I want to report on our recent NYC trip while it is still fresh in my mind. Mindful of the fact that this is a family finance blog, I'll try to let you know how much our activities cost and if I think it was a good buy. Rather than one, long post, I will break these up into multiple posts. I hope it is slightly more interesting than if I trapped you in my living room to watch a slideshow!First some background: My husband and kids had never been to NYC and I hadn't been since high school. Therefore, we wanted to do all the typical, touristy stuff. This report won't include any offbeat stuff or "hidden gems" of NYC. It's pretty much your cheesy tourist, black socks and sandals kind of report.
Regarding hotels: I can't report to you on the cost of NY hotels because my husband's company paid for our hotel and, thus, I didn't have to research that aspect of the trip. I think I have the daily rate somewhere in my paperwork but it was a huge convention and it was booked right after 9/11 so I don't think it would have any relevance to today's prices.
We stayed at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square. It was a beautiful hotel with an incredible location but the elevator situation was a nightmare. Enough of a nightmare, in fact, that I don't think we would choose to stay there again.
Here is the rest of the report by day:
Day One: Gray Line Tour, Ground Zero, Night Tour
Day Two: Fox and Friends/Dayside, Top of the Rock, Brooklyn Tour, Lion King
Day Three: United Nations Tour, Times Square Toys R Us, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Junior's
Day Four: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Day Five: Central Park
Related Article:
Visiting New York City with Kids
Books on New York City with Kids
Posts
4 comments:
hello,
quick question...where did you stay? i'll be visiting NYC w/ my son in about 3 weeks and so far, we'll be in midtown. found a decent rate at a hotel i trust & love (read: clean, clean, clean!) for $239/night. i have seen a cheaper rate for the same hotel on Hotels.com and will probably buy through them...but i just wanted to know if you've been able to find some cheaper (yet SPOTLESS) alternatives. btw: i used to live in NYC so i know the city well.
We staued at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square. My husband's company picked up the bill so I have no idea how much the room was. The hotel was nice (and definitely clean) but the elevator situation was enough to make me sure I'd never stay there again.
I'm a tour guide for Gray Line here in NYC and came across your blog. I'm glad you all had a good time here in the city.
FYI, for 2006, the rack rate for the Marriott Marquis between Christmas and New Years for a standard room with a King sized bed was $550 per day and triple that on New Years Eve. (I had some newlyweds aboard my bus who spent their honeymoon here in NYC and who told me how much it cost when I asked.)
joelterryfriedland@yahoo.com
Another great city to take the family to is DC. Los of free activities - parades, tons of free museumes - notably the Air & Space and Natural History (great for kids), the National Zoo, plus things that relate to what they study in school, such as Revolutionary and Civil War reenactments, the Nat'l. Archives where they can see the Dec. of Independence, a ride to the top of the Washington Monument, and watching money being printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Then take a quick drive to DC's version of Niagra FGalls, Great Falls Nat'l. Park.
And all of these are FREE !!
Post a Comment