There is so much to do in NY and 5 days is not a lot of time in this wonderful city, do you really want to spend one of your precious days on a trip from the city.

I think you will need to fly to Niagra if you want to do it in a day. It is about a 10 hour drive each way.

I think Boston is about a 4 hour journey away and I think there really is a very good bus service.

I hope this helps.

Whenever we have gone to NYC with Virgin, one of the offered trips is to Niagara Falls. It is a very long day but it can be done. We are going to do it next time(February) because we may never get to go back again.

Enough said.

wickchick done the new york city tour which this company was a long day but a good day seeing new york,not sure which hotels they pick up from just says manhatton hotels but its only a short walk from times sq to there main depot...its a expensive day trip but i went to niagara falls in 2000 and all i can say its awesome...

http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/booking.asp?action=ProductDetail&productId=1403

hope this info helps,have to say New york is my Fav USA city,have a good trip..

Wickchick, we took this Niagra tour http://www.viator.com/brochure/product_show.jsp?ID=1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=3857NIA.

Not cheap, but it was a day we'd not have missed. Picked up at the hotel at around 5am and returned around 9pm. We were in a small tour group of 12 - there were two groups of 12 in two vans - and our guide couldn't have been more attentive and considerate. We expected to fly on a small charter plane but they flew us JetBlue on a scheduled flight from JFK to Buffalo. This might have been the only fly in the ointment as the other group flew to Rochester ,which is a half hour further away than Buffalo, so their tour was that little bit shorter than ours. I think we might have been miffed if we'd been in the other group.

Overall, as a one-off, we'd recommend this day trip.

H&H

Oh, forgot to answer the second part of your question.

We did the two day open topped bus tours. We liked the hop on, hop off aspect but mainly just stayed on to get our bearings and get a little info from the guides.

http://www.365tickets.com/attractions.cfm/attractId/394

Also do get a Big Apple Greeter - almost the best part of our stay in New York. Half a day walking around wherever you want them to take you. We saw parts of New York we definitely would have missed, if only because we'd have been too nervous to go off the beaten track on our own. They also show you how to use and navigate their subway system which isn't as straight forward as the London Underground.

http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/

Hope this helps

H&H

Hi Guys, thanks for all your replies, I will certainly be checking out the websites you all gave me. The fact that it is a long day doesnt really bother me and neither does the cost i suppose. It will be my 30th birthday and New York and the Falls are the last places left that i really want to go and see before i settle down and get all sensible!!

Does anyone know of any companies to book excusions with e.g. shopping outlets, river crusies etc...

Thanks
Nicky

You can book a lot of trips before you go to NY through Expedia. When we booked we had a large choice of trips that we could book. The downtown and updown loop open top bus tours are a must to get your bearings. I think we booked a boat trip on Expedia as well.

Gray Line are good - here's the link to their New York website:

http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/

U2fan

While you are there - do the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island tour - it's brilliant especially if it's a sunny day. You can book this when you get there. "walk about" tours are also available - just surf the internet -they can offer you a local view of neighbourhoods in Manhatten and the other 4 boroughs.

If you are interested in getting out of NYC - Brooklyn has the 'Heights' to offer. A lovely old neighbourhood - it's one subway stop from Manhatten (5 minutes) (or walk over the Brooklyn Bridge - its free)- lots of cafes/restaurants and you can buy your lunch and walk several blocks to the famous Brooklyn Promenade which is over 1 mile long, has lots of benches and gives you those incredible downtown views of Manhatten with New Jersey across the way and Staten Island to the far left. Brooklyn Heights is composed of modern apartment and old brownstone houses (built late 1700's - @ 1840's). It's a really nice place.

Also the Staten Island ferry is a great boat trip - inexpensive and again - offers great views from the water of lower Manhatten, Brooklyn and the Verrazzano Bridge. As it also serves as commuter transportation - you don't need to book ahead - just go to the departure terminal. It's right beside the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island area.

Just got back from New York. The Staten Island Ferry is completely free. Takes 20 minutes each way and gives a chance to rest the weary feet. It's worth the trip on it as you pass the Statue Of Liberty and get some great views of the Manhatten Skyline. Oh, did I mention it is FREE? Lol.

My daughters and I are heading to New York in November, have been reading about all the tours we can do, but as we are only there for 4 days we would like to do the best ones possible. We have heard the Woodbury Common trip is very good. As well as all the usual sights, but would love to hear other peoples opinions

Many Thanks

Jenn

We found the Hop on Hop off Grayline bus tour good. It was $49 for a 48hr ticket for all loops.

http://www.coachusa.com/newyorksightseeing/

Woodbury Common

Have a look at this below from trip advisor NYC forum. Personally from what I have read over the years I wouldn't waste my time going to Woodbury. There is so much to see and do in NYC including shopping, I wouldn't waste a day in a mall IMO, especially you are only there for 4 days.

How can I get to Woodbury Common without a car. I know that I can take Gray line (but it cost $38!!) Any other ways to get there cheaply?!?!

There's one other bus line that goes for $30 but there's only 1 bus a day going there and 1 bus coming back, so you're stuck there for the entire day.
http://www.expresstrails.com/
Also found this info in NY Magazine
By Train: Take the PATH train ($1.50) from any of its Manhattan stops to Hoboken, NJ. From Hoboken, board the NJ Transit train bound for the Harriman Station ($13.25). At the Harriman Station a trolley ($1) picks up passengers bound for the Outlets.


You could take the train, but it only saves a few bucks for more info:
http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_woodbury_commons.htm
Also, do a search on Woodbury commons for some reviews. There is also an outlet mall in New Jersey called Jersey Gardebs, much closer, cheaper to get to. for more info: http://www.jerseygardens.com/
Finally, if staying in Manhattan, depending on when you come and what you are shopping for you can get some great deals at the regular stores as well.

We where there for 4 days last year and going back in Oct for 6 days as we didn't have time to see and do everything. Im sure I will want to go back again after that

If you are going to book a broadway show have a look on http://www.broadwaybox.com for discount codes. We have booked tickets for Wicked and Phantom of the Opera.

HTH
Jaime C

Please remember that in January it is likely to be seriously cold. When we were there it was -15 in New York and even colder at Niagara. You won't be able to go out onto the water as the boat trips don't operate over the winter period. I'm not sure if you will still be able to do the walk that goes behind the falls. It is still an awesome sight though.

Woodbury common is fantastic but i can understand what people say about the shops in new york its just easier in woodbury as not as far to walk around very good prices we really enjoyed it there.

We went to new york jan 2006 and took big coats jumpers etc and it was the warmest jan for years when we went to woodbury i was in jeans and a jumper with no coat it was great weather, but just be prepared just in case.

We are in boston on jan 02 for 5 days i now it will colder there.

hope this helps and enjoy it i will never forget new york and you will love it its a great city.

Hi,

Would any one recomend that I pre book any sight seeing bits in NY??? Before I arrive and also how far in advance should these be booked.

Gill x

Hi Gill,

I would say it's a good idea to book your ticket to go up the Empire State Building because the queues can be long and you can by-pass the large queue if you already have a ticket or if not go there late a night when the queues are much less busier so you probably wouldn't need to pre-book, it's open until 2am. Have a look at on site: esbnyc (with the dot com):D

Hi Gill, if you like food and culture you mighht be interested in the food and walking tour of Greenwich Village we've booked. Details here - http://www.foodsofny.com/
I've decided not to pre-book tickets for the ferry to SOL/Ellis Island as you still have to queue anyway so you don't gain anything. To be honest I'm still not sure I want to do that as from what I've read it seems a lot of hassle - been told you must go early otherwise you can queue up to 2 hours and we wouldn't get off at the SOL anyway as you can't go up it at the moment.
After the recent reports on Trip Advisor re: awful queues, cramped elevator rides, long waits and staff attitude we're doing Top of the Rock instead of the ESB as access is easy, you go straight up and the staff are far nicer. If you're interested, here's link to a discount voucher for TOTR I was given - http://seasonofsavings.com/other_deals.html

Our TOTR experience was amazing, the photos I took when the sun was setting just make me want to go back no queues, staff very pleasant and the views - WOW!

We went up the ESB the year before and the staff were rude, long long queues but its one of those things...you have to see the ESB and say you went to the top - don't you?

We booked the foods of NY tour, the Greenwich Village one, amazing, highly recommended. We then took a tour of the LES Tenement Museum. There are links to all these on my trip report from last October.

We prebooked the tickets for the 3hr full circle line boat cruise but you still had to queue up with everyone else so I wouldn't bother with that.

Jaime C