ct30girl
December 14th, 2005, 12:49 AM
Hello!
This is my first post here. I live in CT and I've been to NYC twice. But both trips weren't too exciting. The first time was when I was 14, with my family to see the Statue Of Liberty. And the other time was about 5 years ago, on a bus-change on the way to Atlantic City, I ran down to Times Square and took some pictures and had to run back to Port Authority an hour later.
So, here's the deal. I'm turning 30 on January 5th! Arghh! So I wanted to do something realllllly special. I've always been obsessed with New York City, and just never took the time to go! So, I planned a small trip, over one night, on my birthday, with my husband and 10-year old son. I'm so excited! I was just wondering if anyone would look over my plans and give me any tips, or let me know if anything's wrong or dumb. Thanks!
We're taking a Greyhound bus from Foxwoods around 9:00 AM and arriving in New York around 12:00 PM. We're going to be staying at the Grand Hyatt. I did a lot of researching of hotels and decided on this one because it looks very "New York" and fancy, but not Plaza-fancy, it's right in the middle of everything and it isn't too expensive. I think it's about $189 for the night. I assume that's because it's a Thursday night, not a weekend, and the holiday season will be pretty much over by then. My first question is, will we be able to check in early? I assume check-in time is around 3:00 like most hotels. But we'll be arriving in the city around nooon. I should probably just call the hotel and ask them, right?
The first thing I'd like to do, is head to Rockefeller Center. Is it a quick walk from the Hyatt? Or should we hop the subway? A cab? What do you think is best? I'd rather walk, so I hope it's not a 20 degree day. That's another question. Does anyone know where on the web I can find advanced weather? I know it may not be very accurate, being almost a month away, but I'd like to get an idea. Anyway, at Rockefeller Center, I'd like to mostly just walk around and take pictures. I'm a photo-freak, so taking pics will be my biggest thing this trip. We don't plan on taking any tours, unless you all are seriously majorly recommending an NBC or Radio City tour? But I'll be just as happy standing outside taking pictures, honestly. Do you think that we could spend the rest of that day at Rockefeller Center? Can you name some things to do there, like NBC Studios,the observation deck on the GE building, etc.? Or do you think there's not that much to do? Do you reccommend trying to fit some time at Times Square that day too, or is that too much? I don't plan on ice skating, unless it doesn't look to crowded and we have some time.I'd like to eat my birthday dinner at the Rock Center Cafe, overlooking the skating rink. Luckily, the big tree will still be up until the 6th. Yay! What has everyone heard about this restaurant? Is it too fancy, like is there a dress code? Does anyone have any better suggestions for dinner? I want to eat dinner somewhere special, but don't want to spend a fortune. I looked into Tavern On The Green, but it's too expensive. And one more question about the first day. What time do you recommend we all head back to the hotel. As soon as it gets dark? Is dangerous to be out wandering the streets after a certain hour? I just want to be extra safe since our 10-year old will be with me.
Okay, the next morning, we plan on just doing the continental breakfast at the hotel. Then, I planned on going up to where the horse and carriage rides are at Central Park. I heard to catch one in front of the Plaza, does that sound okay? Or someone else said to take the number 5 subway to 59th Street. Does sound right? When we do the carriage ride, do we tip the driver? How much? After that, I'd like to walk 5th Avenue and do some of the stores. Mainly, I'd like to just look at them and take pictures.The only stores I'd like to go inside are Tiffany's and FAO Shwarz. I'll be buying myself a birthday present at Tiffany's and my son can't wait to visit FAO Shwarz. After that, we'd like to do Times Square and have lunch at the Hello Deli from the David Letterman show. Do you think it's realistic to think we can do all this before lunch? After lunch, I'd like to see Macy's and then go to the Empire State Building. We plan on doing the tour and going to the top. Then we'll be catching the 6:00 PM bus back to CT. Where do you suggest we grab a good, quick dinner before we go. Is there a cool restaurant right at the Empire State Building? Which places do you recommend we walk to or take a cab too?
Now an important question, I'm really concerned about. Do you think the hotel will hold our bags after we check out until we're ready to catch our bus? If not, that would really suck! What would we do?
I appreciate any and all advice and info! Thank you!
This is my first post here. I live in CT and I've been to NYC twice. But both trips weren't too exciting. The first time was when I was 14, with my family to see the Statue Of Liberty. And the other time was about 5 years ago, on a bus-change on the way to Atlantic City, I ran down to Times Square and took some pictures and had to run back to Port Authority an hour later.
So, here's the deal. I'm turning 30 on January 5th! Arghh! So I wanted to do something realllllly special. I've always been obsessed with New York City, and just never took the time to go! So, I planned a small trip, over one night, on my birthday, with my husband and 10-year old son. I'm so excited! I was just wondering if anyone would look over my plans and give me any tips, or let me know if anything's wrong or dumb. Thanks!
We're taking a Greyhound bus from Foxwoods around 9:00 AM and arriving in New York around 12:00 PM. We're going to be staying at the Grand Hyatt. I did a lot of researching of hotels and decided on this one because it looks very "New York" and fancy, but not Plaza-fancy, it's right in the middle of everything and it isn't too expensive. I think it's about $189 for the night. I assume that's because it's a Thursday night, not a weekend, and the holiday season will be pretty much over by then. My first question is, will we be able to check in early? I assume check-in time is around 3:00 like most hotels. But we'll be arriving in the city around nooon. I should probably just call the hotel and ask them, right?
The first thing I'd like to do, is head to Rockefeller Center. Is it a quick walk from the Hyatt? Or should we hop the subway? A cab? What do you think is best? I'd rather walk, so I hope it's not a 20 degree day. That's another question. Does anyone know where on the web I can find advanced weather? I know it may not be very accurate, being almost a month away, but I'd like to get an idea. Anyway, at Rockefeller Center, I'd like to mostly just walk around and take pictures. I'm a photo-freak, so taking pics will be my biggest thing this trip. We don't plan on taking any tours, unless you all are seriously majorly recommending an NBC or Radio City tour? But I'll be just as happy standing outside taking pictures, honestly. Do you think that we could spend the rest of that day at Rockefeller Center? Can you name some things to do there, like NBC Studios,the observation deck on the GE building, etc.? Or do you think there's not that much to do? Do you reccommend trying to fit some time at Times Square that day too, or is that too much? I don't plan on ice skating, unless it doesn't look to crowded and we have some time.I'd like to eat my birthday dinner at the Rock Center Cafe, overlooking the skating rink. Luckily, the big tree will still be up until the 6th. Yay! What has everyone heard about this restaurant? Is it too fancy, like is there a dress code? Does anyone have any better suggestions for dinner? I want to eat dinner somewhere special, but don't want to spend a fortune. I looked into Tavern On The Green, but it's too expensive. And one more question about the first day. What time do you recommend we all head back to the hotel. As soon as it gets dark? Is dangerous to be out wandering the streets after a certain hour? I just want to be extra safe since our 10-year old will be with me.
Okay, the next morning, we plan on just doing the continental breakfast at the hotel. Then, I planned on going up to where the horse and carriage rides are at Central Park. I heard to catch one in front of the Plaza, does that sound okay? Or someone else said to take the number 5 subway to 59th Street. Does sound right? When we do the carriage ride, do we tip the driver? How much? After that, I'd like to walk 5th Avenue and do some of the stores. Mainly, I'd like to just look at them and take pictures.The only stores I'd like to go inside are Tiffany's and FAO Shwarz. I'll be buying myself a birthday present at Tiffany's and my son can't wait to visit FAO Shwarz. After that, we'd like to do Times Square and have lunch at the Hello Deli from the David Letterman show. Do you think it's realistic to think we can do all this before lunch? After lunch, I'd like to see Macy's and then go to the Empire State Building. We plan on doing the tour and going to the top. Then we'll be catching the 6:00 PM bus back to CT. Where do you suggest we grab a good, quick dinner before we go. Is there a cool restaurant right at the Empire State Building? Which places do you recommend we walk to or take a cab too?
Now an important question, I'm really concerned about. Do you think the hotel will hold our bags after we check out until we're ready to catch our bus? If not, that would really suck! What would we do?
I appreciate any and all advice and info! Thank you!