New York - Memorial Day

[Anonymous]

We are planning a trip to New York memorial day weekend. We plan on going up on Saturday morning and staying until Monday. We are scheduled to attend the Yankees game on Saturday at 4pm. I have a couple questions as we have never been to New York before:

1. Should we drive or take the train? Concerned about cost of parking in the city.
2. Hotels - Any recommendations as far as specific hotels and areas? We will have two kids with us ages 9 and 7.
3. Best way to Yankee stadium from the City - Drive, Subway, Taxi?
4. Sunday will be our day to hit the sites in the City - Any suggestions of things to see that will keep the kids entertained.
5. Kid friendly dinner recommendations for Sunday night.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are planning a trip to New York memorial day weekend. We plan on going up on Saturday morning and staying until Monday. We are scheduled to attend the Yankees game on Saturday at 4pm. I have a couple questions as we have never been to New York before:

1. Should we drive or take the train? Concerned about cost of parking in the city.
2. Hotels - Any recommendations as far as specific hotels and areas? We will have two kids with us ages 9 and 7.
3. Best way to Yankee stadium from the City - Drive, Subway, Taxi?
4. Sunday will be our day to hit the sites in the City - Any suggestions of things to see that will keep the kids entertained.
5. Kid friendly dinner recommendations for Sunday night.

Thanks

I've taken my two kids every spring break for the past four years (8 & 10 when we started). I'm not a New Yorker (although I had been to visit before) but here's what we've figured out.

1. Take the train. Parking is prohibitively expensive and the train is lots of fun. Our favorite part: the stretch between Wilmington, DE and Philadelphia. There are a TON of churches, many with onion domes, to be seen out the windows - count them!

2. We've done well at the Embassy Suites in lower Manhatten. It's right on the battary, which gives you an easy place to let the kids run around and burn off steam. There's a good breakfast buffet, a cool Mexican restaurant in the building (they make guacamole at your table), and an adjoining movie theater. Downside - the only thing it's close to is the ferry to Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty, so plan on cab fares.

4. Must-sees, according to my kids: the Empire State Building and M&M World in Times Square.

[Anonymous]

Any one else with advice on hotels?

[Anonymous]

. Take the train. Parking is prohibitively expensive and the train is lots of fun. Our favorite part: the stretch between Wilmington, DE and Philadelphia. There are a TON of churches, many with onion domes, to be seen out the windows - count them!

Just as one alternate opinion on this, I actually find the train to be prohibitively expensive (though definitely more fun!). When we last went to NYC in September, we found parking for $40/day x 3 days. On the other hand, train fare for our family of four would have been close to $800. Even with petrol, wear and tear on the car, tolls, and parking, driving turned out to be a much cheaper option.

In terms of hotels, in the past we've stayed in Bubba and Bean Lodge (http://www.bblodges.com/). They have a family suite type of thing, including kitchenettes, at very reasonable prices.

[Anonymous]

Marriott Hotel Eastside is conveniently located midtown and is right on Lexington w/ easy access to the subway (which I highly recommend you take for the Yankee game)

[Anonymous]

There is also a new bus service from DC to NY. It's supposed to be more "luxurious" than the chinatown buses and I believe it picks up in Dupont Circle. Roundtrip is about $50. I think the website is DC2NY.com.

[Anonymous]

Find a hotel as close as possible to the stadium -- well not close enough to hear the noise. NYC is HUGE. My husband and I went for a weekend there about a year ago (alone, without the kids). We payed a lot for the hotel because it was close to where we were going to go -- that is worth it, trust me. You don't want to spend your whole weekend in NYC either in a cab or on the subway with kids in tow. NYC is fun, enjoy! Buy one of those tiny pocket travel books about NYC, they have maps and are straight and to the point about where to go.

[Anonymous]

(One other thing, stay close to the stadium, but first check to see that the stadium is in a safe area.)

[Anonymous]

We just stayed at the W Tuscany and had a good experience. We found a good deal (for NYC, anyway) online.

[Anonymous]

New York hotels are doing HORRIBLY (!!!!) in this economy, consequently there are a lot of deals to be had. Some are including free parking and breakfast. Check out The Alex -- they have a package that offers free breakfast and free parking, and rooms are all suite and have kitchens so you could potentially save some on lunches, etc. Marriott's Residence Inn Times Square is another good one. Great location, larger rooms with kitchens and free breakfast as well. Someone else mentioned the East Side Marriott --the rooms are nice but REALLY REALLY small. It would be hard to fit a family w/gear in those rooms.

www.thealexhotel.com

[Anonymous]

The US Air or Delta Shuttle is a lot less expensive than the train. Their weekend rates are typically pretty reasonable. Around $150 round trip instead of $250 for the train. Not sure if weekend rates extend to memorial day, but it's worth checking out.

[Anonymous]

Another option that we have used in the past. We drive from DC to Trenton, NJ and then take NJ Transit into NY. It is much cheaper than Amtrak and flying. I believe they have some deals on the weekend for families called a Family Supersaver, which allows children to ride for free with a paying adult. Adult off peak round trip is $21.50. Parking at the Trenton station is affordable maybe $8-$10 per day. So you can get in and out for under $100. The train ride is less than an hour from Trenton to NY.

[Anonymous]

just booked for the same weekend at the best western bowery (new hotel) for $119 a night with code "travelzoo" - can't beat that price

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New York hotels are doing HORRIBLY (!!!!) in this economy, consequently there are a lot of deals to be had. Some are including free parking and breakfast. Check out The Alex -- they have a package that offers free breakfast and free parking, and rooms are all suite and have kitchens so you could potentially save some on lunches, etc. Marriott's Residence Inn Times Square is another good one. Great location, larger rooms with kitchens and free breakfast as well. Someone else mentioned the East Side Marriott --the rooms are nice but REALLY REALLY small. It would be hard to fit a family w/gear in those rooms.

www.thealexhotel.com

We've stayed at the Marriott. It was really nice and the free breakfast is convenient with the kids.