Postby Gaelen » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:21 pm
Paula, there is sooo much to see and do in the city. I'll be there over Easter weekend myself for scans.
I would stay in midtown if you're picking a hotel, rather than Times Square, but I like things a bit more eclectic. Take a look at Travelocity and Expedia just to see what's available in your price range. When I was taking a no-holds-barred, treat my mom trip, I booked us into the FitzPatrick Grand Central, an all-Irish luxury hotel that made her trip. But for me, I'm more the Thirty-Thirty, the Pod hotel, one of the Radissons uptown because they usually have deals running all the time. Or even the Comfort Inn-Manhattan 35th Street. And these days, since I know neighborhoods, I usually do AirBnB and rent someone's apartment for the time I'm there.
Bring good walkin' shoes - I honestly believe the best way to explore any city is on foot.
But the hop-on/hop-off bus mentioned will let you see the city, and get on/off at something like a dozen pre-determined great sites, so you can use it as your transportation between hot spots. Pick up a copy of New York magazine, to get a feel for what's going on, and pick up a map in advance so that you can sort of get the lay of the land.
I truly don't think I'd ever go hungry in NYC - if there's someplace you're dying to go, you might need reservations. I kinda like finding the small neighborhood treasures, though - the little 10-table mom/pop Italian place that makes their sauce from scratch, for instance.
There is a lot of stuff you can do that costs money - and an amazing amount of stuff that you can do that is completely or nearly free. Central Park is always amazing to me (free). The Empire State Bldg. costs money to go to the top, but you gotta do it - just 15 bucks, plan about an hour. The Statue of Liberty actual tour is great - but it takes at least half a day. If you want to see Lady Liberty and still manage your time, take the (free, or 50 cents) Staten Island ferry - a cool thing to do all by itself. You'll sail right by the lady, and get the ferry ride and the NYC skyline, too. There are all kinds of stuff like that.
Pace yourself. Decide what you really want to do, and don't try to cram the whole place into a weekend.
Be in harmony with your expectations. -
Life Out Loud4/04: dx'd @48 StageIV RectalCA w/9 liver mets. 8 chemos, 4 surgeries, last remission 34 mos.
2/11 recurrence R lung, spinal bone mets - chemo, RFA lung mets
4/12 stopped treatment