NY New Year's Eve !

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Need some advice, its my wife's 30th this year (late November) and she's always wanted to go to New York but due to work commitments delaying any spare time until the xmas period I have came up with the idea of taking her to see the new year in, in style :)

Been looking at flying in to JFK on the 28/12/13 and coming home of the 2/1/14, Hotel wise looking at the Hilton (fashion district) and the empire !

Other then the well known tourist spots, any advice on must do places to visit and places to eat ?

Oh and any AD's I need to have a look in :D

[mtrunner]

There are so many great bars and restaurants. Do you and your wife like any specific foods (i.e. steak, sushi, Italian, ???). I can give you some ideas on great restaurants if you narrow it down a little.

In terms of ADs, check out Wempe which has a location in Rolex's headquarters. As for window shopping also check out Tourneau. Lots of watches even if they have terrible service. You can also see other great ADs like Blancpain, Omega, Panerai, IWC just to name a few. All these ADs are located within a 20 block area.

Since you will be here around Christmas definitely check out Rockafellar Center with the Christmas Tree and take your wife to see the Rockettes. Even in winter Central Park is amazing so make sure to take a stroll in Central Park and you can go Ice Skating in Central Park or even Bryant Park. It can be crowded but it can still be fun.

The Moma and the MET are a must if you like art. I can suggest more if you let me know some of your possible interests!

[crew]

One suggestion of what not to do: Avoid Times Square on New Years Eve. Unless you are very young (20's) there are far better places to be, IMO. Ymmv.

[SC11]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

There are so many great bars and restaurants. Do you and your wife like any specific foods (i.e. steak, sushi, Italian, ???). I can give you some ideas on great restaurants if you narrow it down a little.

In terms of ADs, check out Wempe which has a location in Rolex's headquarters. As for window shopping also check out Tourneau. Lots of watches even if they have terrible service. You can also see other great ADs like Blancpain, Omega, Panerai, IWC just to name a few. All these ADs are located within a 20 block area.

Since you will be here around Christmas definitely check out Rockafellar Center with the Christmas Tree and take your wife to see the Rockettes. Even in winter Central Park is amazing so make sure to take a stroll in Central Park and you can go Ice Skating in Central Park or even Bryant Park. It can be crowded but it can still be fun.

The Moma and the MET are a must if you like art. I can suggest more if you let me know some of your possible interests!

We are pretty much opened minded to all types of cuisine ! I do love a steak or some sushi.

Both of us don't drink though.

Thanks for heads up on AD's I'll be checking them out :)

Rockafellar for the tree was a must, also thinking of a helicopter tour.

I can imagine Time SQ will be manic but was planning on having a little look, but for the not so youthful where else will be the place to be to see the new year in ?

[rr-nyc]

Times Square is worth a look and walking around if you've never been but just don't go on new years eve.

The tree is always nice to see and while you're there, go to Top of the Rock instead of the empire state building.

You will get more restaurant recommendations than you can handle from people on this forum who live here and those that have visited. Steak and sushi restaurants are everywhere here. I think the Michelin guide is a great point of reference to start. If you're debating between a few, I can give you my insight.

As far as New Years eve, choose a restaurant you want to eat and plan on making reservations exactly 30 days in advance since that is when most restaurants start taking reservations. All reputable restaurants will have two seatings. One early and one later (9pm or later) the later seating will be more extravagant and more expensive since many will include party favors and a Champagne toast to ring in the new year. If you wait until 29 days before, your choices of the top places will reduce by 90%+

There are a ton of parties too but I have found those to be worse than being in Times Square.

Lastly, the Hilton in the fashion district is an okay location. The subway is a few blocks away. I would suggest looking further east and further up. East 40's and 50's will put you in a better location for visitors IMO

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Thanks for input guys all the advice is very much welcome !

Is the any firework displays etc that happen on NYE ? Or any other places worth seeing the night in ? Thinking of seating early for a nice meal and then out for midnight, had planned on Time SQ but as pointed out and didn't cross my mind until now that TS might be a little to lively lol

As for Hotels yeah I have been getting the two Hiltons mixed up, I actually liked the look of the Hilton (fashion district) but had though it was the midtown location !

Again advice on good hotels would be also welcome ? Trying to do as much ground work as possible and early on as all this has to be arranged and booked without my wife knowing !

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Also guessing it not going to be the cheapest of locations but any good shopping locations to recommend !

On a side note this will be my first time stateside :)

[rr-nyc]

Going to an early dinner and then times square isn't an option unless your hotel is in times square. It starts to shut down in the afternoon as sections fill up. Once there, there's no re-entry if you leave. There is a fireworks show near the statue of liberty. You can catch a cab to battery park to view or arrange for one of those dinner cruises that offer the best seat for it. The food is standard banquet food: soup, salad, mediocre steak and dessert. Its much a much smaller show than we have on July 4th but it is nice to see.

As far as hotels, the Lexington, Hyatt 48, W hotel, Benjamin, etc. Google one of those and then zoom in along 3rd avenue - there are a ton of hotels in that area for good reason.

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Not looking as easy as I thought to plan this !

How about a restaurant/bar in a prime location over looking Time SQ we can eat and relax while seeing the new year in ?

[rr-nyc]

Overlooking Times Square? The View restaurant and Lounge at the Marriott Maquis but I'm not sure what they do on New Year's Eve.

There aren't any really good restaurants in Times Square.

[Rex22]

Originally Posted by crew

One suggestion of what not to do: Avoid Times Square on New Years Eve. Unless you are very young (20's) there are far better places to be, IMO. Ymmv.

Agreed

[SC11]

Been looking at these hotels

Morgan's
The Empire
Ink 48

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

Been looking at these hotels

Morgan's
The Empire
Ink 48

Morgan's is a good location but not all that nice- kind of worn down.
Empire is just an okay location
Ink 48 is so far west that there's nothing there

[SC11]

How about these which the agent also listed

Muse
W New York (Midtown)
Roosevelt
Eventi
Gransevoort Park ave
Andaz 5th ave
Royalton

[Blue Owl]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

Been looking at these hotels

Morgan's
The Empire
Ink 48

I have no idea with the hotels above, but I can suggest you a good one close to tourist attractions, it's Holiday Inn Express at 343 West 39th Street. It's just 2 blocks away from Times Square (20 minutes walk). I stayed there last December 2012. It's highly recommended.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._New_York.html

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

How about these which the agent also listed

Muse
W New York (Midtown)
Roosevelt
Eventi
Gransevoort Park ave
Andaz 5th ave
Royalton

Muse is nice and very close to Times Square
W New York is nice but with small rooms and the original W- good location
Roosevelt is more classic- good location
Eventi not familiar
Gansvoort Park ace is nice - good location
Andaz 5th is nice and relatively new- okay location
Royalton is nice recently renovated and classic boutique hotel- okay location

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Thanks mate appreciate your feedback !

Out of them which would you go for ?

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

Thanks mate appreciate your feedback !

Out of them which would you go for ?

Hard to say because they all offer something different but here are my thoughts...

I would say that the Andaz is the nicest followed by the Ganesvoort.

The W for location

The W and the Royalton for their bars

The Roosevelt for classic NYC

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In the end went for the Ganesvoort Park Ave.

All booked so we fly in on the evening of the 28th and fly home evening of the 3rd, first visit to NY well actually first visit to the states always been Europe or North Africa, so slight but excited :)

[alubin]

PM for restaurant recommendations. Places not to miss such as le bernardin etc. Can also help you out with new years plans. The gansevoort is a good choice for a hotel and they will no doubt throw a killer new years bash.

[jolimont]

Originally Posted by crew

One suggestion of what not to do: Avoid Times Square on New Years Eve. Unless you are very young (20's) there are far better places to be, IMO. Ymmv.

x100000

good luck getting a good spot for NYE in Times Square and good luck getting out

be prepared to be crushed to death

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Yeah we have come the conclusion that Times SQ might not be a wise move !

Debating now if to find a nice local resturant to see NYE with good food and entertainment or if to see what out own hotel has to offer that night.

[gwozhog]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

There are so many great bars and restaurants. Do you and your wife like any specific foods (i.e. steak, sushi, Italian, ???). I can give you some ideas on great restaurants if you narrow it down a little.

In terms of ADs, check out Wempe which has a location in Rolex's headquarters. As for window shopping also check out Tourneau. Lots of watches even if they have terrible service. You can also see other great ADs like Blancpain, Omega, Panerai, IWC just to name a few. All these ADs are located within a 20 block area.

Since you will be here around Christmas definitely check out Rockafellar Center with the Christmas Tree and take your wife to see the Rockettes. Even in winter Central Park is amazing so make sure to take a stroll in Central Park and you can go Ice Skating in Central Park or even Bryant Park. It can be crowded but it can still be fun.

The Moma and the MET are a must if you like art. I can suggest more if you let me know some of your possible interests!

You may want to considered another destination for The new year unless you like chaos, crowds and bad service.

[SC11]

What's the shopping like ?

Upmarket and High St, are the prices at a premium due to location ?

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

What's the shopping like ?

Upmarket and High St, are the prices at a premium due to location ?

Prices on goods are the same as anywhere else in the country. Service related industries such as food, drinks, and lodging are higher

[topgear]

I just returned from a 10 days in New York. It is an amazing city with lots to do. Would love to go back. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[azguy]

Originally Posted by pitbull666

What's the shopping like ?

Upmarket and High St, are the prices at a premium due to location ?

Seriouslly

You are going to be in NY city, the prices are high for everything from a dirty water dog (hotdog) to stick of gum in a Circle K. Bring money, lots of money, no tons of money