New York pre cruise visit!
Flying with United Airlines out of Dublin meant I could clear customs this side of the pond and not have the hassle on arrival into the USA. A big bonus - I just swanned off the aircraft, collected my luggage and headed for the train to Penn Station in New York! Thankfully we were able to try our United Airlines Economy Plus - the extra six inches leg room is definitely worth it if you are tall.
Nothing could have prepared me for the vastness of inside Penn Station, never mind coming out of it into the chaos, noise and smells of New York! We quickly managed to grab a yellow taxi and head down 8th Avenue to our hotel on West 52nd Street, a hotel that I have used many times for clients, and I knew the rooms had great views of Times Square, which is exactly what I wanted.
The Novotel Times Square is in a great location, a minutes’ walk from Times Square itself and the views from the Times Square view rooms are well worth the extra cost. Reception is up on the 5th Floor along with the Supernova Restaurant, Bar and Terrace which also offers a great vantage point on Times Square. The rooms in the hotel are modern and spacious, I really couldn't fault them in any way at all.
New York itself is everything I expected it to be and I did have to keep pinching myself that I was actually there! I was lucky enough to be with my partner who had been before and was able to act as a bit of a guide. He also has relatives that live in New York so on my very first night in New York I was jumping onto the subway to Greenwich Village to meet them for dinner in a traditional burger joint. JG Melons has been around for a long time on the corner of Bleecker and McDougal Street, and if it was good enough for New Yorkers to recommend, it was good enough for me! Possibly one of the best burgers I have ever had! The area itself is really vibrant, attracts a lot of students as New York University is close by. I wanted to get back to this area another night but didn't get the chance, so I will the next time.
If I had to recommend certain things to do in New York City, walking the Brooklyn Bridge and then taking the East River Ferry back to Wall Street is definitely at the top of the list. There are stunning views from the bridge itself and great ice cream in Brooklyn at the other side. When you get off the ferry back in Manhattan it is so easy to find your way up to Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange Building, the 9/11 memorial and then over to the other side of Manhattan to Brookfield Place and North Cove Marina for lunch with more spectacular views over the Hudson River at PG Clarkes.
I was concerned about visiting the Empire State Building as I was worried it would be a disappointment - I am a big Sleepless in Seattle fan and had high expectations! I was not disappointed at all - it was so interesting reading about the history of the building, but more importantly it really orientated me in regards to the city itself! I think I may have taken 30 photos at least from the top!
I have to say - I love a museum and I knew the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) had Monet's Waterlilies, so I dragged my "tour guide" to visit the museum, admittedly late on a Thursday an hour before it was due to close - so we got half price! We did make a beeline for the Waterlilies but along the way spotted Van Gogh's Starry Night and Andy Warhol’s Tins of Soup - not so sure about that myself! It was worth the hour that we took to whizz round it, and there is an outdoor quad area to get some fresh air too.
My blog could go on and on about New York. I loved Central Park, the High Line, Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building, Fig and Olive Restaurants, Tiffany and Co, Mandarin Oriental Hotel cocktails - the list is endless and I truly cannot wait to go back.
By far the most impressive vista I had was sailing out of Manhattan Pier on a cruise ship, but that is for my next blog! If you are interested in going to New York and would like some honest and expert advice, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I am certainly passionate about New York and would love to make it as special for you as it was for me.