Hiring a car in NY - Crazy or not?

[Lisa]

So, we're planning the honeymoon-we-never-had/family holiday.

We're going to be having 6 days/5 nights in LA, visiting Disneyland & Universal studios, then flying to NY for another 6 days/5 nights. We're hoping to hire a car and spend the day in New Jersey for one of the days, but we were wondering if anyone has done this before and are we insane for even considering driving through NYC?

Also, what is driving in Anaheim and Hollywood like?

[LuluHB]

I can't help with the NY side of things but I've driven in LA. It takes amazingly little time to get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Traffic on the supposed freeways is appalling just about all day long but that's nothing more than a frustration. They do have a few different rules than we have here, such as being able to turn right on a red light but you soon pick it up.

The only thing I did regularly through my time there is get into the wrong side of the car when trying to drive away. Bit embarrassing when you have people watching you get in, and then have to sheepishly get out and walk around the other side of the car

[Phteven]

You will need to factor in parking costs. My experience in large cities is that parking is very expensive and it can also be very difficult to park in residential areas without permits and if space is limited residents often have systems that are very effective at preventing non-locals from getting spaces. You might want to look for a hotel that includes free parking.
We tend to drive into cities with a car then leave it at the hotel and use public transport.

In your place I would probably do the New Jersey trip the day after I got to NY and any other trips that involve the car and then return it and go car free for the last few days.

[Lisa]

Lol! Thanks Lulu. My DH is the one that is going to do the majority of the driving and I can imagine there will be many times where we will hop in on the wrong side. I heard that driving in LA isn't as bad as NY but still bad enough. Thanks for your input

ETA - Thanks Onyx. We had considered a place with free parking but I am wondering how hard they are to come by. We were planning to only have the car for 2 days or so.

[LionsandBears]

No way would I drive in NYC I'd do what Onyx said - if you need a car out of town, hire it just for that trip. You could take a train or ferry to NJ and pick up the car there. Otherwise you'll spend your time in traffic, getting lost and probably on the wrong side of the road, wasting time finding parking spaces. NYC is seriously easy to get around on public transport. It's part of the fun anyway. We spent 5 days in NY on our honeymoon and luurved it. We stayed in an apartment in Tribeca, a block from 3 different subway stations. Occassionally, late at night, we got a cab, but mostly we walked or used PT.

[Lisa]

Thanks L&B. Our only issue with public transport to NJ will be that we will have the kids with us. Otherwise, we'll be more than fine to walk around and jump on public transport of shorter journeys.

[Sopdet]

I've driven in NYC once and never again, I thought Rome was bad!

L&B has the best advice, public transport over there & if you must get a car there.

Most locals don't have cars or drive, the friends I stayed with thought it was a novelty that I had a car & a licence considering where I lived (I was living in central London at the time).

The locals don't even have cars to get to the Hamptons, they go by the shuttle bus.

[buliej]

I'm from NJ/NY - do what L&B suggested. Travel on public transport to a location in NJ with a nearby car rental facility - even if it means one of you has to wait at the train/bus/ferry station while the driver picks up the car. You don't want to drive through NYC just to get to NJ for a day (by the way, what is the appeal of NJ - I'm curious as I grew up there and never thought people thought it was a worthwhile stop while visiting from overseas).

If you are looking for activities outside the city - it's not NJ, but the train service known as Metro North goes all over Westchester and you can do some lovely day trips just using the train/taxis at the other end - or LIRR out to Long Island.

OH - and get a SatNav - I think they are great - allows you to focus on which side of the road to stay on while "someone else" worries about the directions. I found that purchasing a basic model in the US is cheaper than renting one through car rental companies when renting for longer than 3 days (I think).

[~Kim~]

My husband was a high speed pursuit driver with whom I have frequently worked. I have driven my own pursuits and a V8 supercar. I have never been so scared as in a car in NYC and that was with a local. So no way would I drive there. Public transport is surprisingly good though.

If you take your own satnav, you can purchase the relevant maps through the brand of satnav you have.

[Lisa]

I'm from NJ/NY - do what L&B suggested. Travel on public transport to a location in NJ with a nearby car rental facility - even if it means one of you has to wait at the train/bus/ferry station while the driver picks up the car. You don't want to drive through NYC just to get to NJ for a day (by the way, what is the appeal of NJ - I'm curious as I grew up there and never thought people thought it was a worthwhile stop while visiting from overseas).

If you are looking for activities outside the city - it's not NJ, but the train service known as Metro North goes all over Westchester and you can do some lovely day trips just using the train/taxis at the other end - or LIRR out to Long Island.

OH - and get a SatNav - I think they are great - allows you to focus on which side of the road to stay on while "someone else" worries about the directions. I found that purchasing a basic model in the US is cheaper than renting one through car rental companies when renting for longer than 3 days (I think).

Thanks hun, that was great advice. I feel so embarrassed even saying this but - we're going to the Jersey Shore to see the Shore Store and the house from the show 'Jersey Shore'. Also, spend the day on the boardwalk.
In NYC, the only things I want to do is go to Joey Ramone Place and to the corner of 53rd & 3rd (A Ramones song in case you were wondering! lol) and go to Strawberry Fields in Central Park.

[Lisa]

Obviously we're going to do the whole touristy thing in both states, but the things I mentioned are the specific things that I want to do :-)

Anyone able to tell me what the weather is like in both states in September?


This post was brought to you by Lisa's iPhone. Keeping Lisa sane since 2011.

[buliej]

You should have nice weather in Sept - end of summer so hopefully, sunny warm and low humidity. Look into NJ transit (Rail Road) from Penn Station to where you want to go on the NJ shore. NJ transit trains go to many of the shore towns (don't know where the "house" is!). You don't need a car to do anything within NYC (and by that, I mean within the 5 boroughs) - get a train map and plan your days accordingly. I'd aim for avoiding peak hour - will be much easier with children to avoid packed subway cars (and they are PACKED during peak hour). And NYC buses aren't bad either - a bit slower than the subway, but they do a good job of getting you from A to B.

Have a great time!