New York long weekend

Itchytrigg

Itchytrigg

Itchytrigg

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Going mid March for the wife’s birthday.

I did a day trip once before when heading to Philly for work but that was a good 5-6 years back now.

I assume Newark is still the best airport to fly into?

Any good spots for hotels (didn’t stay in the city last time) or other advise and must go places out side the obvious? I went up empire state last time so we’re likely do rockafella to get the photos of the Empire State Building.
 
Checking back old emails I'd flown into JFK and I think I got a taxi to the hotel. Stayed at the jewel facing the Rockefeller https://www.expedia.co.uk/New-York-Hotels-The-Jewel.h3928653.Hotel-Information?chkin=2023-09-19&chkout=2023-09-20&x_pwa=1&rfrr=HSR&pwa_ts=1693929235290&referrerUrl=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwZWRpYS5jby51ay9Ib3RlbC1TZWFyY2g=&useRewards=true&rm1=a2&regionId=2621&destination=New+York,+New+York,+United+States+of+America&destType=MARKET&neighborhoodId=553248633938969338&selected=3928653&latLong=40.712843,-74.005966&sort=RECOMMENDED&top_dp=613&top_cur=GBP&userIntent=&selectedRoomType=200257724&selectedRatePlan=201507238&searchId=69a2a77d-71cf-44ec-878e-2ec28ace917e

Absolutely ideal location wise for the Rockefeller centre and central park. Not too far from the flat iron building / time square. I'd recommend the Guggenheim museum if not for the art but for the building itself. That's adjacent to central park. Walk down the highline to the trade center. There's some big warship down the west side of New York if that's your thing. Invincible I think but don't quote me. Madison Square garden if you want to take in a basketball game (maybe not for your wife's birthday! But there might be a concert on instead).
 
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No idea what type of hotel your looking at, and a plethora of choice...but we stayed here in February and worked well for us. Homewood Suites, Midtown Manhatten

We thought it was a great location, good links to the subway and station. Empire State/Time Square/Broadway etc accessible on-foot. Close to MSG if you end up going to see something.

One thing we did, which i would highly recommend if you are into sport at all was going and see a Ice Hockey Game/Basketball (1st choice would have been basketball but they were no games when we were there). We went over to Prudential Center in New Jersey on the train to see the New Jersey Devils and was an easy trip. Tickets were not too scary, which I know they can be for events at MSG!

Worth popping over to Chelsea Market for some food, similar to Spitalfields in London with a cluster of small traders. Had some great noodles from there "Very Fresh Noodles" From there you can walk along the Highline from there which is a nice stroll along an old elevated train track. Or, start at "The Edge" which is another skyscraper experience, and walk along highline stopping off for lunch at Chelsea Market.
 
I was there last year around November.

Flew into Newark, we somehow fluked a 12 seater taxi right outside the airport. The bloke charged each of us $10 which was a steal and dropped us right off at the door. Granted there was 5-7 other random people with us but it worked out well. We got his number for phoning him to drop us off. Was a result. Can’t find his number now!!!

Anyway, I stayed at Rui Plaza brilliant hotel perfect location too as its just around the corner from time square. Easily found as it was just around the corner from the Hersheys chocolate shop. It’s near rocka, rock city etc too

I’m not really into the tourist stuff on the grand scheme of things but did go up One Vanderbilt which is good, great views of NYC at night. I walked across the Brooklyn bridge then back across the other Manhattan bridge. I’m more into the food side of things. Found the statue boring and a waste of time, plus its tiny. I thought it was massive. Major let down. Wouldn’t go there.

Foooood, NYC is amazing for food.

I went to Katz for the pastrami sandwich, russ and daughters for the salmon & cream cheese bagel, rolo’s for a burger, a cronut from dominiqueansel (go early because they sell out.). Get a slice from Joe's Pizza when out and about. If you do cross into brooklyn and like steaks, go to Peter Luger we had to book. It’s pretty expensive but is an experience and is just amazing. If you walk through lower Manhattan towards the Brooklyn bridge you can go through china town and get an ice cream from the ice cream factory. There was two food trucks I got some grub from that where amazing but i can’t for the life of me remember what they’re called, there was one that was only on a street on a certain day. Oh get breakfast at Clinton st baking company the pancakes are amazing. Sets you up for the day. I’d try time it 30 minutes or so before it opens as it was queued pretty badly. Enjoy your weekend. :cry:
 
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Cheers. Rui is in the price ball park I’d been looking at so that’s a good review. There so many options and prices all over it’s hard to know where to look.

Appreciate the foodie view, that is is high on my list and already had kats, joes, scarrs and Peter Luger on my list so will look up the others too. Especially Clinton st as love a pancake breakfast.

I’ve done Statue of Liberty before and imagine my wife won’t want to skip that, but it’s a nice chill boat ride. Although March may not be the best time for that…
 
If you're planning on doing the typical touristy stuff new York pass will pay for itself. Have been twice and never bothered with statue of liberty, just had a harbour cruise to see it. New York like London has so much to see and do that it will really depend on what you want from it and your budget.

You could get a million recommendations and none be for you.

Last time we went we flew Wednesday afternoon, landed at about 7.30 pm and back Monday morning which worked out 4 nights but plenty of time to do everything we wanted in the first 3 days with the last one doing some walking tours to fill the time but no major rush on them.

First night to stay up I booked a comedy club, which helped get used to the time zone a bit quicker.
 
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Yeah I've gotta add to that too, there's way too much to do to squeeze it all into a weekend - especially when you consider the cost of the flights. If it was sub £100 for a flight then you don't mind so much (unless you're against the carbon footprint of flying) but that's a lot of money to pay for a couple of days.
 
This will be a Thursday to Monday trip. It’s strange to me that the hotel is going to be the more costly element then the flights are cheaper than when I use to travel for work about 6-7 years back
 
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Just to add onto food spots as others have too:

Chelsea Market as I mentioned earlier

Katz has been mentioned earlier by others, just to add another recommendation for it. Great NY experience and awesome food. Very busy but worth the queue.

Joe's Pizza - Also had a slice from here, definitely one of the better pizza slice places as your making your way around.

Wil add liberty bagels, midtown into the mix, had an incredible bagel here for lunch which filled us up for pretty much rest of day and tasted fantastic

Similar to Chelsea Market, there is another similar cluster of small food trade stands in Brooklyn called DeKalb Market Hall which had someone great eats in there. Does have a mini-Katz in there but would recommend going to the full restaurant to get the full experience.
 
Intercontinental Barclay is nice.
Top of the Rock
one World tower
And Obviously The empire state...
We've been half a dozen times and one world and top of the rock everytime. ESB only the once.... Its better to look at than look from.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and head to DUMBO.

If its nice then a quick train ride to coney island doesnt take long either.
 
We usually go over the easter holidays... Blistering sun one year, snow the next.. The easter parade is good craic. It gets too hot in the summer though....
 
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