New York
There is just so much to see and do in New York, it truly is a destination unto itself.
I recently had 3 days in this amazing city and while I tried to tick off as many things as I could from my bucket list, I soon realised that 3 days was simply nowhere near enough.
A repeat visit is definitely on the cards for me. I stayed in Midtown where everything was at your fingertips.
Some things that I learnt during my stay are noted below.
- Fly: It’s a long, long way from Australia to New York in one hop. I definitely recommend breaking the journey or consider a stop in New York as part of a larger around the world itinerary. The time change travelling from East to West is a killer, especially if, like me, you don’t sleep well on the plane.
- Stay: Location is key in this city unless you love walking or taking the subway to get around. Below are my picks for convenient hotels for every price range.
Medium Range - Doubletree by Hilton who have four properties in Midtown area, all with great facilities and your warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival!
- Top Range – Lotte Palace New York where I stayed, has rooms and suites to suit all families and is a beautiful 5-star property within walking distance of Fifth Avenue and the Rockefeller Center, and a stone’s throw to Central Park.
- Luxury - Mandarin Oriental where you can have a suite with a Central Park or Hudson River View. Truly amazing hotel with beautiful rooms and suites, the top having views of both park and river. A newly refurbished restaurant and Aviary Bar offer sublime cocktails with a Central Park aspect and is the perfect place for an evening watching the sun go down over the city.
- Eat: You have to try the ubiquitous New York Pizza. Bought by the slice or whole, it really is some of the best pizza I have eaten. Forget thick toppings and soggy bases, these are woodfired, minimalist but oh so tasty! There are too many restaurants to describe and a quick google will bring up the latest “top” critics’ picks. We liked to eat local and tried the hot dogs and burgers from the food carts lining the street. Both were fresh and delicious. Wholefoods are one of my favourites for a healthy salad and light snacks and there are so many fast food chains offering everything you can think of. Some looking a little like a heart attack on a stick, while others offering good, healthy and reasonably priced alternatives.
Try the infamous New York Pretzels, so good!
- Visit: There are so many places worthy of your time in New York. If you are wanting to see the Statue of Liberty, 911 Memorial, Ellis Island etc definitely worth booking your tickets ahead of time to avoid a lengthy wait in a queue. Broadway shows should be booked ahead of time as well unless you like the idea of sitting on a tier of seats for hours in Times Square waiting for the discounted tickets to be released with no guarantee that the show you want to see will be available on that evening.
Hire a bike and ride around Central Park. Bike rental is super cheap and this is a fun thing to do with the family, stopping along the way at the many attractions that the park offers.
Do a hop on hop off tour to get the lie of the land and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the major sites while listening to a full commentary.
Book a tour, we did a Sex and the City tour which took us to all of Carrie and Co’s favourite haunts around the city, ending with a Cosmopolitan at Aiden’s bar!
A walking tour of Brooklyn saw us delving into the history of the area while tasting some of the local foods from the many family-run businesses.
This gives you a more in-depth experience and is definitely worth the money. Bespoke tours can also be arranged to suit your tastes, time and budget.
A great way to get discount on entry to New York’s most iconic sights is to purchase a Go NYC or Explorer card. These come in multiple day options and offer discounts on an array of activities when, added up, can save you a pretty penny.
In the evening make sure you get to a rooftop bar or see a jazz show. Beware though, drinks are pricey compared to Australian bars but the view and atmosphere certainly make up for it.
You also must see a show on Broadway. So many to choose from ranging from cutting-edge plays in the smaller theatres to full production shows and all the favourites you would expect. We saw Kinky Boots which we loved.
- Shop: The Garment District is a must for bargain seekers and you can’t beat Macy’s especially at sale time for excellent bargains. Even when the Australian Dollar is a little low, there are bargains to be found but as always, you get what you pay for and time is needed to trawl through the racks of discounted merchandise. Make sure to take your Australian passport for an additional 10% discount and in New York, you can purchase clothing up the amount of $119 tax-free!
- Outlets: Woodbury Common remains a perennial favourite, however, being out of town tends to put all but the biggest bargain hunters off.
- Getting around: The Metro (MTA) is easy once you take the time to figure it out! Cheap and efficient it’s a great way to get across town quickly and is much more effective than getting a taxi as you don’t need to worry about traffic.
Taxis are relatively cheap but with traffic and the constant road upgrades, trips can take quite a while. Remember to tip at least 15-20% of the total fare as well.
A good thing to know is that taxis have a standard fare from the airports to the city. From JFK airport into town expect to pay around $55 each way. A Supershuttle which is shared and has multiple stops is around $20 per person so in many cases with 2 or more the taxi is the better option.
All I know is that my 4 days there wasn’t long enough to do everything I wanted to do and see. I guess I will just have to come back!