Vacations Blog

Anna Fader is a NYC native and is an expert on how to entertain kids in the Big Apple. There is a lot about New York City that typical tourists simply don’t know about and miss. This is especially the case when traveling kids. As Anna explains, there are five key things you need to know when visiting NYC.  Taking her advice will likely save you sanity in terms of keeping kids engaged in learning while traveling – and probably save you money too.

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Nadia Zonis, New York editor for Urban Hound, has written a book called City Walks With Dogs: New York. This book is a godsend if you’re planning on traveling to New York City with a dog.

City Walks with Dogs: New York, by Nadia Zonis

The book lists 50 walks or ‘adventures on foot and paw’ that you can set out on with your dog, including SoHo and the West Village, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Roosevelt Island and Park Slope’s Fifth Avenue.

A short excerpt from the book, about the Sirius Dog Run in Battery Park City: “At Kowsky Plaza, you’ll find the Sirius Dog Run, named for the rescue dog killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. The run has a wading pool for dogs and views of the Hudson River for humans. Battery Park’s devoted dog people have formed a group called Battery Park Dogs, which organizes events in the run–they can be a great way to meet new dog-walking friends.”

Since we’re on the subject, it saddens me to inform you that Taz, a german shepherd in the City’s K-9 unit passed away on Oct 2 of a cardiac arrest. Taz was the last remaining dog in the force out of the ones which participated in 9/11 search and rescue.

Getting back to Nadia’s book and your pet-friendly New York vacation - you’ll find a ton of pet-friendly attractions and routes in the book that you’ll never find in the tourist brochures.

And as if that wasn’t enough, Nadia Zonis also participated in Q&A sessions with readers of the New York Times.

For example, let’s take transportation. The most convinient way to get around in New York with a dog is to use the subway or a bus. But the only way you can get a pet on-board is to carry it in a container and make sure it is well-behaved and does not turn into a nusiance for other passengers.

This isn’t a problem if you’re carrying cats, like say a handy Ragdoll, along for the ride. But if you have a strapping big dog, then we have a problem. To find the solution, read Nadia’s answers to this and other vexing issues for pet-owners visiting the Big Apple in the NYT’s 3-part series here, here and here.

It’s time for another rousing edition of Travel Around the Internet! Brace yourself.

Here are just a few of the items that have shuffled across our inbox lately:

Disney Cruise specials and kids sail free!

Marriott wants to Twitter, email and Facebook you to Hawai’i! By all means, let them!

Read More »

The Radio City Music Hall Marquee

Halloween just passed.  Thanksgiving hasn’t even come yet, but the malls and department stores are decked with boughs of holly and other Christmas decorations and ‘Tis the Season is already playing on the public address systems.

Where else has Christmas arrived already?  At Radio City Music Hall in New York City.  Performances of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes began this past weekend.  Whether you like to get in the mood early or you wait to see Christmas shows until just before the holiday, the time to buy tickets—for Radio City Music Hall or any Christmas event—is now.

Some families go to the Christmas Spectacular every year.  Others go less often.  For others, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.  As for us, my wife and I have taken our seven year-old daughter twice in the past few years.  My daughter loves everything about New York and everything about seeing a show.  To be honest, when we were first going to the Christmas Spectacular I would have preferred seeing something on Broadway.  But, after going to the Christmas show—and seeing how much my daughter loved it—I was so glad we chose it.  Her favorite part of the show, she said, was “the Santas.”  There were a few dozen dancing Santas on stage (with more descending into a screen behind them while Santa explained that he had “helpers” to be in so many places at once.)  My wife and I loved when it actually snowed on the audience—and not just fake foam or plastic but wet snow that actually melted on us.  The second time we all saw the show, my daughter said that her favorite part was the life-size teddy bears dancing The Nutcracker.  She also loved the Rockettes dancing as rag dolls and soldiers.

Several parts of the Christmas Spectacular are repeated each year and new scenes are added as well while others are phased out.  Traditions like the Rockettes’ Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and a Living Nativity have been included every year since the show first opened in 1933.  Appearances by Santa, more from the Rockettes, scenes of Christmas in New York, and other songs and dances fill out a usual ninety-minute performance.  The show isn’t even the only attraction there.  Radio City Music Hall itself is a 1932 art deco movie palace that underwent a $70 million renovation 1999.  Some of its highlights include the original five-ton thirty-two foot high Wurlitzer organ, the largest theatrical curtain on earth, and a twenty-four carat goldleaf ceiling.

Ice Skating in Rockefeller Center

One of the best things about seeing the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall is that there’s also so much else to see during the holidays in midtown Manhattan.  Radio City Music Hall itself is part of Rockefeller Center—home to one of the country’s most famous Christmas trees and a great ice skating rink.  Other attractions within just a few blocks are St. Patrick’s Cathedral, FAO Schwarz toy store, and the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue.  For hotels and dining, options in New York City are endless.  (Seriously, before I could name them all I bet at least one more would open.)  For eating in midtown though, kids would probably love the American Girl Café, Mars 2112 or the Hard Rock Café.  The food is good to mediocre at these restaurants, but it’s not the main attraction—it comes in second to the surroundings.

There’s no denying that New York City is loud and crowded.  During heavy tourist months like December, it’s even more loud and crowded.  But there’s a reason that so many people still love going into the City for the holidays.  With the entertainment, the excitement, the stores and the sights, it’s a pretty magical place to be.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular plays through December 30, 2008.  See the Radio City Music Hall website for detailed performance times and ticket prices. VIP Packages are also available which include priority seating, a pre-show reception, and deluxe gift bags and souvenir books.

It’s no big secret that there’s a love-hate relationship between New York City and its tourists. NYC loves the dollars flowing in every year from 39 million American visitors and 9 million foreign tourists, but hates having to put up with insensitive and clueless tourists. So here’s some tips for NYC visitors which will help you blend in. Oh, and if you’re looking for the opposite, here’s a list of things to do in New York.

1. Walking -  You walk fast, and you expect the person in front to keep walking. In a straight line. You can’t just simply stop walking in the middle of the sidewalk and start taking pictures. You want to stop walking, then you move to the right and get your bags out of the way. Secondly, if you’re in a group, don’t walk in a row holding hands and block the people behind. Jaywalking is considered normal.

2.  Talking – Again, time is money. People will respond normally enough if you have a question. But you have to make it quick to avoid a brush-off. This applies especially when you’re ordering food. Think about what you want beforehand. If you start asking questions at the counter, you’re dead meat.

3. Eye Contact – No one makes eye contact, or smiles at strangers (exception for attracting the oppposite sex). If you want to blend in, never make eye contact, smile without reason, or start a conversation unless necessary.

4. Subway etiquette – I could write 13 rules just for the subway. But in a nutshell, observe rule No.3 without exception, and if there’s a crowd, keep the doors clear – stand left or right, wait for the people getting off to do so, and don’t push your way in using elbows. Once inside, don’t block the doors for people trying to get out. And don’t stand in the middle of the subway exits – People go in and out real fast with their heads down, and someone is likely to knock you down.

5. Tipping – 15 to 20% is the norm when you’re tipping. Especially for the taxis. Believe me, you don’t want to tick off an NYC cabbie by short-charging him on tips. And if you leave coins at a restaurant, then don’t go back. Ever.

6. Culture Shock – Some of you might be shocked by the colorful nature of some people you encounter - as in drag outfits and/or tasteless, bizzare dressing styles. Don’t be. Nobody cares, except you. On a related note, this isn’t California, so please leave your shorts and sun-glasses at home. See, the way this works is that dressing bizzare is acceptable, but walking around in shorts with sun-glasses with NYC t-shirts marks you as a tourist.

7. Food - Remember the thing about ordering fast in rule No.2 and tipping in rule No.5, and get a regular coffee (with cream and sugar), or a beer. No tea. You get fries on the side with most everything, so you don’t need to order it seperately.

8. Tourism – There’s no need to go visit the Statue of Liberty or take a Circle Line cruise. You can get a pretty good view from the Staten Island ferry, and its free to boot. Other than the crowd and the neon signs, Times Square is pretty much a tourist trap. Stay away if possible. And Museums have pay-what-you-wish days. Only tourists land up on the other days to pay the full admission price.

9. Local transport – Avoid cabs and driving your own car as much as possible. The subway works just fine, and you can get MTA NYC Transit Metrocards which are valid for both the subway and the buses. Depending on the duration of your stay, you can get anything from a 7-day unlimited card to a 1-day fun pass.

10. Shopping – Fifth Ave is a strict no-no for shopaholics, unless you have Macy’s coupons. You want the exact same designer wear and branded accessories and stuff at 40 to 80% discounts over retail prices, you go to Century21 or Gabay’s or Syms.

11. Homeless/Oddballs – You’ll see a lot of them, if you walk around a bit. They might even try to talk to you or make gestures, and if you make eye contact, or act like you’re interested, they’ll try to follow you. Just ignore them and move on. Same thing applies for flyer distributors. Its not rude to ignore kids or old people handing out flyers.

12. Ground Zero – Touchy subject. If you don’t know how to get there, better not ask a stranger on the street. If you must ask, then walk into a store or a restaurant, buy something, and then ask the staff.

13. Umbrella etiquette – First, never walk around without an umbrella. If you’re using it, you need to bob it up and down so you don’t knock out someone’s eye, or crash into another umbrella. Its a fine art as to who raises the umbrella and who weaves left or right a bit, but you’ll get the hang of it after one of two attempts.

Photo credit lynza.

With around 46 million annual visitors to NYC, Times Square and its surroundings have become one big fat tourist trap, focused on squeezing every last dollar out of naive tourists. Hotel rates, especially, are way out of control, with average nightly rates zooming up to over $300 (it was around $250 last year). What are Joe and Jane Six-pack supposed to do to find some decent and cheap hotels for New York trips? For starters, continue reading…

In addition to listing out the most desirable cheap hotels for the Big Apple, I’ll also be listing out some New Jersey hotels which are making a real and sustained effort to reach out to NYC visitors and tourists. Plus, NYCvisit.com -the City’s official tourism portal – has come up with an innovative deal offering 1 night free at major hotels. But first, let’s get started on the cheapskate NYC hotels.

The Pod Hotel – From bunk beds to single and double ‘pods’ and a swanky Townhouse Studio, the Pod Hotel in Turtle Bay, on the eastern edge of midtown, is a good example of how space challenged hotels in NYC can make up for it with cheap rates and a funky sense of style. They have a summer special going on now for $139. Standard rate for a Double Pod is around $200. More details here. All said and done, the rooms are small, even by NYC standards, but if all you’re looking for is a place to sleep, then the Pod is an excellent midtown base for an extended stay in New York City.

Two decent hotels near the Empire State Building are the Herald Square Hotel with rates from $89, and the Wolcott Hotel which comes highly recommended as one of the best budget hotels in New York City. Then there’s the New Yorker with rates from $129 and the Chelsea Savoy (its a bit far from the usual tourist haunts) with rates from $99. And the Park Savoy, just off Central Park, with rates from $145.

Now these were all decent enough and quite cheap, by NYC standards. But if you want something more out of a hotel, without having to pay through the nose, then check out the NYCVisit.com Sunday Stays program, which offers 20–30% off at participating hotels, along with free room upgrades, discounts on room service and restaurant dining, complimentary breakfast and other freebies.

Lastly, you can go one step further and entirely avoid the hassle and high prices in NYC by opting for a hotel in New Jersey, most of which are way cheaper and more spacious and luxurious. Here’s a full list (pdf file) of NJ hotels within 14 miles of New York City. This list might come in especially handy if you’re driving to New York City, where you’ll likely have to sell your car to get hold of parking space for a couple of days.

Photo by p_a_h via flickr (creative commons)

The French may not value Liberty as much as they used to do, but they sure do know how to celebrate it. Especially when they’re in New York. If you’re a night owl looking for things to do in New York, the Bastille Day celebrations in New York City extend into the wee hours of Monday, July 14th, with lots of hard partying, street festivities, games and getting collectively drunk enough that a lay visitor might be forgiven for assuming the Francophiles to be in the throes of a revolution trying to liberate NYC from Mayor Bloomberg’s iron grip.

From Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, there’s events lined up starting with the French Institute sponsored food street spectacle on 60th Street which stretches from 5th Ave to Lexington, the pétanque competitions at the Bar Tabac and the music shows, and then its time for the grand annual Bastille Day Ball at Spotlight Live on Monday evening, with dancing from 8 pm to 2 am.

Then there’s the Liberty Festival at Le Halles, which goes one step further. They started the party on July 4th, and are continuing it on upto July 14th, in an attempt to keep away the post Independence Day holiday blues, and keep the party alive for a whopping ten days from July 4-14.

But this is New York, and it inevitably gets progressively weirder. And if it involves the French, well.. even better. There’s a special Bastille Day party at the Lolita Bar in the Lower East Side from 6 to 9 pm July 14th, hosted by travel writer Tony Perrottet in honor of Napoleon’s Baguette, where he will unveil a replica of Napoleon’s disembodied penis. Any questions? Well, thing is, Perrottet just came out with a book titled Napoleon’s Privates: 2500 Years of History Unzipped, in which he addresses issues such as how Napolean’s organ ended up in New Jersey.

Photo credit – Le Comité des Associations Françaises (cafusa.org)