The Chrysler Building.

I found it vastly cheaper to book a hire car through the UK website in advance rather than turning up as the hire desk at US airports.

The CityPass looks an excellent idea

Looks like the Rockefeller Center do a RockPass so going to have a look at that.

Yep - looking to book with Hertz USA but from UK before I go

Hmm cousin now getting cold feet on showing me around Boston and then NY

Still tempted to go anyway however not very nice going around NY on your own.

Has anyone ever tried the "holiday companion" websites?

A friend of mine once cancelled our holiday to Spain together at the last minute. So I booked a flight to Florida and went on my own.

I was meeting my Aunt when I got there though.

If you pay for my ticket I'll go with you

Gonna give this website a lookover http://www.travbuddy.com

My first trip to NYC was on my own. I spent a week there - stayed in the Chelsea Hotel, did all the usual sight-seeing stuff during the day, went to loads of gigs in the evening and had a great time. Still barely scratched the surface...

I have done a couple of places by myself – while its always fun to have someone to chat to, point things out to etc the advantage of going solo is that you can do exactly what you want – “want to stay in a jazz bar until 4am – then do it” no worrying about what someone else might want to do

I also find that if am by myself then I tend to chat more to locals / strangers and Americans are generally a very friendly bunch

Very much this.

When I went by myself I would be up, out of my hotel room and sitting in one of the local diners having breakfast by 9.00, all ready to start my day. A few years later I went back with a group of friends and rented an apartment for the week. The accommodation was much better, but trying to get 5 other people organised in the morning was like herding cats. We rarely left the place before 10.30. I Got to see and do a lot more when I was on my own.

Made famous by Sid and Nancy. I had my picture taken outside.

And pretty much anyone with artistic pretensions living in NYC from the 60s onwards. While I was staying there I shared the lift with someone who if they weren't Lou Reed really wanted to be him!

Update:

Booked flights tonight with Virgin Atlantic
Got car hire sorted with Hertz USA
Got ESTA form all done on the web.
Sorting out place to stay in Boston.

NY is now off the list - going to make that a seperate 4-day holiday next Feb if this holiday goes ok.

So far itinery looking like:-

Thurs 26th Sept (evening) Arrive at Boston
Fri 27th Sept - sightseeing around Boston
Sat 28th Sept - driving up to Salem, Gloucester and Rockport - going on whale watching boat ride before back to Boston to listen to Boston Symphony Orchestra
Sun 29th Sept - driving down to Cape Cod for the day sightseeing
Mon 30th Sept - driving up coastal I95 highway to Portland sightseeing (overnight stop)
Tues 1st Oct - Nothing yet - suggestions?
Wed 2nd Oct - Morning free - afternoon flying back to England.

Looking for ideas for the Tuesday and Wed morning. Was thinking of driving from Portland, ME to Burlington, VA to look at the Shelburne Musuem http://shelburnemuseum.org/visit/planni ... admission/ but its a good 3-hr drive there so I'd have to stop the night and then drive back down to Boston on the Wed morning.

Update.

Getting excited now (and a little worried in case something goes wrong) as it's this Thursday I fly out.

Itinary not changed much - looks like I will stay in Portland for most Tues then drive down to Boston for the night.

Been invited to hear a rock band down in Woonsocket on Friday night - looks like a 50min drive each way but if I'm getting on ok driving then I'll go!

Heard nothing fruther from my cousin so as friend at work said - "feck em"