Need a starting point please!

Hello Everyone,

I%26#39;m thinking about planning a trip to NYC either in February or May...not to sure how long yet. I%26#39;ve never been to the US before, let alone NYC! But I%26#39;ve always wanted to visit there.

So I really have no information whatsoever. What I am looking for is a decent hotel that isn%26#39;t too expensive (I%26#39;m a student), and is downtown somewhere near all the shopping and attractions. What would be an average cost per night someone like me would be paying?

I haven%26#39;t looked up how to get there yet, although I think I can get there by bus. Anyways, I have lots of research to do, but I was just hoping for a bit of initial info on hotels and the location of them that are near attractions.

After I know a bit more, I%26#39;m sure I%26#39;ll have questions about what to do in the city and where to go. Also, is it safe for someone like me to go alone? I%26#39;m 21 and female. Thanks for any help!

Need a starting point please!

Will you be travelling alone? How many nights are you thinking about? For a safe, clean and fairly central mid-town hotel expect to pay around $175-$200 US a night. I stayed at The Belvedere in September...avg price was $225 Cdn, but safe and clean were very very important to me. It%26#39;s 2 blocks from Times Square, but I%26#39;ve heard that you can stay in Jersey city for much less and just commute by train.

Need a starting point please!

Yes I will be travelling alone...not sure how many nights yet - it kind of depended on the cost. But thanks for the info on that hotel...safe and clean is very important to me too! And I%26#39;d rather pay for that than safe and not be in a very good environment.

how about an all-women residence?

I put links to some of them that someone found

http://www.broadwayfocus.com/nj_nyc/

Bella, I recently returned from a solo trip to NYC. Stayed at the Hotel Wolcott in Midtown Manhattan. It was clean and inexpensive (relatively speaking) and near the Empire State Building, Macy%26#39;s (world%26#39;s largest department store), lots of other shopping, cafes, parks, train and bus stations, etc. There was a subway stop within 3 blocks (34th and Broadway) that provided easy access to the rest of the city.

Although I%26#39;m male, I never felt unsafe, even at night. Of course, I stayed alert and remained aware of my surroundings.

http://www.wolcott.com/

Happy New year!

Hi Bella, I recently travelled to New York with my 19 year old daughter. We stayed the first night in a hotel( won%26#39;t recomend where we stayed...another story!)just to get our feet on the ground then the next 8 nights we stayed at the Hostel International in Amsterdam Ave, close to 103rd street. You have all the facilities and access to cheap meals, internet and get the chance to meet lots of interesting fellow travellers who can give you heaps of tips. By the way we also stayed 9 nights at the Hostels International in Toronto and absolutely loved it. You probably realise you can choose mixed dorms, 4 bed female, 6 bed female etc etc. The rooms are very clean as is the whole hostel. There are lockers, and they supply towels and bed linen and blankets. It was a 3min walk to the 103rd St subway station then 5-10 min ride to get to Times Square. It was very convenient and we always felt very safe. What I enjoyed in this environment was that people were keen to chat and learn things from each other rather than return to a hotel room and close the door. Sure hostels may not be for everyone but think about it as another option.

Another tip, on your first day catch one of the Hop on Hop off buses with a real person for a tour guide! this will give you your bearings and jot down places of interest that you would like to return to. You will learn so much from these tour giudes. I think the ticket lasts 24 hours so you can do the complete tour one day then go back next morning and hop on and off at the places you want to check out. You are going to have a wonderful time, the people are beautiful and extremely helpful to confused travellers! We always felt safe and we were out at all times of day and night. Just be as sensible and aware as you are in Toronto. Best wishes, Anne.

I think you%26#39;ve gotten excellent advice so far. It would help to know what sort of budget you have for accomodation and what sort of place you%26#39;d like. Perhaps the hostel idea is a good one since it would be a way of meeting some other travelers.

For getting here, I see some amazingly cheap airfares from Buffalo. US Air has fares of $130 roundtrip! Jet Blue also flies from Buffalo to NYC and should be competitive. Much better than a bus all the way.

You should DEFINITELY check out the Cosmopilitan Hotel

http://www.cosmohotel.com/

It is very convenient to downtown, Greenwich Village, Soho, etc., etc. and a short subway ride (20 minutes max.) to all other tourist attractions and museums.

For more info about downtown/Lower Manhattan, check this website:

http://www.downtownny.com/default.aspx?sid=3

It%26#39;s a great area!

BTW, since you%26#39;re from T.O., you will probably take to NYC very quickly. There are a lot of similarities in culture, diversity, food, subway system, etc. NYC is like a super-mega-collosal version of T.O. You%26#39;ll have a great time!

Here%26#39;s my usual shpiel about good resources for firt-time visitors:

Do you have a guide book yet? If not, you should get one and start getting the lay of the land.

Start searching this forum for trip reports, or phrases like ';must see';, and you will have all your questions answered!

Map are essential for planning your itinerary. Personally, my fave is the Not for Tourist guide. It %26#39;s a ';little black book'; that has a low goofy-tourist factor. Very thorough, and all maps are printable from the website, once you register for free:

www.notfortourists.com/newyork.aspx

To sightsee, group things by location/neighborhood. The majority of attractions are in Manhattan and easily accessible by subway.

For example, in lower Manhattan you can do these within a 1 mile radius: Staten Island Ferry, Battery Park, Wall Street, Trinity Church, Subtreasurey Building, Museum of Finance, Ground Zero, Century 21, St. Paul%26#39;s Chapel, Fulton Street, South Street Seaport.

See these previous posts for ';must see'; items:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k324430-鈥?/a>

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k305465-鈥?/a>

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k304679-鈥?/a>

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k276373-鈥?/a>

For basics about NYC tourism, check:

www.newyorkled.com

www.theinsider.com/newyork

www.nycvisit.com

www.nyc.gov (click on ';visitors'; in the blue band)

www.mustseenewyork.com

The subway runs 24-7-365 and is very safe. Of course, one should use common sense and always keep a good handle on personal belongings, money, cameras, etc. Don%26#39;t keep your wallet in your back pants pocket, etc.

Info about the subway:

www.mta.info/metrocard/tourism/index.html

How to ride:

http://www.mta.info/nyct/subway/howto_sub.htm

For nightlife, comedy shows, live music, etc.:

www.newyork.citysearch.com

www.thelmagazine.com (free magazine, too.)

www.timeoutnewyork.com (hard copy magazine is better. Buy an issue when you arrive.)

For restaurants:

www.menupages.com (may be a little behind inflation.)

www.newyork.citysearch.com

For things on the cheap:

www.cheapotravel.com/newyork

www.nymetro.com/cheap

Here%26#39;s a website for the weather:

www.wunderground.com

Finally, you MUST wear comfortable shoes. This is a walking city. You%26#39;ll end up with great legs!

How about Radio City Apartments. We (4 women) stayed in a 1 bedroom suite and the cost was $155 per night. The smaller rooms are cheaper. It is located on 49th street between Times Square and 5th Avenue. Perfect location. I would stay here again in a minute. Very clean, comfortable beds, kitchenette and a nice living room area. It was nice to have a sofa to relax on after much walking. Have I said that it is in the perfect location! Subway right around the corner. Have I said the location! Oh, sorry I keep repeating myself about the location!

I agree with Radio City Apartments. Stayed there last year (!) and it was a great location and great price. Nice to have a kitchen for snacks etc. Single female traveller who felt very safe and secure - near all the tourist sites but not right on top of them.

Have fun.

Helen