Hey guys,
I%26#39;m heading to NYC from Dec 30 to Jan 2 with three friends and I could really use some feedback about our itinerary.
1st day - December 30
-arrive at Jersey Gardens Outlet mall latest 7pm.
-shop for an hour and head out to manhattan for dinner
-rockefeller center (top of the rock) and times square after dinner
since we%26#39;re heading to rockefeller center after dinner are there any suggestions for restaurants nearby for a good price. Preferrably a place where we can sit down at a table to eat but doesnt take the whole night (an hour at most)and american or italian food. Thanks!!
2nd day - December 31
-statue of liberty
We don%26#39;t want to go up the monument but only take the ferry over to take some pictures. I%26#39;m a bit confused as to will they let you get off the boat to walk around the base of the statue or is that not allowed unless you book one of the tours? Is is $11.50 per person? Also, anyone know how long that will take approximately?
-shopping in soho and on 5th avenue
-times square (we want a daytime feel..lol)
-grand central station
-central park (how late do the carriage rides operate until?)
any recommendations for a good, cheap japanese restaurant for lunch or dinner and an american or italian place for the other meal? lunch near soho and dinner near central park
will we be able to walk from the ferry docks to soho and from soho to times square or should we take a cab or public transit?
3rd day - January 1
-woodbury commons outlet mall
4th day - January 2
-going home...
last question, what is the best way to get from newark airport to manhattan, cab or public transit? How much would a cab cost vs. the train/subway? We%26#39;re staying at either the sheraton or hilton near the airport (I%26#39;ve read the reviews for both places but we%26#39;re going with a tour so accomodation isn%26#39;t up to us.
I would really appreciate your feedback. Thanks!!
Help with itinerary please!official taxi rates from the airport
www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrtaxizones.htm
strange as it sounds staying near Newark Airport does not make getting into Manhattan cheap because unless your hotel has a FREE shuttle to either Newark Airport or Newark Penn Station or Newark Airport train station, you%26#39;ll be spending money on both the taxi to get to those places and then transportation costs to get into Manhattan
if you can get to Newark Penn Station then PATH is only $1.50
Help with itinerary please!by the way the official taxi rates only govern from the airport because the airport is under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority NY/NJ
taxi rates from the hotel is a different story
Is PATH the subway? Is $1.50 for a one-way trip (ex. we can go from penn station to 33rd st?)
PATH is like a subway but it is NOT the MTA%26#39;s subway.
PATH trains run between Manhattan and New Jersey and is run by the Port Authority NY/NJ which is separate entity than the MTA.
Also be aware that there is a Newark Penn Station and a NYC Penn Station. Two different stations.
And yes, the fare is $1.50 one-way.
www.pathrail.com
taxi from your hotel to Newark Penn Station will run you probably about $20-25 + tip
and to get to Woodbury Commons, you%26#39;ll need to take bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal
PATH is a NJ version of the subway. Not the same system but the same concept.
At this time of year, the absolute WORST place to try to get a meal is Rockefeller Center. It will be mobbed every place. Do NOT go to TGI Fridays. Big tourist rip off. If you have to eat around there, you could try the food court downstairs inside Rock Ctr. There%26#39;s a Two Boots pizza place that%26#39;s good. If you%26#39;re adventurous, try Via Brasil on west 46 st. It%26#39;s on the way from Rock Center back to Times Square. Otherwise maybe Angelo%26#39;s pizza at the Ed Sullivan theater (Broadway %26amp; 53 st or so).
For pics of the SOL, you can take the Staten Island for FREE and get decent pics. from a distance. Otherwise, yes if you want to take the regular SOL ferry you can get off just to walk around and take photos w/o going inside. I don%26#39;t know abt. price. Just be warned the lines for tickets for the boat and then security take a lot of time.
Good cheap Japanese in the Times Square area Kodama on 8th ave %26amp; 45 st.
Good inexpensive Italian in Times Square area Trattoria Trecolori or John%26#39;s pizzeria.
Lunch in Soho--casual Broome St. bar or the Cupping %26#39;Room.
The walk from the ferry to Soho and from Soho to Times Square is very far. Use the subway. Here%26#39;s the map
http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm
You haven%26#39;t asked an opinion but you%26#39;%26#39;ll never accomplish everything on this list. You%26#39;ve grossly underestimated how long things will take. If you%26#39;re going to Jersey Gardens to shop, you%26#39;ll never be out in an hour. From where are you coming and where are you staying???
The best way from Newark to Manhattan depends on WHERE in Manhattan you%26#39;re going.
problem with staying Newark Airport is that getting to a place with transportation access to Manhattan will eat up time and taking a taxi directly to Manhattan though probably the most time efficient if there are no traffic tie-ups will not be cheap
other than a taxi directly to Manhattan you still need to take a taxi to catch the PATH, NJ Transit train, NJ Transit bus, or Olympia Trails bus; there really is no ';best'; way; maybe you%26#39;ll luck out and your hotel will have a free shuttle that will take you to Newark Penn Station or Newark Airport
I concur, you need to rethink some logistics. For example, after you shop at the Jersey Gardens, what will you do with all your big shopping bags? Carry them around with you all night through Rockefeller Center, Times Square and dinner? Give yourself time to go back to your hotel and drop things off.
On Dec 31, FYI - Soho and the Fifth Ave shopping areas are not near each other. They are about 4 miles apart. Assuming you shop after the Staten Island Ferry, you need to take the R or W subway from Whitehall Street-South Ferry station uptown to Prince Street for Soho. Then, after Soho, take the R uptown again to Fifth Ave. station and start wlking south on Fifth Ave. for the stores.
Again, do you plan to carry your treasures around with you all day, and continue on to Grand Central Terminal and the Park? Think about that.
I would advise to leave shopping until the end of your days. You%26#39;ll save money that way, too!
I too think your goals are too ambitious. I just returned from a 4 day trip and it took every drop of stamina just to see the hi-lites. As a former NY%26#39;er, I came armed with a detailed plan and still everything took more time and energy than anticipated.
There are crowds everywhere and it will be impossible to lug around purchases and sightsee. As previously recommended, leave the shopping til the end.
If you are staying at an airport hotel, your hotel may have a shuttle to the airport and I believe there are express buses running into Manhattan from the airport.
I would recommend Little Italy over Soho, there are lots of decorations and restaurants.
If you go to SOL, you must leave quite early or there will be long lines.
Also there is a very nice restaurant %26amp; bar at 48th street %26amp; 8th Ave...Pigalle...open 24 hours a day.
I am currently in New York - 6 days into a 10 day holiday - and i disagree with the comment about needing to use the subway. If you are reasonably fit, you can get away with not paying for the subway and walk everywhere - just plan wisely and go to things that are in the same area on each day. (i.e. dont plan to go to wall st and moma on the same day - they are at opposite ends of the island). I walk from 14th to 57th every day and it only takes 20-40 minutes depending on traffic and whether i stop for coffee! in one day i walked from 14th down to battery park at the end of the island and then up to madison square garden to see the knicks that night. it can be done and its not that hard.
As for NYC tips, I would say take the staten island ferry to go past the Statue of Liberty, it is free and from there u can get a pic of the statute (and also see the lines of people waiting to get in!) Iceskating at bryant park is cheaper than rockefeller or central park, go to the museums on the free days (guggenheim is free fridays between 6 and 9). As far as eating goes, Famiglia pizza is great (especially the cheese pizza) and it only costs $5.80 for 2 pieces and a drink. And 1 piece is enough. China town is also near soho and is really cheap to find food, just be wary of the crowds.
No comments:
Post a Comment