FAO those who have been to New York.

Sounds as if you have a lot to fit in for 4 days!

Tipping in America is standard at 18-20%.

Have you booked a slot for the 9/11 memorial? Not sure if you still need to do this, but we did last time!

You can go pick up your tickets for Empire State Building earlier in the morning and go up at night.

Do the NY Pass include the ferry for Liberty Island?

Liberty island, Central Park, Rockafella centre, Grand central Station are must see!

What are you missing?

The Frick Collection (current exhibition on mantegna to matisse, but all around an amazing gallery to visit)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Warhol and British Silver exhibitions, but one of the best art museums in the world)

Chat n Chew (best grilled cheese sandiwches and coca cola cake)

FAO Schwartz on 5th Avenue (so you can play chopsticks on the giant floor piano upstairs and pretend you're tom hanks in Big)

Aaaand Tray1980 can suggest more. She actually visits New York VERY often (Mets fan), even more than me, and I've been there at least 15 times in the last decade.

If you go to Macey's take Brittish ID (D/L or Passport) with you, go to the information desk and ask for you None US / Tourist Discount Card. Basically you dont pay the tax and you get it as a discount. We were at the till and the cashier asked us for it but we didnt know about it so they held all our stuff, went and got one and saved about 10%-15%.

We also walked past the New York Libary and had our photos taken (from The Day After Tomorrow movie) by the lions.

Dont go to Bloomingdales - waste of time. Bought a 'little brown bag' as i wanted one but clothes in there were for oldies. Macey's was sooooo much better!

Go early or late to Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. We went to ESB around 10pm on a Saturday night and barely queued, and did TotR at 9am on a Monday and didn't queue at all.

I definitely advise not trying to cram too much in, you'd be surprised how quickly sore feet set in!

Other things we did and loved were Intrepid (which now has a space shuttle as well so I'd love to go back), Bronx Zoo, Corona Park in Flushing Meadows, Roosevelt Island cable car which is included if you get a metrocard and has great views.

We did Top of the Rock on a Wednesday night, didn't have to queue for long at all. Remember to look up when you're in the lift!

If you're short of time/money then you can see the statue of liberty for free by getting the Staten Island ferry.

The natural history museum is really good if you're into that sort of thing.

My best advice is be prepared not to do everything you have planned, we tried to cram so much in we ended up ditching half our plans to relax and promise to do them next time.

When eating out check your bill carefully, some places automatically add your tip and you don't want to end up double tipping.

Thanks ladies

Booked slot for 9/11, looks like you will until all the buildings on the WTC complex are complete

Can't believe i forgot Grand Central Station.

Plan to do either ESB or TotR first thing and one late on.

Statue of Liberty is closed for refurbishments but we can still get on the island.

We're used to cramming loads in as your usual holidays are 3 days in London. We're very aware that this is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity (it was a present from my uncle - staying in a nice hotel in central manahttan with plenty spending money etc). It won't happen again for a long time and we know it so we want to make the most of it. We both have a week off when we come back so we will relax then!!

Thanks for you help and suggestions

Hi Tizzie

I went to New York for 5 days end of April this year and crammed as much as we could into those days .

Don't forget to take the subway it can be a little daunting but when you have your bearings you can get about so easily .

Also if you have the time and the money go on a Helicopter Flight over Manhattan THAT'S FANTASTIC !!!!!!!! It was $149 per person plus $20 fuel tax

.At the back of Bloomingdales is a little outlet of the famous Magnolia Bakery (think Sex and the City cupcakes , yummy )

Tiffanys is lovely go to the Engagement Ring floor (yes a whole floor for just these rings ) and the assistants will let you try on as many as you like and as expensive as you like (there are plenty of security guards around but the assistants are very welcoming).

Try the pancakes at Pershing Square which is right opposite Grand Central Station (what a station that is )

I really would love to go again and do things at a much slower pace , it's a great city and one where i felt safe ?

Ooh perhaps if it's your honeymoon you can justify doing a horse and cart around Central Park?? We did this and it was lovely! Cheesy, but so glad we did it! We also nipped into The Plaza across the road as it's in so many films and TV shows I love I just had to.

The Magnolia bakery that angel wings mentioned is gorgeous - there is one in Grand Central Station too if you are going there anyway. I'm ashamed to say we couldn't finish our cupcake / cheesecake thingys though as they were so filling. I bitterly regret this now ?

We also walked Brooklyn Bridge as it's quite iconic so was something we wanted to do. We just got the subway there then walked back over it. We only went in May and have already noticed it in loads of films since!

We actually got loads done, everything we wanted and it still felt pretty chilled. I think what I didn't realise is that things are pretty close together - it's not actually a big place, and getting around on the subway is so easy. We managed two trips to Central Park in four days as well as the vast majority of stuff mentioned above, plus we did a 1/2 day sopranos tour too! I think if you take opportunities as they present themselves you can tick lots off without it taking a whole morning. For example, we did Liberty and Ellis Island one morning, then headed to Central Park for a picnic, seeing GCS on the way, then did ESB after another days activities but on the way out so we saw it in the day, and at dusk and it wasn't busy at all!

The only other things I can think of is stuff from TV like the Friends apartment building and the ghostbusters fire station - we also saw the ghostbusters room in the NY Public Library. Obviously, the above depends if you are bothered about Friends and Ghosbusters ? Though I really liked Greenwich for the friends building anyway and am glad we checked it out. We also did the Chrysler building and flat iron - just to see them really.

We also went to Little Italy and China Town for a mooch, and had silly things to tick off like having a hot dog from a street vendor (which was RANK!)

Have an amazing time and come back to tell us all about it and make us jealous ?

If you have a sweet tooth, try to catch the Treats Truck. http://www.treatstruck.com/ Or go to their cafe 521 Court St. Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn 11231 I've not been, but we're going to NY for my 30th next year and this is on the list of things to do. I saw them on a programme Kid in a Candy Store and they look amazing. CVan't find the episode though.

FAO Schwartz to see the Big Piano ?

Horse and Cart around Central Park. (beware the smell of horse *** though)

Cocktails/afternoon tea at the Plaza.

Standing and JUST TAKING IT ALL IN - every street really is a movie scene. The steam from the manholes gives me goosebumps.

You can fit quite a lot in in a short time.

MOMA was in the NY pass - we did it in 30 minutes, only went as it was in the pass!

We did empire state at night and rockefeller centre in the day. The views at night are quite groovy.

We didn't have to book a slot for the 9/11 memorial. We went to the office and managed to get a ticket within about half an hour so just had a wander round wall street etc and went back.

Have fun. I loved NY!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

Graceyfly - we are seeing Wicked. It was a wedding present can't wait! Also our hotel is quite nice an has an Italian restaurant and a cafe and their breakfasts are supposed to be really nice so I think well at least try it one day. We decided not to do the movie tour but H really wants to see the Yankee Stadium.

Avoid the restaurants on Broadway (massively overpriced, long waiting times, not great food) and try one of the side street restaurants instead. Thwy're much cheaper, nicer food and the staff are much more polite and friendly.

Have a FAB time in NY - it's one of my favourite places in the world ?

OMG you are so lucky!! I love Wicked! Ive seen it in the West End but Broadway will be amazing. We went to see Beauty and the Beast - loved every second of it ?