Trip Report - Mother/Daughter trip for New Years

This was our first trip to NYC for my mother (64) and I (25). We stayed in the Sofitel on TA recommendations. We were hoping to mostly sight-see and do a little shopping. We are not foodies so eating was never going to be a big part of our trip – also I’m vegetarian and she’s coeliac so we are awkward to feed!

I loved the city and can’t wait to return. My mother enjoyed it but I’m not sure she loved it. I think it’s a little hectic for her liking!

I loved the hotel, the subway, the people, The Village and the Brooklyn Bridge. I did not love the shops though, and particularly hated how ridiculously hot they are. In my experience, Americans tend to be borderline obsessed with air-conditioning, so I was really surprised at how uncomfortably hot they keep their shops!

Everywhere needs more sign posts! Not the streets, obviously, as it’s too easy navigate the grid system, but Central Park needs more, most department stores need more (store directories and exit signs) and the ESB needs more so Express Pass holders don’t end up standing in line!

This is really long - I%26#39;m really bad at editing!

Sunday 27th

Landed JFK 12.00

In a taxi by 1.00 – slightly disappointed to reach Manhattan by a tunnel – had always imagined arriving on the Brooklyn Bridge.

Room wasn’t ready at hotel so we temporarily checked in to another. Then set off in search of Uggs. Unfortunately they were not to be found ANYWHERE. I did find hair straighteners easily though, which was vital! We were not at all prepared for just how crowded sidewalks in NYC are at this time of year. Trying to get anywhere was SO frustrating. Why do people have to just stop in the way?? Bizarrely, it was also absolutely roasting, so it was straight into the shower when we returned to the hotel.

At 7 we headed for Radio City and the Christmas Spectacular. This was truly spectacular. Our seats were great and the Rockettes were fabulous. Afterwards we ate burgers in the diner beside our hotel as we were just too tired to look anywhere else. Then it was bed (in our proper room) by 10.

Monday 28th

We began by going straight to a branch of David Z I had looked up on the internet for Uggs. Happy I finally had them, we stopped for breakfast at some diner nearby then headed up 5th for Central Park. 5th Avenue was, again, frustrating to walk along. It felt like walking in a procession rather than trying to get somewhere. Eventually we reached Grand Army Plaza and The Plaza Hotel which I was really excited to see (I’m a big Home Alone fan!). We entered the park here and spent about 3 hours wandering around.

Central Park was very different than I expected. Firstly, I expected it to be bigger – I’m not sure why. I also expected lots of large, open green spaces rather than all the woodland areas. It is really beautiful though and the weather was perfect – sunny and clear but chilly. I have to say though, I found it really hard to navigate. I could see in my head the map of the park, and I knew where all the sites were in relation to each other, but actually locating many of them was really difficult! We seemed to keep bypassing things without ever seeing them. We did find everything eventually though. I think Bethesda Fountain and Belvedere Castle were my highlights. We ate at the Boathouse Express Café which was really picturesque. Before leaving, we stopped to watch the skaters at the Wollman Rink which was great fun. Overall I really enjoyed the park, but I think it needs WAY more information signs and maps.

After the park we went into FAO Schwartz which was so crowded! It was fun though and I was really excited to see the piano from Big! We walked back down 5th, stopping into Tiffany, SAKS and St Patrick’s along the way. Back at the hotel we crashed and took an early night.

Tuesday 30th

This day was mostly spent shopping. I really wanted to go to Abercrombie and Fitch, but didn’t want to queue, so we started off by heading to the South Street Seaport. This was our first experience of the subway. I was a little apprehensive as, personally, I think the subway map is ridiculously badly done and very hard to read. However, I found the actual process of using the subway very straightforward. That subway map needs some serious work though! I was so hugely disappointed by A%26amp;F, I bought nothing. I did like the Seaport though – it had a nice atmosphere and I got some stuff at the Gap there.

We returned to midtown and during the day were all over the place, in Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf, Saks, Macy’s, Daffy’s and dozens of other shops. I got the 7 Jeans I was looking for (at a really good price!) and some Nike and Levis stuff for my brother, but overall I was very disappointed in the shopping. Probably, I just wasn’t looking in the right places, but I just didn’t see much that interested me – mostly designer clothes, when I was really looking for “highstreet” stuff. In fact the few items I bought were from Esprit and Roxy and were no cheaper than they would have been at home. I was really impressed with the Christmas windows though, and Macy’s in particular is wonderfully decorated for the season. Herald Square itself is also very picturesque.

During the day we stopped to eat at a TGI. What a letdown! We were not expecting gourmet cuisine or anything, just some basic burgers-type food – after all it is TGIs, but the menu, compared to at home, was so limited! The only one (!) veggie option on the menu was not available, so I had to settle for just fries.

We returned to the hotel where we had room service dinner – gorgeous food, then headed off to see TOTR which I had pre-booked on the internet. There were no lines, which was great and the views were amazing at night. It’s particularly great to see the ESB in all its glory. We stayed around to see the skaters and the Christmas tree which is beautiful. After enjoying the views we headed back to the hotel for the night.

Wednesday 31st

We had ordered room-service breakfast so we would be ready to leave early, and that arrived at 7 and was delicious – mmm pancakes!

Then we set off on the subway for Battery Park for our visit to SOL and Ellis Island, which I had already booked on the internet. We arrived in good time, but it would be nice if there was better notification that you need to be in the first 5 carriages to get off at South Ferry! My poor mother was so NOT able for running down the tracks with the conductor shouting at her at one of the previous stops!

It was freezing and snowing (which I loved) and the lines for security were long but not as bad as I had imagined. We got on the ferry within an hour, around 9.30 and set off. The views of the statue were a little hazy due to the weather so I didn’t get great pictures. We had tickets to go up the pedestal of the statue so we started queuing immediately we arrived. It was so unimaginably cold – snow and wind. I was wearing layers of clothes, a huge jacket, hat, scarf, gloves etc but was still frozen. This queue was VERY long. It took almost 2.5 hours to get into the statue. But it was worth it. I would never do it again, but I am very glad to have done it this one time. I was apprehensive about all the stairs as I have a heart condition, but it was actually fine. I couldn’t see much from the pedestal due to the weather but it was very cool to be that close to the statue itself. Personally I find the statue awe-inspiring and to be honest, she freaks me out a little. I feel like she’s going to start moving and step down into the water at any moment. I also kept think of that moment in Planet of the Apes where they find her head and arm sticking out of the sand and that freaks me out too. What can I say, I’m weird like that!

Once we had seen the statue we headed over to Ellis Island. After recharging in the little café we began with the audio-tour. I think the tour really does enhance your experience of the museum. It really helps you imagine how it felt for the immigrants passing through all those years ago. Surprisingly, unlike most Irish people, we don’t actually have any ancestors who emigrated to America and passed through Ellis Island, so we didn’t feel that personal connection to the place, which must, I’m sure, make it all the more poignant.

We left Ellis Island around 4.00 and then returned to our hotel, where we could see the Times Square NYE madness beginning. We crawled into bed to try to warm up a little and woke up around 10.00 that night. By the time we were ready to leave it was really too late to go eat so we decided to head to Central Park for the fireworks. The city was crazy busy and all the cross-street were closed off and it felt like we were being herded towards the park whether we liked it or not! It was also still unbelievably freezing, definitely the coldest I’ve ever been, including going skiing in Switzerland. We reached Bethesda Terrace, where all the buzz seemed to be, by 11.45. There was a DJ and people dancing and all the runners preparing for the midnight race. It was a really nice atmosphere – lots of families with kids and dogs (some of whom were whining over their cold paws). The fireworks began at midnight and went on for what seemed for forever! They were really beautiful and the finale was spectacular. I would really recommend the park as a great alternative to Times Square.

After the fireworks we headed for somewhere to eat. We ended up at Landmarc at the Time-Warner building, where we got a table immediately. In fact it was half empty and the atmosphere kind of dead, but all we really wanted was some good hot food anyway, so it suited us fine. The food was great actually and very much welcome considering how late it was – 1.00 by the time we were ordering! After that it was home to bed to defrost again.

Thursday 1st

A slightly later start after the late night. We began with breakfast, then off to the ESB. I had pre-booked Express Passes. The line was SO long when we got there. I asked two different employees who both said we still had to wait in line, even with Express Passes. We finally got into the building after an hour, where a different employee told us we shouldn’t have had to wait and could skip all the lines with our passes. From then on it was great, as we skipped another equally long line for security and for all the elevators up. The views at the top were spectacular. I think the views are better than TOTR, with the exception that you can’t see the ESB itself! It was very windy and icy cold but very clear. Definitely worth it.

After ESB we headed to Brooklyn on the subway so we could walk back across the Brooklyn Bridge. This was one of the highlights for me. The weather was great and the views were amazing. After, we headed back to Times Square to pick up our show tickets for that evening and ate in Ellen’s Stardust Diner which was right next door to the theatre. The food was fine and the singing staff very talented. Not an amazing place, but enjoyable none the less.

That evening we headed to Mamma Mia. I really enjoyed the show – it was funny and entertaining. Although I’ve seen better, it was enjoyable. The sound was not great though and I would have expected better from a Broadway production.

Friday 2nd

This was our last day and we hadn’t really planned anything. We decided to head down to the WTC site. I had read there wasn’t much to actually see, which was true, but it was worthwhile just to go see the place and pay our respects to all those who lost their lives. It’s actually quite an eerie feeling being there; quite hard to believe what happened.

We did a little shopping at Century 21 which is a frustrating nightmare of a shop, then decided to have a walk around The Village. We had no real idea where we were going but got off at Christopher Street/Sheridan Square and had a little wander round. I thought the area was beautiful. I would love to spend more time there. The buildings are really beautiful and I love the whole atmosphere of the place. We saw Washington Square Park and wandered randomly around Grove St, Bedford St, Perry St, Waverly Place and Bleecker St. We stopped for pizza in John’s on Bleecker St which was really good and then, unfortunately, it was time to head back to collect our bags at the hotel and get a cab to JFK. Here we encountered our first and only rude, unhelpful and ignorant person during our time in NYC – a TSA official. She was directing the line of people through security just before the gate at JFK and thought the best way to do this was to shout and be sarcastic and insulting and treat all passengers like imbeciles. I have to say she really stood out though, because all other New Yorkers we met were lovely!

Trip Report - Mother/Daughter trip for New Years

I love your report! I took my daughters to New York last year for their first trip, and sharing that time together was fantastic. You two, however managed to totally outdo us. (It was St. Patrick%26#39;s day when I had scheduled our trip to Ellis Island. Who knew that the city would basically close down?)

Oh, and my son went to Dublin last year. Loved the city and the people.

Trip Report - Mother/Daughter trip for New Years

Thanks for your report. You and your mom picked the busiest time of year to visit New York City. I hope you both come back during any other time of the year to see this magnificent city. The streets shouldn%26#39;t be as crowded and you won%26#39;t be ';herded'; around the way one can be during the holidays.

Thanks for posting. It sounds like you had a great time despite the crowds. Moms

Thanks for the happy recap and congratulations on a successful visit!

Going to Landmarc TWC on NYE - that%26#39;s going to be my strategy next year! Great idea. Isn%26#39;t the food good?

Too bad about TGIF. We try to warn people on this forum that chain restaurants in NYC are overpriced and have lousy food.

Come back when it%26#39;s warmer!

Thanks for your report. I%26#39;ve booked the ferry for SOL/Ellis Island next week and was wondering if it was worth the wait to enter the pedestal. Fortunately the queues should be much shorter by then.

BTW - did you Mum have fun?

I enjoyed your critique of NYC and you are correct in you observations. It is true that the bargains aren%26#39;t there like they were for you guys for two reasons. One, the Euro is getting hammered and two, you are shopping in Manhattan. If you want the really good deals, go into the outer boros, (Queens, brooklyn, the Bronx) or go to Woodbury Commons, which is an outlet center an hour north. There is where all of the deals are.

That TSA ';official'; sounds like a real bi%26amp;ch. You should have gotten her name and tried to report her later on. (Once you got through security of course.)

Here, I found this for you...

https://contact.tsa.dhs.gov/DynaForm.aspx…

Take care and I am glad you had fun.