Manhattan Island Travel Forum

Hello!
My husband and I are planning to take two of our grandchildren (2 & 6) to Manhatten in mid August. The 6 year old is obsessed with national landmarks and going to NYC is his dream come true.

We live in rural Maine and not sure how to go about taking a trip to Manhatten.

Is it better to stay in a motel in Manhatten or across the river in NJ? Are the tolls expensive going back and forth? I noticed motel prices were a lot cheaper in NJ.

Should we bring our car or find another way to get around Manhatten? Subway and bus with small kids??

Any suggestions? The only things we really want to go see is the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Chrysler Tower and other famous buildings & Central Park Zoo.

Thanks for your help.
MainePatty

Parking is a big headache and the traffic is terrible - so don't even think about a car. If I were you, I'd stay in Manhattan to keep the long-haul travel to a minimum. By the end of the day, the kids will be exhausted and cranky, so the trip back to NJ (a long trip!!) or wherever will not be fun. Also, if you are in the city, you can go back to your hotel for a nap. Make sure you have a light-weight, collapsible stroller for the 2 year old. A short visit to the Museum of Natural History is always a big hit with kids that age. I would stick with one tall building - Empire State or Chrysler, not both. And don't forget the Staten Island Ferry (which is free).

I suggest you stay in mid-town Manhattan rather than commuting from NJ. I would also narrow it down to staying around Rockefeller Center or the Central Park south areas.

You don't mention how many nights you plan to spend in NYC or whether it will be weekdays or the weekend. Some hotels have reduced rates on weekend nights (Fri., Sat. and sometimes even Sun.) or even weekend packages. Look for a hotel that includes parking in with your room - a challenge but garage parking is pricey. Plan on leaving your car in the garage for the entire length of your stay in the City. Many hotel garages have in/out charges for each time you take the car in or out, even if the parking is included with your room rate. If a hotel tells you that you can find street parking, find a different hotel; otherwise, you will have to be concerned with moving your car and finding another spot on garbage pick-up and street cleaning days.

If you haven't already, check out this web site - http://www.nycvisit.com/home/index.cfm

I would strongly suggest you take one of the bus tours of the city on your first full day in the city, mainly because of the children. Many of these tours have pick-ups at major mid-town hotels. By taking a tour of that type you get to see/pass by most of the major sights and there are a few brief stops at major interest points.

NYC is tiring for adults, I salute your fortitude in taking your young grandchildren. And I wonder also who has been telling the six year old about NYC since that is a very young age to want to go there and know what is there to see. No matter how badly the six year wants to go, I would think there is a gap between the desire to see the sights and understanding the physical requirements of the actual trip.

Wishing you all the best,
Donna

hello there. I too will travel to NY city with my children and plan to stay at the Newark/NJ. I have looked on the web and found out the hotels is cheaper in Newark/NJ compare to NY city. There is a train (call PATH) going from the Newark/Penn station (close by the Newark aiport) to the NY Penn station, Manhatten. It runs even at the weekend. The fare is about $3.00/person/each way. That's all I have. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
tim

Thanks so much for your help. This will help a lot. Patty

Thank you for your help. I'll check out the website. Thanks again.

Thank you for the great info. And I never thought about the extra security at the Statue of Liberty (which makes sense). Boy I'm getting tired just thinking about this.

Thanks for the info, I'll check out NJ rates. I'm really torn between cheaper motels and closer motels. Coming from rural Maine to NYC may totally wear me out. Talk about culture shock!

Good luck on your trip!

Hello,
You can go on-line and search for suite hotels so your grandchildren have room to run around. I stayed at Murray Hill East Suites 212-661-2100 and got a discount on parking at a garage around the corner. Many hotels offer either free parking or discounted parking. I booked this hotel stay through cheapest deals.com . It was a few years ago but it was a good
deal. Hope this helps.
Alice from New Haven

Hello again.
Definately stay in Manhattan. You can just walk outdoors and get to your destination. The cost is worth the convenience.
Alice from New Haven

Stay in Manhattan!Try www.craigslist.com for short stay accomodation.The subway is a treat for the little ones,trust me I live in Manhattan with two small children.The LONG lines for Statue of Liberty/Empire State can be terribly tiring for small children(and adults alike!)so be aware of this.Remember Manhattan is dotted throughout with excellent playgrounds for them to run around.A trip on the Circle line around Manhattan might cover all the bases especially for the older one.Also if you stop by ANY firehouse the firefighter's are always very welcoming to the children.Try not to take on too much a little goes a long way in NY!The heat is suffocating in August keep this in mind also.Keep me posted.
Tom NY