10 blank canvas days in NYC - any suggestions?

Hello all,

OK. We%26#39;re going to be in New York City from March 26-April 5. We%26#39;re a mid-20s Australian couple who love great, reasonably priced food, funky nightspots, getting outdoors (we%26#39;re quite active), adventure etc but also love just shopping, browsing, cafe lifestyle. One thing I do need your help on is where to go at night. We enjoy going out to dinner followed by drinks and dancing. We have been known to dance well into the %26#39;coffee and paper%26#39; hours of the morning! I love to explore at night, going from bar to bar in search of the best atmosphere and music. But as I understand it there%26#39;s quite a few to choose from over there! We%26#39;re style-seekers so if someone can point us in the right direction??

Second thing is cheap, nice accom in good location. Location top priority.

Any day trip suggestions also?

Thanks for your help guys xx

10 blank canvas days in NYC - any suggestions?

Okay, if you can afford tickets, you MUST go to opening day at Yankee stadium (April 3). www.stubhub.com has tixx (it%26#39;s sold out but they are kind of a sclaping middleman) for like $40 a piece.

For bar hopping/exploring I%26#39;d reccomend the West Village (Fat Black Pussycat Lounge is always fun) and Alphabet City. Lots of funky little bars, cafes and restaurants. If you want to do touristy places, stay in midtown.

For side trips, I%26#39;d suggest:

Philadelphia

Atlantic City (if you like to gamble)

the Berkshires

all are 2-3 hours away. Niagara falls would be good if you want to spend a night there.

10 blank canvas days in NYC - any suggestions?

Try the Lucerne in the Upper West Side. Good, comfortable, clean hotel with great service in a great neighborhood. Call the Lucerne direct for best negotiable rates. The Lucerne is a couple of blocks from Central Park, easy access to the river rides, and a straight shot on foot or subway to any area of downtown NYC. Buy a NY transit pass and use the busses and subway conveniently. I stayed there last summer for 2 weeks and enjoyed my stay very much. Comfortable, clean, in a perfect neighborhood, Great Doorman and then, of course, the wonderful Nice Matin next door. Great breakfast, good lunches and absolutely outsanding dinners.

Hi

Can%26#39;t help you that much with the night life bit...but my wife and I did go to NYC in July last year and we stayed there for about 1 week. We stayed at Hotel Thirty Thirty and were pretty satisfied with that. I have posted a trip report with pictures on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there :-)

Regards

Gard

Thanks everyone

We are definitely looking at staying downtown as I%26#39;ve heard it%26#39;s the only way to go. Not sure whether it would be a waste spending a night at Niagara Falls or if it%26#39;s better to do it in one day?

We%26#39;d rather spend less on accom and more on filling our time so does anyone know any good downtown backpackers places?

Then I think we%26#39;ll do all the usual sightseeing + Philly, Boston? Niagara and then perhaps a little hot air ballooning adventure in NYC! Can%26#39;t wait!

Forget about Niagara Falls as a day trip unless you are going to fly there and back. It%26#39;s located in the other corner of the state about 400 miles away. It%26#39;s an 8-hour drive each way.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you can also forget about hot air ballooning in or over New York City. Not allowed. Too many tall buildings. There are a few spots in New Jersey as well as in upstate New York where you can go ballooning.