Travel Quick Guides: New York

If you're like me and have never been to New York (What's wrong with us?! It's the city that never sleeps!) but planning to (Way to go!), I bet you're wanting a simple, go-to guide with New York's best attractions' basic information, some awesome hotel recommendations and a few more of those little details you need, but don't feel like searching the entire web to find them. If that describes you, than this guide is exactly what you need. This won't tell you what the Statue of Liberty is or it's history, chances are you already know most of that, but it will give you the info you need to get there, pay for it and the website where you can, if you please, read the history & what exactly the Statue of Liberty is. 

 
$106 adult
$76 children
Includes:  The Empire State Building, The Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Arts, The Museum of Modern arty, Top of the Rock, the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island or a Circle Line Cruise)

Buy the New York City Pass here

FREE Staten Island St. George Terminal< > Manhattan Whitehall Terminal The ferry departs every 15 minutes to an hour. For approx. times, read more here Ferry takes approx. 25 minutes More info here

FREE Times Square Visitors Museum 8 am- 8 pm more info here

FREE 5:30 am- 2:00 am More info here Check out Facebook New York across the street from Grand Central Station!  Need Coffee? There's a Starbucks and a Joe Coffee inside!

FREE More info here Need Coffee? There's a Starbucks less than a block away on 45 East 51st Street.

FREE 9am- 9:30 pm (Monday through Friday) 10:00 am - 9:30 pm (Saturday) 11:00  am- 8:30 pm (Sunday) More info here

FREE Tons of helpful info here Try Joe's Ginger Restaurant! Hong Kong meets Shanghai food at a great price! 

FREE 6 am to 1 am, 365 days a year guided tour info here *Central Park Carousel $3.00 per ride, 10 am-6 pm April to October

 Entrance fee $7 (weekdays), $8 (weekends) + $1 a ticket (rides 3 tickets, games 4 tickets) Unlimited Ride Wristband $14 (week days), $16 (weekends) Open Summers For more info go here

 

Adults $11.25 (Mon-Thurs), $18 (Fri-Sun) Children <11 $6 (Mon-Sun) Skate rentals $8.00 Lock Rental $5.00 plus $6 deposit Spectator Fee $5.00 *cash only 10:00 am - 2:30 pm (Monday and Tuesday) 10:00-10:00 pm (Wednesday and Thursday) 10:00 am - 11:00 pm (Friday and Saturday) 10:00 am- 11:00 pm (Sunday) 10: 00 am - 7:00 pm (Thanksgiving with holiday rates) late October to early April More info here

 $12 adults, $7 children including 4D & children's zoo $18 adults, $13 children November 4-April 410am-4:30 pm April 4-November 4  10 am -5 pm Weekends and Holidays 10 am- 5: 30pm More info here

Main Deck (to the 86th floor)  $27 adults, $21 children  Express (skip the lines!) $50 for all Main Deck + Top Deck (go all the way up) $44 adults, $38 children Express (skip the lines!) $67 for all 8 am to 2 am, 365 days a year last elevator up at 1:15 am More info and to buy now here Save money with the NY City Pass here

$22 General Admission $27 General Admission + 1 special exhibit, IMax or Planetarium $35 Super Saver Admission, includes everything

daily from 10 am - 5:45 pm 

except on Thanksgiving and Christmas

more info here

$25 Adults FREE for children under 11 $ 7 Audio Guide for Adult $5 Audio Guide for children buy tickets here 10:00 am-5:30 pm (Sunday-Thursday) 10:00 am-9:00 pm (Friday & Saturday) more info here save with the NY City Pass here

10:30 am -5:30 pm (Saturday-Thursday) 10:30 am - 8:30 pm (Friday) $25 Adults Free Children <14 $14 Students (full time with ID) more info here Save with the NY City Pass here Purchase with Top of the Rock Ticket for $42, more info here

8 am-Midnight $27 adult genral ticket $17 children 6-12 general ticket $32 Premier Pass (includes admission, photo and viewfinder print) Combo Tickets $38 Rock Pass (includes Top of the Rock and Rockefeller Center tour) $42 Rock Momma (includes Top of the Rock and The Museum of Modern Art in one day) $40 adults, $22 children Sun and Stars (admission twice in one day) more info here Save with the NY City Pass here

For current Ferry Hours see here $17 adult ferry fee $9 children (4-12) To visit the crown  and pedestal you must make a reservation here. Tickets can not be bought on site.  $20 Adult Crown Ticket, includes ferry, access to Ellis Island , Liberty Island & audio tour $12.00 Child Crown Ticket, includes ferry, access to Ellis Island, Liberty Island & audio tour 17 adult pedestal ticket, includes ferry, access to Ellis Island, Liberty Island & audio tour $9 children (4-12) pedestal ticket includes ferry, access to Ellis Island, Liberty Island & audio tour More info here   The following hotel recommendations are hotels that I recommend based on extensive online research. These are hotels that I am dreaming to stay in, (minus the last one, but I thought I'd include a hotel I could actually afford for those on a budget. None of these hotels have I actually stayed in but hope to one day! Of course if the Quin, The Chatwal or The Standard, okay any of the below, would like to give & the hubs a free night to write an experienced review, well, I mean, I won't say no.  the Quin West 57th Street at Sixth Avenue +1 (212) 245-7846 $400+ per night website

I choose the Quin because of it's excellent location near Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and Carnegie Hall. This new 5 star hotel has impeccable reviews from guests all praising their customer service, which is always a great sign. The Egyptian cotton sheets, tablet controlled a/c, lights, blinds, etc. , black out drapes, ceiling mounted shower head and in room Nepresso machines, are all huge draws. The Quin is family friendly and after reading several reviews, I am throughly impressed with their service and attention to details. To welcome children, reviewers mentioned stuffed animal dogs, story books, and a kids welcome wagon, as part of The Quin's hospitality towards their children on their stay. I love it! Those sweet, thoughtful touches are exactly what makes one feel welcomed in a place & brings people back. The Chatwal New York 130 W. 44th St. (212) 764-6200 $400+ website

I choose the Chatwal specifically for their Grand & Superior Deluxe rooms with walk out patios and saffron, sepia and ruby hues. Can you imagine sipping a cup of delicious coffee, in New York City, on your own terrace? My goodness, sign me up! This luxurious, 1930 empire-art inspired hotel has dark tiled bathrooms, flat screens in their bathroom mirrors, Frette Italian linens, Ipod docking stations, rainfall shower/tubs and in a great location. They also provide complimentary wifi, which surprisingly is offered at a surcharge at many 5 star hotels in New York. Be sure to call in and request a walk out terrace room. The Standard High Line 848 Washington at 13th Street (212) 645-4646 $400+ website

Floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows; do I need to say more? I'll say more. Deep soaking baths with Hudson River views, a public square, an ice skating rink, a fantastic bistro and a rooftop patio, plunge pool, creperie, discoteque and bar. This hotel is just fun, cool and different and looks like a great place to hang out after a long day. It's the kind of hotel worth going to in itself, for some ice skating fun or a German brew at the beer garden. With all that The Standard has to offer, it's at the top of my list of New York hotels I want to stay in. Check it out for yourself here. Hotel Americano 318 W 27th Street  Chelsea (212) 216-0000 $200+ website

Hotel Americano has many appeals, including it's Bento Box Room Service, roof top grill & lounge and bicycles available for guests. Their rooms feature wooden platform beds, oversized Turkish bath towels, Alpaca throw blankets, IPad customized in-room controls and bean bags. The draw to Hotel Americano for me is the feel that they are connected to their neighborhood with their write-ups on their website featuring tons of local businesses. I also love the Latin & Japanese inspired layout, details and feel.  Urban Oasis Hostel 5 West 31st St. $150+ website

I choose The Urban Oasis for their continuously great reviews and happy guests. The Urban Oasis is a comfy, yet chic hostel that provides a fully equipped kitchen, common room wifi, a movie library, book exchange and laundry service. Every room has loft style windows and shared bathrooms. The Urban Oasis is available for nightly & monthly rentals.   Serenity at Home Guest House 57 Rutland Road Brooklyn (646) 479-5138 $85+ website

This cozy, prewar style B&B is located in Brooklyn in Lefferts Prospect Manor. Zenobia, whose lived in Lefferts Gardens for 20 years, seeks to provide "guests with the comforts of home, wrapped in hotel accommodations and bed and breakfast hospitality." I love that this B&B is located within a Brooklyn neighborhood, giving you that real New York feel. The entire house is also available for rent.  Gershwin Hotel 7 East 27th St. (212) 545-8000 $150+ website

The Gershwin dates back to 1903 and features prewar styled NY decor, bay windows, Frette linens and wood floors. Check out the hotels' City Escape package which includes a metro Card and the Romance package which includes wine and chocolate. My favorite part of Gershwin Hotel is that their restaurant, Birch Coffee, serves rainforest alliance endorsed coffee, organic beer and wine, and fare supporting local farmers.  The Pod Hotel New York The Original Pod 51 230 E51st Street Pod 51 website Pod 39 145 E 39th St.  $100+ Pod website

The Pod offers pod sized, or tiny, budget accommodation with hip, clean and comfortable rooms. The Pod rooms feature MP3 docks, LCD flat screen TVs, wireless and lighting controls. The Pod also offers free daily walking tours, an awesome Cafe and great rooftop views. Both Pods offer roof top lounges with great views and a Pod 39 boasts Cantina with tacos starting at $3.00. The Pod 51 is located across the street from the gorgeous, Green Acres Park. So be sure to check that, too!  New York Budget Inn 200 East 24th St $50+ website

NY Budget Inn is cheap, clean and provides the basics. If you need a clean, safe place to crash, a bathroom and a locker, than NY Budget Inn might be for you. They provide privates and dorm styled rooms with shared and private bathrooms. 

*For restrant recommendations see New York City Neighborhood Easts below

Check out the Lower East Side Mafia Walking Tour at 12:00 pm every Saturday! $20 pp

More info here

Want to see affordable, comedian shows while in NYC? Check out the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre! info here

Check out the Brooklyn Flea Market! 

From April through Thanksgiving, the markets take place outdoors: on Saturdays in Fort Greene, on Sundays in Williamsburg, and Saturdays and Sundays in Park Slope at PS 321. We also operate Smorgasburg, two giant all-food markets in Williamsburg (Saturdays) and Brooklyn Bridge Park (Sundays) featuring 75-100 local and regional vendors. From Thanksgiving through March, the market moves indoors (to 185 Wythe Ave. at North 5th St. in Williamsburg). Additionally, every summer you can find some of our food vendors at the Central Park SummerStage outdoor concert series, where the Flea operates the food and beverage concession.

website here

 

City Bakery

website

A salad bar with fantastic toppings, homemade soups, mac & cheese, sandwiches, pretzel croissants, and homemade marshmallows for their delicious hot chocolate are just a few of the goodies offered at City Bakery on 18th St. Best part is that this can all be had on a budget. Score! I'm salivating thinking of the home made marshmallows & hot chocolate. Yum! *picture taken from here

Cook Shop

website

The Cook Shop on Tenth Avenue uses only the best vegetables and meats. When you eat at the Cook Shop you are guaranteed that the food you eat are made with sustainable ingredients, humanely raised animals and supports local farmers. Let me be clear, the meat you eat is made with, not made by, humanely raised animals. ;) Their menu looks phenomenal. Seriously, just look at their website and look at the pics, you'll be making reservations asap. Be sure to check out their website for monthly recipes, too. *picture take from the talented & amazing Felica at love.life.eat

Bubby's 

website

I'll let Bubby's explain what they do best, "Bubby’s has set the standard for traditional American food, cooking everything from scratch, using many traditional family recipes from the best sources of ingredients available.  Most of Bubby’s recipes are straight out of recipe boxes from all over America." Sounds great to me. This Texan girl can only eat at so many upscale, New York restaurants, who am I kidding,  I could do that forever. But, I will say, that Bubby's sounds like the perfect, no expectations, relaxed night out, or Sunday afternoon type restaurant for me. Oh, and they're open 24 hours! Actually, I'm not gonna lie, come midnight in New York, I'd probably always be craving a nice slice of pie from Bubby's. Picture from Zagat. 

Village Vanguard

website

Why not grab a quick dinner and then head over to the Village Vanguard. This 70 year old Jazz Bar known as the "Carnegie Hall of Jazz" goes back to the basics with music, drinks and history. Jazz greats have recorded and played here in the past 70 years, including; Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon, Elvin Jones, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Hank Mobley and the Bill Evan's trio, just to name a few.

To check out the Vanguard's schedules and to buy tickets in advance go here. The Village Vanguard is on the top of my list of "must do" things in New York City. Photo taken from NYC-Arts.

The Spotted Pig
website

This seasonal British and Italian gastro pub has won one star from the Michelin Guide for 7 years in a row and looks to me as a great place to grab lunch while in Greenwich. Their Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Onion Marmalade & Mustard sounds like it would hit the spot after a stroll in Washington Square Park. Check out April Bloomfield's, chef and co-owner of The Spotted Pig,  newly released cookbook, A Girl and Her Pig. 

A Salt & Battery
website

A Salt & Battery is "New York's only authentic fish and chips shop." Their website hosts scores of guests pictures, hellos and thank you's to their English customers and I just love it. I love that warm feel of the place & it doesn't help that they sell fish and chips that everyone is raving about. New York Magazine famed them as the "best fish & chips," AOL city search awarded them the "best takeout" title and Time Out awarded them the "Critics pick" award. Everyone loves them, now I can't wait to try their fish and chips for myself! Picture from Zagat. 

The Cupping Room Cafe

website

The Cupping Room Cafe is one if the oldest restaurants in SoHo. Established in 1977 the cafe boasts high ceilings, a pot belly stove and fresh flowers, not to mention fantastic food. Try their Happy Hour from 5 pm-8 pm which includes free bar food. Heck yes! They also have live music Wednesday through Saturday. I will most definitely be getting the Chicken Breast sautéed with port wine and mushrooms or the Middle Eastern basket with hummus, babaganoush and lots of other delicious sounding goodies. 

The Dutch

website

The Dutch knows how to do fresh food. Their brunch menu looks exceptional. I will for sure get the mushroom cheddar omelette, watercress and truffle dressing when we visit. And they use organic eggs from Feather Ridge Farms, New York. Their dinner menu is a little high for our tastes but would still be great on a date night and I'm thinking their pumpkin donuts with ginger pudding, candied hazelnuts, caramelized apple and sage for $11 sound fantastic for dessert! Honestly, that fried chicken and biscuits isn't looking too bad either! Picture taken from Foodspotting.

Hostel World's Ultimate City Guide here  NYC Go here -detailed info for each Borough, much of my information was found here!  New York Times travel guide here Trip What here For great food related info check Food Spotting here   The Metro & Bus Single Ride Ticket $2.75 7 Day Unlimited Subway and Local Bus Pass $30 30 Day Unlimited Subway and Local Bus $112 More Info Metro and Bus Maps: here Time Out here New York City Cabs

*photo taken from The Complete Performer
              *Only take the Official NY Yellow Cabs               *If you have any problems, record the cab ID number & report to TLC

•        $2.50           initial fare
•       + $.50          for each additional 1/5 of a mile- 4 blocks (when traveling at 6 mph or  more)                                                or   60 seconds (when not in motion or traveling at less than 6 mph)

•       + $.50          New York City Surcharge 
•       +$.50           Night Surcharge (8pm-6am)
•       + $1.00        Peak Hour Weekday Surcharge (4 pm-8pm)

      More Info here Want to win a free cab ride home or back to your hotel while in New York?!  Find out how you can win a ride home, driven by Emmy Award winning, Ted Greenberg, here.  Will you be in New York on a Sunday and would like a place to fellowship & worship?  Check out church angel for a list of Christian fellowships.  Hope you enjoy your time in New York! 

Got any other helpful tips that you'd like to add to this quick guide? Email me at heatherleemosby@gmail.com.  ***This is my first Travel Guide! Do you have any suggestions? Comments? Corrections? Let me know! I would greatly appreciate it!***