<p>Son would like to take a trip to New York this summer and see the 911 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, 30 Rock, and a particular Broadway play. I’ll look up where it’s playing and get back to you on that one.</p>
<p>Mom would like to go to the Museum of Natural History as well. And perhaps the bigger art museum.</p>
<p>I am from the south and know absolutely nothing about New York other than what I see on TV and the big screen.</p>
<p>I am, of course, worried about crime, but also, want to be where we don’t need a car, as I’m sure parking is cost prohibitive, and also want a clean hotel.</p>
<p>We are Marriott Rewards members and have lots of points and free room certificates, so hope to cash those in for the trip, as I’ll be paying for three round trip air tickets and admission fees. We will fly Southwest Airlines, so I’ll check into what airport we’ll fly into.</p>
<p>Any recommendations and places/areas to stay away from?</p>
<p>Don’t know what son’s summer plans will be, as far as job prospects/classes, but want to book early to get inexpensive rates. And son will be 20 by that time, so not looking for nightlife.</p>
<p>Thanks for any recommendations/warnings/etc!</p>
<p>You can still take the ferry to the island where the statue is located, though, but you might want to make other plans, unless you wanted to go to Ellis Island, which is on the same ferry route.</p>
<p>Others will provide more detail, but basically, (1) if you stay in a hotel in Manhattan, you don’t need a car to go to any of the places you are thinking of going, and (2) none of those places is particularly dangerous in the daytime or early evening.</p>
<p>Our favorite restaurants: Trattoria del arte, Serafinas, Tao, Il Tinello…Heck, New Yorkers are very savvy. If a restaurant lasts a year, it’s good. If you can get in :Sarabeths for breakfast. And, if your health isn’t compromised hot dogs. (many debates of how clean/not clean these are) PIZZA</p>
<p>Don’t even think about renting a car in the city. While we always used taxis the subway and buses are fine. My girls thought that their was a mistake when reading parking rates near our hotel: $15 for the first 20 minutes. No mistake.</p>
<p>Ellis Island</p>
<p>The Met</p>
<p>Soho, the Chelsea…very in for kids…ok…for girls…we shopped.</p>
<p>Fly into whichever airport is cheapest (Newark, JFK or Laguardia). Newark & JFK have rail service into Penn Station (33rd & 7th) for $15ish each and all are served by buses (typical stop is 42nd/Park - $20 round trip). </p>
<p>There have been lots of small hotels built in recent years in the high 30s between 5th & 6th Avenue that look clean. This is very close to Empire State Bldg & Macy’s and 5 minute walk to Times Square. There’s a Marriot Fairfield at 21 W 37th that was built in the past 2-3years. There’s also a Residence Inn on 6th Ave between 38th/39th. </p>
<p>This is a safe, boring neighborhood in NYC, as there are lots of office buildings. (It’s the garment district)</p>
<p>WTC site is downtown and a subway or cab ride from the attractions you note. Otherwise, bring your walking shoes. The weather is typically beautiful here in June!</p>
<p>Since we are on the subject … I plan to take a quick trip to NYC this spring to attend a graduation at Columbia. Any suggestions on hotels? I am guessing I should book yesterday.</p>
<p>NYC now has a crime rate lower than at any time since the early 1960s; the murder rate is lower than it was in 1930: [NYC</a> murders - Wikipedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NYC_murders.PNG]NYC”>File:NYC murders.PNG - Wikipedia). There is practically no part of Manhattan that isn’t gentrified. It’s very expensive, very wonderful, and very safe!</p>
<p>Walk around Greenwich Village.
Go to the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side and have a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s.<br>
Walk through Central Park (which is across the street from the Museum of Natural History).<br>
Walk the High Line.<br>
Enjoy!</p>
<p>We like the Excelsior - great location. Across from the Museum of Natural History, a bus stop close by, etc. Depending on when you are staying, you might snag a good deal. </p>
<p>FAVORITE restaurant - Candle 79. Best vegetarian restaurant. Nice atmosphere. Carnivores love the place. If you decide to go, ask for a table on the second floor by the window.</p>
<p>I had great luck with a suite at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan on Lexington about 15 months ago when I took D to school freshman year. I only paid $199 a night for 3 nights. It is a great location and easy to get to subways, etc from. You are not far from Bloomingdales and other shopping here.</p>
<p>I also suggest a walk along the High Line and through Central Park.
Casual dinner at PJ Clarke’s
Breakfast at Alice’s Teacup
Shopping at Century 21
A visit to the Met</p>
<p>If your son is interested in a play (versus a musical) you need to make sure it will still be around in the summer. Plays tend to have shorter runs than most musicals.</p>
<p>Been to NY a few times but recently found it much cheaper and actually more convenient to stay in an out of town hotel and ride the train into town for the day. From Westchester (as example–Jet Blue flys direct from where we are) the train ride is only about 30 min and you go to grand central station. Perfect starting point no matter where you want to go. Cost for train ride is about $15.<br>
NY feels much safer these days than in the past. We had a great time(s). Second the skip the Empire State building–Rockefeller is better.
If you want to see the Statue of Liberty you must get on their website and get advance tickets. Otherwise forget it. But still go to battery park.
If it’s Spring–Macy’s flower show! So fun to see!</p>
<p>With Southwest you either fly into LaGuardia airport in Queens County, which is about 1/2 hour-1 hour cab ride into NYC depending on traffic, or into Newark airport which is across the river in New Jersey and a much longer ride. There is also a low cost option of taking a bus into NYC from LaGuardia.</p>
<p>We went a few years ago and stayed at Courtyard by Marriott near Times Square. We did all the things you did plus a Yankee’s Game. We did a lot of walking plus took the subway to reach everything. We flew Jet Blue into JFK and had a car service take us into Manhattan to our hotel.</p>
<p>I think this is the most asked question in the Cafe. Here are just a few of the previous discussions about NYC. A couple suggestions. If you want to use Marriott Rewards, book your hotel as soon as you know your dates. The NY Marriotts are almost all at the high end of the rewards ratings, and they have relatively few rooms put aside, so it is often impossible to use your rewards there. If you don’t do it early, chances are good that it won’t work. If you have lots of points, the Renaissance on 7th Avenue is a great hotel and excellent location. The Marriott Marquis is larger and busier and not as nice, in my opinion. If you can’t use your points, then budget will determine where is a good place to stay. Decent hotels in NYC are expensive and summer is prime time so you’ll be paying far more than you would if you were going in January.</p>
<p>Unless you’re staying in lower Manhattan, which I wouldn’t recommend, Laguardia is the best airport to fly into. You won’t need or want a car. Taxis and, if you want to use it, the subway will get you wherever you want to go.</p>
<p>When you know what Broadway show it is that your son wants to see, you can check to see if tickets are available yet. They tend to be released in blocks and not all would be available yet for the summer months. If it’s Book of Mormon he wants to see, keep an eye on that starting ASAP because it’s virtually sold out for months ahead of time.</p>
<p>If you are by any chance on a tight budget, tickets to go to the top of both the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center are a bit pricey.</p>
<p>Right now, to see the 9/11 memorial, you have to reserve a time slot in advance, and weekends get filled up quickly. This will probably be the case for quite a while, as it relates to the construction in the area and keeping people safe.</p>
<p>I second people’s recommendations of High Line park. It’s magical!</p>
<p>If you’re coming to see Manhattan, STAY in Manhattan. Sure, you can find a hotel in Jersey City or Westchester and commute in, but you’re not getting the full experience of New York. You want to be able to go to a Broadway show and then walk back to your hotel, or take a quick cab ride there. Just my opinion as a native New Yorker.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all the suggestions. Looks like a lot of advance planning may be in order for what he wants to do. I may have to talk him into waiting for the Statue of Liberty to be available and get spots to see the 911 memorial as early as possible.</p>
<p>Glad to hear Times Square area is not too bad. I’d always heard it was a rough area. There is a Residence Inn at Times Square that might do the trick.</p>
<p>We know it will be pricey to stay in the city, but it will be worth it for the proximity. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the input, and I will check out the other links, too!</p>
Here are just a few of the previous discussions about NYC. A couple suggestions. If you want to use Marriott Rewards, book your hotel as soon as you know your dates. The NY Marriotts are almost all at the high end of the rewards ratings, and they have relatively few rooms put aside, so it is often impossible to use your rewards there. If you don’t do it early, chances are good that it won’t work. If you have lots of points, the Renaissance on 7th Avenue is a great hotel and excellent location. The Marriott Marquis is larger and busier and not as nice, in my opinion. If you can’t use your points, then budget will determine where is a good place to stay. Decent hotels in NYC are expensive and summer is prime time so you’ll be paying far more than you would if you were going in January.</p>![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NYC_murders.PNG]NYC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NYC_murders.PNG%5DNYC){kind=link}
