[Laughingmonsta]

Hi all

I've just booked my first trip to NY - I'm going in may! I'm actually really excited about it (nearly 30 and acting like a kid!)

would love some recommendations about places to go see, eat, stay etc - I don't have a huge budget so keeping it simple and relatively cheap would be excellent! PM's welcome :-D

cheers all

:-D

[lizziett]

You planning on seeing any shows??

[David]

I went a couple of years ago and did all the clichéd stuff- Empire State Building is well worth the queues to the top. We stayed in the Hotel Pennsylvania, which is basic, huge, cheap, and a brilliant location- if you're on a budget and want to go to things on Broadway, you can't beat it. If you want to do the Statue of Liberty, book online in advance (before you go- now if you can)- they don't do on-the-day tickets (to go up) on the day.

If you like art, MoMA or the Met.

It's a great city- have an amazing time!

[Laughingmonsta]

You planning on seeing any shows??

what a silly question lol

[Weez]

The real question is, are you planning on doing any touristing.

If you are, get a CityPass. It costs in the region of $100 and gets you into five tourist attractions that would cost over $200 if you paid separately (or some such equivalent sums). I think it includes the Museum of Modern Art, the Natural History Museum, a Circle Line boat tour, the Empire State Building, aaand... something else. The Guggenheim! Even if only do three of these things, you're saving money.

http://www.citypass.com/city/ny.html - ooh, it's either changed a bit, or my memory is fuzzier than I remembered. It now includes the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cloisters, which is nice, and is $74, with a saving of almost $74. XD

If you want a sky-high view of New York but fear the giant queues or just fancy something a bit different to the Empire State Building, do Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Centre. You're not as high as at the Empire State Building, but when you're up that high it doesn't make much difference, and your sky high view of New York will actually include the Empire State Building, which makes a nice change. :3

If you're not planning on checking the internet more than briefly, dare to be cheeky: don't spend money on an internet cafe, and instead head for the Apple store on 5th Avenue. It's open all hours, should you get to 2am and decide you need to buy an iPod, and they have computers that are internet-ready and open for play.

I stayed at the Portland Square Hotel last time I went. Cheap, very basic, and BRILLIANTLY positioned. If I hadn't already decided to save money by going for hostels next time (if you're really not fussed about sharing a room with strangers and want to save beaucoup cash, look into Jazz Hostels. If you'd rather be more central and not necessarily save *that* much cash, the Big Apple Hostel), I'd stay there again for the location alone.

[Alexandra]

Ellis Island (where immigrants were landed before being admitted to or rejected from New York, and as featured in Godfather II). There's a fascinating exhibition and you get great views from the boat on the way.

If you're on your own and don't want a romantic experience but somewhere to sleep, the Pod Hotel is cheap, stylish, clean, and well-located.

[figgy1978]

Don't bother with the Empire State Building. Head straight to the Top of The Rock. No queues and a lot better views. Also look out for people giving out discount vouchers in the Rockefeller Plaza.

Remember to get your 11% discount at Macys by taking your passport to the visitors center.

[Laughingmonsta]

well after searching for a while and not minding a little bit of travel iI have managed to get a queen size room at the Pan American Hotel in Queens for $380 for the trip - 25 mins travel and a minimum of $300 saved by staying a bit out of Manhattan swung it for me!

so the saving means more shows, and i spend all my time in lonodn down here and that takes me well over an hour to get into central London so win win i think!

[busymum]

well after searching for a while and not minding a little bit of travel iI have managed to get a queen size room at the Pan American Hotel in Queens for $380 for the trip - 25 mins travel and a minimum of $300 saved by staying a bit out of Manhattan swung it for me!

so the saving means more shows, and i spend all my time in lonodn down here and that takes me well over an hour to get into central London so win win i think!

Hi we have just got back from NYC and it was brilliant if a bit cold Brrrrr. As you are probably into all things theatre go along to the tkts office in Times Square who have daily tickets for most shows on sale, also at Pier 17 just on the west side of town there is a place that sells next day last minute tickets so a good place to head if you want to plan ahead. We saw Jersey Boys which was excellent and chose this as we did not want to see something we had already seen. Jersey boys is based on events that happens in and around NYC so the audience seemed to appreciate all the jokes and comments some of which we just didn't "get" but it was brilliant nonetheless. Be warned that most NYC shows are closed on Mondays (expect Phantom & Chicago) and on the whole tickets are really $$$ pricy $$$.

We avoided the Empire State and went to the top of the Rock, no queues and amazing views. You must visit the World Trade Centre Site, a very moving memorial centre is there. We also did a Gray line bus tour with a really funny guide who basically gave us the lowdown on all things new york. He was a really funny guy.

As you can see, I could go on for hours. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Busymum