Trip Report 24th - 29th December

Well, I am back in Scotland after a very eventful trip and would like to share a few highlights (in no particular order, just as I remember things).

Firstly, for those of you that were following the saga of my missing suitcase, it turned up on the Wednesday (we had arrived on Sunday) at the Affinia 50, BA actually sent it to the wrong hotel because we were still in Philly at the time and guess what, they had even messed up the surnames on the luggage. We have a serious complaint to write to BA with! But I was pleased to be reunited with my belongings.

Very pleased with the Affinia 50 hotel, huge room, comfy bed, good shower, friendly staff and good location - what more could you ask for. No free breakfast there anymore, it is $14.95 pp. We did not partake at all.

Took in most of the sights including the Radio City Spectacular which was better than I expected, excellent production and well worth it to get us in the Xmas spirit. Those Rockettes can really kick precisely! Saw the Tree at Rockefeller Center, watched the skating and went to the Top of the Rock with short lines which was a bonus. Was dark by the time we got there so couldn%26#39;t see Central Park but seeing the ESB lit up was cool. Popped into St Patrick%26#39;s for a look, we saw the line here on Xmas Eve for midnight mass and it stretched the entire block and right round the corner.

Walked the Brooklyn Bridge which was excellent as it was a lovely clear day and then visited Century 21, where I lasted about 10 minutes before nearly passing out, it was so busy! Looked in on Ground Zero and then headed to see Wall Street, the NYSE and the Bull.

Wandered through Chinatown, noticed here there is not so much fake stuff being sold on the street as the last time we were there but everyone shouting at you for handbags, handbags, handbags and I guess go through to the back of their stalls. Wandered Tribeca, but was disappointed with this area, obviously quite residential and we didn%26#39;t stay long.

Also walked through Central Park on Xmas Day which was nice as it was a lovely day and saw the Fountain and Strawberry Fields.

Walked down Mulberry Street through Little Italy and had my first ever Canoli which was delicious and then explored Greenwich Village, Bleecker Street etc. for the obligatory Magnolia cupcake (which really aren%26#39;t that good, they are so sweet and sickly!).

Finally, we took in a movie near the Lincoln Center, had lunch at Zabar%26#39;s and watch the Dolphins V Jets game at Meadowlands and visited the Time Warner building and shops within.

We also watched Hairspray which was excellent and saw All My Sons. I thought this was a really excellent play and you really realise how in a serious play like this in quite a close theatre, the actors have no room for fluffing or messing lines and I have to say each and every one gave a fault free performance, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

We ate varied and plentiful food including steak at Del Friscos which we thought slightly overpriced and slightly disappointing but I guess you are paying for the location. Christmas Day brunch was at Normas which was good but very busy and service very slow. Dinner at Tao was excellent although they kept us waiting way beyond our reservation time and Xmas Day dinner at Park Avenue Winter which was absolutely delicious and a lovely choice. Rosa Mexicano was good and especially liked the table side prepared guacamole but what kind of Mexican restaurant doesn%26#39;t serve a frozen margarita?! Cheesecake at Juniors, drinks at The View ($7 cover charge per person after 9m) and a few nibbles and deli stuff here and there from Dean and Deluca and Whole Foods pretty much ticked all the boxes for New York eats.

Did my last minute shopping at Saks and Macys on our last day before heading home and I treated myself to a Marc Jacobs bag in Saks.

I would also like to add that during my trip I became very ill and I won%26#39;t go into too much detail other than to say the Affinia organised a doctor to come and visit me on Christmas Day. I was eventually diagnosed with Bronchitis and needed antibiotics and other medication but the service was amazing considering it was Xmas Day. The visit and meds cost $600 but our travel insurance will cover it and as soon as I started taking the antibiotics, I began to feel much better.

Overall, apart from the suitcase debacle and felling ill, we had a fabulous time. We have now been to Manhattan twice and feel that we kind of know our way around pretty well now including all the different neighbourhoods. We used the subway loads and only went wrong the very first time when we just jumped on the first train that came along but it really is quite easy to use. Everytime I saw a sign for Queens Boulevard, I thought of a certain expert on here with the same name!! We used cabs quite a bit and they really are good value for money.

We did find NYC to be very expensive, I%26#39;m not complaining just commenting and obviously it was very, very busy and crowds were very hard to deal with especially around Times Square and Rockefeller Center. At first you%26#39;re trying to be quite polite and say excuse me and sorry and by the end you%26#39;re just barging past people and shouting under your breath, keep moving people, keep moving!!

Overall, apart from the suitcase saga and my felling ill, we had a fabulous time, it really is a great city - who knows when we will be back!

Trip Report 24th - 29th December

I%26#39;ve been waiting to hear about that bag. Glad it finally turned up and also happy to hear your Xmas dinner at Park Ave Winter was good. Not sure about the frozen marg. at Rosa Mex. I know they do serve them. Happy New Year and thanks for the report.

Trip Report 24th - 29th December

Welcome home! sorry about your case! United lost my case on my last trip to the US, in Chicago, my onward flight to SFO was cancelled so they booked me on a flight to Oakland? I was like, where? Anyway, I never saw my case again but United gave me compensation money to buy clothes and I claimed money from my insurance co.

The Affina sounds pretty nice, and big rooms too.

I%26#39;m heading off in 4 weeks time and staying at Hyatt Grand Central. Is there anywhere or anything you would avoid doing/seeing. To be honest with you I have been to Manhattan before but was not touristy just chilled out in the village and chelsea. I have to play tourist this time around as my friend has never been to the US and is over excited!

Oh no soo many people, it will be like London%26#39;s Oxford Street, gets to you after a while and the locals get fed up with the tourists.

Happy New Year.

PS I am flying BA, were flights ok or were seats crammed.

Cheers

Craig

Craig,

BA is fine, seats not too crammed and good movies now - all the in flight entertainment is totally on demand so you watch what you want when you want which is cool. If you%26#39;re flying down from Aberdeen for a connecting flight, you will go through the new Terminal 5 which has it pros and cons - baggage handling being a con! But it is good not having to transfer to other terminals and you can get your luggage checked right through to NY. But it does feel somewhat disorganised at various security check points and constant asking for your documents / boarding passes etc, I think they still have a few issues to sort out.

Sounds like you came to NYC with a plan and had a nice trip, despite a couple of bumps in the road...

Everyone says nice things about the Affinia, I have noticed.

I want to see that Christmas show someday. Park Avenue Winter---I%26#39;ll have to look into that...