Help with Itinery

Hello!

I am travelling to New York with my boyfriend for 5 days in September and I would much appreciate some help/comments on our planned itinery. We are both in our mid twenties and don锟斤拷锟絫 want anything too rigid, but at the same time we need to get some ideas!

Day 1 锟斤拷锟?Arrive in NYC early afternoon, unpack at hotel (The Edison near Times Square), have a wander around Times Square, do the ESB and return to Times Square to have dinner at Virgils.Day 2 锟斤拷锟?Get the Subway to Wall St, explore there and then head on down to Ground Zero to pay our respects and then into Century 21 for some retail therapy. For the afternoon we would like to do a 2/3 hr Circle Line cruise (where do they go from and which is better). Head back to the hotel in the afternoon and then go for dinner in the River Caf锟斤拷 (how soon do we need to make reservations for September?

Day 3 锟斤拷锟?Get the subway to Chinatown, wander from here back through Soho and Greenwich, taking in the sights. We锟斤拷锟絛 like to have dinner/drinks in this area tonight, any recommendations?

Day 4 锟斤拷锟?Walk from our hotel to Grand Central Station (anything of interest en route?), have lunch here, walk to the Rockafeller Centre, on to Central Park for a carriage ride. Tonight we hope to catch a show (any recommendations for shows in mid September?) After the show we may go to Carmines for food (I know there are only 2 of us but we really want to go!)

Day 5 锟斤拷锟?Shopping Day!! We want to visit Macys, Bloomingdales, Gap, Old Navy, Victoria锟斤拷锟絪 Secret. Which way would be best to do these and are they all in one central area? Late afternoon we might head to Brooklyn on the Subway (what number?) and then walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhatten. For our last night we may go for cocktails at the Rainbow Room, then where to go for dinner?

Any comments at all would be much appreciated along with any recommendations for things we may be missing out on!

Thanks in advance!!!

Help with Itinery

Tanya. The first thing to do is re-consider your choice of hotel. The Edison is a very old property and, although well-located, it does not, shall we say, get the best of reviews. I understand you may be on a budget but you have some time to examine other alternatives. Now to your questions.

Day 2. The 2-hour Circle Line Cruise forms sort of a ';U'; going down the Hudson, around the lower tip of Manhattan and up the East River. The 3-hour cruise makes a complete circle around all of Manhattan island including the northern parts. Most of what most tourists want to see is seen in the 2-hour cruise. Both leave from Pier 83 on 42nd Street and the river. And, believe it or not, if the River Cafe takes reservations now, make them now. Ask for a window table.

Day 3. Since you%26#39;re planning to eat at Carmine%26#39;s the next night I won%26#39;t recommend any Italian places. For a Chinese dinner in Chinatown try 10 Pell (name is the address), Joe%26#39;s Shanghai (right across the street from 10 Pell) or Big Wong on Mott. All very good. If you want delicious burgers and fries and a lively bar scene, try Fanelli%26#39;s on Prince Street in Soho. For a small, romantic French bistro with wonderful food, there%26#39;s Chez Michallett in the west Village at the corner of Bedford and Grove. If this is a Friday or Saturday night you%26#39;ll need to make a reservation in advance.

Day 4. What%26#39;s of interest here is not what%26#39;s between the hotel and Grand Central--it%26#39;s Grand Central itself. An architectural masterpiece, you can easily spend two hours checking out the shops and architecture. You forget it%26#39;s a train station. Stop at Junior%26#39;s for some cheesecake. And when you go to Carmine%26#39;s, remember, one dish will usually feed four people. Don%26#39;t over-order.

Day 5. Macy%26#39;s is on 34th and 6th. Bloomingdales I think is on Lex and 59th (not sure). Haven%26#39;t a clue where the others are. Just make sure you go back to the hotel to drop off your packages before going to Brooklyn. You don%26#39;t want to schlep them around. The subway you take to Brooklyn depends upon where you wind up staying. You can take the A, C, or E to Borough Hall or the 2 or 3 to Clark Street. Make sure you explore Brooklyn Heights. The Clark St. station will let you off right in the middle of it. The Heights is a landmark residential neighborhood of old brownstone homes and tree-lined streets with old fashioned gas lamps. Walk down to the Promenade for the best views of Manhattan in all of New York. From there it%26#39;s about a 15-minute walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. The entrance is just off Tillary Street, easy to find with plenty of signs. At the other end of the Bridge is the Brooklyn Bridge subway station.

Help with Itinery

Thanks Ruffian.

We may look into re-booking our hotel but i don%26#39;t know if that will be feasable as it%26#39;s part of a package deal!

I will be storing up all your advice for the trip in September.

There is a Gap, H%26amp;M, Old Navy, and Victoria%26#39;s Secret across the street from Macy%26#39;s. Gap, H%26amp;M, and many other stores are located on Lexington Ave. near Bloomingdale%26#39;s. You shouldn%26#39;t have any trouble finding them.

Thanks very much for all your advice.

Just wondering if any one else had any further reccomendations/advice about out itinery! We want to have the best time possible with our 5 days!