Is ten days in New York too long

[irv]

Trip planning at the moment, late September 2015. Is a 10 day stay in New York too long or about right. First time visiting the USA outside of LA airport, I don't know if we will go back to the USA, however I don't want to say should have spent more time here.

Look forward to your replies

 

[oz74]

Trip planning at the moment, late September 2015. Is a 10 day stay in New York too long or about right. First time visiting the USA outside of LA airport, I don't know if we will go back to the USA, however I don't want to say should have spent more time here.

Look forward to your replies

Wife and I are going for two weeks at Christmas this year. Our 3rd time there.

I think 10 days sounds fine, depends what you want to see and do there to.

 

[lovestotravel]

10 days is fine providing you like to walk/explore

If you just want to go to New York, see a show and central park and "feel" New York then 3 days would be enough

For me 5-10 days is perfect, I have been several times before and will be going back Feb 2015, for approximately 7 nights

New York is one of the best cities in the USA IMO

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Cruiserette and myself will be there for 7 nts mid Sept this year - only ever spent 1 nt in NY previously and that was 20yrs ago - so any suggestions for must sees, must dos, must eats, must not be missed will be greatly appreciated - am as excited as a teenager - I love vibrant cities.

Q: Did anybody actually list NY in the recent 'Most Disappointing Destinations' thread?

 

[Deewhy]

10 days will be great. Lots of time to take things in, walk, shop, explore, shows.

Spent 7 days there 10 yrs ago, then 8 more last year.

 

[zig]

10 days is certainly not too long. I had 14 days and it wasn't enough, can't wait to go back.

 

[RooFlyer]

10 days would be too long for me, and this would be more the case if this trip was a '1 off' to the USA. USA is much more than NYC.

If you are asking this question, then best to book refundable hotels, or at least where you can cut short the stay without penalty.

If you discover that you've 'done it' after 5 days say, plenty of things within train ride range if you do want to keep the same hotel and do (long) day trips - Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, but better to de-camp from NYC in that case.

 

[Princess Fiona]

10 days would be too long for me, and this would be more the case if this trip was a '1 off' to the USA. USA is much more than NYC.

If you are asking this question, then best to book refundable hotels, or at least where you can cut short the stay without penalty.

If you discover that you've 'done it' after 5 days say, plenty of things within train ride range if you do want to keep the same hotel and do (long) day trips - Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, but better to de-camp from NYC in that case.

I tend to agree. Depends very much on how long the trip is and what you want out of it.
A half decent analogy is would I stay in SYD for 10 days out of a 2 week holiday to Australia ?
Definitely not.

 

[irv]

It is not our only destination, will be doing some travel in Canada then Boston, NYC, Washington, SFO with a couple of days in LA at the beginning. Trying to get the mix right in how long we stay at each destination, planning a six week trip.

 

[robd]

It is really dependant on what you like to do, see and feel from a city. I liked NY, but Jnr (21 yo) felt like it was a concrete jungle and didn't really feel comfortable for the 7 days that we stayed there. We stayed in Times Square (Doubletree, which we both enjoyed) and there were heaps of people/tourists. We went to a Broadway show, Queens, a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, Tiffanys and other iconic shopping stores, Central Park, Staten Island Ferry, Top of the Rock, World Trade Centre Memorial, etc.

I wouldn't mind re-visiting, but Jnr has ticked it off the list (for the time being at least).

Are you going to other cities in the US? How long is your trip?

 

[lovestotravel]

A half decent analogy is would I stay in SYD for 10 days out of a 2 week holiday to Australia ?
Definitely not.

Half decent

 

[jastel]

I like NYC, plenty to see and do but to spend 1/3 of your trip there is maybe too much.
After a week there I am looking for somewhere less crowded normally.

As suggested do 5 days in NYC, then 4 in Washington and 2 in Philly or Boston and maybe Niagara Falls or something.
The trains between them are easy and a good way to see some countryside.

 

[Mark3000]

Cruiserette and myself will be there for 7 nts mid Sept this year - only ever spent 1 nt in NY previously and that was 20yrs ago - so any suggestions for must sees, must dos, must eats, must not be missed will be greatly appreciated - am as excited as a teenager - I love vibrant cities.

Q: Did anybody actually list NY in the recent 'Most Disappointing Destinations' thread?

Hi Cruiser Elite, Hopefully you will have a great time. I spent 12 months in New York, around 7 years ago now so some of this information might have changed but even after 12 months there were still things I wanted to do.
Apart from all of the usual tourist things, here are some suggestions for hotels, and for places for a nice drink from the point of view of the locals.

Hotels:
For ultra modern, boutique hotels, try, in this order
Hotel Gansevoort - Meatpacking distrcit. celebrity hangout, possibly the best rooftop bar in NY with great views over the Hudson. Lots of nightclubs & restaurants around it, this is the center of the nightlife district. Dead by day, awesome after midnight on Fri & Sat.

Hudson Hotel - great bars & great restaurant. Featured in Sex in the City episode. This was my local hangout – many fond memories from this place.
Right near Columbus Circle & Central Park.

Night Hotel - spectacular foyer, never saw the rooms though. Very close to Times square.

W Hotels - all have nice bars with lots of action at night. Same as W's everywhere though, so I would go for a NY boutique.

Tribeca Grand & SoHO grand are both nice.
Gramercy Park Hotel - fancy, expensive, not very close to nightlife =hough

For views - Mandarin Oriental Columbus Circle - sensational Central Park views, nice bars in the buliding. Super fancy luxury, but super expensive.
For old world romance - you can't beat the Waldorf Astoria. But again, expensive.

For bars
- all of the above hotels have great bars. My other favorite was 230 Fifth avenue - sensational roof top bar with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline & Empire State Building.
Rainbow room on top of the Rockefeller Center - views as good as the observation deck, but free entry, so instead of paying $20 for the observation deck, go up there & pay $18 for a coughtail.

For an afternoon drink - the sculpture garden on the roof of the Met museum, has amazing views over Central Park. This was one of my favorite places in NY. You could follow this up with lunch or dinner at the Boathouse cafe in Central Park. NB this is only open in Summer

If you like chocolate, there is a very cute little chocolate café in Saks Fifth Avenue. They also have a nice place upstairs for lunch, with some views of the Rockefeller Center.

The top floor of the Peninsula Hotel on 5th Avenue has a nice classy bar with views along 5th avenue.

Hope you have a fun time!
Cheers,
mark

 

[robd]

I like NYC, plenty to see and do but to spend 1/3 of your trip there is maybe too much.
After a week there I am looking for somewhere less crowded normally.

As suggested do 5 days in NYC, then 4 in Washington and 2 in Philly or Boston and maybe Niagara Falls or something.
The trains between them are easy and a good way to see some countryside.

We only spent a day in Washington, but I reckon you could easily spend 3 days there. Heaps of museums and sites.

 

[UP4014]

You'll fill 10 days easy in NYC.

Although as other suggest, there is plenty near by to see also.

Matt

 

[Cruiser Elite]

WOW thanks a gazzilion Mark - SENSATIONAL!

 

[irv]

I like NYC, plenty to see and do but to spend 1/3 of your trip there is maybe too much.
After a week there I am looking for somewhere less crowded normally.

As suggested do 5 days in NYC, then 4 in Washington and 2 in Philly or Boston and maybe Niagara Falls or something.
The trains between them are easy and a good way to see some countryside.

Well actually less than 25% but why quibble . done Niagara as posted doing Boston, also intend to use NYC as a base for some day trips. Last o/s holiday moved every 2-3 days to fit it all in, want to use cities as bases this trip and use degrees of public transport (trains, bus tours) to explore outside the cities.

 

[vitagen]

Spent 2.5 weeks in New York alone from Christmas to past new year in 2012 and it was spectacular... No where long enough

 

[irv]

Thanks guys, I think you reinforced my reasoning, 10 days is fine. Only prices in September hurt

 

[Alanslegal]

Trip planning at the moment, late September 2015. Is a 10 day stay in New York too long or about right. First time visiting the USA outside of LA airport, I don't know if we will go back to the USA, however I don't want to say should have spent more time here.

If its your first time visiting USA and if you don't know when you will go back then 10 days is definitely too long in my books. You could squeeze in three cities in that period. I know there will be lots to do in NYC (sightseeing, night life, day life, shopping) but if you had to, you could probably squeeze all of the things to do in Manhattan in the space of 4 whole days. There are a handful of other cities that are very interesting and much different to see as well. For some strange reason I always have a fascination with New Orleans. Been there once; thought the food was great - think seafood, the vibe in the French Quarter was buzzing - think live music. Squeeze New Orleans in for a few days and see something different to a super-city.