, though there were lots of people around. Not sure what it's like up there at quieter times when the baseball isn't on. Upper West side of Manhattan was fine at night, had no trouble walking round at all.

I went into the experience expecting it to feel really dangerous and threatening, but for the most part found it to be absolutely fine around various parts of the city. As long as you keep your wits about you and avoid sketchy looking areas at night, you should be alright.

[silent majority]

Thank you fellas, much appreciated.

Although visiting The Bronx and Queens sounds like a recipe for disaster. Have this vision of them being totally unsafe??

Been to both, my daughter in law was from Queens and her parents still live there, no fears, and you have to go there if you want to see the Mets play as they play in what is the replacement stadium for the old Shea stadium. We played football in the Bronx when England were there some years ago, didn't feel unsafe although we tried winding each other up by talking about 'The Warriors' all the time!

There's a fantastic restaurant in Harlem if you're going up that way called the Dinosaur Bar B Q, its just brilliant! Not expensive at all, but then restaurants in NY aren't expensive on the whole.


https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d620401-Reviews-Dinosaur_Bar_B_Que-New_York_City_New_York.html

[belton rover]

My favourite experience (apart from seeing Billy Joel at MSG) was walking the High Line. And it’s free.

[Iberian Red]

Sorry to piggy back your post Nudga,  but Mrs TFE has her birthday on NYE, with a significant one in 3 years. The lack of "doing  something special"has always been a thing has anyone ever been somewhere where NyE was worth going

Apologies too Nudga,but I did tell you it was pricey earlier.

Turnbull,try Oporto.
Great firework show with a backdrop of the incredible Eiffel bridge and boats all along the river partying.
I loved it.

[Donnywolf]

New York State is fantastic in fact almost everything in the State is good

I will be in a very limited minority who isn't a fan of The Big Apple NYC itself

I have been a few times but after the first in 1980 I have stayed outside NYC preferring to travel in on Long Island Rail Road

Some great sights of course and I've done quite a few of them , including World Trade Centre ESB , SOL , Central Park and Harlem when it was wiser not to visit

But I much preferred Upper New York State with The Adirondacks , Finger Lakes ( Lake District on steroids) Lake Placid  home of Winter Olympics ,1000 Island and of course Niagara but each to their own

[ravenrover]

On my bucket list is a walk around Greenwich Village to visit all the bars and coffee houses of the folk music era of the 60's.
No guessing why SS!

[scawsby steve]

On my bucket list is a walk around Greenwich Village to visit all the bars and coffee houses of the folk music era of the 60's.
No guessing why SS!

Jones street. Go for it, mate.

[Nudga]

Well it's our last night in New York and we're back in the hotel for 7pm.
We've been out since 8am this morning and walked miles and miles so our feet are killing.

I took a lot of advice from you guys on here which really did help so thank you all.

First day we took in Liberty island and Ellis Island which was great, the history behind it all was fascinating.
It chucked it down all day so we decided to change our plans and go to Macy's department store in the afternoon.
That was shit!
Had a walk around Times Square that night which is OK for the visuals of bright lights etc but not for me. 

2nd day was Thr Rockefeller Center. That is a magnificent place and we went to "The Top of The Rock" for the skyline view.

Absolutely incredible and really blew my mind with the sheer size of the place.
Next stop was The Empire State Building.
We didn't have tickets but I thought we might have been able to look around the lobby or lower level but nope, not a sausage so I left disappoint. 
Another bit of Christmas shopping and dinner at Bloomingdales in the afternoon which was good, and I hate shopping.
In the evening we took in Wicked on Broadway,  that was excellent in a fantastic theatre (The Gershwin).

Today was my favourite day, and my feet are killing but we took in the following;

Wall Street and the NYC stock exchange.
9/11 site
Brooklyn bridge
Coffee break at Dumbo
Chinatown
Little Italy
Found a punk shop in East Village which has been in business since 1975 and bought my oldest a few bits. East Village is rough as, so had to keep my wits about me but I honestly loved getting round there and Chinatown just to experience real New York.

Then on to Central Park for hot chocolate. 

Tomorrow I'm thinking of going to Greenwich Village and Tribeca but will only get a few hours as we fly back late afternoon.

All in all, fantastic place and fantastic people. 
The subway is so easy to use, apart from one time we got on the wrong side and headed towards the Bronx.

My advice for anyone reading this that hasn't been that wants to go would be definitely get it booked and book any sight seeing 2 months in advance.

Go with a realistic budget, don't think you can do this on £600 or £700 at Xmas time for 4 nights.
You can double that.
If you go with a lower budget, it's going to upset you and ruin your time away.

Don't go with young kids, you'll be on edge about losing them in big crowds.

But definitely go and don't be afraid to venture off a little bit into the neighbourhoods. I found it to be totally safe.

The smell of weed gets on your nerves if you don't smoke it. It everywhere and I can't stand the smell.

All in all, it's right up there as one of my favourite places.

Thanks again for the advice above.

[SydneyRover]

Sounds really good Nudga, glad you enjoyed it. Did you book flight and hotel as a package or through ABnB/booking.com?

[Nudga]

Sounds really good Nudga, glad you enjoyed it. Did you book flight and hotel as a package or through ABnB/booking.com?

Thanks Syd. My missus booked it through an independent travel agent she's used in the past. 

The sight seeing bits and Broadway show I booked separately.

[SydneyRover]

Thanks we are thinking of next year, it won't be December, lots to think about.

[Nudga]

Thanks we are thinking of next year, it won't be December, lots to think about.

I would say to plan your itinerary but be flexible with it as things change. 
Familiarise yourself with Google maps for locations beforehand. It helps navigating your way around.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Nudga I really liked Greenwich village, the high line is there and worth a walk. But my highlight was a pizza place John's of bleeker street, brilliant pizza restaurant full of locals.  Check out the estate agent windows round there too, staggering prices.

[Nudga]

Nudga I really liked Greenwich village, the high line is there and worth a walk. But my highlight was a pizza place John's of bleeker street, brilliant pizza restaurant full of locals.  Check out the estate agent windows round there too, staggering prices.

Unfortunately no long walks today.  My missus has 3 massive blisters on her feet and toes.

She should have listened to me and bought some Adidas ZX750's, best trainers in the world by a country mile

[SydneyRover]

The bus time table looks good one every 20mins but of course depends if you can get on. London buses are great, front seat top deck is like a 'look at London' prog.

https://new.mta.info/document/7501

[Nudga]

We didn't wait any more than 6 minutes on the subway where ever we needed to go.
Pretty bloody good I thought