New York works better if you lay some groundwork before arriving... it always lets one make the best use of time while visiting. These are some of the items we took into consideration while planning / visiting the city.

• Double check for those passports... and likewise do an expiry look to confirm validity
• Whooie... Canadian dollar at par with the buck!!! Far cry from my university trips to Maine when it was .65-.70 cents. New York is expensive... with hands out at every stop.
• We took an i-pod across and used it a lot. Would have been nice to have picked digs with free wifi... but not much for free in NYC. The i-Pod and accompanying charger left a means for music, e-books, and maps as well as a little Sodoku time when Dad wasn't driving!
• Take copies of passports / cards and hold in a different place than originals (leave a copy at home with contact as well).
• Travel routes and accommodations go hand in hand when planning. Explore multiple options when researching highways as well as public transportation, then link to where you'll stay. We enjoyed our Murray Hill locale.. a block from the subway and a quick 15 minute stroll to Times Square. Perfect not to have to think about driving, directions, parking, etc...
• Local Transit was the key to our vacation... shortly after our first excursions we had the MTA deciphered and would recommend it for any visitor. Erased the stress of driving completely!!!
• We found the City Passes we purchased were not only economical but gave us up front preparation with tickets, reservations, and better spent time in the city. When having such a limited time frame you definitely want to make the best use of every minute.
• Check with your card company before leaving so they know the card may be used abroad and drop a limit on expenditures in case it gets stolen.
• Tips for Excursions:
  • I kept my Frommer's Guide close, as it was fun for me to track the highways we took, attractions we visited, and know the general geography of the next stop.
  • When the wheels felt like they were coming off, it's a good sign that they were. We took time to get out and stretch/snack/bathroom/etc. at obvious points.
  • We kept a stash at all times filled with water and goodies while maintaining a knapsack with healthy treats. Works well on the longer car trips.
  • We used a combination of GPS, google maps... but forgot our paper maps (which we kicked ourselves for). However, we always knew (roughly) where we were, reducing a lot of road stress.