Please help, 1st time travelling to New York

I will be arriving at Newark on Fri 29th April at 12.00pm returning on Mon 2nd May. Flight departure time 8.00pm.

There are 6 women altogether staying at New York Helmsley 42nd Street.

I would like some advice to plan the time we are there. I know you can%26#39;t fit everything in for such a short stay, but would appreciate any advice for saving time.

Would like to book the fly, float %26amp; feast package with liberty helicopters on the Sat which would be at about 5pm. Any comments from anyone who has done this trip.

We would all like to see Central park, Empire state building, Macy%26#39;s, 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales. Ground Zero, Grand Central station, Chinatown and Little Italy. Any help much appreciated to plan each day.

Thanks Diane

Please help, 1st time travelling to New York

Hi, and congratulations on your first trip to the great city. I take students there frequently, as well as taking weekends/weeks there with my husband when I can.

I highly reccommend that you purchase and print your tickets for the Empire State before you go. It%26#39;ll save you a lot (underline that 3 times) of time waiting on line to purchase tickets. It%26#39;s all explained on the Empire State%26#39;s website. It%26#39;s great to go during the day or at night. It%26#39;s beautiful either way.

Chinatown is fine for some interesting (and cheap) shoping for stuff for friends back home. Don%26#39;t miss Ferrari%26#39;s, a super bakery in Little Italy.

Grand Central station is a place we plan to spend some time on our next trip to the city. You simply can%26#39;t soak it up in an hour. I%26#39;d suggest checking out their websites for info on restaurants and shops there so you can make a plan.

At Macy%26#39;s be sure to check out the wooden escalator down to The Cellar (my favorite part of the store). BTW, I%26#39;ve found some great deals at Macy%26#39;s, but it can get PACKED, so again, give yourself more than an hour there. There%26#39;s also great shopping down Canal in SOHO. The shops around Rockerfeller Center are great, too.

I also reccommend getting one of those folding subway maps--try amazon. There%26#39;s also a great street atlas called Manhattan Block by Block that helps one navigate the neighborhoods. The subways are wonderful and so easy to use. Get a metrocard instead of using tokens. (see their website, too)

Central Park is HUGE. You%26#39;ll need a map (and time--again).

I have a couple of favorite places you didn%26#39;t mention: The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is incredible. Beyond words. The Village is my favourite neighborhood. Eclectic. There%26#39;s a great bakery on Bleeker St. (famed for music) and you shouldn%26#39;t miss Chumley%26#39;s if you%26#39;re into pub grub and literary atmosphere.

I%26#39;m a theatre person, so I have to highly suggest you see a show. A cheap way to do it is to see what%26#39;s on sale at the TKTS booth in Times Square. Get on line at about 2 and tickets that are available for shows are on for half price (cash only, I think--again, check their website). Another good place to get tickets is broadway.com. Carmine%26#39;s is a great restaurant in the theatre district--served family style--with 6 of you it%26#39;ll be perfect.

Have FUN! You really won%26#39;t be able to avoid it in NYC!

Please help, 1st time travelling to New York

Hi, and congratulations on your first trip to the great city. I take students there frequently, as well as taking weekends/weeks there with my husband when I can.

I highly reccommend that you purchase and print your tickets for the Empire State before you go. It%26#39;ll save you a lot (underline that 3 times) of time waiting on line to purchase tickets. It%26#39;s all explained on the Empire State%26#39;s website. It%26#39;s great to go during the day or at night. It%26#39;s beautiful either way.

Chinatown is fine for some interesting (and cheap) shoping for stuff for friends back home. Don%26#39;t miss Ferrari%26#39;s, a super bakery in Little Italy.

Grand Central station is a place we plan to spend some time on our next trip to the city. You simply can%26#39;t soak it up in an hour. I%26#39;d suggest checking out their websites for info on restaurants and shops there so you can make a plan.

At Macy%26#39;s be sure to check out the wooden escalator down to The Cellar (my favorite part of the store). BTW, I%26#39;ve found some great deals at Macy%26#39;s, but it can get PACKED, so again, give yourself more than an hour there. There%26#39;s also great shopping down Canal in SOHO. The shops around Rockerfeller Center are great, too.

I also reccommend getting one of those folding subway maps--try amazon. There%26#39;s also a great street atlas called Manhattan Block by Block that helps one navigate the neighborhoods. The subways are wonderful and so easy to use. Get a metrocard instead of using tokens. (see their website, too)

Central Park is HUGE. You%26#39;ll need a map (and time--again).

I have a couple of favorite places you didn%26#39;t mention: The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is incredible. Beyond words. The Village is my favourite neighborhood. Eclectic. There%26#39;s a great bakery on Bleeker St. (famed for music) and you shouldn%26#39;t miss Chumley%26#39;s if you%26#39;re into pub grub and literary atmosphere.

I%26#39;m a theatre person, so I have to highly suggest you see a show. A cheap way to do it is to see what%26#39;s on sale at the TKTS booth in Times Square. Get on line at about 2 and tickets that are available for shows are on for half price (cash only, I think--again, check their website). Another good place to get tickets is broadway.com. Carmine%26#39;s is a great restaurant in the theatre district--served family style--with 6 of you it%26#39;ll be perfect.

Have FUN! You really won%26#39;t be able to avoid it in NYC!

I would get on one of the Big Apple tour buses...Red Double deckers..can%26#39;t miss them...they are usually parked at Times Square. You can purchase tickets right at the bus. There are 4 different tours...each giving a great overview of everything you meantioned. You can get on and off whenever you want to. Be sure to do the one that takes you up to Harlem and the one that takes you across the Brooklyn Bridge into Brooklyn of course. The guides are so good and will give you resturant tips and anything you are interested in. After the tours I really felt like I knew New York. When you go to Ground Zero walk around the entire site..very humbling experience.

My favorite stores are Saks Fifth Avenue, Bendels, Barney%26#39;s..stroll up Madison Avenue and of course 5th avenue. Check out Central Park as well..have a wonderful trip!

PS on the Broadway shows..if there is a show you really want to see book it online before you leave home. I like playbill.com or broadwayshows.com. A lot of new shows are opening this spring!