New York advice.

[rivka]

It has come to our attention that our Spanish exchange student harbors a secret inner desire to visit New York City. curiousangel and I don't know New York, neither of us having been there since high school, but we're willing to entertain the possibility of a weekend trip. What's holding us back is the fear that it will be incredibly expensive.

Does anyone have advice about how we might manage a New York visit on a moderate budget? I'm pretty sure Maria will want to do all the bog-standard New York Tourist things - the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, that sort of thing - but I'm also open to other suggestions.

Comments

[rosefox]

New York definitely doesn't need to be expensive. If you post to nycnobody or nyc_for_free you'll get lots of great suggestions that will be more up-to-date than most of what I can offer.

I would advise not visiting the Statue, since it's summer tourist season and the lines will be hours and hours and hours long just for the ferry to the island, plus more hours to actually get in. However, the Staten Island commuter ferry is absurdly cheap--last time I took it, a few years ago, it was fifty cents, and it can't have gone up that much--and gives you a fabulous view of the skyline and the harbor, including the pretty green lady with the torch. So I'd suggest that instead.

Priceline does New York hotels. Just be aware that one of their favorites is the Millennium Hilton, which is directly across the street from Ground Zero the WTC construction site. If you can swing it, I'd suggest a B&B somewhere in the Village, but everything's going to be pretty booked this time of year. Definitely do look into hotels, pick the three that look best for within your budget, and then post the names and locations to nycnobody to make sure they're not in awful neighborhoods or otherwise sleazy.

New York is very much a walking city. The heat will make frequent stops imperative, so I suggest strolling through SoHo (start around Broadway and Spring and head south) or the East Village (Avenue A around 8th Street and head south and east) where there are lots of lovely cafés and funky stores and so on to duck into and get air conditioned. Don't miss the musems up on Museum Mile--the Metropolitan in particular, which is also right next to some of the loveliest bits of Central Park--or walking down Broadway from 46th to 42nd at night past all the theaters. There's tons to see just by looking around, and to my mind that's the best part of the city, really.

I hope you have a lovely time!

[redbird]

The Staten Island ferry fare has, in fact, gone down: it's free, and has been for the past few years.

[pecunium.livejournal.com]

You might ask the NHs. Or some other NYC fans of your acquaintance.

I can also ask friends of mine who live there, should you so desire.

TK

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

I don't know if they're on your friends list, but you might talk to baldanders, roadnotes, supergee, and nellorat for suggestions for inexpensiveness.

I'd suggestion either the Hayden Planetarium or the NY Hall of Science (which is in or near Queens if I recall correctly.)

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

The Hayden is decidedly NOT cheap, though.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

They are all on my Friends list, and hopefully will have suggestions. I think the planetarium would be really cool as well.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

If you hit the museums, don't forget the Frick. And MOMA. Unfortunately, I can't remember how expensive they are. If you decide to see one museum, the Met is right next to Central Park. It is also HUUUUUGE (I spent *eight* hours there), so guidebooks to figure out what you want to see might be in order. The Frick and MOMA are more mangeable, time-wise.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

call/email porcinea. :)

i would in fact do the touristy things, even with the long lines, if your student wants to. when's the next time she'll be near nyc?

[rivka.livejournal.com]

That's what I was thinking. I'd definitely prefer an off-the-beaten-track tour myself, but this isn't about me - I don't live thousands of miles and an international border away from NYC.

But rosefox is right, taking the Staten Island Ferry is probably perfectly fine for getting views of the Statue of Liberty, with fewer crowds.

[janetmk.livejournal.com]

You might want to consider a day trip as a good intro to NYC for all of you. From Baltimore it's only a couple of hours by train, that most civilized way of travel. If you get an early start (trains run every hour) you can be in the city by mid-morning, walk around, do tourist stuff, dine, and return home as early or late as you wish.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

They want $142 apiece for train tickets, so that's not going to work for us. Alas. Because you're right, that would definitely be the best way.

[melebeth]

I think one of the chinatown busses might stop in Baltimore, and they're 35 dollars round trip. I _know_ they go to DC. Let me go look. AH yes. This one... http://www.ivymedia.com/baltimore/

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

What kind pf stuff is she interested in aside from that?

Since you can't actually go up into the Statue of Liberty, I'd just go down to Battery Park and possibly take the Staten Island ferry. The National Museum of the American Indian is down there and free. Midtown, there's the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (both of which are right on Central Park -- definitely go to Central Park. The NY Public Library is good for a bit (and check the main reading room out!). (It's also where Ghostbusters starts).

Wait on line at TKTS in Times Square if you want to see a show and pay discount prices (Rent was very good, BTW). Oh yes, Times Square; that's worth a walk-round. The Strand Bookstore downtown at Broadway and 12th is...dangerous. A good place to go, but dangerous.


As far as places to stay...I have VERY little space (2 room apartment, one room of which is a kitchen) but you're all more than welcome to stay with me out here on Long Island -- it'll be snug, but can be done (preferably not a weekend that I have the kids, though!) (In fact, it might be cheaper to stay out here and take the train into NYC day-to-day.

A friend of mine got a room at a hotel in the city for $129 a night, right on Times Square (which is incredibly cheap for NYC); I'll find out what online site he used.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

As far as places to stay...I have VERY little space (2 room apartment, one room of which is a kitchen) but you're all more than welcome to stay with me out here on Long Island.

That's so kind of you, but it doesn't seem like it would be the best idea. There are too many of us. But thanks!

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Heh, I didn't say it was the best idea. Just that if push comes to shove, it's available :)

[redbird]

I'd be happy to see you all, if I have time/energy (this commute is eating my life, as you know), and can offer some guide/company services.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

That would be excellent, if you're up for it.

[cattitude.livejournal.com]

Wandering around in Central Park (with binoculars, if she's interested in birding) is an excellent thing to do if the weather's good. The Bronx Zoo is world-class, though a bit of a distance from the center of the city. And then there are the restaurants, though a full exploration of that subject would require years of painstaking research.