I'm scheduling a family trip (ages 11-69). We'll be taking Amtrak to Newark NJ (Penn Station) and staying at the Hilton adjacent to Penn Station. From there we will be going into Manhattan (and maybe other towns) for the four days we're there.
All travelers (except two of us) are not city people, and the two of us who are city-savvy know very little about NYC. I tried googles and came up with a dizzying array of options that is more confusing than helpful.
How should I plan to get the bumpkins in and out of the city without confusing them beyond repair? Train preferred.
I would just hop on the train to the World Trade Center station: http://www.panynj.gov/path/maps-schedules.html
Yes, looks like the Red will take you right to Wold Trade in Lower Manhattan.
Seems if you want Upper Manhattan, get off the Red at Grove St. and get on the Yellow.
remember that once on the NYC subway system code the line you need by color first the number and you should be good to go. Download one of the free NYC subway maps apps, there are a few out there to route out what lines will take you where you'd like to visit. Lastly, as long as there's not snow on the ground, it's not 90+ degrees, or pouring rain, NYC is a great walking town. I also highly recommend picking up Essa bagels to take back to enjoy for breakfast one morning, be sure to enjoy one warm and fresh when you pick them up though.
As mentioned, there's the Path train to WTC, which would be a short walk to Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty.
You can also take NJ Transit into NY Penn Station which is under Madison Square Garden and a reasonable walk to Central Park and the museum area (I did this last month).
WTC is a bit out of the way, but pretty easy to get to GC from WTC I suppose. Most of what we'll be doing includes a broadway show and a filming of the Late Show. Mostly stuff from Times Square/Broadway up to Central Park.
I'm also pretty certain that we can walk over to Newark/Penn station and look at the board and buy a ticket. Is it that easy? Or do I need more planning than that?
It's been a really long time since I have lived up there, so I am not a good resource.
I can tell you that PATH is a commuter system, and rail travel in NYC is done by subway. Don't confuse the 2- just because there is a train track, does not mean they will accomplish the same goals.
In other words, WTC is not that far out of your way. You want to get INTO the city via PATH, then get AROUND the city via subway.
One more thing- public transit travel in NYC is unlike any other city. I'm confident you can handle it, but assume it is completely different than anything you've seen. That's why there are so many cabs there- it is often easier. I never liked traveling by rail in NYC (there is a big learning curve, and I never learned it well)- I usually drove and dealt with the parking issues. There are probably a great deal of changes and/or improvements since I have been there.
I'm not sure. I've been through Newark Penn Station heading into NYC more times than I can remember, but I never got off the train. Check the NJT website, it should say if ticket kiosks are there. They have them at the other stations I use (Trenton and Hamilton). Being able to walk to the station is good. When combined with parking and depending on how many people you're taking, the tickets for everyone won't be cheap.
Yeah, 7 people. There are direct trains to GC but they're not cost effective. The plan is to get to GC and then mostly walk from there.
its been eons.... (20 years??)
but I'm pretty sure if you want Grand Central from Penn Station.... you need a bus.
PATH to 33st will leave you one block from Penn Station NYC where NJ Transit trains leave you. From there you can transfer to Subways either direction. You'll be close enough to walk to a lot of attractions but you guys may appreciate not having to walk back at the end of the day.
MTA.info (shameless plug) has a trip planner that can give you directions and let you know what lines are being worked on as the weekends have some service changes for track and signal work.
oldeskewltoy wrote: its been eons.... (20 years??) but I'm pretty sure if you want Grand Central from Penn Station.... you need a bus.
Yes, you need to take a bus or walk if you wanted to go from one to the other. NJ Transit doesn't go to Grand Central, they come into Penn Station (Newark and NYC both have Penn Stations.)
Wallie wrote: PATH to 33st will leave you one block from Penn Station NYC where NJ Transit trains leave you. From there you can transfer to Subways either direction. You'll be close enough to walk to a lot of attractions but you guys may appreciate not having to walk back at the end of the day. MTA.info (shameless plug) has a trip planner that can give you directions and let you know what lines are being worked on as the weekends have some service changes for track and signal work.
Awesome. Thank you.
On a related note... good source for Broadway tix? The broadway.com site seems to double the price and add $50. Seriously.
TKTS is your best bet. It may be tough to get in anywhere being Christmas week, but your best bet is probably trying for a Wednesday show since that is matinee day so they run two shows.
+3 on TKTS
So I researched TKTS (thanks for the tips). Looks like a fabulous thing. Is it kinda like Hotels.com where they sell vacant seats at the last minute for a discount? If that is the case, do you really think its possible to buy last-minute Wicked or Lion King tickets for 7 people? I would just hate to put all the eggs in one basket and then not be able to pull through for the family.
Of course, they sell them on the street too. Seems totally legit. 
In reply to curtis73:
LOL! You're gonna save money by walking around one of the biggest cities in the world, but want to make sure you get 7 seats together?
No idea what your odds are- I have never tried to buy 7 seats to anything. Ever.
Yes, TKTS sells same day last minute vacant seats at a discount.
If you know what you want to see (and are limited to that), you can call the box office of any show.
If you want discount tickets, there are risks. There is no Craigslist for Broadway shows.
If you are willing to divide up the group and go to more than 1 show (which I HAVE done), your odds will increase dramatically. There is a LOT of good stuff in NYC.
I'm sure we could get separate seats. We don't have to sit together. Just looking on ticketmaster and other sites it looks like there are multiple seats available for next-day shows, just not sure about the week before Christmas.
Christmas? That changes a lot.
Are we you staying in Newark for a reason (like family), or to save money on hotel?
Newark is pretty rough.
NYC does not shut down for the holidays. All normal commuter traffic will exist, PLUS Christmas traffic. I would expect that train commute from Newark could consume 2 1/2- 3 hrs every day (round trip).
If it's just the money, you may want to consider the inconvenience.
Also, NYC is wonderful at Christmas, but it is also bitterly cold. Lots of walking in NYC is a challenge, especially for elderly.
Seven tickets may be rough, I wouldn't make any promises. Almost every day there are people lined up waiting for the booth to open so if there is something yo have to see try and find out when they are going on sale and line up early. Everything that week is going to be fairly crowded so you will need to be patient anywhere you end up going.
When I'm in New York I stay in Midtown--32nd street in K-town--which, as Wally noted, pretty much puts you in the middle of everything. (The City never sleeps, and neither do I.)
By the way, if anyone is looking for a deal on a New York visit, check out the hotel rates for February. That's when I get my best deal. Sure it's cold, but I just bundle up.
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