How to get the best of New York in a few days

Having only three nights in New York, we decided to cram in as much as possible! We were very lucky on arrival as we sailed through immigration, but be prepared for this to sometimes be a lengthy process. We joined the cab queue which is a standard $52 dollars (plus any tunnel toll fees) for a Manhattan drop off.

We stayed at the Staybridge Suites and were really happy to be granted our request for a high floor thus avoiding any street noise. It was a good size room for New York, with a fully equipped kitchenette. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi which, for me, is a major plus. They also offer complimentary breakfast which is also a quite a novelty in the USA and the breakfast choice was excellent.

The hotel was just a few ‘blocks’ from the starting points of the hop on/hop off open top bus sightseeing tours. This is a must if you have limited time in the city. We bought tickets that allowed us to do the Uptown/Downtown loops as well as a Brooklyn tour and a night time tour. This also included a pass for the Empire State building and a ferry over to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. All this was for less than £50 per person! These tours are a great way to allow you to get your bearings in this bustling metropolis.

On our first night we stumbled across the Houndstooth pub on 8th Avenue which offered great food and an excellent wine selection. I also must mention a charming pub called the Galway Hooker, just off 5th Avenue, which offered a two course meal with a beer or glass of wine for only $9! We also went on A dinner cruise courtesy of Hornblower where the food was amazing and the Manhattan skyline by night was breath-taking.

I now understand why lots of people love to go to New York for the shopping experience - it’s incredible. Macy’s is an amazing department store to visit. We also took in the Empire State building which offers fantastic 360 degree views of the city.

My only regret of the trip is that we did not get to see ‘Ground Zero’ but I plan to go on my next visit. I would definitely recommend at least four days in this ‘city that never sleeps’ to enjoy all the delights that it has to offer!