First time - lots of questions, HELP!

Hi, i will be visiting NY for the fist time for three nights and four days and want to do so much, could anyone help with the below questions?

1) When is the best time to visit the ESB to avoid ques?

2) Can anyone recommend any outstanding places to eat? i know from this forum that NY has got some great places to eat, i would like to visit china town for a chinese maybe or Little Italy for an Italian, any recommendations welcome.

3) What is the best way to get to our hotel from JLF airport?

4) I want to see the Statue of Liberty, what is the boat tour called that takes you round the island? should i book?

5) Shopping will be a big part of my trip as it is my birthday, are the shopping areas close to each other?

6) Is the transport system reliable in NY? coming from London i know what a pain the trains can be.

Any help would be great.

Thank you

First time - lots of questions, HELP!

hi dockers,

we were also checking out the options of getting from JFK airport to our hotel. (this must be one of the most common questions asked on this forum!).

there is the expensive/easy option of taking the cab. at the other end of the scale, the option is to take the air train and then the subway but this involves lugging bags up and down and around...too much.

we%26#39;re going to go with the super shuttle which is a shared bus ride from the airport to the city. from JFK to our hotel would cost us $18 for first passenger and then $9 for another member of the party (discounts for other members of your party). check out your fare on the reservations page first

supershuttle.com/htm/cities/nyc.htm#Sample

good luck.

regarding the transport system.....the subway is fantastic in new york. so easy to use and get around when combined with the buses. we%26#39;re getting the one day metro cards and then hopping around everywhere in that great city. btw, i found the underground in london to be very efficient in getting around.

hope you have a good holiday there in new york.

i cannot wait to get back there again.

june

First time - lots of questions, HELP!

1. I would visit ESB first thing in the morning around 08:30 ish, the sun is just coming up over the city and there are virtually no queues any later and you%26#39;ll have to wait approx 90 mins, if you want a good sunset view of NY cross the river to Brooklyn.

2. I would recommend the Marriot Marquis restaurant in Time Square, it%26#39;s at the top of the hotel reached by the most amazing lift ride and the restaurant revolve%26#39;s giving another fantastic view of the city. The food is excellent as well.

3. Taxi especially if you have luggage. Should cost approx $50, come out of JFK, cross the road and turn right, walk to the little cabin and there is man there where you pay for your taxi. There is a train service but it%26#39;s a hassle getting from the station to your hotel, especially if it%26#39;s your first time to NY.

4. Statten Island Ferry, It%26#39;s free, pick it up from Battery Park, make sure you sit on the right hand side on the top deck going out, it%26#39;s gives the best views of the Statue of Liberty and when you come back go right to the front on the top deck and you%26#39;ll see both Statue of Liberty again and New York.

5. I recommend 5th Avenue (designer shops), Bloomingdale%26#39;s, Macy%26#39;s and if you have chance the Outlet Village (designer shops at very cheap prices) but it does involve a bus journey and it%26#39;s usually an all day trip and there are alot of shops.

6. Subways aren%26#39;t bad, taxi%26#39;s are good, buses seem ok. They do a tour bus where you get get on/off as many times as you like and stop at Little Italy, china town, Battery Park and ground zero so you can have a walk around there. If you want Italian food go to Grimaldi%26#39;s it%26#39;s the best.

7. Recommend a picnic or meal in Central Park (would do inbetween shopping on 5th).

Enjoy

1. I think that 3-5 pm is good.

2. Yes, you can go to Little Italy for an Italian, but don%26#39;t eat in Italian restaurants there. This is a good summary of Little Italy:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k273594-鈥?/a>

Use www.menupages.com to search for restaurants, if nothing on this forum strikes you...

3. see previous responses. (p.s. the person in the booth for the taxi line is called the dispatcher.)

4. The one that goes around Manhattan is the Circle Line.

5. this is a great previous post about shopping:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k267052-鈥?/a>

6. Here is a good link about tourism and the subway system:

www.mta.info/metrocard/tourism/index.html

Here is a good previous post about the subways:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k253684-鈥?/a>

Hi Dockers

I would confirm that if you do some research in the topics section of this forum you can get loads of useful information.

For instance if you put in ESB you will find out everything you need to know about opening times and queues.

Likewise transport to hotel.

Have a great time.