Re: Package deals to New York,,,with who???
You should book cheap flights through
www.aerlingus.com and arrange your own accomodation. We did this in August with our three kids (youngest 7 years) and found a hotel through We stayed at the Embassy Suites in the Financial District on the Hudson near Ground Zero. It was near the subway and next door to the Ellis Island-Liberty Ferry, Century21, J&R Electronics, restaurants etc. Once you get to NYC, have done your research and have a couple of good guide books (Lonely Planet and Rough Guide), then getting around is a doddle on the subway or using yellow cabs. You cannot be near everything in NYC, but, you can easily find the great museums, art galleries, shopping at Macy's and Banana Republic and Gap etc, Central Park, and restaurants yourself. You can also arrange a helicopter trip around Manhattan when you get there at $60 per person!
We have found that a lot of package deals are rip-offs and are aimed at people who are lazy or don't have the confidence to do it themselves or young back-packers who don't mind multi-connection flights. Do your research. A lot of Irish know NYC better than Dublin!
One comment. We were stunned how New Yorkers, though rushing around, would stop and really go out of their way to help us every time we stood still and looked into a guide book! Also, treat NYC like Dublin or any capital city and you will be safe.
Whatever you decide, enjoy your visit to a great city!