New York trip

[TheBigYinJames]

I recommend the helicopter tour.
I agree with the shuttle tour recs too. Especially in the evening.

One thing people haven't mentioned yet is you will get sore feet. You will thank yourself for booking the tour/shuttle buses.

Also try an evening boat ride around Manhattan, to see the skyline in the dusk, fantastic (bring a camera)

Re the taxi thing: yes that cab from Manhattan is expensive once you throw in the tolls and the tip ($45 flat fare to anywhere in Manhattan plus about $5 tolls - plus tip you should really be giving him $60, I always hand over 3 twenties) This is only about £30, and JFK is actuall MILES away from Manhattan, you don't realise it.

But two things to remember (one practical, one style):

1. There are conmen around, my young niece and her hubby got caught out by a private hire company who tried to charge them $120 when they got to their hotel. They got the hotel doorman to chase him off, but he could quite easily have gone off with their luggage.

2. If you've never been to NY before, there is NOTHING as stylish as approaching Manhattan through Queens and Brooklyn, and seeing the famous skyscraper skyline approaching, all from the back of a yellow cab. There's just something so Big Apple about it.

[cailin maith]

I'm going in November too - Thanks for all these tips... there is so much to see and now I'm wishing we had more time ahead of us there

[snaw]

At the end of October my wife and me are heading to New York to celebrate my 40th. Our time there will be limited - Saturday to Wednesday night. Having never been to NY what are the top tips for things to do/see and any good places to eat. Our hotel is just off Time Square so we are pretty central

Restaurants etc best to use this site:

http://newyork.citysearch.com/find/s...staurants.html

It's what the locals use and vote on. You can get food by type, area, rating etc. If you want the best steak in new york Heard people say best anywheer) go to smith and wollenskys. Not the cheapest but definitely one you'll remember for the rest of your life. Book ahead.

The site seeing stuff is pretty standard, sure you'll figure that out. In terms of areas I'd go a walk through meat packing district (Great shopping if your missus is into high end designer) -> west village -> soho (Best for shopping) -> little italy -> chinatown.

Some not so common stuff you might not think of: fery to staten island, you'll pass statue of liberty etc but it'll cost you way less. And you can have a beer on it. Cross Brooklyn Bridge and go to Grimaldis pizza - best in NYC. The cloisters at the top of the island is very different and worth a visit. Williamsburg in Brooklyn is a fun, young kinda upcoming place (Plus you get to say you actually left Manhattan, something very few people manage).

Also go to McSorley's Old Ale House, it's the oldest pub in new york, and it feels it. You go in and it's still sawdust on floor kinda place, served by old codgers in white aprons. You only get two types of beer - brewed in house, light and dark and they're both fantastic.

If you're looking for nightliife etc. let me know and I can recommend - suspect you'll be after the quieter life (In the nicest possible way).

[BoredBloke]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm really looking forward to it - shame I only have 4 full days there.

[TheBigYinJames]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm really looking forward to it - shame I only have 4 full days there.

4 full days? I hope you're in training. You will be knackered.

[TheBigYinJames]

fery to staten island, you'll pass statue of liberty etc but it'll cost you way less.

The ferry is free.

[snaw]

The ferry is free.

That's what I meant ;-)

I dunno, been a while since I lived there. You forget the minor details

Actually - word to the wise, take your I.D. with you, no matter how old you look, you'll get asked. Dumb I know.

[BoredBloke]

That's what I meant ;-)

I dunno, been a while since I lived there. You forget the minor details

Actually - word to the wise, take your I.D. with you, no matter how old you look, you'll get asked. Dumb I know.

I know what you mean on that one - I got carded a few times in California and it was a pain in the @rse - how many people take their passports out with them when they go out for a beer?

[TheBigYinJames]

I know what you mean on that one - I got carded a few times in California and it was a pain in the @rse - how many people take their passports out with them when they go out for a beer?

I take our passports everywhere, always scared of losing them in some crappy hotel safe.

[cailin maith]

I know what you mean on that one - I got carded a few times in California and it was a pain in the @rse - how many people take their passports out with them when they go out for a beer?

I got ID'd at the weekend but I think the barman was just taking the piss

My sis always gets ID'd for cigs and she is 27